Marquette

All of their food is made from scratch, in-house from the freshest ingredients sourced from local & Michigan farms, from the farmers themselves! Stop in for Happy Hour, try the free-range local breakfast, or try dinner to enjoy their whitefish sourced right from Lake Superior. Bodega is also home to the Because Marquette locally created merchandise and art, that highlights the culture and values of our region. From delicious food and drinks to locally made art and goods, there is a little something for everyone at Bodega.

Coffee and bicycles come together at Velodrome Coffee Co., with two locations in Marquette County. Simplicity and quality, with a focus on their growers, make this shop stand out. They love what they do and it shows. Stop in for live Sunday morning jazz, join a group bike ride, or grab a hand-held waffle to go! This coffee company prides itself in its sustainable business practices by personally sourcing its green coffee. This means that they visit most of the farms they work with and personally know the people they buy their green coffee from.

One of Michigan’s most popular cycling destinations, the Marquette City Multi-Use Path is a network of over 17 total miles of paved trails that take you on a tour through some of the area’s most scenic vistas and historic landmarks. The most popular (and picturesque) stretch of the path travels about 5 miles along the Lake Superior shoreline from the MDOT Welcome Center in Harvey to Presque Isle Park. Along the way, the trail passes by several waterfront parks, the iconic ore dock, the Marquette Maritime Museum, Harbor Lighthouse, McCarty’s Cove, Picnic Rocks, the campus of Northern Michigan University, and the Upper Harbor Ore Dock. The Marquette City Multi-use path makes it easier and more accessible for people to walk/bike in Downtown Marquette. Whether you’re going for a leisurely walk to the Farmers Market downtown, or heading out for a long bike ride, this is the perfect path to travel on.

This 47-mile multi-use trail crosses the Marquette Iron Range, offering a variety of geography. Enjoy the Lake Superior shoreline, historic and urban areas, wetlands, and forests. The Iron Ore Heritage Trail sustainably connects communities across Marquette County. Open to a variety of activities, you can walk, bike, ORV, cross-country ski, snowmobile, or horseback ride on this multi-use durable trail, much of which is made up of crushed gravel and paved sections. The Iron Ore Heritage Trail also connects to, and overlaps with, the Marquette City Multi-use path.

This event is a top favourite for locals and visitors alike. “Fresh Coast Film Festival is the first of its kind: a documentary film festival celebrating the outdoor lifestyle, water-rich environment, and resilient spirit of the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest. The festival will gather the best in environmental and cultural filmmaking from around the world while creating a venue for, and building a culture of, Great Lakes storytelling.” The many films are screened around various locations in downtown Marquette. Catch a film block, sign up for a guided outdoor tour, or connect with the many artists and filmmakers who are brought together for this phenomenal event.

The Ore Dock was lit up for the holidays! For the month of December 2023, they wanted to bring something festive to downtown Marquette—something that would excite locals and visitors alike. So they decided to merge local history with modern technology and put on a laser light display on the iconic Lower Harbor Ore Dock. Each week featured different fun and festive displays from holiday, winter, and Marquette themes to crazy, colourful, and abstract. During the 4th of July holiday, there is also a sensory laser light show which allows additional groups of residents and visitors, like veterans with PTSD, a sensory-friendly opportunity to participate in Marquette’s Fourth of July Celebration.

The Downtown Marquette Farmers Market is a great way to experience Marquette like a local. The market features various vendors, including local farmers & growers, food producers, and artisans at the Marquette Commons in downtown Marquette. Enjoy live music as you stroll through the market. The Saturday morning markets are held from mid-May through November. New this past summer, 2023, was the Wednesday night markets held on the main downtown block in Marquette. In the month of December there are the Saturday morning Holiday Markets, perfect for finding gifts for the ones you love. With something for everyone, these markets are sure to be an event you won’t want to miss.

Beth Millner Jewelry is crafted with nature-inspired designs. Their jewelry is created with a deep love and respect for the natural world and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Each piece is made by hand in Marquette, MI. They use recycled metal and copper sourced directly from the Upper Peninsula. Stop into their storefront on Washington Street to check out their collections, you’re sure to feel inspired by these beautiful works of art.

Both of these businesses are local and visitor favourites. Owned and operated by the same people, these local business owners put social, environmental, and economic sustainability at the top of their priority list. They strive to cultivate a better quality of life for all which manifests in great food and good service. Making ethical decisions regarding their business impacts is a core value. By using renewable energy, biodegradable and compostable packaging, recycling, and composting food, they aim to do better for the environment and their community.

In order to build a deeper connection to and appreciation for the places you visit, it’s important to have an understanding of the history and culture there. The Marquette Regional History Center is the perfect place to do this. They strive to use the preservation of the cultural and physical history of the area as a way to understand the past and present, as well as provide a guide for the future. The History Center maintains exhibits, artefacts, and a research library. It is also a location for building community through public events, art shows, and much more.