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A Lighthouse and Shipwreck: 40 Mile Point
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 it safely to shore. We…
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Lower Michigan’s Hidden Gem: Ocqueoc Falls
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 but disappointing. There are two…
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Hiking Thomas Rock
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 where they are greeted with…
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To the Top! Michigan’s Tallest Point – Mount Arvon
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 is worth checking out. The…
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Blueberry Lemon Muffins
Ingredients 1 package of Kodiak Blueberry Lemon Protein Packed Muffin Mix 1 cup milk 1/4 cup oil 2 eggs Instructions Preheat oven to 375F Place paper baking cups in a 12 count muffin pan or grease pan Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Hand stir until the batter is smooth Divide batter among 12…
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Camping with Dogs
Camping with dogs can be a challenge but also some of the best camping experiences. We have two beagles, Brisco and Delilah, who LOVE going camping with us. If you have ever owned beagles, you know just how much they love all those new smells. Both have their own needs and we try our best…
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The 2 Lighthouses of Presque Isle
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 is the tallest on Lake…
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An Explorer’s Guide to Big Pup Falls
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. Roughly 20 feet in height,…
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Climbing the AAA Walls
“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 your help, climbing is permitted…
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A Perfect Campground: 12 Mile Beach
What does it take to make a perfect campground? Amazing views? Great Hikes? To us, 12 Mile Beach Campground in the Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore has it all. Located right on a sandy bluff above Lake Superior. And I mean right above. You could spend all day with your feet in the sand and listening…
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Find Peace at Wagner Falls
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 boots and hiked through ankle-deep…
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A Bucket List Worthy Falls: Bond Falls
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 it for the first time…
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Gear Review: DEEQI Adjustable Tree Straps
To make it a bit easier to set up the Clark NX-270 hammock, we invested in a set of DEEQI Adjustable Tree Straps. These 12 foot polyester straps have 40 loops and can safely support up to 400lbs. These are fantastic straps. Easy to use and extremely easy to adjust. It takes some of the “guess work”…
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Snowshoeing to Kakabika Falls
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 hike that isn’t very difficult…
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Gear Review: Clark NX-270
How you camp is just as important as where you camp. Having a suitable shelter that fits your needs plays a major role in having a successful (and happy) trip. Back in April, I made the decision to switch from a tent to a hammock. It reduced the weight I carried, the amount of space…
