Florence, Wisconsin

During May, we spent three weeks in Florence, Wisconsin. Traveling along U.S. Highway 2 in Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula, you enter Wisconsin when you cross the Menomonee River. U.S. 2 continues to run parallel to the river until it eventually crosses the river again back into Michigan. Along the way, you pass through Florence. For a town with a population of 428, it has a surprisingly robust main street. Located on Fisher Lake, the town was initially founded because of the iron mining and logging industry. We camped at the Camping in the Clouds Campground less than a mile out of town.

The owner-operators could not have been nicer or more helpful. The campground is in a beautiful setting on top of and around a small wooded mountain. Most sites have full hookups, those that don’t have water and electric with free honey wagon. The sites are relatively large. The Mineshaft bar and grill is on-site, and we enjoyed the food. This is a very rustic campground. All the roads and most sites are dirt. This means when it rains; they are mud. The sites are not level. The campground is not well kept. There was plenty of hot water in the showers, but they were not clean. If you are into mountain biking or ATVs, this may be the park for you. Or, if you enjoy rustic camping, this will be right up your alley. The park is tranquil.

One evening we saw a bobcat stroll across the site next to us. There was a beautiful sunset, and I was taking a picture through the side window. I snapped the image and then noticed something walking by. To my surprise, this bobcat went walking by about thirty feet away. I had captured a picture of him while taking my photo. You can see him in the lower lefthand corner of the picture. I quickly adjusted the zoom and got another shot. It was not good quality, but I got him.

Florence has most things you would need. Less than a mile from us was a combination hardware and grocery store. One side was an Ace Hardware and the other side was an IGA Grocery. What a great idea! Just across the road was the Florence County Nature Center. The Nature Center is definitely worth a stop. They have a well-done little museum with information about the nearby wild rivers, area wildlife, and the mining and logging industries. The director came out and showed us around and was very helpful. We had dinner at one of the local restaurants Dina Mia Supper Club. The service and food both were great. We also got ice cream at the ice cream shop. It too was good and the scoops are enormous. If you drive through town, you can’t miss it. We also visited the library which was really nice and the Librarian was great. There is a lovely park located across Fishier Lake.

The entire area is beautiful. Fishing, boating, and trail riding are all very popular in the area. Within an hour’s drive in just about any direction you will find bountiful opportunities for fun and adventure.