Hotels in Marquette, Michigan

A little about Marquette...

Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 19,661, with the a 2005 population estimate of 20,714. It is the county seat of Marquette County. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore, and is the home of Northern Michigan University. It is the largest city on the Upper Peninsula. The city of Marquette averages about 170 inches of snow per year, making it the second snowiest city in the contiguous United States.

Festivals and events:
Art on the Rocks - An art festival at Presque Isle Park
Hiawatha Music Festival Traditional Music Festival at Tourist Park (28th Annual 21-23 July 2006)
Marquette's 4th of July Celebration
Superior Bike Fest
Ore to Shore Mountain Bike race.
Exchange Club International Food Fest
Seafood Fest
Dog Sled Race UP-200
Noquemanon Ski Marathon
Lake Superior Theatre - Semi-professional summer theatre highlighting shows with local flavor
Marquette Area Blues Fest

The city of Marquette is home to a number of parks and recreational facilities which are used by city and county residents. Presque Isle Park is Marquette's most-popular park located on the north side of the city. It includes 323 acres (131 hectares) of mostly forested land and juts out into Lake Superior. Amenities include a wooden bandshell for concerts, a park pavilian, a gazebo, a marina, a concession stand, picnic tables, barbeque pits, walking/skiing trails, playground facilities, Moosewood Nature Center, and Shiras Pool.

The city has two popular beaches, South Beach Park and McCarty's Cove. McCarty's Cove, flanked by the red U.S. Coast Guard Station lighthouse on its south shore, serves as a reprieve from hot summer days, where city and county residents alike take advantage of the cool, but tolerable, water temperatures and the cooling effects of the lake-generated sea breeze. Both beaches have picnic areas, grills, children's playgrounds, and lifeguards.

The Marquette Maritime Museum is located along the Lake Superior shoreline near the U.S. Coast Guard Station. The museum is open during the summer season and offers an extensive collection of maritime artifacts involving the maritime history of Marquette. Tours of the historic Marquette Harbor Lighthouse are also available.

The Upper Peninsula Children's Museum is located along Baraga Avenue. Those familiar with Marquette's past will recognize the former Bunny Bread sign that is located on the outside of the building. The museum features hands-on exhibits for children to learn and have fun doing so. The museum is open year-round.

The Marquette County History Museum is located along Front Street in the downtown district. The museum features many exhibits and artifacts of Marquette County's past. The museum includes a library and gift shop and is open year-round.

The DeVos Art Museum is the art museum at Northern Michigan University. The Oasis Gallery for Contemporary Art is another popular art exhibit.

Marquette Mountain is a winter sports area for skiing and snow boarding, located a few miles south of Marquette, Michigan, the major city in the state's Upper Peninsula. In the summer, Marquette Mountain offers activities such as mountain biking, volleyball, and disc golf (added in 2006). The base area's parking lot is adjacent to M-553.

Marquette Mountain is host to downhill / Alpine race events for numerous clubs, as well as their own race program. They also host NASTAR races.

The mountain has a summit elevation of 1357 ft. (414 m) AMSL and a vertical drop of 600 ft. (183 m). It has three chairlifts and a rope tow, snowmaking, night skiing, and receives an average of 210 inches (17.5 ft., 533 cm) of snowfall annually, the grateful recipient of lake effect snow from nearby Lake Superior, prominently visible to the north and northeast.