The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 1

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.

MichiganLogan T. HansenFebruary 8, 2022travel, travel guide, travel advice, Michigan, travelspiration, travel inspiration, travel recommendations, travel tips, travel ideas, travel planning, travel appreciation, travel guidance, travel junkie, travel bucket list, Great Lakes State, Great Lakes, Escanaba, Upper Peninsula, mitten state, Chippewa County, Tahquamenon Falls, Tahquamenon River, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Mother Nature, the great outdoors, outdoors, outdoor adventure, Grand Traverse Bay, Grand Traverse County, Alcona County, Churchill Pointe Inn, Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, lighthouse, Lake Huron, Hubbard Lake, Lower Peninsula, Alger County, Pictured Rocks, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Lake Superior, kayaking, Allegan County, Oval Beach, Conde Nast, Conde Nast Traveler, Saugatuck, Lake Michigan, Alpena County, Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Lady Michigan, Shipwreck Alley, shipwrecks, Antrim County, up north, Torch Lake, Torch Lake Monster, Arenac County, Charity Island, Charity Island Lighthouse, Saginaw Bay, bird watching, Baraga County, Mt. Arvon, L'Anse, hiking, biking, jogging, cross-country skiing, cross country skiing, Huron Mountains, Barry County, Gilmore Car Museum, history, Bay County, Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, BaySail, Benzie County, Inspiration Point, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville, Frankfort, Beulah, Crystal Lake, Platte Lake, Berrien County, Warren Dunes State Park, camping, Branch County, Capri Drive-In Theater, U.S.-12, Binder Park Zoo, Calhoun County, Wild Africa, Cass County, Dowagiac, Dowagiac Woods Nature Sanctuary, Charlevoix, Charlevoix County, Charlevoix the Beautiful, Beaver Island, Beaver Island Hideaway Campground, Beaver Island Music Festival, Cheboygan County, Mackinaw City, Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island, Black Mountain Recreation Area, off-roading, snowmobiling, cheboygantrailways.com, Sault Ste. Marie, Soo Locks, St. James Harbor, St. James, Cops & Doughnuts, Clare County, Clare City Bakery, Clinton County, Uncle John's Cider Mill, US-127, Mid Mitten Cider Fest, Fall Craft & Gift Show, Crawford County, Hanson Hills, Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Grayling, Grayling Winter Sports Park, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing, winter travel, summer travel, disc golf, archery, mountain biking, Midwest, Delta County, Escanaba in da Moonlight, Jeff Daniels, Fayette Historic State Park, Northern Sun Winery & Vineyards, Ludington Park, Little Bay de Noc, Dickinson County, Pine Mountain Ski & Golf Resort, Pine Mountain, ski jump, Eaton County, Dimes Brewhouse, BrickHaven Brewing, Sanctuary Spirits, Dimondale, Grand Ledge, Emmet County, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Genesee County, Flint, Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad, Stepping Stone Falls, Saginaw Street, TripAdvisor, architecture, Anthony Bourdain, art, murals, Gladwin County, Hard Luck, ghost town, Au Sable State Forest, nailhed, Gogebic County, Big Powderhorn Mountain, Big Snow Resort, Blackjack Mountain, Indianhead Mountain, Traverse City, Old Mission, Old Mission Peninsula, winery, vineyard, Gratiot County, Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, Alma, Greenville, Montcalm County, wildlife, nature, travel junkiesComment

TripSavvy Says Michigan is Great for Outdoor Enthusiasts — They're Not Wrong

At the start of 2020, national travel publication TripSavvy declared Michigan an “underappreciated outdoor playground,” naming it the year’s top travel destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Provided this planet is full of all kinds of natural wonders, anyone unfamiliar with the Great Lakes State might balk slightly at such a designation. But those of us “in the know" aren’t the least bit surprised.

MichiganLogan T. HansenJanuary 24, 2020travel, travelspiration, travel inspiration, travel advice, travel guide, Michigan, Pictured Rocks, Great Lakes State, Aaron Burden, TripSavvy, Great Lakes, Upper Peninsula, U.P., M-2, Isle Royale, Belle Isle, Detroit, Kitch-iti-kipi, Turnip Rock, Port Austin, Motor City, Motown, cider, cider mill, Northern Michigan, Southeast Michigan, West Michigan, Charlevoix County, Beaver Island, Beaver Island Music Festival, Lake Michigan, Grand Traverse County, Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City, Old Mission Peninsula, daytripping, day trip, day trips, wine, winery, Leelanau County, Leelanau Peninsula, Manistee County, Little Manistee River, Little Manistee, kayaking, canoeing, outdoors, the great outdoors, Mother Nature, Oceana County, Pentwater, Wexford County, skiing, Caberfae Peaks, Saginaw County, Frankenmuth, Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor, Wayne County, Greenfield Village, Holiday Nights, summertime, Alger County, Pictured Rocks Cruises, Pictured Rocks Kayaking, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Chippewa County, Sault Ste. Marie, Soo Locks, Soo Locks Boat Tours, Paradise, Tahquamenon River, Tahquamenon Falls, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Lake Superior, Houghton County, Keweenaw County, Keweenaw Peninsula, Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island, Fort Mackinac, Rocket League, The Gay Bar, Gay Michigan, US-2, St. Ignace, Muskegon County, White Lake, Whitehall, Ottawa County, Kirk Park, Grand Haven, Grand Haven State ParkComment

The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 6: St. Ignace, Gateway to the U.P.

From 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.

MichiganLogan T. HansenAugust 22, 2019travel, travelspiration, travel inspiration, travel guide, travel advice, Upper Peninsula, Michigan, Great Lakes State, Mackinac Bridge, St. Ignace, Castle Rock, US-2, U.P., UP, up north, Straits of Mackinac, Lake Michigan, Chief Wawatam Park, Michigan Day Trip Tour, day trip, day trips, day tripping, daytripping, The Michigan Day Trip Tour, Sault Ste. Marie, Pictured Rocks, Yooper, Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City, Fort Mackinac, Fort Michilimackinac, colonial era, Colonial House Inn, Museum of Ojibwe Culture, Father Marquette, Father Jacques Marquette, Saint Ignace Historical Walking Tour, history, history lesson, Gateway City, St. Ignace Mission, Lake Huron, Great Lakes, Paul Bunyan, Babe, big blue ox, tourism, Straits State Park, Bridge View Park, North Country Trail, St. Anthony's Rock, Mystery Spot, mini golf, miniature golf, zip line, tourist trap, Driftwood Restaurant & Sports Grill, The Galley Restaurant, Java Joe's Cafe, The Gangplank, The Gangplank Pub & Grub, Joe's Diner, food, Bessie's Homemade Pasties, pasties, pastyComment

No Matter the Season, This Highway in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is Worth the Drive

Though driving through certain parts of Michigan is not all that exciting (looking at you, I-96), there are numerous stretches of roadway in the state that many would probably consider destinations unto themselves.

MichiganLogan T. HansenFebruary 19, 2019travel, travel inspiration, travelspiration, Michigan, Upper Peninsula, UP, U.P., US-2, U.S.-2, Pure Michigan, Pure Michigan Byway, highway, road trip, road trips, nature, Michigan Heritage Routes, Great Lakes State, Lake Michigan, Northern Michigan, I-96, M-22, Leelanau Peninsula, Lower Peninsula, Top of the Lake Scenic Byway, Mackinac Bridge, Thompson, Manistique, St. Ignace, U.S. Route 2, Michigan Department of Transportation, GarLyn Zoo, GarLyn Zoo Wildlife Park, Mystery Spot, Brevort, Brevort Lake Campground, camping, outdoors, Epoufette, Naubinway, Gould City, Gulliver, Native American, trade route, Point Aux Chenes, St. Ignace/Mackinac Island KOA, Lake Michigan Campground, Hog Island Point, Hog Island Point State Forest Campground, Dunes Shore Resort, Chapel Hill Motel, Skyline Motel Inc., Gray Wolf Lodge, Grey Wolf Lodge, Traverse City, Great Wolf Lodge, Northshore Motel, The Colonial Motel, Colonial Motel, Up NorthComment

U.P. Adventures: A Stop in Paradise, Tahquamenon Views, & Superior Trails

Though I grew up in Michigan and have lived along Lake Michigan for most of my life, there's just something different about the U.P., something that draws you to it. The landscape, more varied, more green — more ethereal, somehow — makes that connection to nature feel that much stronger.

MichiganLogan T. HansenJuly 26, 2018travel, travel guide, travel advice, travel inspiration, travelspiration, Upper Peninsula, Michigan, Mackinaw City, Mackinac Bridge, Munising, Great Lakes, Great Lakes State, St. Ignace, Charlevoix, Beaver Island, Leland, Petoskey, Indian River, Pictured Rocks, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, U.P., Joann's Fudge, Straits of Mackinac, Paradise, Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior, The Inn Gastropub & Smokehouse, Hurricane River, Hurricane River Campground, Tahquamenon Falls, Upper Falls, Lower Falls, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Newberry, Haunting of Northwest Michigan, Shelldrake, Whitefish Point, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, M-123, Highway M-28, M-28, M-77, Soo Junction, Famous Toonerville Trolley, riverboat, Tahquamenon River, Au Sable Point, Au Sable Light Station, North Country Trail, Highway 58, U.S. Coast Guard, hiking, nature, Lake MichiganComment

Return to da U.P.: Over the Mighty Mac and Through the Wood

Two years after we made the initial trek to Michigan Tech for Winter Carnival and three nights of general debauchery, it seemed a return trip to the frigid U.P. was in order. So, on a Thursday morning with mostly clear skies, we set out from Mount Pleasant in the heart of the Mitten to do just that.

That Time We Traveled to the Tippy Top of the Keweenaw Peninsula

On a Thursday night at about half past eight in the evening, I sat down with my younger brother and a friend of ours in a quaint little joint on Quincy Street in Hancock, Michigan. Looking over the menu, I steered my eyes toward the breakfast items.

If Mackinac Island Were 9 Photos, It (Probably) Would(n't) Be These

Had I known I was going to slap together a photo essay in advance, I probably would have gotten some other shots, as well, but I think this group of images does the day-long stay on the island a sufficient amount of justice.

MichiganLogan T. HansenAugust 29, 2017travel, Mackinac Island, Mackinac Bridge, Canvas & Paddle, Doud's Market, Fort Mackinac, Governor's Honor Guard, Arch Rock, Great Turtle Kayak Tours, bike rental, bicycling, MyNorth.com, photo essay Comments

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