Babe the Blue Ox and Paul Bunyan bask in early morning rays.

Paul Bunyan and Babe - Castle Rock

St. Ignace, Michigan

Castle Rock is an abrupt, geologic protuberance just north of the Mackinac Bridge on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In 1929 the nearly 200-foot-high column of limestone was augmented with a man-made ramp and walkway to provide paying tourists a climb for a claimed 20-mile view of Lake Huron and distant Mackinac Island.

At the base of the Castle Rock lookout is an amusing Paul Bunyan statue accompanied by his sidekick, Babe the Blue Ox, who for some reason is sticking out his tongue. This Bunyan is rare. Instead of standing, ready to deforest Michigan, Paul sits, staring googly-eyed towards the lake. It doesn't take much imagination to complete the visual that Paul is halfway through one of his mighty bowel movements.

Paul and Babe are surrounded by a low hurricane fence, to discourage lap monkeys. The statue and lookout are accessed via Castle Rock Curios, a gift shop with a classic neon sign out front and loads of souvenirs to salve that Upper Peninsula itch.