Adventures
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A Quiet Escape: Black Slate Falls
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Black Slate Falls is small but it offers so much. With variety levels in the drops, the roughness of stone, and the overall peacefulness of the area, Black Slate Falls makes the perfect location for a quiet escape. Black Slate Falls is located just east of L’Anse, Michigan on the…
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The Hike to Spray Falls
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heer rock cliffs, unruly waves, miles of forest and wild waterfalls. Who could say no to that? That’s the scenery you can expect to see when you hike the North Country Trail in Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore. The trail follows, literally, along Lake Superior from Munising to Grand Marais…
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A Journey to Crisp Point Lighthouse
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Michigan has some pretty unique lighthouses. Designed to withstand the raging storms of the Great Lakes, it’s hard to not be impressed. Even if lighthouses aren’t your thing. Crisp Point Lighthouse, once inaccessible by car, is one such unique structure.
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A Trip Down River Road Scenic Byway
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The River Road Scenic Byway runs 22 miles, running from Hale to Oscoda, Michigan. The historical information and amazing scenic views make this a great scenic byway to check out in the lower peninsula.
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Fayette: An Amazing Historical Opportunity
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Tucked away in the Snail Shell Harbor of the Garden Peninsula is 170 acres of pure Michigan history. Fayette Historical State Park was once a thriving community, manufacturing charcoal pig iron.
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Exploring Pictured Rocks: Hiking The Chapels
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The Chapel/Mosquito Loop in Pictured Rocks is perhaps one of the most visited portions of the trail. This trip, my mom and I decided to taken 6.6 miles (RT) of the trail that included Chapel Falls, Chapel Rock, and Chapel Beach. Chapel Falls The waterfall is about 60 feet tall…
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A Trek Up Sugarloaf Mountain
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Sugarloaf Mountain may not be Mount Everest, but it certainly has something to offer those in the Marquette area. Honestly, I could have sat up there all day, admiring the view. Miles and mile of forest in one direction, Lake Superior 470 feet below in another. This 360 view of…
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A Cozy Cabin Rental near Munising
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Every February we venture into the frozen north in search of nature’s ice sculptures. We’ve stayed mostly at hotels in the past but this year we wanted to be able to bring our beagles with us. I just happened to come across this little place called Double D Cabins, located…
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An Icy Trip to Lake Michigan
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There is something other-worldly like about visiting one of Michigan’s great lakes in the winter time. The ice in particular creates these beautiful formations. Wind swept, weather eroded and fractured iced. Mountains line the beaches, and chunks float in the water, growing and shrinking as they collide with other sheets…
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A Gorge to Remember – Manganese Gorge
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first encountered Manganese Falls in winter of 2012 when we ventured to Copper Harbor for the first time. We couldn’t see the waterfall very well but we taken aback by the beauty of the gorge below. Where everything outside the gorge was covered in white snow, inside the gorge greenery thrived…
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San Juan Skyway and the Million Dollar Highway
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When Steve and I discovered the San Juan Skyway, we were immediately interested. When we discovered the section called the Million Dollar Highway, we knew we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to drive it.
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An Adventure on Utah’s Scenic Byway Highway 12
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Utah is a strange and wondrous world. Out of all the states (29) that I’ve been to, this one is the most interesting. From the Salt Flats (out of this world strange) in the North to the rocky formations and aspen forests in the South. Scenic Byway 12 cuts through…
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Arizona’s Best: Horseshoe Bend
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Horseshoe Bend gets it’s name from the horseshoe shape the Colorado River makes as it heads south to the Grand Canyon. It is quite the sight to peer over the 1,000 foot edge and see tiny boats floating in the river. Located a half mile south of the Glen Canyon…
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The Grand Canyon
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This was my first trip to the Grand Canyon, Steve’s second. Honestly, I wasn’t very impressed. I’m not sure what it was exactly but it lacked the appeal of other National Parks that we had been to.
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300 Feet to Moro Rock & A View to Remember
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350 stairs are all that stands between you and the top of Moro Rock. Three hundred feet of elevation change over a quarter of a mile. The trail, though easily accessed and short, isn’t for everyone.
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Tokopah Falls – A 1200 Foot Waterfall
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When I read about this 5 start, 1,200 foot waterfall within a 3.4 mile hike, I had to check it out. Located in Sequoia National Park, Tokpah Falls is a well known and frequently visited waterfall. The trailhead is located within the Lodgepole Campground.
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Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park
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Located in the small town of Alto, Michigan, Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park is an 80 acre gem. It is an unique, fun little place that has a wide range of exotic animals and reptiles. The owners, Dave and Dawn, started the park as a hobby farm, raising White-tailed deer,…
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Kitch-iti-kipi – Michigan’s Largest Freshwater Spring
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Growing up Steve visited Kitch-iti-kipi with his family. It made such an impression on him that he wanted to revist and share the experience with me. I didn’t know what to expect from a giant spring with a raft suspended on a wire and propelled by human power. A bit…
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Waterfalls on the Black River Scenic Byway
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The Black River Scenic Byway is a 14-mile stretch of road that follows the Black River. There are 5 major waterfalls along this route with ample hiking opportunities available. Great Conglomerate Falls The first waterfall is the Great Conglomerate Falls. Thirty feet in height, it surges over a wide conglomerate…
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Hiking the Estivant Pines Sanctuary
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In 1971 Lauri Leskinen published an article in the Houghton Daily Mining Gazette called The Last Stand. It addressed protecting “one of the last stands of virgin pines in the Midwest” from the lumber industry.
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Silver Falls
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Silver Falls isn’t the most impressive waterfall in the U.P. but still has beauty and charm.
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The Beautiful Yellow Dog Falls
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Yellow Dog Falls is located on the Yellow Dog River in Marquette County. This river runs wild throughout the county, untouched by human development. Many of the waterfalls are not very easily accessible. Yellow Dog Falls is one of the larger falls, nearly 20 feet in height and is the…
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The Beauty of Alder Falls
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Located 20 miles north-west of Marquette, Michigan, Alder Falls is a beautiful, multi-leveled waterfall. The lowest drop is the most impressive at around 30 feet in height. This cascading falls is surrounded by pure beauty and is one of my favorite places to visit.
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Munising Falls: A Well Known Treat
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Munising is becoming one popular town. Not only does it have the quaint, small town appeal, but it is also located next to some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Michigan; Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore. Aside from these extremely impressive rock formations, Munising also has some pretty…
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A Michigan Secret – Eben Ice Caves
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Eben Junction is a small city about 30 minutes outside of Munising. Every year visitors from all over come to this city to see one spectacular piece of nature. Hidden about half a mile within the Rock River Wilderness area is something known as the “Eben Ice Caves.” The caves…