Gaylord

First Look at the Pure Michigan Fall 2012 Ads

August 28, 2012

Fall is just around the corner, and in Michigan that means crisp air, football games, visits to apple orchards, and – of course – changing colors. It also means that new Pure Michigan ads are launching soon! We wanted to give you a sneak peek of some of the ads you’ll be seeing on billboards across the state (and beyond) throughout the season. Take a look at the images below and let us know what you think! We also included locations of where the photographs were taken so that you can visit the locations first-hand.

Golfing at Treetops Resort in Gaylord

Biking through the Tunnel of Trees down Conrad Road – East of Ludington

Sailing on Craig Lake in the Upper Peninsula

Look out for the billboards starting September 4th and let us know if you spot them! And if you visit any of these locations this fall, we’d love to see your photos! Link to them in the comments section below, post on our Facebook or Google+ walls or tweet them to us @puremichigan.

{ 7 comments - Read and add your own }

Connect with your Facebook Account

How Did Michigan Cities Get Their Names? Part 7

March 9, 2012

in Michigan City Names,Posts by Region

In our ongoing series of how cities in Michigan got their names, we’ve been able to share with you the history of cities from around our state. In case you missed them, here are Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6. This week, check out part seven, which shares the stories of how five more Michigan cities were named.

Holland
As you might have guessed, Holland was settled by Dutch immigrants. They were looking to escape social, cultural and economic troubles in Europe in the 1840’s. The settlement established by them was known as the “Holland Kolonie.” It was formally founded in 1847.

Pigeon
Started as a railroad town in 1883, Pigeon was originally called Berne Junction. However, the new community began calling it Pigeon due to the nearby Pigeon River. The river was named for the huge flocks of passenger pigeons that lived near the river. It’s said the flocks were so thick that, when flying, they blacked out the sky. Despite this though, the passenger pigeon was named extinct by 1914.

Ypsilanti
Like Pigeon, Ypsilanti wasn’t always known by the name is has today. The city was originally a trading post set up in 1809 and called Woodruff’s Grove after Major Thomas Woodruff. The name was later changed to Ypsilanti in 1829 in honor of Demetrius Ypsilanti. Ypsilanti was a hero in the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Munising
Munising is a Native American name meaning “Place of the Great Island.” In 1820 the Chippewa village was located at the mouth of the Anna River, but they later moved camp to Sand Point. Munising was actually officially founded in 1850, but the first civilization was built in Au Train. The town consisted of thirty homes, one blacksmith shop, the bay furnace, a sawmill and a government lighthouse.

Gaylord
Gaylord’s namesake comes from Augustine Smith Gaylord. It was established in 1872 and named Barnes, but it was changed a year later to honor Gaylord, who was an attorney for the Jackson, Lansing, Saginaw railroad. Still, if you were to ask someone why the name was changed just a year later to Gaylord, no one could tell you as the reason for doing so has been lost!

{ 0 comments - Read and add your own }

Connect with your Facebook Account

Our 500th Blog Post: Let’s Take a Trip

January 31, 2012

in Northeast,Northwest,Outdoors,Posts by Region

Michigan celebrated a big birthday in January, and this blog’s 500th post gives another great excuse for cake! In honor of the milestone, we looked at roads less traveled and came up with a 500-mile (OK, 504 miles) “Top O’ The Mitten To Ya” road trip that encompasses all the natural beauty and relaxation of Pure Michigan.

Start in Muskegon, home to Michigan’s Adventure Amusement and Waterpark. If the season’s not right for the “Shivering Timbers” rollercoaster (or Muskegon’s 27 miles of beach), explore life as an old-timey lumber baron at the Hackley and Hume Historic Site.

Heading north will lead you to the beaches, trails, lighthouses and dunes of beautiful Ludington, where you (and your car) can cruise Lake Michigan aboard a real steamship. While a honey badger might not care, the S.S. Badger does.

Next, head northeast to Manistee – home to quaint Victorian shops, the world-class Arcadia Bluffs golf course and Little River Casino. Manistee County is also one of the best places in the world for rainbow trout and salmon fishing.

Again heading north, stop in at the Sleeping Bear Dunes Natural Lakeshore. Encompassing 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, Sleeping Bear Lakeshore is also home to an 1871 lighthouse and an extensive rural historic farm district.

Now, head east, with a quick detour north to the wine country of Suttons Bay. You won’t find a parking meter or stoplight, but you will find art, antiques and Ciccone Vineyard & Winery, owned by the family of a little-known entertainer by the name of Madonna.

Head south again for Traverse City. Grand Traverse Bay is a four-season destination, featuring 180 miles of sugar sand shoreline and extensive snowmobile and ski trails. Chances are good you’ll find cherry everything, among other delicious eats.

Continue northeast towards Charlevoix, where you can catch a ride on the Beaver Island Ferry and Petoskey, known for its fresh air, historic architecture and lending its name to Michigan’s state stone.

From Petoskey, head south towards the charming Alpine delights of Gaylord, and Grayling, for canoeing, kayaking, fishing on the AuSable and Manistee rivers, and snowboarding, sledding and ice skating in the winter. Grayling is even a great place for downhill skiing.

Head southwest towards the Traverse City Forest, and on to Cadillac. In the winter, Cadillac offers 200 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and 34 downhill ski runs with over 485 feet of vertical drop. Year-round, Cadillac offers 90,000 acres of state and national forest.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and this trip winds down in Big Rapids. One of Michigan’s better-kept secrets, Big Rapids offers swimming in the summer, gorgeous color in the fall, snowshoe trekking in the winter and lakefront picnic ground in the spring.

{ 6 comments - Read and add your own }

Connect with your Facebook Account

From Our Community: Pure Michigan Must-Dos

November 23, 2011

in Posts by Region

Who knows Michigan better than a Michigander? With that thought, we asked the Pure Michigan Facebook and Twitter faithful to pick a place in Michigan and name one thing they HAVE to do when there. Responses were fairly evenly divided between eating and nature, with frequent emphasis on…potatoes.

So without further ado, here’s a sampling of the must-dos across both peninsulas. Thanks to all who commented and submitted!

Where to Eat

Troy Rowley – Grand Haven: MUST have Pronto Pup!

Gina Helrigel Frazier – Rockford: Eat at The Old Mill above the dam of the Rogue River.

Cindy Hill Freeman – Copper Harbor: We have to have dinner at Harbor Haus. I order the best fresh whitefish ever! Enjoy the great view of Lake Superior anywhere in the restaurant and the wonderful German food.

Michael T. Szczepanski – Mackinaw City: Have Scalawags whitefish and chips, with awesome hushpuppies!

@AudaciousWolf – Frankenmuth: Must have the Zehnders family style chicken dinner, Yum! Mouthwatering road trip.

Susan Laing – Albion! Enjoy an avocado and bean tostada at Lopez Taco House.

Travis Kelley – Baldwin: Jones Ice Cream Shop. Best homemade ice cream ever!

Where to Nature

Shirley Burnett-Moore – St. Clair: Go stand or sit by the river. It speaks to the soul and spirit.

@AndrewPieschke – Charlevoix: Watch the sunset over the lighthouse.

@Natasha Colleen – Marquette: You have to hike sugar loaf and check out the black rocks, so beautiful!

Natasha Lynn Snyder – Jackson: To visit the Cascades Falls.

@SandraMitchellM – Lowell: Fallsburg Park; step back in time and walk across the covered bridge.

@DTreeBayCity – Bay City: Tall-ship sail under the stars on the Schooner Appledore.

Vicki Pierce Schmucker – Adrian: Visit the historic Croswell Opera House in December to see White Christmas!

Where to Potato

Debra Kay Hukill – Gaylord: Visit the Old Spud Warehouse. The structure is amazing, not to mention the merchandise they sell.

Tina Lambert – Posen, for the Posen Potato Festival. Can you say Polka?!

Kristel Johnson – Crystal Falls: Don’t forget to stop by Johnsons Potato Farm and pick up some fresh spuds!

{ 11 comments - Read and add your own }

Connect with your Facebook Account

Morel Hunting in Wolverine

April 15, 2011

in Camping,Fairs & Festivals,Guest Blogger,Northeast,Outdoors,RVs

Thousands of people in Michigan go out every spring in search of the delicious Morel mushroom. In fact, they are so beloved that Michigan has three festivals honoring the Morel mushroom! This week’s Guest Blogger shares a story about her family’s annual mushroom hunting adventures in north eastern Michigan.

Every year my family and I make the 4 hour trip from our hometown of Belding to spend a long weekend in Wolverine, “roughin’ it.” Why? Wolverine has some of the best spots to find Morel mushrooms.