The climate much milder than the rest of the Upper Peninsula, invites outdoor activities year round. Swimming, camping, hiking, tennis, volleyball or golf are widely available during summer. Autumn brings hunting season and spectacular color. All along the roadways, the woods burst into a glorious display of red, gold, yellow and orange. In winter, visitors and residents alike enjoy cross country skiing, ice skating, hockey, snowmobiling and ice fishing. In springtime, soon after the snow melts and creek and river waters begin to warm, the annual smelt dipping season begins. Springtime runoff brings excitement to canoeing and canoe races. 

In all seasons, there is something to do in Delta County. Escanaba has 412 acres of parks within the city and Gladstone has over 500 acres of parks within its boundaries. Other parks and recreation areas abound throughout the county.

The mile-long Ludington Park, which includes Aronson Island, is located at the end of Ludington Street in Escanaba. It offers a beach with lifeguards and bath house facilities, lighted tennis courts, picnic areas, playgrounds, and a fantasyland castle, as well as an 18 station self guided fitness circuit, a bicycle path and a boat ramp. Fishing is permitted on the municipal dock and in the Sand Point area adjacent to the park. An accessible fishing pier was added on Aronson Island in 1995. You can play volleyball on the sand volleyball court, watch or play softball on the softball diamond, and on Wednesday nights during the summer, listen to the band concerts. The snow-sliding hill attracts those who enjoy sledding.

Van Cleve Park in Gladstone offers a large sandy beach, lifeguards, bath house and a picnic area. The residents of Gladstone worked together to build a wonderful fantasyland castle on the park grounds. The Gladstone Yacht Harbor is next to the park. A boat launch is available.

FAYETTE STATE PARK

At Fayette State Park on Big Bay de Noc, the remains of an iron smelting furnace stands as a monument to Upper Michigan's iron ore history. The village takes you back to a time when life was tough for the immigrants looking for a better life in America.

Over 20 buildings are still standing in the old company town. Many are furnished as they would have been in the late 1800's.

At that time, it took three hours to travel to Escanaba by boat and two days by stagecoach. Today Fayette is easily accessible by either boat or vehicle. The park offers camping, picnicing and swimming. There are trails, winding through the historic townsite and an information center to learn more about life as it used to be at Fayette.

For more information on the Fayette Historic Townsite visit their website at http://www.sos.state.mi.us/history/museum/musefaye/index.html.

CHIP-IN CASINO

Las Vegas is only a 13 mile drive from Escanaba at the Chip-In Casino in Harris. Games of blackjack, poker, craps, live keno and bingo are offered as well as money wheel, slots and pull-tabs. It's legal gambling and it's Las Vegas style.

Betting limits range from $1 to $50 for black jack and craps and $1 to $3 for poker. Casino profits go into a fund for tribal sponsored activities.

Several motels in the area offer a casino package including room, meals and free playing chips.

GOLF COURSES

A leisurely way to spend a day is on one of seven golf courses in Delta County.

The Gladstone Golf Club has one of the most challenging courses in the Upper Peninsula. The newly developed 18 hole course is located about five miles north of Gladstone along the Days River.

The open ranges at the Highland Golf Club offers a challenge to golfers of all abilities. The 18 hole course is six miles west of Escanaba.

The Escanaba Country Club on the south side of Escanaba is semi-private and has recently opened a new 9 holes, making this a challenging 18 hold layout.

Other nine hole courses are the Nahma Golf Club along the west shores of Big Bay de Noc, Country Meadows, just south of Escanaba and Tri Valley at Garden.

LIGHTHOUSES

Sand Point Lighthouse
Recently renovated, the Sand Point Lighthouse that once guided boats entering Little Bay de Noc. This lighthouse is located near Delta County Historical Society Museum in Escanaba's Ludington Park. 

For more information on the Sand Point Lighthouse visit their web page at http://www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/light/escanaba.htm.

Peninsula Point Lighthouse 
Peninsula Point Lighthouse is located on the very tip of the Stonington Peninsula, you can climb the 40-foot lighthouse that was built in 1866.  There is a spectacular view of Lake Michigan from the top.

Built: 1866
Automated: 1922
Decommissioned: 1936

This tower is all that remains of the lighthouse that sat at the end of the point which separates Big Bay De Noc from Little Bay De Noc in Lake Michigan. The keepers residence was razed by fire in 1959. The tower is open to the public and is part of the Hiawatha National Forest.
 

HORSE TRAILS

The Bay de Noc Grand Island Trail in the Hiawatha National Forest is one of the best horse trails in the midwest.

The 40 mile trail winds along a ridge overlooking the Whitefish River Valley where Indians portaged canoes between Little Bay de Noc and Grand Island on Lake Superior.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

The many cross country ski trails in Delta County offer an excellent diversion from ice fishing.

The Rapid River Trail is seven miles north of Rapid River. The scenic Days River Pathway is next to the Gladstone Golf Club, north of Gladstone. On the western outskirts of Escanaba is the Escanaba Cross Country Pathway. And trials wind through Fayette State Park on Big Bay de Noc.

The Gladstone Ski Park offers cross country and downhill skiing as well as a newly constructed tube run.

MUSEUMS

The vivid history of the Bays de Noc comes to life at the Delta County Historical Society Museum in Escanaba's Ludington Park. Walk through the mounds of antiques that tell the story of the area's past. Nearby the Society recently renovated the Sand Point Lighthouse that once guided boats entering Little Bay de Noc.

The U.P. Stream and Gas Engine Association's Agricultural and Logging Museum on the U.P. State Fairgrounds features the sturdy machinery of days past. On display are the machines and tools used to settle the Upper Peninsula.

A former one-room schoolhouse is the site of the Garden Peninsula Historical Museum. The building, recently moved into Garden, dates back to the turn of the century and shows artifacts of the area's history.

SNOWMOBILING

The Bays de Noc are the center of massive connecting snowmobile trails that crisscross the Upper Peninsula. These trails connect Escanaba with Manistique. Munising, Gwinn, and Iron Mountain.

The Felch Grade Trail connects north of Escanaba on U.S. 2 and 41 behind the Days Inn. The Nahama Grade Trail follows old railroad beds used for logging. It connects just east of Rapid River off Co. Rd. 509. Request a detailed trail map from the Chamber of Commerce.

THEATRE AND ARTS

The William Bonifas Fine Arts Center in Escanaba is the showcase of the area's talent. Each month the Alice Uren Powers Gallery features artwork from throughout the Upper Peninsula.

The romanesque building is also home to Players de Noc who perform live theatre productions. A performing arts series of entertainment debuted in 1995. Classes for young and old and Bay Area Association and its many guilds are located at the art Center.

SHOPPING

Delta County is becoming a major shopping area for Upper Peninsula residents. Escanaba offers a beautiful downtown with distinctive shops along the mile long Ludington Street. Lincoln Road is growing up fast with the Delta Plaza and several other small malls along the busy highway.

Small town shopping can be found in Gladstone, Rapid River, and Garden. Each community features, quaint shops along their main streets.

Unique Places to Visit in Gladstone, Michigan

Hoegh Pet Casket Company
Learn the history of the pet burial phenomena, view the manufacturing and assembly, stroll through a model pet cemetery, unique columbarium(like a mausoleum,) the innovative memory wall and colorful gardens.

Marble Arms Company
Manufacturers of quality marble hunting knives, hatches and  compasses.

Bay de Noc Lure Company
Manufacturing fine fishing lures like the world famous Swedish Pimple and other great fishing spoons. Check out their website at http://www.baydenoclure.com.