Pure Michigan Travel - Historic Sites Highlights

Diving

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:55:21 GMT

The Great Lakes contain some of the most well preserved shipwrecks in the world due to the cold water. Scuba diving and snorkeling on them is great fun! And thanks to the invasion on Zebra mussels and the like the visibility is usually good to great! Wrecks are also good for fishing. The fish like the hiding places that wrecks have to offer. There are many wrecks attainable for recreational diving and snorkeling with charters if you don't have your own boat available in most of the coastal towns. There are plenty of technical wrecks as well. There are 12 Underwater Preserves in Michigan, with a 13th proposed, with web information available about the wrecks and their locations (GPS). Some of the wrecks have moorings on them, some don't. Check it out.

St Ignace is a GEM

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:41:26 GMT

What a thrill to see Pere Marquette's gravesite, eat a pasty, climb castle rock, devour sticky buns from Freshwater Foods Bakery, picnic at Bridgeview Park on whitefish pâté, explore the Mystery Spot, hang out in Totem Village, chat with locals and tourists at the weekly wine and cheese festival, meander through St Ignatius Church (St Ignace is named after St Ignatius of Loyola, the patron saint of Pere Marquette), walk out the pier to Chief Wawatam's loading spot, chow down at The Driftwood and The Galley and check out all the history of the area in Fort de Buade. And to think, St Ignace is the third oldest (continuous) city in the United States. Accommodations were wonderful both at the Best Western Harbour Pointe and the Moran Bay Motel. Wifi is abundant in the UP!

Touring the UP

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:40:26 GMT

My husband and I married on Sept 22. We toured the UP for our honeymoon. Having grown up in lower Michigan it was a real experience to be able to go to the higher side of the state. We started our trip by staying on Mackinaw Island for the night. The view on the ferry was unbelievable. We took the ferry to Mackinaw Island and stayed in the Chippews Hotel. We spent the night walking the shops and dining and then returned to the hotel to sit in the hot tub overlooking the lake. It was absolutely breathtaking. The next morning we woke up and went to Fort Mackinac on the island. We toured that and had a great time going back in history. We also rode a tandem bike around the side of the island until noon when we boarded a ferry back to the mainland. We arrived and immediately went to Colonial Michilimackinac. That was great seeing the cannon fired, and the musket demonstrations. Next, we preceded onto the Castle Rock, always a great way to spend time, but a little taxing on the legs. The view is amazing though. Next we went to the Mystery Spot for fun, and it was. Everyone should do this just to be able to say that you have. We then took our trip to Newberry. While a quaint town, it literally contains a prison, IGA, and Timber Charlies along with the Newberry Falls Hotel. Which is a little like the shining. :) We took off from Newberry and went to Taqhmenom Falls, also better known as Heaven on Earth The trail was fabulous and the falls spectacular. The natural beauty will never,ever be topped. The best part is at the lower falls you can rent a boat for 3 dollars and paddle around the falls. We then headed to Munising to experience an underwater glass bottom shipwreck boat tour. That was great. Later in the day we took the boat tour along Picture Rock Lakeshore. It was a great trip and alot of fun. We also drove along the lakeshore ourselves. A recommendation would be to stay in the Holiday Inn-Munising. It sits on the top of the hill at the edge of town overlooking Munising Bay. It is also brand new and fabulous on the insidee. After two days in Munising we headed to Ontanogan to the Porcupine Mountains. The most beautiful site that I have ever seen. You must walk the interpretive trail for miners. It follows the route of an old copper mine along a gorge. It is simply breathtaking. Really there are no words to describe it. Other points of interest include Sea Shell City in Cheboygan, and any signs you see for scenic overlooks. There really is no other place like the Upper Penisula

Mackinac Island

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:37:20 GMT

I have lived in southern Michigan my entire life, and vacationed at many different Michigan destinations, But if you are looking for a peaceful time away from city life, Mackinac Island is the place for you, after several day trips there, my wife and I decided to spend a long weekend on the Island, we had the most amazing time, I would recommend it to anyone, I would also recommend that you bring a bike, you can rent them on the island, but it is about $5 per hour, vs. $7 for the ferry boats to bring your own over. There are so many things to see and do that horse carriage ride doesn't get you to, but the carriage ride is pretty neat in it's own right, the carriage drivers are pretty knowledgeable with the Islands history, but you miss the middle and backside of the island and several other sightseeing opportunities. Such as the Battle field of 1814, British Landing, the West Bluffs, along with the rest of the Islands natural beauty. Being that we stayed over Labor day weekend, we traveled back to Mackinaw City on Labor Day for the annual Bridge walk, which we have done a second time now, that too is pretty amazing if you are up for a 2 hour walk and aren't too scared of heights. This was a very great weekend and I will most definitely return for another stay.

Mackinaw City; Place of History

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:08:30 GMT

I went to Mackinaw City for the historic 50th anniversary bridge walk, and discovered this area has a long and fascinating history, a destination for people since at least 650AD when Native Americans cane to the straits to fish and left remains of Hopwellian (mound builders) pottery. The story of the varied people and how they got there is told along the historical pathway that winds through the town and along the ever changing green-blue-gray waters of the straits, as well as at two better known destinations, the lighthouse and fort. The path tells tales of the first Europeans who paddled about 50 miles a day, sleeping under their canoes at night and living off lyed corn with pork and a soup of dried peas as they canoed from Montreal to the straits and beyond to obtain furs. Along the pathway you will also learn about Alexander Henry, the first Englishman in the area who awoke one morning to discover he had spent the night on a pile of human bones, and Chief WaWaTam, who befriended him because of a dream. Just west of the Mackinaw Bridge stands the restored fort, built in 1715 by the French to protect the fur trade. The fort has been occupied by the French, the British, and the Chippewa Indians. The British era of the fort is recreated today as the voices of men and a few women mix with the stomp of boots and the firing of muskets. Odors of gunpowder and open hearth cooking fill the air. British soldiers could be fugitives or convicts (but not Roman Catholics). They had to be at least 5’4”; however, sometimes shorter men were accepted if they promised to grow. They also had to have at least 4 teeth. Visitors have the chance to lie in the bunks soldiers slept in (minus the bedbugs and lice), try on a redcoat, and experience the “black hole” where prisoners were kept. There are restored quarters of officers, enlisted men (married and single), and fur traders. I was surprised to see a pink brocade sedan chair and a pool table in the commanding officers house, as well as copies of verses he wrote about his experiences. Outside, heritage plants fill the gardens. A reenactor gave us herbs to smell while she described their use. Wormwood (which stunk) was made into a tea to treat parasites, Bible leaf Plant was put in books to prevent bugs from chewing on the pages. The often turbulent water of the straits has claimed many ships, including the first steamship to try to cross the straits. Maritime history is told along the path and continued in the Mackinaw Point Lighthouse tour. Built in 1892 as a duplex, one side of the lighthouse is now furnished as it might have been around 1910, including a gramophone playing popular music of the day in the sitting room. The lighthouse keeper and his family were responsible for keeping the light lit and keeping up the property. “Utmost neatness” was demanded by the lighthouse service; there were prescribed duties for both the keeper and his wife. If all was not in order when inspectors arrived (unannounced), the keeper could be reprimanded or even dismissed. Another duty of the keeper was to be “courteous and polite” to visitors and to show them around the lighthouse. With its unusual location in a village, this lighthouse got more visitors than most. For many visitors today, the highlight of the tour is the four story, 51 step climb up the circular stairway to the top of the tower. The last eight feet of the climb are on an eleven rung ladder and through hatch. Until the light was electrified, the keeper had to carry 5 ½ oz. of kerosene up the ladder to light the 4th order Fresnel lens, which is still on display. From the tower, visitors look out to the Mackinaw Bridge who’s towers, 552 feet above the water, eliminated the need for the lighthouse. Visitors learn the impact of tourists to the area even before the bridge was built. In the 1880, Mackinaw City had nine passenger trains a day and a railroad hotel fit for the “most fastidious epicurean tourist”. During the early days of the automobile, it was a popular destination for private auto clubs. The need for a bridge over the nearly 5 miles of water between the upper and lower peninsulas existed for a long time. In the early days of automobiles, it cost $40 to one way for cars to take the railroad ferry across. By the early 1950s, during deer season there could be a ten hour wait for the auto ferries. Various ideas were put forth, including a floating tunnel and a set of causeways and bridges from Cheboygan to Bois Blanc, Round, and Mackinac Islands, ending in St. Ignace. In 1954, construction of the suspension bridge began. Using six million rivets, 750,000 tons of concrete and steel, and 42,000 miles of wire, the bridge was completed in 1957 just in time for deer season. Over 4.5 million vehicles use the bridge each year, along with cyclists during the Dal Mac ride just before Labor Day and pedestrians on the annual Labor Day walk.

Wanigans and River Rats

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:44:28 GMT

Although I was aware of Michigan’s lumbering heritage, I had no idea of the unique role of the river and the men who worked the river until we stumbled across Lumberman’s Monument, a beautiful little spot along Michigan’s Au Sable River. During the lumbering years, logs were floated for miles down the river to the nearest saw mill. “River Rats” accompanying them, breaking up log jams along the way. This dangerous journey in the roaring river could take days, so the men ate and slept along the river banks. WE saw a reproduction of a floating kitchen and general store, called a “wanigan”, followed the log “herd”, providing food and supplies. Often, the volume of logs was so large lunches were floated from the wanigan, at the end of the logs, to the men who were at the front of the log drive. I was fascinated by some of the Lumberjack’s lingo. The expression “easy as falling off a log” originated because of the danger of falling into the raging river while standing on logs to guide the “herd” or break up log jams. Other descriptive terms include “firecrackers (beans) and “red lead” (catsup). A short trail takes you to a beautiful sand dune overlook. Logs were marked, then slid from the top of the dune into the river. Locals told my children how they rolled down the dune into the cold water, so remember a swimsuit. Lumberman’s Monument is located on the River Road Scenic Byway off M65, about 14 miles west of Oscoda.

Living on Mackinac Island in the Summer

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:27:17 GMT

I write a daily blog about living on Mackinac Island during the season. We bought a place on the island last summer, and this year came up in May. We will leave November 1. I think a link to this blog might help anyone who wants to come visit the island. It has great pictures, and you will really get a feel for what island living is all about. There are also descriptions of some of the more popular (and some pretty well-kept secret) attractions. The blog. Thanks! Brenda

ALL ABOARD

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:39:14 GMT

We used our granddaughter, Dellaunna, as an excuse to ride the Poplar Express. Leaving from the steam institute in Owosso we rode behind 1225, the steam engine which was the model for the Polar Express movie. Our destination was the North Pole, of course. This was not any staid train ride, it was a real adventure. Yes, they served hot chocolate on board, like they did in the movie. Well, ok, not exactly like they did in the movie. We were encouraged to walk through the train, visit the refreshment car and souvenir car, and even step out on the platform of the last passenger car. As we passed a couple of Michigan deer, we thought we must really be getting near the North Pole. Once at the North Pole there was entertainment, food, Santa Claus, and some amusement rides. My granddaughter is a girl after my own heart; other than a brief pause for pizza we spend our entire time in the amusement section. When we boarded the train to return to Owosso, we each found a bell on our seat; and we were all able to hear them ring. Back at the steam institute we enjoyed model trains and other railroading displays. I discovered one of the models had been donated by the family of a doctor with whom I once worked. This trip is so popular, tickets for next year will go on sale in January. Log onto www.mstrp.com for more information

Beyond the race

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Written by Julie Royce with permission from Michigan BLUE Magazine.

Hosted by Detroit-based Bayview Yacht Club, the now 85-year-old Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race tempts thousands of visitors to Port Huron’s shores come July--yet reasons to venture here begin long before the starting cannon’s crack and continue long after the showy sails are but specks on the horizon. Here on Michigan’s Sunrise Side, visitors will find they can shoehorn a summer’s worth of activity into a long weekend.

Ever since the Sauk and Ojibwa canoed the connected waterways of Lake Huron and her rivers, the water has demanded center stage. Today utility melds with pleasure. While ocean-bound freighters the length of two football fields navigate their heavy cargos through the St. Clair River beneath the soaring Blue Water Bridges connecting Michigan to Ontario, the picturesque Huron Lady II offers narrated charter cruises, including one to the starting line on race day. And while shipwrecks beckon bold divers from below, dropping a fishing line from above over the side of a small boat remains as popular today as a century ago.

The Great Lakes Maritime Center, at the juncture of the Black and St. Clair rivers and heart of the globe’s largest inland shipping route, attracts freighter watchers with coffee, doughnuts, comfortable chairs and panoramic views of river traffic; fans can also listen in here to what’s happening via onboard radios. Outside, indulge in a salty snack from the French Fry Truck, a frosty concoction from the Ice Cream Trailer, or fresh flowers and produce during farm market hours.

More maritime treasures emerge at any of Port Huron’s five intriguing museums:

Explore shipwrecks, discover how to build a schooner and step into a pilot’s house as it looked in the early 1900s in the Carnegie Center’s Marine Gallery. This must-see stop also unveils the Blue Water area’s engaging nautical legacy.
The Thomas Edison Museum showcases the life of Port Huron’s favorite son. It occupies the Fort Gratiot Depot that provided employment to 12-year-old Thomas, who hawked newspapers and snacks on the Port Huron-to-Detroit runs between 1859 and 1863 to finance the burgeoning costs of his experiments; the clever lad had marked every vial “poison” to discourage tampering. Recreation of his chemistry lab, printing shop and interactive displays await.
The Coast Guard Cutter Bramble, commissioned in 1944 at a cost of nearly $1 million, participated in “Operation Crossroads,” the first test of an atomic bomb’s effect on surface ships. The Bramble later served a distinguished career of search and rescue, icebreaking, and law enforcement throughout the Great Lakes. Decommissioned in 2003, visitors now board the Bramble at the Acheson Ventures Seaway Terminal. Here they also can board Acheson’s 154-foot topsail schooner, Highlander Sea, for learning excursions, tours, day and overnight sails.
The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in Michigan, serves as sentinel for one of the busiest waterways in the world. Climb her stairs for a sweeping view of the St. Clair River’s entryway to Lake Huron.
Finally, tour the floating Huron Lightship museum, docked at Pine Grove Park. During its working days it displayed a light at the top of its mast and anchored in spots too deep, expensive or impractical to construct a stationary lighthouse.

Even Port Huron’s galleries indulge the local obsession with water: Don’t leave without a stop at Studio 1219. Started by a “Cool Cities” grant to nurture budding artists, Studio 1219 displays (for both your visual enjoyment and potential purchase) the artwork of more than 100 local artists.

Meanwhile--downtown amongst myriad boutique shops including home and garden accessory trove Weekends and memorably scented BackYard Soaps – Cap’n Jim’s Gallery focuses on maritime art and lore. By race week, Cap’n Jim Clary will unveil, in an acrylic original painting and giclee prints, a near bow-on view of the world’s only seven-masted schooner, Thomas W. Lawson, constructed in 1901.

While in town, be certain to ascend the 188 steps of the McMorran Tower to the observation platform for an aerial view of the Blue Water Bridges--as well as the race’s starting course.

Doing so will undoubtedly work up your appetite. Courses of another kind can be found high atop the Port Huron Office Center in The Fogcutter, which serves up renowned waterfront views in addition to fresh seafood, choice meat cuts and variety of other fine dining fare in a casually elegant atmosphere. Other local favorites include The Black River Café, a welcoming bistro with inventive offerings such as perch tacos, heirloom tomato trout with risotto cakes and omelet croissant sandwiches; The Vintage Tavern – Cheers meets Wolfgang Puck with a splash of Napa Valley – for flavorful items including teriyaki salmon, afternoon wine flights and unique brews served indoors or out overlooking the Black River; and the culturally, musically, culinary hip Raven Café, located in a Civil War-era building, for live entertainment and creative fare.

To learn more, visit www.bluewater.org. Michigan-based writer Julie Royce has authored "Traveling Michigan's Thumb" and "Traveling Michigan's Sunset Coast" (Thunder Bay Press).

Michigan BLUE Magazine, Michigan's Lakestyle Magazine, is published bi-monthly by Gemini Publications. Lisa Jensen is the editor.

Travel Michigan has received permission to reproduce this article.

Bike Beaver Island

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:00:00 GMT

By Elizabeth Edwards with permission from MyNorth.com.

Whether you come by air or sea, Beaver Island's 60 square miles of beautiful terra firma beg exploring. The quiet back roads that wend out of Beaver's only hub, the village of St. James, lend themselves to mountain biking (fat tires are a must for the island's miles of clay-gravel roads). Bring your own bike, or stop by Lakesports' Paradise Bay Gifts and rent one (231-448-2166). Once your wheels are turning, set your sights on the picturesque 46-foot Beaver Head Light on the island's south end. There, you'll climb the circular wrought-iron staircase for a big blue lake vista. You might turn around before you make it the full 18 miles (remember, you'll need to ride back to St. James to catch your ride to the mainland). That's okay, the spectacular tapestry of forest, rocky shoreline and dune beaches you pass along the way are a destination unto themselves.

Stoke up for your ride at Dalwhinnie Bakery and Deli (231-448-2736), where everything from the bread to the bear claws are homemade. Pack along a ham and cheddar on cheese bread for a beach picnic. As you head south on King's Highway, take a moment to stop into the Old Mormon Print Shop Museum (231-448-2254) to learn about this island's rich history—and why the road is called King's Highway. (Hint: Beaver Island once had a king.) Pick up Elizabeth Whitney Williams's book Child of the Sea. The author grew up at the Beaver Head Lighthouse in the 19th century. Now get pedaling. You'll want time to lounge on the beach by the lighthouse and let Williams's book make this beautiful spot come alive.

Getting to Beaver Island: The 32-mile flight over Lake Michigan from Charlevoix is less than a half hour (Island Airways, 800-524-6895; Fresh Air Aviation, 888-359-7448). The ferry the Emerald Isle takes two hours (888-446-4095), but the payoff for the extra time is freshwater spray on your face. For island lodging info contact the Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce (231-448-2505).

MyNorth.com, the vacation site of the North, is refreshed daily by the staff of Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine. Deborah Wyatt Fellows is editor-in-chief.

Travel blog visits Detroit, leaves impressed by architecture, music and the people

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Acclaimed travel blog, gadling.com, visits Detroit and does a good job at discovering the city.

Excerpt:

But the Motor City, the land of the Model T, Motown and Madonna (and other famous musicians too numerous to mention) isn't just an empty shell. Nearly a million people still live here, for starters. As startling as its collapse is the fact that the city continues to move on as if things were almost normal. For sure, this is a place of grand ruins, hopeless politicians, monstrous mansions and grinding poverty, but somehow it all just works. Sometimes just barely. Sometimes surprisingly well. There simply isn't any place like it. Not in the Rust Belt, not in the Midwest, not anywhere.

Even as times get tougher, there are so many reasons to drop in on Detroit. You can come for the music, for the art, the bars, the history, the cars. Come for the gambling, or the grand architecture. Don't be surprised, though, if you leave most impressed by the people.

Some of the most genuine folks you'll find anywhere in the country live in Detroit. Sure, the streets may appear mean, but mostly, the people are anything but. So, talk to strangers. Ask them questions about the city. Find out where they like to go drinking. Don't worry about coming off like a crazy person – around here, that can often work to your advantage.

Read the entire article here.

Story Courtesy of http://www.modeldmedia.com/

Day Drive

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 03:16:38 GMT

My husband, little one, and myself like to go out shopping and driving the back roads on the weekend. While driving the back roads around Frankenmuth, I spotted this old windmill standing out in the sunshine on wonderful October afternoon. I had my husband pull over to side of the road and back up so I could take this picture. I have found it handy on our little day drive adventures to always carry my camera since I never know what will catch my eye or what event I would like to capture and make a precious memory.

Mackinac Island - Even more beautiful than the stories I've heard

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:49:23 GMT

My husband, my mom, and I went to Mackinac Island for one night at the beginning of September. My mom and I had never been, and my husband had been but hadn't had the opportunity to stay on the island overnight. The first part of our trip was a jet-powered Starline Boat ride to the island. The boat ride alone was a great time! It was so beautiful to see the Mackinac Bridge from that perspective and also to see the island from enough of a distance to take in its true beauty! They definitely don't have anything like this in Oklahoma! Once we got off the boat, we walked right across the street to the Lakeview Hotel where we stayed for the night. This hotel was absolutely adorable and the staff were so pleasant! The hotel is an original structure that's just been added on to through the years. In fact, when the hotel was first built, it was right on the water...thus the name. Now, a line of shops and the boat docks are across the street so it's not exactly a "Lake View" anymore! :0) It's amazing. And no motor cars! Everything is done by horse and carriage. Actually, we were told when we checked in to sleep with our windows up so that in the morning, we would be awakened to the gentle sounds of the city waking up for the day. You could look out and see the day's grocery shipment being unloaded at the dock onto one of the carriages for delivery to the various business AND residents...and the clopping of horse hooves...it will rock you to sleep at night and gently wake you up the next day - it was just so peaceful - no hustle and bustle of the city life. We even had the opportunity to walk up the hill and look at the Grand Hotel - what a MAGNIFICENT place. It was like something out of the movies. As soon as you step in, the whole experience takes your imagination back in time! And there is no way to get around buying at least one "slice" of fudge! It is, after all, something the island is famous for! With only a one night's stay, we were exhausted from all of the sightseeing and yet so relaxed from the way of life that is Mackinac Island. It is more expensive to stay right on the island, rather than boat back and forth from Mackinac City. However, even if you stay for just one night, like we did, you won't regret it.

Fun Trip With Granddaughter

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:38:17 GMT

Two years ago,we took our ,then,6 year old granddaughter along. We spent one night in Saginaw. Took her to Bronners. She was amazed by it. Then went to Macinaw City for 2 nights.Took her to Macinac Island,where she enjoyed the horse drawn rides and the fort. We took her to the fort on the main land side,too where she got to participate in one of the skits they put on. We saw a car just like ours parked at the fort lot. Later the same car was parked right beside our at our motel. Had a wonderful time.

Ghosts and Ghouls at Greenfield Village

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:54:08 GMT

This was probably my best Halloween ever. My daughter persuaded me to dress as a gypsy, and three generations- my husband and me, our son in law, and our 4 year old granddaughter went to Greenfield Village to trick or treat. Elaborately carved jack-o-lanterns illuminated a path thru the dark village, haunted by specters such as the grim reaper, a wailing woman, and the headless horseman (with his horse). To collect our treats from the weird denizens, we crossed a covered bridge from which spooky fog was emanating and passed many eerie sights including skeletons giving a concert in the bandstand (they were playing the bones, of course), a pirate ship with raucous pirates, a haunted cemetery, and some flying brooms. I saw the village in a whole new light.