Adventures
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Hiking the Wild McCormick Wilderness Area
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There is a place in Michigan that is incredibly wild and remote. With miles of trails, scenic waterfalls, hardwood forests, and wild rivers, McCormick Wilderness Area is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true. However, the unmarked trails make this place a destination for experienced hikers.
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A Visit to the Beautiful Stanley Hotel
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If you are familiar with Stephen King’s novel, The Shining, you may know that the inspiration for the haunted hotel comes from a real place – the Stanley Hotel – located in the breath-taking town of Estes Park, Colorado. I was lucky enough to attend a conference at this infamous…
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Experience the Elk at Gaylord’s City Park
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Pigeon River State Forest (east of Gaylord, Michigan) is home to one of the largest herd of elk east of the Missippissi. This place is so special. There is nothing more magical than seeing a free-range elk in its natural habitat. However, most people don’t take the opportunity to go…
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An Easy Winter Waterfall: Powerhouse Falls
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If you are looking for an easily accessible winter waterfall adventure, Powerhouse Falls is an excellent option to add to your itinerary.
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The Scenic Agate Falls
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Agate Falls is one of Michigan’s impressive waterfalls. It is nearly 40 feet in height and cascades over a beautiful sandstone terrace. It can provide visitors with a one-of-a-kind experience.
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A Muddy Adventure to Rock River Falls
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Hidden within the Rock River Wilderness Area in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a beautiful, secluded waterfall. Narrow roads and a trail thick with mud make getting to Rock River Falls an adventure in itself. A journey that is well worth it.
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Catching the Northern Lights
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Each year people travel north to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in hopes of catching a glimpse of the mystical Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). We were lucky enough to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right conditions.
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Exploring the North Country Trail, Fallasburg to Lowell
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There is something special about running or hiking on secluded trail. With no people, it is easy to lose yourself in thought and reconnect to the natural world. The North Country Trail (NCT) offers that outlet for all types of outdoor enthusiasts.
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A Great Hike at Lincoln Brick Park
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During Michigan’s Trail Week, I was attempting to hike or run different trail systems every day. This led me to Lincoln Brick Park. Often overshadowed by the neighboring Fitzgerald Park, this small historic place has plenty to offer outdoor enthusiasts.
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A Family-Friendly Waterfall: Horseshoe Falls
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Privately owned, Horseshoe Falls is one of the many beautiful waterfalls in the city of Munising. Surrounded by ferns and moss, this picturesque waterfall is worth stopping to visit, at least once.
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A Mini Waterfall: Chatham Falls
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Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is well known for small, hidden waterfalls that few people know about. Chatham Falls is known to locals but not frequently visited by those passing through the village of Chatham.
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A Lighthouse in the Shadows: Mackinac Point
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The Mackinac Bridge is an iconic symbol of Michigan. It is the gateway that connects two peninsula over miles of water. Nestled on its southern shore is a lighthouse that has been a beacon for ships long before the bridge began to shine.
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A Lake Side Attraction: Elliot Falls
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A small waterfall tucked away on one of Pictured Rock’s most beautiful beaches. Elliot Falls, also known as Miners Beach Falls, is an iconic waterfall of the area.
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Marquette’s Forestville Dam Falls
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Waterfalls created by or surrounded by dams are not my favorite. But every once in awhile, one must look beyond the concrete and fencing to see what beauty can be found. Forestville Dam Falls is one such case.
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The Wild Sturgeon River Falls
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Hidden deep within a protected gorge is a roaring waterfall known as Sturgeon River Falls. Located on the powerful Sturgeon River, this is one waterfall that is well worth the challenge to visit.
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Tackling the Penosha Trail
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The Penosha Trail offers a 5 mile loop through pretty forest and fields. Well maintained, but not without its share of hidden rocks and roots. This is one trail worth running.
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A Michigan Must: Tahquamenon Falls
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Tahquamenon Falls is the perfect representation of the beauty to be found in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A popular tourist destination for reasons obvious to any visitor. As a staple of Michigan, this waterfall should be on everyone’s bucket list.
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Visiting Historic Whitefish Point
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Known as the Graveyard of Ships, Whitefish Point is home to the Great Lake Shipwreck Museum and Whitefish Point Light Station. Visitors can take in views of Lake Superior, search for Agates, and learn about the 240 ships that have been lost to Lake Superior.
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A Winter Hike at Meridian Riverfront Park
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Meridian Township is home to several parks and recreational spaces. However, none are quite as special as the Meridian Riverfront Park. Consisting of 3 individual parks, this trail system offers diverse wildlife viewing, beautiful scenic spots along the Red Cedar River, and winding trails through young forest.
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A Quick Stop at Reany Falls
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Simple, elegant, and wild. Reany Falls is one of the many waterfalls found within Marquette County. Although small, this scenic waterfall is easy to access and makes a nice picnic spot.
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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Mosquito Falls
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Mosquito Falls is one of the smaller waterfalls tucked away in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It does not have the impressive height of Sable Falls or power of Miner’s, but it is nonetheless just as beautiful.
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Visiting Erick’s Falls
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Erick’s Falls is not the prettiest or most impressive waterfall in the Huron Mountains. In fact, with concrete bridge looming upriver from it, it could be considered almost ugly. Even still, with how easy it is to access and the surrounding area, it is worth visiting at least once.
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Our Favorite 10 Adventures of 2019
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We had some great adventures and experiences in 2019. It was hard to pick only 10. But we here are they, in no particular order. Our favorite 2019 adventures.
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A Road Side Attraction: Alger Falls
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Roadside waterfalls are not very common in Michigan, comparatively speaking. But when there is one, they draw a crowd. Alger Falls near Munising, Michigan is one such popular waterfall. Nestled away on the side of the road, it offers easy viewing access to everyone.
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Finding the Cut
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Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is rich with hidden histories. Concepts and ideas thwarted by the wilderness. Communities fading away, returning to what once existed before them. The Iron Range and Huron Bay Railroad is one such history. Today echos remain of what once almost existed.