Exploring Escanaba & Kitch-iti-kipi: Michigan’s Incredible Upper Peninsula Adventure
Some destinations surprise you in the best possible way.
As we continued our journey across Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula, our final stop brought us to Escanaba, a quiet Lake Michigan town with friendly people, peaceful waterfront views, and one of the most incredible natural attractions we’ve ever seen.
We expected a relaxing stop before leaving Michigan.
What we found was a crystal-clear spring unlike anything we’d ever experienced.
If you’re planning a road trip through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, here’s why Escanaba—and especially Kitch-iti-kipi—deserves a place on your itinerary.
A Relaxing Stay Near Lake Michigan
We based ourselves at Park Place of the North Campground just outside Escanaba.
Although the campground had been around for quite a few years, it had a welcoming atmosphere that immediately made us feel at home.
The owners couldn’t have been friendlier, and one of our favorite features was a small path leading directly from the campground to the shores of Lake Michigan.
That daily access to the water quickly became one of General’s favorite parts of our stay.
Sometimes it’s the people you meet that make a destination memorable, and that was certainly true here.
Driving Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
One of the unexpected highlights of this trip was simply getting there.
Traveling west along U.S. Highway 2, we enjoyed miles of peaceful driving through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
For long stretches, the highway runs alongside Lake Michigan, offering beautiful views of the shoreline with plenty of small roadside parks where travelers can stop, stretch their legs, or enjoy a picnic beside the water.
Traffic was light.
The roads were in excellent condition.
After some busier travel days earlier in our journey, this drive felt wonderfully relaxing.
It’s one of those routes where the drive itself becomes part of the vacation.
Discovering Kitch-iti-kipi
The campground owner recommended that we visit Kitch-iti-kipi, and several fellow travelers had mentioned it as well.
We’re so glad we listened.
Also known as The Big Spring, Kitch-iti-kipi is one of Michigan’s most famous natural attractions—and once you see it, it’s easy to understand why.
The spring produces an astonishing amount of crystal-clear water every minute, creating a deep pool where you can clearly see the sandy bottom, underwater springs bubbling up from below, and large trout swimming gracefully through the water.
What makes the experience even more unique is the self-operated observation raft.
Visitors use a cable to slowly pull the raft across the spring while looking through openings in the center, giving everyone an incredible view straight down into the water.
Photographs simply don’t capture how amazingly clear it is.
It’s one of those places you truly have to experience in person.
A Piece of RV History
One unexpected surprise at our campground was meeting the owner of a beautifully preserved 1977 GMC Motorhome.
As RV enthusiasts, we couldn’t resist stopping for a closer look.
These unique motorhomes were produced between 1973 and 1978, and surprisingly, many are still on the road today.
Their sleek design still turns heads decades later, and it was fascinating hearing the owner’s stories about traveling in such a classic RV.
Meeting fellow travelers is always one of the best parts of RV life.
Everyone has a story to tell.
Exploring Escanaba’s Waterfront
Before leaving town, we spent time walking through Escanaba’s Waterfront Park.
The park stretches along the shoreline, offering beautiful views of Lake Michigan, a marina, historical displays, and plenty of peaceful places to sit and enjoy the scenery.
It’s the kind of waterfront where you can slow down, watch the boats, and appreciate the quiet beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
General certainly enjoyed another walk along the lake.
Why We Enjoyed Escanaba
Escanaba isn’t a bustling tourist destination filled with attractions on every corner.
Instead, it’s the kind of place that invites you to relax.
For us, the highlights included:
- Friendly campground owners
- Easy access to Lake Michigan
- Scenic Upper Peninsula drives
- The incredible beauty of Kitch-iti-kipi
- A peaceful waterfront park
- Meeting fellow RV travelers
- Quiet roads and small-town charm
Sometimes that’s exactly what makes a destination special.
Final Thoughts
If you’re planning an Upper Peninsula road trip, don’t pass through Escanaba without making time for Kitch-iti-kipi.
The spring alone is worth the drive.
Add in the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline, scenic drives, friendly people, and relaxed pace of life, and you’ll discover a corner of Michigan that’s easy to fall in love with.
For us, it was the perfect way to end our time in Michigan before continuing west toward our next adventure.
We’ll always remember Escanaba as the place where one incredible spring completely stole the show.
Continue the Journey
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