Open November 24. The South Haven Ice Rink offers family fun within a walking distance to all the stores and restaurants of downtown. Enjoy the beauty of a winter night while skating under the seasonal lighting. The Ice Rink has open skating hours almost everyday throughout the winter.With a large pavilion over the top of the ice rink, weather conditions are rarely an issue. Day pass $3.50 all day, skate rental $3.50, curling $10 per person and skate sharpening $4.00. For more information, call (269) 639-1113.

Michigan’s very name is rooted in the Ojibwa (Chippewa) Indian word for “large lake,” and its handprint on the earth, the mitten-like Lower Peninsula and jagged-edged Upper Peninsula, is shaped by four of the five Great Lakes: Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior. Sailors called them the “Sweetwater Seas.” Carved by glaciers more than 12,000 years ago, the planet’s largest bodies of fresh water are visible from the moon and instantly recognizable on any globe or atlas.

The Great Lakes are so large they can significantly affect Michigan’s weather, and are credited with creating favorable environments for growing a wealth of agricultural products. The state is a leader in several crops including blueberries, cherries, asparagus, and grapes for juice and wine; orchards and vineyards are especially successful along the Lake Michigan coast.

Their waters lap against 3,200 miles of Michigan coastline onto sandy beaches and rocky shores, dotted with more than 100 public beaches, and two National Lakeshores that recognize the stunning multi-colored sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks on Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula, and the highest freshwater sand dunes in the world at Sleeping Bear on Lake Michigan in the “Little Finger” of the Lower Peninsula’s “mitten.”

Nearly 120 lighthouses stand watch over the temperamental inland seas that are alternately an aquamarine picture of calm and a raucous series of surf-worthy whitecaps.  The Great Lakes are bountiful waters for sport fishermen, a recreational sailor’s dream, a sea kayaker’s challenge, and the final resting place of nearly 5,000 shipwrecks that scuba divers explore at a dozen underwater preserves.  Lake Huron is home to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary near Alpena, the only such site in the Great Lakes, in the northeast corner near the “Tip of the Mitt.” Thunder Bay has nearly 200 historic shipwrecks in and around the bay, which makes for a popular snorkeling and dive site. There is also a 20,000-square foot exhibit area that includes a life-sized recreation of a Great Lake schooner and a shipwreck site. Admission is free and open year round.

Spectacular dunes dot the Lake Michigan shore along the west coast of the Lower Peninsula, from Sleeping Bear south to the Nordhouse Dunes at Ludington, and Warren Dunes State Park not far from the Indiana state line. Grand Sable Dunes rim Lake Superior near Grand Marais. The Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon features exhibits and nature programs that explore and explain the importance of the natural resource that inspired poet Carl Sandburg to declare,  "The Dunes are to the Midwest what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona and the Yosemite is to California. They constitute a signature of time and eternity.”

You can navigate the Great Lakes on your own personal boat, canoe or kayak, or take a dinner or stargazer cruise on Appledore Tall Ships that sail from Bay City on Lake Huron’s Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay. The Tall Ship Celebration returns to Bay City in summer 2013. On Lake Michigan book your passage on the Tall Ship Manitou in Traverse City, or the Friends Good Will in South Haven. The replica of the Great Lakes tall ship that played a major role in the War of 1812 is at home at the Michigan Maritime Museum, open year round, where you can learn more about the role of the Great Lakes in America’s history.

Considered the largest Great Lakes maritime museum, the Museum Ship Valley Camp in Sault Ste. Marie is a 1917 steam-powered historic freighter with more than 100 exhibits in her 20,000-square foot cargo area. The museum includes lifeboats from the legendary Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in 1975, and other shipwreck artifacts, models, plus four, 1,200-gallon aquariums stocked with species of fish from the Great Lakes.

Don’t miss the collection of historic maritime structures at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point on Lake Superior. The main museum’s collection includes the bell recovered from the lost freighter Edmund Fitzgerald. You can also tour the lightkeepers quarters and Coast Guard buildings.

Climb aboard the US Coast Guard Icebreaker Mackinaw to tour the “Queen of the Great Lakes.” The Mackinaw Maritime Museum in Mackinaw City is open for public tours from May 20 to October 9, 2011. This mighty vessel was built as part of the World War II effort to transport  iron ore, limestone and coal for the nation's steel mills during winter months.

Learn more about Lake Superior while visiting the Marquette Maritime Museum that is included on the National Historic Places register. The museum is filled with exhibits that include antique and restored boats, a Fresnel lighthouse lens collection, US Coast Guard vessels, shipwreck charts and more. The museum is open from mid May through mid October.

Explore the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum in Rogers City to learn about the men and women who participated in commerce on the Great Lakes. There is plenty of gear and tools on display plus ship miniatures, photographs and drawings. The museum includes a Great Lakes Maritime Hall of Fame that honors individuals who played significant roles on keeping the Great Lakes safe and secure. The museum is open May through December, and Mondays only during winter months.

Detroit’s Belle Isle is home of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum that celebrates its 50^th anniversary in 2011. The museum is dedicated to southeastern Michigan’s maritime history. See models of sailing ships, commercial vessels, the pilothouse of the S.S. William Clay Ford freighter, the Miss Pepsi championship hydroplane and largest known collection of scale mode ships in the world. Dossin is open on Saturdays and Sundays only from 11am to 4pm. Admission is free.

Row, row your boat, canoe, raft or kayak--gently or otherwise--up the streams, rivers inland and Great lakes for a Pure Michigan paddling adventure. With 11,000 inland

Newaygo Hosts National Championships

This year the winding waters of the Muskegon River will welcome paddlers age 5 and up for the annual United States Canoe Association’s National Canoe & Kayak Championships in Newaygo, August 9-14. The event attracts more than 500 paddlers from 30 states and Canadian provinces. There are sprint races and a 16- to 18-mile marathon that begins with a 6-mile circumnavigation of Croton Pond followed by a running portage around the 101-year old Croton Dam, launching into the Muskegon River below, and paddling 12 miles downstream to Henning Park at Newaygo.

The city of Newaygo is gearing up a huge volunteer effort to welcome participants and visitors to the event, which began in 1968; this is the fifth time Michigan has hosted the annual championship. Newaygo is located northeast of Muskegon, and sits on the edge of the Manistee National Forest. There are several options for camping, cottage rentals, resorts and motels. For all types of water sports, Newaygo County has 234 lakes and 356 miles of rivers. Take advantage of local canoe and kayak rentals, or fish for bass, trout, walleye and pike. The Muskegon River is ranked among the top 20 by Field & Stream magazine for fishing, and in the top 12 in National Geographic for recreation.

Water Trails

Michigan offers several water trails for coastline kayak and canoe trips. The Tip of the Thumb Heritage Water Trails is along Michigan’s Lake Huron’s shoreline.   The Shiawassee River Heritage Water Trail begins in Holly for a seven mile paddling trip. The Bangor/South Haven Heritage Water Trail is a canoe and kayak trail encompassing 21 miles of the South Branch of the Black River between the cities of Bangor and South Haven. Not all of the water trail is completed as yet, so be sure to call ahead for information. 

Located in the Upper Peninsula, the Hiawatha Water Trail runs 120 miles from Big Bay to Grand Marais with scenic paddling of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and more.  The Keweenaw Water Trail can be covered by an average paddler in six to eight days with a mixture of uninhabited wilderness areas, intermittent parks and nature preserves and sheltered harbors.  

More Canoe Adventures

Enjoy northern Michigan canoeing on the Platte River where you can choose the Lower Platte for a two-hour easy going trip, or the Upper Platte for a fast paddle best suited for experienced canoe and kayakers. Canoe rentals are available three miles away in Honor. Check out the Platte River State Forest Campground where there are 26 sites for tent and small trailers, available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Eleven miles to the West is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with over 30 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and spectacular sand dunes.

You are never more than an hour's drive from one of Michigan’s 98 state parks or recreation areas where canoeing, kayaking and fishing are favorite activities for families. Admission to the parks and boat launches requires the new Recreation Passport, which is $10 annually for residents, $8 per day or $29 annually for non-residents. The fee goes to preserve and protect local parks, trails and historic and cultural sites in state parks. 

There are also several Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Southeast Michigan that offer canoeing and kayaking for the entire family. Visitors can rent canoes or kayaks and leisurely wind around a lake or river. 

Join the excitement of the dueling ice carvers’ competition as part of the 3rd Annual Ice Sculpture Festival in downtown Tecumseh January 21-22.  The competition continues with snowshoe races and the warm winter beverage competition where local business fight for bragging rights to the tastiest winter beverage in town. Other events during the weekend include a chocolate walk, man cave and activities for the kids. 

A world-class celebration of art and ice, the Plymouth Ice Festival runs January 20-22. Wander around Kellogg Park taking in more than 100 ice sculptures that will be on display and experience the Winter Fun Zone with fun for the whole family. Don’t miss the Dueling chainsaws speed-carving event or the lighting of the Fire & Ice Torch. 

In addition to more than 100 blocks of beautifully detailed ice carvings, Zehnder’s Snowfest in Frankenmuth also features larger-than-life snow sculptures January 25-30. One of the top snow-sculpting events in the country, visitors can take in the sites of both the snow sculpting competition and the U.S. National Collegiate Ice Carving Competition. Warm up with a famous chicken dinner and be sure to catch the fireworks display over this winder wonderland. 

It’s Ice Time in the Grand Old City of Dowagiac on February 4. Watch as artisans carve more than 20,000 pounds of ice into life-size sculptures and timber and wood carvers put their skill on display. Need a break from the cold? Sample southwestern Michigan’s spiciest chili during the professional cook-off or stop in to visit the city’s historic train depot. 

Known as a premiere beachtown, South Haven also knows how to play it cool. The community celebrates Ice Breaker 2012 February 3-5 with a chili cook-off and ice carving competition. More than 50 blocks of ice, weighing 300 pounds each, will be transformed into dazzling displays featuring ‘The Four Seasons of South Haven.’ While in town, stop in and explore the unique shops and terrific dining South Haven has to offer. 

Snow statutes are just part of the fun during the 91st Annual Michigan Tech University Winter Carnival February 9-12 in  Houghton. Experience all the winter weather has to offer with sleigh rides, snow volleyball, human dogsleds (and actual dogsled rides too) broomball and ice bowling. Then trade in your winter gear for a tux or gown and dance the night away at the Sno Ball.

The 8th Annual Magical Ice Carving Festival in St. Joseph February 10-12 will turn State Street into a gallery of professional ice carvings. Participate in the Snow Biz Scavenger Hunt or stop by Schu’s Festival Tent to get in the spirit – or embrace the tropics in February at Waikiki Weekend at Silver Beach Center. Children’s activities will also be ongoing throughout the weekend. 

There is a lot going on at the Cherry Capital Winter Wow! Fest in Traverse City February 17-20. The incredible ice sculptures of Michigan-based carvers the “Ice Brigade” will be on display throughout Front Street, and Marina Drive will host snow sculptures that Frosty the snowman simply can’t compete with.  There is an evening dedicated to Michigan wines, and the Downhill Dash where competitors may ride mountain bikes, ski bikes, skis or snowboards down the Mt. Holiday Ski Hill. Throughout it all the local shops of Traverse City will be featuring ‘shop till you drop’ sales. 

Looking for a completely different type of ice experience?  Head to the World Ice and Snow Sailing Association Championship in St. Ignace February 20-26.  Competitors from around the world will take to the ice with wings, kites and sails to prove who is best in this thrilling adventure sport.  This is the first time in 17 years the championships are being held in North America and activities will include ice golf, ice bowling, snowmobile safaris and a Traditional Finnish wood sauna built right on the ice.