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Michigan

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Lake Michigan is Officially Among the Most Picturesque Landscapes in the U.S.
Sep 13, 2023
Lake Michigan is Officially Among the Most Picturesque Landscapes in the U.S.
Sep 13, 2023

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).

Sep 13, 2023
The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 3
Nov 7, 2022
The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 3
Nov 7, 2022

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.

Nov 7, 2022
The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 2
Jul 29, 2022
The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 2
Jul 29, 2022

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.

Jul 29, 2022
The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 1
Feb 8, 2022
The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 1
Feb 8, 2022

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.

Feb 8, 2022
Three States for the Price of One: This is the Place Where Michigan, Indiana, & Ohio Meet
Nov 12, 2021
Three States for the Price of One: This is the Place Where Michigan, Indiana, & Ohio Meet
Nov 12, 2021

You’ve no doubt heard of the Four Corners — the monument that marks the spot where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona come together, allowing you to stand in all four states at once — but there’s another convergence of state lines over in the Midwest that’s likely never crossed your mind. It’s so obscure, in fact, that it might as well just be marked by a rock on the side of a dirt road.

Nov 12, 2021
What It's Like to Fly Over Lake Michigan in a 9-Seater (& How You Can, Too!)
May 20, 2021
What It's Like to Fly Over Lake Michigan in a 9-Seater (& How You Can, Too!)
May 20, 2021

Airplanes come in all shapes and sizes, but it’s not every day you find yourself aboard a nine-seater headed over one of the largest fresh water sources on the planet. That is, unless you decide to enlist the services of Cape Air, a smaller airline with routes in various parts of the U.S. and the Caribbean.

May 20, 2021
Ada: Scenes From a Small West Michigan Town in Early November
Nov 14, 2020
Ada: Scenes From a Small West Michigan Town in Early November
Nov 14, 2020

Many people mourn the end summer — especially those who live in colder parts of the country — but I’ve been convinced for a long time that autumn is the best season of the year, and there’s nothing you could say to me that would make me believe otherwise. Fall means football, the leaves putting on their color-changing parade, and the start of the holiday season.

Nov 14, 2020
Drive-In Movie Theaters Around Michigan That Would Love to See Your Face Right Now
Jul 25, 2020
Drive-In Movie Theaters Around Michigan That Would Love to See Your Face Right Now
Jul 25, 2020

While regular movie theaters and cinemas are going through the financial ringer during the coronavirus pandemic, drive-ins are seeing a good old-fashioned renaissance. When you consider that drive-in theaters come with social distancing essentially baked in to the movie-going experience, this makes perfect sense.

Jul 25, 2020
5 Michigan Locations Associated with Creepy Urban Legends
Jun 19, 2020
5 Michigan Locations Associated with Creepy Urban Legends
Jun 19, 2020

From 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.

Jun 19, 2020
TripSavvy Says Michigan is Great for Outdoor Enthusiasts — They're Not Wrong
Jan 24, 2020
TripSavvy Says Michigan is Great for Outdoor Enthusiasts — They're Not Wrong
Jan 24, 2020

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.

Jan 24, 2020
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 8: A Picture Perfect Day in Pentwater
Sep 9, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 8: A Picture Perfect Day in Pentwater
Sep 9, 2019

While it could nearly be considered part of West Michigan, Pentwater still gives off that “up north” kind of vibe, and it is for that exact reason that people come from all over to take it in. It’s the kind of place you visit to quiet your mind, to let life slow down for a little bit.

Sep 9, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 7: At Home in Ann Arbor
Aug 31, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 7: At Home in Ann Arbor
Aug 31, 2019

Most everything you’ll want to see or do is within walking distance (given that you consider 30 minutes or less to be walking distance), and if you can swing it, it truly is best to leave the car parked for most of the day. It’s a well-known fact that parking in Ann Arbor comes with a high degree of difficulty, regardless of the season. Perhaps that’s why the blue buses are free not just for students but for everyone? Could be.

Aug 31, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 6: St. Ignace, Gateway to the U.P.
Aug 22, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 6: St. Ignace, Gateway to the U.P.
Aug 22, 2019

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.

Aug 22, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 5: Sault Ste. Marie & The Soo Locks
Aug 17, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 5: Sault Ste. Marie & The Soo Locks
Aug 17, 2019

It 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.

Aug 17, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 4: Much Ado About Nashville
Aug 7, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 4: Much Ado About Nashville
Aug 7, 2019

Perpetually out shined by a certain southern city of the same name, Nashville, Michigan, has probably never been on your radar. Like a number of other Michigan communities named after much more recognizable places (e.g. Athens, Holland, Moscow, Paris), the village, which is located in the eastern portion of Barry County, is a tiny, tiny community. But that doesn’t make it any less interesting.

Aug 7, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 3: Wandering Around White Lake
Jul 31, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 3: Wandering Around White Lake
Jul 31, 2019

Travel doesn’t always have to be about wandering far and wide; sometimes it can be as simple as checking out an unexplored swath of your own backyard. That was the plan on a recent weekend, when my girlfriend and I decided to check out a place along the Lake Michigan shoreline that I had driven by countless times, but had never stopped to explore before.

Jul 31, 2019
Beaver Island Music Festival: 3 Melodious Days in the Middle of Lake Michigan
Jul 25, 2019
Beaver Island Music Festival: 3 Melodious Days in the Middle of Lake Michigan
Jul 25, 2019

Music festivals are generally synonymous with a few things. Live music played at a high volume is a given, but other words and phrases and terms that might fit right in include: a weekend off the grid, lots of free spirits (or hippies, if you prefer), and perhaps a teensy bit of excessive alcohol consumption. The Beaver Island Music Festival has these things — but it also has a little something more.

Jul 25, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 2: Kayaking on the Little Manistee
Jul 16, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 2: Kayaking on the Little Manistee
Jul 16, 2019

Among the numerous outdoor activities you might partake in during a Michigan summer, one of the better options is getting out on the river in a kayak. Whether you’re looking to do a little fishing or simply float along at your leisure, it’s pretty difficult to beat a sunny day spent on the water.

Jul 16, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 1: Ottawa County's Kirk Park
Jul 9, 2019
The Michigan Day Trip Tour, No. 1: Ottawa County's Kirk Park
Jul 9, 2019

There are plenty of beaches worth a visit along Lake Michigan, not the least of which would include those found in Grand Haven, but just south of there, tucked in between some absolutely gorgeous homes on Lakeshore Avenue, is a little spot called Kirk Park.

Jul 9, 2019
Mirror, Mirror On the Wall, Which Great Lake is the Greatest of All? — The Great Lakes, Ranked
May 13, 2019
Mirror, Mirror On the Wall, Which Great Lake is the Greatest of All? — The Great Lakes, Ranked
May 13, 2019

As one of the largest sources of freshwater in the world — first in total area and second in volume only to Russia’s Lake Baikal — it’s difficult to imagine anyone making the argument that the Great Lakes aren’t named appropriately. But what if we were to compare the individual lakes with one another? Which of the Great Lakes is the greatest? The least-great? Now that’s a debate worth having.

May 13, 2019
A Unique Music Festival, Smack Dab in the Middle of Lake Michigan
Apr 8, 2019
A Unique Music Festival, Smack Dab in the Middle of Lake Michigan
Apr 8, 2019

Located in between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Beaver Island, the largest island in Lake Michigan, has hosted its increasingly-popular music festival since 2003. That was the year a few people got together and said, “We want to bring some musical talent to our neck of the woods.” And so they did — literally.

Apr 8, 2019
No Matter the Season, This Highway in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is Worth the Drive
Feb 19, 2019
No Matter the Season, This Highway in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is Worth the Drive
Feb 19, 2019

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.

Feb 19, 2019
3 Wineries in Northern Michigan You Should Visit Before the Cold (Really) Sets In
Sep 28, 2018
3 Wineries in Northern Michigan You Should Visit Before the Cold (Really) Sets In
Sep 28, 2018

In and around the state of Michigan, it’s no secret that some of the best wineries and vineyards can be found along the stretch of highway M-37 that runs all the way to the top of Traverse City’s Old Mission Peninsula. Splitting Grand Traverse Bay into its east and west arms, Old Mission has got to be one of the most scenic destinations in the entire Lower Peninsula, and its numerous vineyards only add to its charm.

Sep 28, 2018
Summertime in the City: Ideas & Inspiration for Your Day Trip to Detroit
Aug 20, 2018
Summertime in the City: Ideas & Inspiration for Your Day Trip to Detroit
Aug 20, 2018

One thing that is true of all big cities? You'll almost always discover something new each and every time you go back. Michigan's largest city, Detroit, is no exception. I've been to the Motor City numerous times — I even lived there for the final three months of 2016 — and still there are countless things I have yet to experience.

Aug 20, 2018
13 Reasons Why You Need to Visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Jul 31, 2018
13 Reasons Why You Need to Visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Jul 31, 2018

Michigan, in 1966, became the first state in the nation to have one of its shorelines designated as a National Lakeshore, as declared by Congress. Extending 42 miles and covering more than 73,000 acres along Lake Superior's southern shore, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore contains 15 miles of colorful sandstone cliffs, water-carved caves, arches, and other rock formations, as well as five miles of sandy dunes decorated here and there with jack pine forests.

Jul 31, 2018
U.P. Adventures: A Stop in Paradise, Tahquamenon Views, & Superior Trails
Jul 26, 2018
U.P. Adventures: A Stop in Paradise, Tahquamenon Views, & Superior Trails
Jul 26, 2018

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.

Jul 26, 2018
Fulton Street Farmers Market: One of West Michigan's Oldest Neighborhood Markets
Jul 21, 2018
Fulton Street Farmers Market: One of West Michigan's Oldest Neighborhood Markets
Jul 21, 2018

If you find yourself in the Midwest, there's a pretty good chance you won't need to look too hard to find a farmers market during the summer season. In rural and urban areas alike, these marketplaces are generally a fixture of the community, whether they pop up in parking lots or park pavilions on the weekend or if they have a more permanent location with fairly regular hours.

Jul 21, 2018
These 3 Michigan Travel Photographers Should Be On Your Instagram Feed
Jul 18, 2018
These 3 Michigan Travel Photographers Should Be On Your Instagram Feed
Jul 18, 2018

With rapidly-improving cell phone cameras and an easy place to share one's photos (i.e. Instagram), there are a lot of people out there claiming to be amateur photographers these days. But, even among that large pool of wannabes, it's still pretty easy to spot the real deal. When someone has the touch, it shows.

Jul 18, 2018
10 Hours in Grand Haven, Coast Guard City USA, As Told in 10 Photos
Jun 29, 2018
10 Hours in Grand Haven, Coast Guard City USA, As Told in 10 Photos
Jun 29, 2018

When it comes to Michigan's east and west coasts, there's really no contest in my estimation: the west coast, the one that hugs Lake Michigan for miles and miles, is the better coast, hands down. And of all the places you could visit along the west coast, you could do much, much worse than Grand Haven.

Jun 29, 2018
This Independent Ann Arbor Bookstore is the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
Apr 24, 2018
This Independent Ann Arbor Bookstore is the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
Apr 24, 2018

Situated on the corner of East Washington Street and South 4th Avenue, smack dab in downtown Ann Arbor, or A2, as we insiders like to call it (I really hope you rolled your eyes just now), Literati opened on March 31, 2013, and its owners, Hilary and Michael Gustafson, are firm believers in the "whimsy that an independent bookstore provides."

Apr 24, 2018
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The Mitten State of Mind: One Thing to See or Do in All 83 of Michigan's Counties, Pt. 3
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