Fayette, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula is the farthest north we have gone our our boat. It was a wonderful jewel and a safe haven for boaters. Fall colors were just starting to show and the apples were ripe on the trees. The accommodations are rustic and first come, first serve. There is only space for 7-8 boats with no running water or electricity available. You walk a couple of blocks up the hill to use the restrooms at the visitors center of the State Park...no showers. We walked a mile through the forest to get to the only available restaurant, only to find out they don't take debit or credit cards. So, we had to eat only what we had cash enough to pay. Always an adventure!
"Fayette was once a bustling industrial community that manufactured charcoal pig iron between 1867 and 1891. Fayette offers visitors the unmatched serenity of a Lake Michigan harbor, white cliffs, and verdant forests. This well preserved museum village recalls another time when it was a noisy, dirty company town with an immigrant population that shared daily hardships, joys and sorrows." That's how the brochure describes the Fayette Historic State Park. There are 20 historic buildings including the furnace complex, town hall, historic luxury hotel (in business into the 1940's), company office, workers' homes, and the spacious superintendent's home.
We spent the afternoon enjoying the walking tour and museum exhibits. The next morning I hiked 5-6 miles around the state park enjoying the scenic overlooks, the lush forest, the ruins of the old St. Peter's Church and Cemetery, and the old school site. It was wonderful.
