Fun Things to do in Houghton, MI

[MafiaMan]

I'm pondering making a trip to da UP over Thanksgiving weekend to see the Sioux /Tech series. Anyone made the trip before who can give me the 4-1-1 on a decent place to stay and maybe the location of a nice toboggan run in town? I've wanted to hit this venue for years and this might be the time.

Thanks,

MafiaMan

[Fighting Sioux #1]

Things to do in Houghton....

1. Snowmobile

2. Drink

3. Watch hockey

[NorthDakotaHockey]

Took my kids last year. It's a great trip and a great atmosphere, albeit with seats only half-filled. That will change with time.

I recommend calling the Tech ticket office and getting your tickets in advance. They are very friendly and the tickets are dirt cheap. We sat right behind the Sioux bench both nights. A real blast.

The team stayed at the Best Western. There are two in town. I think it was the Franklin Square Best Western. Sure it was. Nice place. Scent of smoke in every room, just like it oughta be in every good hotel.

Tech runs a nice ski hill in town. Very reasonable, and a good way to kill the Saturday before game time. Don't know about the tobaggan runs. A handful of places to ice skate as well.

A drive to the tips of the U.P. is also fun. We went in January and drove through a beautiful driving snow. Got our lousy Ford Explorer stuck on a side road. Almost stopped my heart pushing it clear but had the fortune of a raft of snowmobiling and drinking Badger fans happening upon us. There is hardly anyone on the roads, so it was a good time for my underage kids to get some behind the wheel experience in snow.

It is a great WCHA city, school, and venue. I'd recommend the trip to anyone. We drove from the Cities, but the trip from GF is no hard drive either.

[WPoS]

how about:

"watch water freeze"

either that or watch the migration of various animals.

WPoS

[MafiaMan]

Thanks for the scoop, NorthDakotaHockey. I wanted to bring my 3 year old to a series this season and I think that's the one.

[bigmrg74]

Hmmmmm... perhaps Yooper can go on about more things to do here. Thats the boy's stomping grounds.

[LadyDy]

Hmmmmm...  perhaps Yooper can go on about more things to do here.  Thats the boy's stomping grounds.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I made that trip last season. Went on Al Pearson's fan bus. What a blast. We left at midnight on Thursday and drove all night. Pulled in to Houghton in the AM for breakfast - checked into the Best Western (where the team stays) then went to the rink to watch the Sioux practice. It is a nice hockey town. TONS of snow - lots of cute downtown shops - fun bars - a bazillion snowmobiles EVERYWHERE. If you are lucky enough to go there during their Winter Festival thing (not sure what it is called) that is something to see too. The bus took a day trip on Saturday - a real nice drive up the U.P. Tech's band was awesome - they liked the Sioux fans and came over to serenade us. Crowd was really small and the tickets are cheap. I believe Al is thinking of making that trip again this year - check it out!

[izzi6]

Houghton's great, especially if you catch them on a Winter Carnival weekend... SCSU's played them twice during the Carnival and I've went up there both times. Here's my lowdown:

Lodging: Holiday Inn Express or the Franklin Square Best Western. If you're forced to stay at the Best Western King's Inn, stay home. Trust me.

At the rink: They have a helluva gift shop, might want to check that out... bring earplugs for when you're in the rink, especially if there's alot of Tech power plays, there's one song you'll hear continuously if that's the case. Trust me, you'll find out what I'm talking about. And it'll stay in your head and drive you insane, so bring good music to drown it out of your head after the game. All the people I've talked with up there are great... there's no such thing as Gopher arrogance up there

Other places: Go over to Hancock, up to Copper Harbor, and if you're willing to brave snowy roads for a good laugh, drive up to the town of Gay and take a picture of the Gay Bar, which is painted pink (I s&!t you not).

November will be a great time to head up to the peninsula.

Elizabeth

[MafiaMan]

It's a done deal, folks. I'm headin' up to da Yoo-Pee. Go Sioux...beat dem der Huskies!

[MafiaMan]

OK, tickets have been ordered...all I need to do is make hotel reservations now. I have been to the Marquette area several times and I know the town of Ishpeming has a nice toboggan run that costs $1 an hour. It's a day's worth of fun, that's for sure. Is there something like that in or nearby Houghton?