Hiawatha

Driving back towards St. Ignace we came across another place that I wanted to stop and see, if only for a couple minutes, a visitor center for Hiawatha National Forest.  Whenever we visit someplace I usually try to gather information for future return visits.  The picture to the left shows the floor in the children's area in the front of the visitor center.

Located in Michigan's wild and scenic Upper Peninsula, the Hiawatha National Forest is known as "the Great Lakes National Forest." The Forest's dramatic shorelines lie nestled up to Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan -- three of the five great lakes -- where our outstanding lakeshores, lighthouses, islands and snow create a playground and place of respite within a day's drive from major urban and rural areas of Michigan, Wisconsin, other nearby states and international locations.
--from USDA website, Hiawatha National Forest page

As you walk towards the building you may notice imperfections in the sidewalk.

Upon closer examination they're clearly identifiable as tracks--deer I presume.

A large number of native plants were growing outside.

I'm sure earlier in the season there were a good many wildflower blooms here also.

 I'm not sure what these plants were, but they looked quite interesting.

As you can see from this map we weren't that far from St. Ignace, though the main body of the forest lies further to the west.

 This explanation of the name Michilimackinac explains the large turtle in the floor.

 Who can't like a large Smokey the Bear?  The stuffed fisher (related to martins and weasels) was also interesting to see--I really enjoy taxidermied animals.

I also picked up a booklet describing the various campgrounds within the National Forest.  We might go back and enjoy some camping (if the weather is warm enough for Amy).

~Matt