Escape Georgia's Heat: Exploring Michigan's UP and Pictured Rocks

As frequent travelers and travel bloggers, we're often asked by Georgia friends and neighbors, "What's a great vacation for escaping Georgia's summer heat?"

Georgians looking for a cool getaway from the summer's sweltering heat might consider kayaking at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Frankly, in our wide ranging travels, we have quite a few recommendations for out-of-Georgia summer trip. But when it comes to the literal meaning of "cool" trips, one active option always tops our list.

And that, our Georgia friends, is exploring the picturesque shoreline of Lake Superior at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

For native and transplanted Georgians, the cool shores of the largest of the Great Lakes beacon with a range of watersports, active exploring, secluded camping and wonderful hiking. And, you'll also feel at home with the mosquitoes that inhabit the shoreline forests, if you're not prepared with extra-strength bug spray.

For our explorations, we chose scenic boating and an escorted kayak tour along the sandstone cliffs and through waterway tunnels that pierce through them. We used Munising, MI, as our headquarters for the exploration.

We kayaked for five miles along the shoreline, cliffs and natural tunnels of Lake Superior at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, on the southwestern shores of Lake Superior, was the first national lakeshore designated by the National Park System, and remains one of only three national lakeshores, all in the Great Lakes. It takes its name from the miles of colorful sandstone cliffs jutting in Lake Superior, naturally stained as minerals leach through the pourous sandstone cliffs.

If all you know about Lake Superior comes from the song, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Pictured Rocks and the surrounding area are great places to learn more. Yes, there are shipwreck tours available, and intrepid visitors can dive the wrecks preserved by the cold fresh water of Lake Superior.

The highlight of our above-water explorations was a small-group, five-mile paddling adventure with a local guide. Our outfitter was Pictured Rocks Kayaking, which has special, purpose-built boats that take you to the best kayaking spots, and make it easy and safe to load and unload into your kayaks.

We spent nearly three hours gliding past the colorful cliffs, created at naturally-occurring minerals leach through the sandstone.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

With six other two-person kayaks, we spent nearly three hours on the cold, crystal-clear waters of Lake Superior. And if you're wondering if it's too strenuous, consider that we're a pair of 66-year-olds in average physical shape. None of our group had any problems.

To get a better feel for how the kayak trip went and the spectacular scenery, check out our YouTube video.