Category: Michigan
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The Hills of Blind 35
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Welcome to the Huron Mountains. That’s the message we received when we crested the top of the Blind 35 Hill. No special platform, no group of people. Just simply the mountains. Since buying the property in the area, we have been eyeing the massive rock face that we have begun…
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A Lighthouse and Shipwreck: 40 Mile Point
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On October 19, 1905, a wooden steamer towing a schooner-barge encountered rough waters. The two ships rolled in opposite directions, causing the schooner-barge to break free. The wooden steamer lost part of its stern and got stuck on a sandbar. The captain and the ten crewmen were able to make…
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Lower Michigan’s Hidden Gem: Ocqueoc Falls
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A pleasant drive through farm country brings you to the largest waterfall in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. With it, comes a pleasant surprise. Measuring in at only 10 feet in height, I held low expectations for Ocqueoc Falls, but what we found at the end of a short walk was anything…
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Hiking Thomas Rock
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Thomas Rock, previously known as Gobbler’s Knob, may not have the 360-degree views that the neighboring Sugarloaf Mountain has, but it still offers something spectacular. We discovered this scenic site back in 2013 and it has yet to lose its charm. Visitors follow a paved, interpretive trail to the top…
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To the Top! Michigan’s Tallest Point – Mount Arvon
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We visited the top of the world! Well, Michigan’s top of the world. At 1,979 feet above sea level, Mount Arvon is Michigan’s highest point. It resides in the Huron Mountain range, a wild and untamed area that stretches roughly from Marquette to L’Anse. Accessible by most vehicles, Mount Arvon…
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The 2 Lighthouses of Presque Isle
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New Presque Isle Lighthouse 130. That’s how many steps there are to reach the top of the New Presque Isle Lighthouse. Built in 1870 on the Presque Isle Peninsula in lower Michigan, this lighthouse soars 113 feet high. It is one of the tallest lighthouses on the Great Lakes and…
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An Explorer’s Guide to Big Pup Falls
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Located off of Country Road 510 between Marquette and Big Bay, Michigan is a small but beautiful little waterfall called Big Pup. Although not as impressive as it’s “big brother” down the road, Big Pup offers something magical to those who take the time to visit it, especially in the spring.…
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Climbing the AAA Walls
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“Welcome to the AAA Walls” The sign that greeted us was dwarfed by the massive rock wall looming before us. Based on topographical maps, we knew that something pretty large sat near AAA Road (Marquette County, Upper Peninsula) but we never suspected it was a solid wall of rock. “With…
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Find Peace at Wagner Falls
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Wagner Falls is an amazing little waterfall. It is easy to access and beautiful in every season. This multiple drop waterfall is roughly 20 feet in height and located on Wagner Creek, just outside of Munising, Michigan. Our most recent trip was this past January where we put on our snow…
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A Bucket List Worthy Falls: Bond Falls
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There’s no denying that Bond Falls is an impressive waterfall but there’s something about visiting it in the winter that makes it even more magical. This 50 foot tall, 160 foot wide cascading falls is located in Paulding and is without a doubt one of the Michigan’s best. We visited…
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Snowshoeing to Kakabika Falls
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Located 12 miles northeast of Marenisco, Michigan on the Cisco Branch Ontonagon River is a multiple drop waterfall called Kakabika Falls. While not extremely large in size like some of it’s neighboring waterfalls, Kakabika occurs in a series of S’s as the river drops in elevation. It’s quite a peaceful, short…
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The Beauty of Ogemaw Falls
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Waterfalls are a hot topic these days. People are starting to branch out from Tahquamenon and explore the other wonders of Michigan. To us, the more wild the better. Ogemaw Falls is one of those. It’s simple, elegant and remains untouched. This remote waterfall has a lot to offer if…
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Discover Leatherby Falls
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Leatherby Falls is one of the most impressive and unique Michigan waterfalls we have visited. Chutes, drops, slides, cascades…you name it, it has it. Located on the West Branch Huron River, this waterfall is wild and very remote, which of course is one of the reasons we love it. It’s…
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A Weekend at Big Bay Lighthouse
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My mom loves lighthouses so when my sister and I had the opportunity to get her a mother’s day/birthday gift to one of the few bed and breakfast lighthouses in Michigan, we took it.
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An Easy Hike to Big Sable Lighthouse
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If you’re looking for an easy hike that takes a couple of hours or for a place to have a picnic and hang out, Big Sable Lighthouse is a great location. The hike is around 2 miles, each way, down a sandy but well-worn path that starts at Ludington State Park.…
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42 miles of Happiness: Hiking the Pictured Rocks
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Hiking the Pictured Rocks – really hiking – is amazing. It is one of the trips that will stick with me forever. Two hundred foot cliffs, numerous waterfalls, lake shore as far as the eye can see and mountainous dunes.
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Why Presque Isle is a Must
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Presque Isle Park is truly a diamond among gems. This 323 acre park is located on a peninsula that juts into Lake Superior in Marquette, Michigan. The park contains two picnic areas, concession facilities, hiking trails (which we took advantage of at least a little), playgrounds, grassy open areas, a…
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Lovely Lilacs on Michigan’s Most Famous Island
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For the past 68 years, Mackinac Island has celebrated the bloom of the lilacs with parades, tours, art exhibitions, food tasting, and my personal favorite, fudge. This was my first year visiting the island when the lilacs were in bloom. I was impressed by the colors; purples, pinks, whites, and…
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Canyon Falls and the Gorge that Follows
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The Sturgeon River is a 106 mile long wild, raging river with some pretty amazing waterfalls. One such waterfall is Canyon Falls, called such for a good reason. Canyon Falls is located at a scenic rest stop on US-41, making it a fairly well known and visited waterfall. At roughly…
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Pure Awesome: Hungarian Falls
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There’s a little known waterfall in the Keweenaw called Hungarian Falls. Hungarian Falls is made up of several drops; Upper, Middle, and Lower. The Upper and Middle drops, though shorter in height, are remarkably beautiful. If ever there was a waterfall that looked like it belonged in an enchanted story…
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Over 5 Million Reasons to Visit Holland
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Celebrating the Dutch Heritage, the Tulip Festival is a week long event that takes place all over the city of Holland. Activities such as dutch dancing, 19th century crafts, authentic dutch dining, a parade and of course the viewing of over 5 million tulips makes this festival one worthy of…
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Pigeon River: There’s No Place Like Home
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Six years ago Steve convinced me to step out of the familiarity of an established campground and venture out into the wilderness to pick a spot and set up camp. The place I picked to do that was Pigeon River State Forest. One night there and I never looked back.…
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Finding Nature at Seney Wildlife Refuge
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Seney Wildlife Refuge is a place of peace, relaxation, and wildlife. It is our favorite stop after a long week of hiking. With everything from waterfowl to eagles to bear, there’s no place quite like it.
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A Wintry West Coast Trip: Little Sable Point
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Every year I look forward to visiting Lake Michigan in the winter. There is something very special about this time of year. Yes, it’s freezing (and I mean freezing) with bone chilling wind but the ice formations on the lake and lighthouses are masterpieces sculpted by nature and well worth…
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A Day on Slate River
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Slate River, located just east of L’Anse, Michigan, is one of those special places where time just slips away. This wild, isolated river is an adventurers haven. We trudged up the river, climbed up and slide down high gorge walls, waded across extremely slippery and oddly angled rocks, and climbed…