NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN - Wisconsin - page 396

Right in the heart of downtown, left off U.S. 41 onto Riverside Avenue along the Me-
nominee River, the Best Western-Riverfront Inn (1821 Riverside Ave., 715/732-0111,
$79) offers rooms with river views.
Food
Marinette is close to yooper country—a yooper would be a resident of Michigan's Upper
Peninsula—so pasties, a regional specialty, are pervasive. You're stepping back into the
'40s if you get a slider burger and malt at the amazing Mickey-Lu Bar-B-Q (1710 Mari-
nette Ave.), with a throwback jukebox. Honestly it's the kind of place where you might just
be able to eat on glove box change. Just follow your nose here.
The River's Edge Supper Club (N4178 Hwy. 180, 715/735-7721, dinner daily Mon.-
Sat., $10-25) has a glorious riverine location and some surprising creativity to bolster its
supper club menu (good veal, for once). Even auslander food snobs will be modestly im-
pressed when taken here.
Sadly, the foodie-worthy Lauerman House Restaurant (1975 Riverside Ave., 715/
732-7800, www.lauermanhouse.com ) , a French fusion bistro tucked into a stately Queen
Anne B&B, wasn't operating at the time of writing, but the lounge is. Hopefully it will re-
open.
Information
The Marinette Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (601 Marinette Ave., 800/
236-6681, www.therealnorth.com ) is in a bright little house.
MM PESHTIGO RIVER PARKWAY
Dropping in latitude faster than any river in the state and featuring one of the longest
stretches of active white water in the Midwest, the winding Peshtigo River begins in
the north-central part of Wisconsin near Crandon, bisects the Nicolet National Forest,
and really gathers steam as it crosses into Marinette County. The state cobbled together
major chunks of privately held but wild lands, creating the 9,200-acre Peshtigo River
State Forest (715/757-3965) and the contiguous Governor Thompson State Park (715/
757-3979; locally, lots still say “Caldron Falls Park”).
Best of all, even private landowners in the flowage area had always kept it wild, so
shoreline visual clutter is minimal.
Unless you're in a kayak, there isn't much viewing white water aside from the county
parks. That's OK since the road demands your attention.