From Escanaba, Michigan, you can take a short day trip to the Peninsula Point Lighthouse. As the name suggests, it is on the point of  the Stonington Peninsula on Lake Michigan, and is a pleasant 35 mile trip from Escanaba.

The lighthouse itself consists of only the lighthouse portion -  the light keeper's residence burned down in 1959. The lighthouse is not locked - you can actually climb to the top of the lighthouse and have an incredible view of Lake Michigan. You can see where the foundation was. It actually doesn't look that much larger than a typical motel room, although it does appear to have been a two-story structure.

Since the lighthouse is at the very end of the long peninsula, the nearest town, Rapid River, Michigan, is about 20 miles away. It was built in 1865, and not automated until 1922. Although beautiful in the warmer weather, the winters must have been particularly cruel, given the exposed area, Michigan winters, and the many miles from other people. 

There are several picnic tables with grills – so it is a great place to come and have a nice quiet picnic on the shores of Lake Michigan. And, you are in the Hiawatha National Forest, so you will be surrounded by the forest's pine trees as you enjoy the lake and the lighthouse and ponder being an old-time light keeper yourself .

Peninsula Bay Lighthouse Monarchs

Every September, the area has thousands of Monarch butterflies, and I was able to see a few while I was there the end of September. Monarchs used to be ubiquitous, but the population is declining, so it is getting rarer and rarer to see Monarchs now.

The Monarchs use the area for breeding, then take off to Mexico. An interesting tidbit: the Monarchs that are going to Mexico this fall have never traveled to Mexico before, as they are the great great great grand children of the Monarchs that migrated the year before. How they know the directions boggles your mind. 

So - grab a picnic, and enjoy a bit of peace and serenity at the Peninsula Point Lighthouse.