Adventures
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Hiking to Horseshoe Harbor
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Nestled at the tip of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula is the small town of Copper Harbor. Copper Harbor is well known for its stunning vistas, beautiful hiking trails, and wild terrain. Horseshoe Harbor is all of these things accessed by one short hike. The Mary Mcdonald Preserve was originally established in…
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Ocqueoc Falls: A Lower Peninsula Surprise
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Tucked away in farm country is a small but elegant waterfall known as Ocqueoc Falls. The falls are located 11 miles west of Roger City on the Ocqueoc River. It a provides the perfect place for an afternoon of hiking, swimming, and relaxation. Because of ease of access, it’s likely…
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Porcupine Mountains Summit Peak: Great Views and an Easy Hike
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When visiting the Porcupine Mountains highest point, Summit Peak, prepare yourself for beautiful vistas. At nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, on clear days, hikers can see the Apostle Islands to the northwest and Isle Royale to the northeast. It is well worth the easy, short hike. During our visit,…
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Trail Running at Fenner Nature Center
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Easy Fenner Nature Center is a unique location within the city of Lansing that provides people with the opportunity to experience nature. This environmental education center contains 134 acres of publicly accessible green space. This includes roughly 4 miles of trails that wind through maple groves and prairie lands. Wildlife is…
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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Sable Falls
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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is known for its stunning rock formations, massive cliffs, and elegant waterfalls. It is an outdoor adventurers dream paradise. Nature’s finest. Sable Falls is no exception. Located on the east side of the park near Grand Marais, Sable Falls drops over 75 feet over sandstone formations…
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Crossing the Snowy Range Scenic Byway
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We added the Snowy Range Scenic Byway to our itinerary to help break up the long drive from Michigan to California. Wyoming has quickly become one of our favorite states to visit, even if we are just passing through. There are many opportunities to explore and beauty can be found everywhere.…
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Camping & Touring Scout’s Rest Ranch
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In 1878 William Cody bought 4,000 acres near North Platte, Nebraska. He built ranch buildings, including a house and a barn. He raised cattle and purebred stallions. He lived here from 1886 to 1913 and called this place Scout’s Rest Ranch. Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park The state of…
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The Awe-Inspiring Grand Sable Dunes
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From the sandy beaches on the Great Lakes to the massive dunes that tower above them, Michigan has some incredibly beautiful sandscapes. When you mention these sandy terrains to someone from Michigan, it’s likely that they think of the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes or Silver Lake Sand Dunes. But the…
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Visiting General Sherman in Sequoia National Park
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Located in Sequoia National Park is the world’s largest tree. Standing 275 feet tall and over 36 feet in diameter at the base, General Sherman is one impressive sight to see. Sequoia National Park is also known as a land of giants. And it’s easy to see why. With an…
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A Roadside Stop: Jacob’s Falls
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Michigan has few roadside waterfalls that compare with the beauty of Jacob’s Falls. Located about 3 miles east of Eagle River in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, Jacob’s Falls provides something for everyone. From tt’s roadside convenience of it’s final drop to the more adventurous upper drops, this waterfall allows people of all…
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Camping at Fort Wilkins Historic State Park
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If you’re looking for a campground in the Copper Harbor area, you’ll quickly find that your options are limited. Fort Wilkins Historic State Park is one of three options currently available for campers and in my opinion, has the best to offer for what you pay. The park itself features…
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Hiking to Hunter’s Point
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While not the best views in the area, Hunter’s Point provides a quick stop with some interesting sights. Located just west of Copper Harbor, Hunter’s Point is a 9.4 acre of land that juts out into Lake Superior. It has pebbly beaches (and trails) with some nice views of basalt…
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Hiking Hogback Mountain
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Considered Marquette’s second most popular summit, Hogback Mountain’s rugged terrain, hemlock forests, and stunning views make this an incredible hike. While the trail is well marked, getting to the summit of Hogback isn’t easy. It is a strenuous hike across bare bluffs and up steep mountainside. The first half of…
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A Winter Visit: Black River Falls
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Bobbling frozen bubbles and a roaring winter waterfalls. Not quite an enchanting winter scene but definitely nature making a statement. Black River Falls is a steep, wide chute nestled between two large outcroppings. Reaching 20 feet in height, this single drop waterfall it is not the tallest in Marquette County, but it…
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Rafting the Snake River
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Adventure is right around the corner. Never has this statement been truer than when one decides to pick up a paddle and hit the river. We were spending a week exploring the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and what better way to explore the mountains than through the waterways.…
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Flying through the Sky on a Hot Air Balloon Ride
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We began our journey from Colter Bay well before the sun began to rise. We were traveling to Driggs, Idaho and leaving behind our warm cabin bed in the Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming. The experience ahead of us was very special and unique. We were looking forward to…
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Exploring Pictured Rocks: Au Sable Lightstation
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Buried within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a picturesque lighthouse known as Au Sable Lightstation. This 144-year-old active lighthouse provides visitors with beautiful views of Lake Superior and a history of the area. Built in 1874 on Au Sable Point, this lighthouse was intended to not only eliminate a “dark…
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Bushwhacking to Mulligan Falls
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Mulligan Falls is one of those remote, wild waterfalls that has no easy access point. There are no established trails through the overgrown banks, not even a game path. But at 40 feet in height and with multiple drops, all different from the last, the incentive is too good to pass…
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Two Favorite Waterfalls of Marquette County
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Marquette County is a waterfall explorer’s dream. With all different types and sizes, we never know what we might run across. Morgan Falls and Carp River Falls are two that offered us plenty of surprises. Located at the end of Morgan Creek, Morgan Falls tumbles 20 feet over a volcanic…
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Michigan’s Finest: Point Betsie Lighthouse
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With 3,200 miles of shoreline, it’s no wonder why Michigan claims more lighthouses than any other state in the country. Point Betsie is one of the most unique and arguably the most beautiful of them all. Built in 1858, Point Bestie is one of the oldest lighthouses in Michigan and the…
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A Hike to Pyramid Point: Sleeping Bear Dunes
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Located in Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Pyramid Point is a moderate hike with a stunning view of Lake Michigan. The trailhead is located off of Basch Road, about 10 minutes north of Glen Arbor. There were maps available at this location that show the 2.7 mile loop as…
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McCormick Wilderness Area & the West Branch Yellow Dog Falls
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Upon approach, the McCormick Wilderness trailhead looks like any other. However, before embarking on your hike, you must leave detailed information about where you are going, how long you will be there, and your emergency contact information. Why? Because the trails are unmarked and it is easy to get lost.…
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The Beautiful Quartzite Falls
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It is well known by now that we love everything about Slate River. From its towering slate walls to it’s unique, rugged river bed. With Slate River, there is always something special around the bend. In 2015, Steve and I visited Black Slate Falls for the first time. This waterfall…
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UPDATED: Top 15 Favorite Michigan Waterfalls
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It’s been nearly two years since we compiled our list of our favorite Michigan Waterfalls. While we still have not seen all 272, we have crossed a dozen or so more off of our list and thought it was about time we update our list. These are our top 15…
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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…