The Lake Superior Trail, Rugged Shores and Falling Water, will lead you on a quest inland through deep forests to the mighty Tahquamenon Falls or along the shore to secluded, historic lighthouses and the glorious cliff-side display at Pictured Rocks.

Since the last ice age—about 10,000 years ago—pounding surf and incessant winds have created the largest freshwater dune system in the world along Lake Michigan’s eastern shore. There the rising sands eventually blocked the original river mouths and created inland lakes. Then new channels broke through the sands to the big lake. When Southwest Michigan’s early European settlers looked at the sheltered lakes and the channels, they imagined towns, safe harbors and commerce—and Southwest Michigan’s Historic Harbortowns were born.

In the days before ship-to-shore radios and global positioning systems, lighthouses were the only signposts guiding travelers on the Great Lakes.  If you couldn't see them, or the stars and the sun, you were driving blind. This tour visits the Lights of Northern Lake Huron that disappeared from view during the great storm of 1913.

Northwest Michigan Ports of Call have served shippers and summer's people for over 150 years--though at first, in places like Frankfort, goods and people had to debark their schooners in small boats, and pigs and cows were simply shoved overboard to swim for shore.  This tour is filled with opportunities to experience historic boats, fishing villages, harbors and lighthouses. It starts at Ludington and works its way toward the Straits of Mackinac—but any place along this 250-mile shoreline is a good place to start.

Navigate the streams and rivers of St. Joseph County in southwest Michigan and catch a glimpse the past, discover historic and natural sites, and charming small towns.  It’ a lazy or not so lazy day going with the flow.