Posts in Michigan/Indiana/Illinois

Backpacking with the Boys on Grand Island in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

When I decided to join my younger brother and his friends for a four-day hike covering 20+ miles on Grand Island in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, there were certainly some known quantities involved. I knew, for example, that spending the night on an island in Lake Superior in October would potentially be a frosty affair, thus packing plenty of layers and proper gear, including a sleeping bag capable of insulating my body in 35- to 40-degree weather, was a must. I knew that it would be extremely dark out there once the sun went down, which could possibly provide awe-inspiring glimpses of starry night skies, but also allow the imagination to run wild…

Michigan/Indiana/IllinoisLogan T. HansenOctober 15, 2026travel, travel guide, travel advice, travel inspiration, travelspiration, travel tips, travelogue, travel recommendations, travel ideas, travel diary, travel bucket list, backpacking, hiking, hiking gear, camping, camping gear, the great outdoors, Mother Nature, outdoors, outdoor adventure, hiking trails, Lake Superior, Grand Island, Michigan, Upper Peninsula, U.P., Munising, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Great Lakes, Great Lakes State, Mitten State, autumn, autumn travel, autumn getaway, autumn inspiration, fall travel, senescence, backcountry, black bears, Pictured Rocks, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Grand Island National Recreation Area, Henry David Thoreau, Hemlock, Shelter Ridge, Little Duck, camping trip, rustic camping, Muldoons, Muldoons Pasties & Gifts, pasties, Grand Island Ferry Service, hotty toddy, North Beach, Hemlock Beach, Bane, Milky Way, stargazing, Yogi Bear, Boo-Boo Bear, Yogi and Boo-Boo, Game of Thrones, Rains of Castamere, Trout Bay, Murray Bay, euchre, Eddie Rabbitt, I Love a Rainy Night, Williams Landing, guys trip, outdoor recreation, outdoor gear, cold weather, fall, fall getaway Comment

West Michigan Would Like to Welcome You to the Largest Outdoor Winter Festival in the U.S.

Wintertime can feel like a slog, especially once the holidays have come and gone. If you’re not much of a winter sports person, whether we’re talking skiing, snowboarding, ice fishing, or the like, it can be even more of a drag. That’s where winter festivals and carnivals come into play, injecting a bit of brightness into the cold, shortened days of the bitter season. As far as these frosty affairs go, it doesn’t get much bigger than the weeks-long World of Winter Festival held in West Michigan every January, February, and March.

Michigan/Indiana/IllinoisLogan T. HansenDecember 29, 2025travel, travel guide, travel advice, travel inspiration, travelspiration, travel ideas, travel itinerary, travel recommendations, travel tips, travel planning, winter travel, Michigan, Great Lakes State, Mitten State, Grand Rapids, West Michigan, World of Winter, Beer City, silent disco, scavenger hunt, Hungry Hungry Hippos, winter festival, winter carnival, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc, DGRI, ice carving, ice sculptures, Rosa Parks Circle, Ah-Nab-Awen Park, Sixth Street Park, Blue Bridge, Great Lakes Snow Snake Competition, Fire & Ice, Noodle Fest, Greater Grand Rapids Figure Skating Club, Winter's a DRAG!, AYA Youth Collective, RuPaul's Drag Race, RuPaul, Stella's Lounge, Butcher's Union, Grand Rapids Garage Bar & Grill, Garage Bar & Grill, Founders Brewing, New Holland Brewing, Atwater Brewery, All Day IPA, Dirty Bastard, Dragon's Milk, Tangerine Space Machine, Detroit, Midwest, winter activities, the great outdoors, winter getawayComment

The Revived Ruin That Perfectly Showcases Detroit's Ongoing Renaissance

Corktown is one of Detroit’s most eclectic neighborhoods, brimming with breweries, eateries, bars, and all kinds of inviting little shops and boutiques — a quaint little city within the city, with downtown’s skyscrapers plainly in view off to the east. While there are all kinds of reasons for visiting this part of Detroit, the true pièce de résistance is the newly-revived Michigan Central Station.

Michigan/Indiana/IllinoisLogan T. HansenSeptember 29, 2025travel, travel advice, travel guide, travel inspiration, travelspiration, Detroit, travel tips, travel reviews, travel recommendations, travel ideas, travel planning, Great Lakes State, Motor City, Motown, Corktown, Michigan, Michigan Central Station, Michigan Central, Henry Ford, William Clay Ford Jr., The Ford Motor Company, Mercury Burger & Bar, Downtown Detroit, Midtown, County Cork, Ireland, U.S. history, Michigan history, Ellis Island, Slows Bar-B-Q, Metropolis Cycles, Yard Graffiti Museum, Michigan Central Railroad, Amtrak, train travel, Bill Ford, Eminem, Diana Ross, Gateway to Detroit, Stanley Christmas, Great Recession, Jack White, Big Sean, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Peacock, Paul Rosenberg, Mitten State, Yellow Light Coffee and Donuts, Neighbor x Folk, The Shop, mobilityComment

All Beach Bums Report to Beverly Shores, The Lakefront Hideaway Tucked Inside a National Park

It feels wildly unlikely that I would ever come across a Lake Michigan beach that didn’t tickle my fancy, but the 4.5-mile stretch of sandy shoreline belonging to Beverly Shores, Indiana, is increasingly becoming one of my new favorites. The “town” of Beverly Shores, which is tucked between Gary and Michigan City and surrounded by Indiana Dunes National Park, isn’t much of a town at all — what you will find here on the underside of Lake Michigan is mostly a mix of beachfront, forest, marshland, and sand dunes. But, honestly, what more do you need?

Michigan/Indiana/IllinoisLogan T. HansenAugust 30, 2025travel, travel advice, travel guide, travel inspiration, travelspiration, travel recommendations, travel reviews, travel tips, travel ideas, Indiana, Hoosier State, Lake Michigan, Great Lakes, Indiana Dunes National Park, Beverly Shores, beach, beach day, beach life, lake life, sand dunes, summer, summer travel, nature, the great outdoors, Mother Nature, outdoors, outdoor recreation, Michigan City, Gary, Northwest Indiana, Midwest, hidden gem, International Dark Sky Community, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, US Route 12, US-12, Beverly Shores Depot, Beverly Shores Depot Museum & Art Gallery, South Shore Line, Chicago, Chicagoland, South Bend, Insull Spanish, Insull Spanish architecture, architecture, Mission Revival, California, 19th century, Beverly Shores Heritage Trail, Wes Anderson, South Broadway, East Lake Front Drive, Century of Progress, Century of Progress Historic District, Century of Progress Homes, 1933 Chicago World's Fair, I Love Lucy, America's First Glass House, Cypress Log Cabin, Florida Tropical House, Armco-Ferro House, Rostone House, House of Tomorrow, Robert Bartlett, Frederick H. Bartlett Company, Atlantic City, Save the Dunes, Save the Dunes Council, Indiana Landmarks, National Register of Historic PlacesComment

Turn the Page at These Enchanting Used Bookstores in Chicago

Vintage books are by no means a necessity, but if you’re in the market for some classic tomes — if, perhaps, you have a collection going, or are looking to begin one — there are a few spots around Chicago that need to be on your radar. Here are three of them.

The Best Beaches in Chicago to Get Your Volleyball On This Summer

We’re here to talk shop, and by that, I mean volleyball. Specifically, the kind played on the sand in the summertime, which is the best kind in my opinion, and the preferred version of the sport for Chicagoans when the warm weather washes up on the shores of Lake Michigan. Visit any of the beaches mentioned below for yourself during the summer and you'll likely come to the same conclusion.

Michigan/Indiana/IllinoisLogan T. HansenMay 27, 2024travel, travel guide, travel advice, travelspiration, travel inspiration, beach life, beach, beach volleyball, volleyball, summer, summertime, summer travel, Chicago, Illinois, city life, North Avenue BeachComment

Lake Michigan is Officially Among the Most Picturesque Landscapes in the U.S.

Look, folks, here’s the deal: Lake Michigan doesn’t need your approval. It doesn’t need your accolades, or your superlatives, or your constant-but-warranted praise. It doesn’t need you to remind it that it is the greatest of all the Great Lakes, better than Lake Superior or Huron or Ontario... or that other one that we almost don’t even need to mention (because, come on, that’s just laughable).

Michigan/Indiana/IllinoisLogan T. HansenSeptember 13, 2023travel, travel guide, travel advice, travel guidance, travel recommendations, travel ideas, travel inspiration, travelspiration, travel porn, Lake Michigan, Michigan, Great Lakes State, Great Lakes, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, HOMES, Aaron Burden, Holland, Storyboards, Awesome Mitten, Instagram, Lake Tahoe, Clearwater Beach, Waikiki Beach, Lake Norman, Lake Powell, Mojave Desert, Upper Peninsula, U.P., Chicago, beach, beach life, beaches, beach getaway, biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, paddle boarding, lightkeeper, lighthouse, Traverse City, Old Mission Lighthouse, Mission Point Lighthouse, Old Mission, Old Mission Peninsula, sand dunes, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Grand Haven, Pentwater, Leland, Fishtown, Arcadia Bluffs, golf, golf courseComment

The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 3

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 Three, which covers the final 22 counties alphabetically, from Newaygo to Wexford.

Michigan/Indiana/IllinoisLogan T. HansenNovember 7, 2022travel, travel advice, travel guide, travel guidance, travel inspiration, travelspiration, travel ideas, Michigan, Great Lakes State, Mitten State, The Mitten State, mitten state, Great Lakes, Newaygo, Wisner Canoes, Betts Guide Service & Outfitter, hiking, hiking trails, bikinig, canoeing, kayaking, outdoors, outdoor recreation, Newaygo County, Oakland County, Oceana County, Detroit Zoo, Arctic Ring of Life, Nocturnal Adventures, Silver Lake, Silver Lake Sand Dunes, Pentwater, Ogemaw County, Northern Michigan, Lumber Jack Food & Spirits, ATV, ATV rental, swimming, boating, jet skiing, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Interstate 75, I-75, Ontonagon County, Porcupine Mountains, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Lake of the Clouds, Upper Peninsula, U.P., Up North, Central Michigan, J&J's River Run, Crawford Park, Hersey Canoe Landing, Muskegon River, Osceola County, M-66, Oscoda County, Coopersville USA, Roadside America, Spike Cooper, Huron National Forest, Huron-Manistee National Forest, Otsego County, Treetops, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Ottawa County, North Beach Park, Grand Haven, Grand Haven State Park, Windsnest Park, Holland, Tunnel Park, Holland State Park, Nelis' Dutch Village, Port Sheldon, Presque Isle, Presque Isle County, Old Presque Isle Lighthouse, Old Presque Isle Light, New Presque Isle Light, Ocqueoc Falls, Besser Nature Preserve, Roscommon County, Higgins Lake, Houghton Lake, North Higgins Lake State Park, South Higgins Lake State Park, Houghton Lake State Forest Park, Nibbles Ice Cream, Nibbles Ice Cream Store, lake life, Saginaw County, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, Frankenmuth, Little Bavaria, St. Clair County, Fort Gratiot Light, St. Lawrence Seaway, St. Clair River, St. Joseph County, Lakeside Cemetery, Colon, Harry Blackstone, Ted Banks, Charlie Chaplin, Harry Houdini, Abbott Magic Co, Jack Gwynne, Sanilac County, Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park, Sanilac petroglyphs, Anishinaabemowin, Ezhibiigaadek Asin, Cass River, Schoolcraft County, Kitch-iti-kipi, Manistique, Indian Lake, Big Spring, Palms Book State Park, Shiawassee County, Curwood Castle, Shiawassee River, Owosso, James Oliver Curwood, Curwood Festival, Tuscola County, Vassar Theatre, Vassar, Art Deco theater, Van Buren County, beach, beach life, beach day, beach getaway, North Beach, South Beach, South Haven, Lake Arvesta Farms, Washtenaw County, Michigan Stadium, University of Michigan, Big House, Michigan football, Wayne County, Eastern Market, The Henry Ford, Holiday Nights, Greenfield Village, National Historic Landmark, farmers market, Dearborn, Wexford County, Caberfae Peaks, skiing, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, cross country skiing, the great outdoors, summer travel, winter travelComment

The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 2

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 Two, which covers 32 counties alphabetically, from Hillsdale to Muskegon.

Michigan/Indiana/IllinoisLogan T. HansenJuly 29, 2022travel, Michigan, travel advice, travel guide, travel guidance, travelspiration, travel inspiration, travel ideas, Great Lakes State, Turnip Rock, Great Lakes, The Mitten State, mitten state, Hillsdale County, Tri-State Marker, Billingstown Ohio, La Tierra Sanctuary, hiking, hiking trails, Houghton, Houghton County, Mont Ripley, Upper Peninsula, Upper Peninsula Tours, Copper Harbor, Copper Country Falls Tour, Michigan Tech, Michigan Technological University, Portage Lake, The Portage, skiing, snowboarding, winter sports, the great outdoors, outdoor adventure, outdoor recreation, winter travel, winter getaway, summer travel, kayaking, canoeing, Mackinac Island, Huron County, Port Austin, Port Austin Kayak, Port Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Thumb, Ingham County, Michigan State Capitol, National Historic Landmark, self-guided tour, lighthouse, Ionia County, Saranac, Iosco County, Tawas Point, Tawas Point Lighthouse, Tawas Point State Park, fishing, Midwest Cape Cod, Lower Peninsula, migratory birds, bird watching, swimming, camping, Iron County, Ski Brule, Nordic trails, Wisconsin, sleigh rides, family trip, family-friendly, family vacation, Isabella County, Mount Pleasant, Soaring Eagle Casino, Bucks Run Golf Club, Jerry Matthews, Quarry Grill, Bucks Run Putting Island, Golf Digest, Golf Digest's Places to Play, Jackson County, Falling Waters Trail, Aaron Dimick, People for the Parks & Trails of Jackson Michigan, Cascades Waterfall, Kalamazoo County, Air Zoo, Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum, Portage, Flight Innovation Center, amusement park, Michigan's Adventure, Wildwater Adventure Park, Kalkaska County, Skegemog Lake, Skegemog Lake Wildlife Area, Torch River, biking, mountain biking, Kent County, Grand Rapids, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Frederik Meijer, Japanese rock garden, The New York Times, 52 Places to Go in 2016, 52 Places, 52 Places to Go, Auguste Rodin, Ai Weiwei, West Michigan, Keweenaw Peninsula, Keweenaw County, Isle Royale, Isle Royale National Park, Manistee National Forest, Huron-Manistee National Forest, Lake County, Bear Track, Old Grade, Gleason's Landing, Bowman Bridge, Shrine of the Pines, Pere Marquette River, Lapeer County, Lake Inn, Lake Nepessing, Lapeer Country Club, craft beer, Up North, Northern Michigan, Leelanau County, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Fishtown, Leland, Lenawee County, Michigan International Speedway, Faster Horses, MHSAA, NASCAR, NASCAR Cup Series, Livingston County, Schell Family Farm, Parshallville Cider Mill, Spicer Orchards, cider mill, Ghostly Grove, Lansing, Detroit, Fenton, Pinckney, Tahquamenon River, Tahquamenon Falls, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Oswald's Bear Ranch, Newberry, black bears, Upper Falls, Lower Falls, Grand Hotel, Arch Rock, Macomb County, Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, Ford House, Albert Kahn, Lake St. Clair, Cotswolds, National Register of Historic Places, Grosse Pointe Shores, Manistee County, Sleighbell Weekend, Sleighbell Parade, Ramsdell Theatre, Victorian Sleighbell Parade, beach, beach life, beach day, beach getaway, Secret Garden, Aaron Burden, Marquette, Marquette County, Sugarloaf Mountain, michigan.org, Pure Michigan, Yooper, Mason County, Ludington, Ludington State Park, Saturday Night Live, SNL, Stefon, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Big Sable Point, Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Nordhouse Dunes, Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area, MTV, Dan Cortese, Mecosta County, Ferris State University, 13th, Ava DuVernary, Jim Crow Museum, Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, Menominee County, J Wells State Park, Green Bay, Menominee, Cedar River, Midland County, Herbert Dow, Dow Gardens, canopy walk, forest canopy walk, Pines Home, Missaukee County, Lake City, Airbnb, Lake City Family Diner, The Patio on Main, Rustic Hog Barbecue, Rustic Hog BBQ, Monroe County, Sterling State Park, Toledo Ohio, University of Michigan, walleye fishing, James Monroe, Montcalm County, Frugthaven Farm, Klackle Orchards, Klackle doughnuts, Thunder Bay Resort, Montmorency County, Hillman, elk preserve, murder mystery weekends, golf, golf course, Muskegon County, USS Silversides Submarine Museum, Hackley and Hume, Hackley and Hume Historic Site, Shivering Timbers, rollercoaster, theme park, waterpark, two parks for the price of one, White Lake, Whitehall, Muskegon, day trip, daytripping, day tripping, day tripsComment

10 Things I've Learned From Being a Travel Blogger for (Nearly) 10 Years

Writing and travel are two of my greatest passions in life, so you’d think combining them would send me into a state of euphoric delirium. The truth is that being a travel blogger means I am constantly thinking of ways to make content out of my travels, which can be draining at times. When you’re in a new place experiencing new things, it’s generally best to simply be in the moment and enjoy it, but there is always a little voice in the back of my mind reminding me that these posts don’t write themselves.

One Spooky Town to Visit in Each of the 6 New England States

Sporting some of the best fall foliage anywhere in the nation, New England is kind of the place to be when you start to feel that crisp, crisp air creep back in. The color-changing parade that falls across the region like a patchwork quilt every September and October is undoubtedly one of the biggest draws for anyone looking to put a fall getaway on the books, but let’s also remember that this is spooky season, and New England is hardly wanting in the arena of things that go bump in the night. From haunted houses and hotels to ghost-riddled cemeteries and ships, you can scare your pants off properly six ways to Sunday.

The Unassailable Allure of the Great Ghost Trains of Maine

Hidden in the 17.5 million acres of forest spread across the state of Maine are a number of abandoned sites. These include vacant paper mills, deserted homes, old forts, and underground bunkers. But one of the most interesting things you’ll find in the woods of northern Maine are a pair of long-forgotten locomotive engines, rusting away in the middle of nowhere.

7 Michigan Cider Mills That'll Help You Get in the Autumn Mood

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but summer is pretty much over. Pumpkin spice-everything is already lining the shelves at your local grocery store, the pumpkin-shaped Reese’s have sprouted from the soon-to-be leaf-littered ground, and, perhaps most importantly, football season is underway. Instead of fighting it, why not just turn the page and delight in all that the autumn season has to offer?

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