Our favorite summer vacation spot is Copper Harbor; a small town on a beautiful harbor near the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula of Upper Michigan. This special bit of nature is located very close to the center of Lake Superior. US Highway 41, depending on your point of view, begins or ends in Copper Harbor.
Since the area receives 200 to 300 inches of snow each winter, the village population from November to May is less than 100 souls. As the days get warmer and the black flys become less of an annoyance, the number of people in the area increases significantly.
We usually plan our Copper Harbor trips for July and August. Lin’s birthday is mid July and she loves to have birthday dinner at her favorite restaurant in her favorite location, whenever possible. So, we have been in Copper Harbor many times in mid-July.
The best restaurant in Copper Harbor … the Keweenaw Peninsula … maybe even the UP, and the State of Michigan … is the Harbor Haus Restaurant. We have been dining there for over 20 years. In recent years we have also stayed in the octoganal Harbor Haus B&B Suite … called the Crow’s Nest … overlooking the entrance to Copper Harbor.
Copper Harbor is a special destination for people who want to visit the Isle Royale National Park. Spring, Summer, and Fall … the Isle Royale Queen sails from Copper Harbor to Isle Royale and back.
The Harbor Haus Restaurant has a long-standing tradition of greeting the Queen and her court as they return on a 3 hour cruise from Isle Royale. When the Queen signals her return to Copper Harbor, the Harbor Haus staff prepares to greet her. They update service with each customer, then exit to the patio … forming a can-can dance line … guests are welcome to join.
Chris Waara, proprieter, is often leading the troupe and ringing the ship’s bell next to the patio.
It’s fun to watch.
This is my first YouTube upload … and my second …
I hope you enjoy them.
You will enjoy the Harbor Haus, if you get a chance to dine there.
In this next video you have a better view of the staff performing the Can-Can.


[...] Harbor Haus Greets the Isle Royale Queen … Can you Can-Can as well as the Harbor Haus Staff? [...]