Michigan is full of majesty, mystery, and might, each of which comes in many forms. This three-part series highlights just some of what the Mitten State has to offer, county by county. Welcome to Part One, which covers the first 29 counties alphabetically, from Alcona to Gratiot.
Read MoreIf you asked 100 random people on the street what the southernmost point of the continental U.S. is, perhaps 50 to 60 of them could correctly tell you that Key West, Florida, is the destination you’re after. What would happen, though, if you asked the same group to name the northernmost point? Would the number of correct responses be similar? Higher? Lower? If I were betting on it, I’d certainly take the under.
Read MoreFrom the otherworldly spirits haunting Michigan’s lighthouses to the mythical Dogman lurking somewhere in the north woods’ darkness, the Great Lakes State is a treasure trove full of ghost stories and urban legends. The Great Lakes are intriguing in and of themselves, their rough waters having claimed numerous ships over the years, but the tales creep inland, as well, giving residents of the mitten plenty to talk about around the campfire late at night.
Read MoreBelieve it or not, there are still some pockets of the world that remain untouched by the population at-large. In some cases, this is simply because the destination is uninhabitable, or much too remote to even be worth the hassle. Other times, it’s because visitors aren’t allowed — either by governmental decree or due to the natives’ hostility toward outsiders.
Read MoreJust picturing the crystal clear waters of Fiji, the white sandy beaches of Aruba, or the colorful coral reefs of the Bahamas is enough to have you daydreaming all afternoon. However, while all of those island nations offer the whole package, we’re not here to talk about any of them.
Read MoreFrom the Porcupine Mountains to Pictured Rocks, and a whole heck of a lot in between, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is filled with plenty of treasures for travelers to explore. As anyone who has been up there could tell you, it’s truly a world unto itself. While there is much to see and do beyond the bridge, it all gets started with the first city you run into after crossing the Straits of Mackinac: St. Ignace.
Read MoreIt seems odd for a city to be 150-plus years older than the state within which it’s located, but that’s exactly what you get with Sault Ste. Marie, which was founded — get this — 169 years before Michigan joined the Union in 1837. By virtue of its founding in 1668, the Soo is the oldest city in the Great Lakes State, while fellow Upper Peninsula stalwarts St. Ignace (founded in 1671) and Marquette (1675) aren’t too far behind.
Read MoreArgentina is a big place — the second largest country in South America, in fact, and the eighth largest in the world. And that’s why the six weeks I spent there back in 2014 weren’t nearly enough to get a glimpse of all of the country’s 23 provinces — but if I ever went back, there is one province I’d make sure not to miss.
Read MoreWhile our primary purpose in visiting the Yucatan was to escape Michigan’s cold and live it up for a few days in Cancún, we used one morning/afternoon to take a day trip down to Tulum, which sits just under 80 miles to the south. Not feeling the need to rent a car and risk running into hidden fees, gas station scam artists, or corrupt cops, we opted to take a bus tour to see the ruins — and it was one of the best experiences of our trip.
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