Spring

Pure Michigan April Events Roundup

March 28, 2012

in Events,Posts by Region,What's Happening This Month

April in Pure Michigan marks the start of spring festivals and outdoor events. From April Fools’ Day fun to food tasting and theme parties, it’s a wonderful time of year to spend time with family and friends in our great state. For more suggestions on things to do this April in Michigan, visit michigan.org.

East Central

Great Lakes Loons Opening Day Parade and Celebration
April 9, 2012, Midland
The Opening Day Celebration parade and festivities are free and open to the public. Free hot dogs and bottled water will be provided on the corner of Main and McDonald Streets beginning at 4pm plus free balloons! The parade will kick off at 4:30pm on Main Street near the corner of Gordon Street in downtown Midland. Upon the completion of the parade, there will be opening day festivities held at Dow Diamond. Following the parade and celebration is the Loons 2012 home opener, scheduled for 6:05pm. For more information or to order game tickets click here, call (989) 837-3330

Bringin’ Back the 80′s
April 20-21, 2012, Frankenmuth
Bring back hair teasing memories with music, trends and events from the 80′s Don’t sit back in your pegged pants and play Atari, come on down and have a great time. Admission $10. For more information call (989) 652-8008 or visit the link.

Zehnder’s Ragtime Festival
April 25-28, 2012, Frankenmuth
Zehnder’s Restaurant Ragtime Festival. Special events include vaudeville night, silent movies, sing-along, and dinner, lunch, and brunch concerts. Located at Zehnder’s Restaurant, 713 South Main Street-Frankenmuth. Join us for one or all. Prices vary. For more information call (800) 863-7999 or click here.

Freeland Walleye Festival
April 27-29,2012, Freeland
A three day festival celebrating all things walleye, including fireworks, a fish fry, the Walleye parade, walleye tournament, a Texas Hold’Em tournament, car show, teen dance and more. Call (989) 695-9512 for more information, or click here.

Go Wild! Celebrate Earth Day
April 28, 2012, Saginaw
Join us for a fun-filled day of games and activities focused on protecting our environment from 10am to 2pm . First 500 visitors receive free admission with empty recyclable beverage bottle. Regular admission: $5.00 per person, adults and children, everyone age one and up; train and carousel $2 per person, per ride; Zoo members enter and ride free. For more information, call (989) 759-1408.

Southeast

Festifools
April 1, 2012, Ann Arbor
Festifools is Ann Arbor’s homage to April Fools Day: an annual street parade featuring towering papier-mâché creations and various other hijinks. Get outdoors. Come downtown. Feel the sunshine on your face. Shout “Yes!” to the spring. Marvel at the towering, papier-mâché creations. Dance. Sing. Clap. Stomp. Smile. Festifools is for everyone! Parade is 4-5pm, free, and located downtown Ann Arbor. For more information visit the link or call us at (734) 763-7550.

Easter Egg Hunt
April 7, 2012, Royal Oak
Join us in Royal Oak’s Grant Park on Saturday, April 7 from 10am to noon for our second annual Easter Egg Hunt! Have your photo taken with the Easter Bunny, play games, and find hidden Easter Eggs! For more information, call (248) 541-0613.

Easter Egg Hunt
April 7, 2012, Lansing
Join in on the annual Easter Egg Hunt on the Capitol Lawn on Saturday, April 7 from 10am to noon. Activities for children include crafts, games and prizes, and several special visitors will start at 10am; while the Easter Egg Hunt begins promptly at 11am. This is a free event. For more information please call (248) 716-0539.

Easter Eggstravaganza
April 7, 2012, Pontiac
An Easter Eggstravaganza will be held on the grounds (Featherstone Fieldhouse) of the Pontiac Silverdome, 10am-7pm. There will be something for the kids and the parents. Included in the $15 entry fee (all-day pass) is potato sack run, activity tables, egg hunt, clowns with balloons, meet and greet/ pictures with the Easter Bunny, face painting, and a children fun area with inflatables. There will be prize giveaways, shopping, and much more! Please note some items are only free during designated times. For more information, call (313) 492-5403.

The Great Egg Hunt
April 7, 2012, Milford
The Great Egg Hunt will take place on Saturday, April 7 from 10:30am to noon, at Maple Beach. Kids will get an opportunity to pose for pictures with the Easter Bunny so bring your camera! Watch the Farmer John and The Barnyard Express animal show at 10:30am and 11:30am. The Easter egg hunt will be held promptly at 11am. Early arrival is highly recommended. Fee: $3 per child, payable at the event. For more information, call (800) 477-2757 or (810) 227-8910.

Michigan Spring Book Festival 2012
April 13-15, 2012, Livonia
Aimed at educating and encouraging youth to read and author books, this festival will bring together hundreds of book writers, role models and teachers of the literary craft. You are invited to join us for this informative and fun filled weekend. Bring the family, meet your favorite author and buy his/her latest book. Introduce your friends to the wonderful world of literature. Mandate that your children read at least two books per week while encouraging them to read more. Take the time to read with them and have dinnertime discussions about the books that you have read. We can be contacted by calling (313) 446-2262, or by visiting this link.

Southwest

Spring Fling – Wine & Beer Tasting
April 26, 2012, Allegan
Spring is in the air! It’s time to switch gears and try some great new wine and beer at the Spring Wine and Beer Tasting at The Silo; 1071 32nd St (M-40 South); Allegan, MI 49010. Enjoy a variety of wide spectrum wine as well as beers from several local Michigan breweries. Whether you enjoy bold flavors or easy sippers, you’re sure to find something new to enjoy! An appetizer buffet is included. Try some great finger-food, learn which foods pair best with what wines and beers, and get some ideas for the next gathering you host! Tickets are $25 per person. For more information, call (269) 355-1655, or click here.

Thornapple Woodpecker Festival
April 27-28, 2012, Middleville
The Thornapple Woodpecker Festival will feature guided birding walks, handicapped golf cart and kayak tours in the woodpecker nesting area along the Thornapple River. Guest speakers, art contest, craft booths, and Woodpecker Ball are part of the activities. For more information, visit the website link.

Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival
April 27-29, 2012, Vermontville
Vermontville is the “granddaddy” of them all! We are the home of the original Maple Syrup Festival in Michigan. Our festival starts Friday evening, continues through Saturday and Sunday and is always held during the last full weekend in April. We have something for everyone—Mid-America rides, talent show, arts and crafts, flea market, two parades, petting zoo, princess pageant, various displays, games, free entertainment, a pancake derby and arm wrestling. Our syrup producers are located throughout the village selling syrup, candies, crème and the ever popular maple syrup cotton candy. For more information call (888) 482-8780, or click here.

Upper Peninsula

Life’s a Mountain Beach Party
April 14-15, 2012, Iron River
Come to our Beach Party and test your skills at our potato sack race, chili contest, three legged race, limbo contest, beach volleyball, and many other activities. For more information on this event, call us at (800) 362-7853 or (906) 265-4957.

West Central

Easter on the Green
April 7, 2012, Pentwater
In downtown Pentwater visit the Easter Bunny. We’ll have an Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Bonnet parade and contest, Easter Bonnet musical chairs, face painting, games, crafts, and a Golden Egg Hunt with the Merchants. For more information, call (231) 869-4150, or click here.

Grand Haven Easter Egg Hunt
April 7,2012, Grand Haven
A fun free event for kids up to 10. Over 5,000 Easter eggs filled with candy and prizes. Starts at 11am at Central Park in downtown Grand Haven. For more information call (616) 850-8465 or click here.

Maple Syrup Festival
April 27–29,2012, Shepherd
The village of Shepherd invites you to a great family weekend with parades, classic car display, carnival, tractor and horse pulls, bingo, arts & crafts, and of course, scrumptious pancake meals all weekend long. For more information, visit the link or call (989) 828-6486.

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From Our Community: Spring in Pure Michigan

March 20, 2012

in Events,Outdoors,Posts by Region

Today marks the first day of spring! To share our excitement for the season, we asked fans on our Facebook page: “What are you looking forward to doing in Pure Michigan this spring?”

Below are some of our favorite answers. Enjoy the new season, and feel free to add anything we missed in the comments section!

“HOPING the weather stays so beautiful ” – Mariah Lynn

“Going to tiger games! Go tigers!” – Michael Stanberry

“Can’t wait for my first Lake Michigan beach day!!!!” – Melissa Vannoy Wilson

“Getting my car ready for upcoming car shows!!!!” – Kathy McIntyre

“Up north Houghton Lake area as much as possible” – Johnathon Burns

“Everything! Going up to stay at the Grand Hotel in May–been on my Bucket List!!” – Mary Cooley

“Attending the Tulip Festival.” – Jeanne M Young

“Road trip around MI” – Jasko Bektas

“Lounging on the beach in Traverse City!” – Shelly Premer Neault

“GRAND HAVEN!!!! And Port Huron visits” – Anne Herrmann

“Gardening and cookouts.” – Naomi Burkhart Bontrager

“Kayaking on Muskegon River!!!” – Amy Krueger Sleeman

“Living it up in this beautiful state!!” – Pat Fletcher Hagen

“Too much to mention! ” – Elizabeth Guzman

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Pure Michigan March Events Roundup

March 1, 2012

in Events,Monthly Event Roundup,Posts by Region,What's Happening This Month

March marks the start of spring in Pure Michigan. From a mix of final winter fun to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, there are plenty of ways to enjoy our state this month. For more suggestions of things to do this month in Michigan, visit michigan.org.

East Central

Monster Jam
March 2 – 3, 2012, Saginaw
The Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam, stars the biggest performers in the monster truckscommunity. The twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound machines will bring you to your feet, from racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles, to soaring over objects or smash through them! Expect to see outrageous jumps, crushed cars, and plenty of concrete-streaking action with some of the most incredible donuts ever. Show starts at 2pm, Pit Party $10 at 11:30am to 12:30pm! Gates open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7:30pm. Tickets available at the Dow Event Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, online at www.Ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000. For more information on this event, click here.

Flushing Walleye Festival
March 9 – 11, 2012, Flushing
Come join us on the Flint River March 9^th through the 11^th for our annual fishing contest. Games, outdoor exhibits, a chili cook off, pancake breakfast, and fish fry will all be available as well. For more information on this event, contact the Flushing Chamber of Commerce at (810) 659-4141.

Lexington’s St. Patrick’s Weekend Celebration
March 16 -17, 2012, Lexington
Join us in Lexington for our St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl and parade. The pub crawl will be on March 16^th beginning at the Irish Rose, the parade will take place on March 17^th beginning at 2 pm. The party continues at the Old Town Winery after the parade. For more information, call (810) 359-5340.

Walleye Tournament
March 17 – 18, 2012, St. Clair
The Walleye Fishing Tournament is back. The tournament is held on the St. Clair River. Bring your kids for the additional kids tournament(free entry for kids). There will be a grand prize for the heaviest walleye. For more information contact us at (810) 329-4125.

Northeast

Spring Fling
March 1 – 4, 2012, Gaylord
Come to Gaylord for our weekend long Spring Fling. This event includes activities, entertaining contests, live entertainment, a beer tent, horse drawn wagon rides, and children’s programs. So whether it’s you and your friends, and your family, this event is great for everyone. For more information contact (888) 873-3867.

Race The Face Snowmobile Drag Races
March 16 – 18, 2012, Gaylord
Attention extreme sports enthusiasts. The snowmobile drag races are taking place at the Treetops Resort in Gaylord. For more information click here, or contact (888) 873-3867.

Hartwick Pines Maple Syrup Time
March 24, 2012, Grayling
Come learn about the history of maple sugar making in North America on Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 10am to 4pm, as you help tap a maple tree and observe the boil-down process which converts maple sap into maple syrup. This is a great event for you and your family. Children can participate in a variety of fun and educational hands-on activities during Maple Syrup Day at Hartwick Pines. Of course, the day would not be complete without sampling this tasty Michigan product. For more information contact (989) 348-2537.

Northwest

Slush Cup Weekend
March 2 – 4, 2012, Bellaire
Come celebrate over 30 years of Shanty Creek’s most popular winter event – a race course on an icy 40-foot pond. Enjoy additional activities on the slopes including a frozen fish toss, shovel races, the fruity suity and more. This is a great weekend trip for you and your family. For more information on this event call (800) 678-4111.

Kalkaska Winterfest
March 3 – 4, 2012, Kalkaska
The Kalkaska Winterfest is here. This Winterfest is the largest sprint sled dog race in North America. It features an unlimited class race, and is the only one in the state of Michigan. Kalkaska Winterfest is held at the Kalkaska Civic Center, in Kalkaska, Michigan. Other activities include: sled dog rides, IWPA Dog Weight Pull, outhouse races, children’s games, and Ice Bowl Disc Golf Tournament. So come with your friends, or bring your family to the Kalkaska Winterfest. For more information visit the website or call (800) 487-6880 or (231) 258-9103.

Cardboard Classic Weekend
March 9 – 11, 2012, Bellaire
Come test your creativity and constructive skill at the Cardboard Classic. The annual downhill Cardboard Classic Race down Schuss Mountain is a sled race on a sled that you make yourself. So come test your skills at the Cardboard classic. For more information on this event call (800) 678-4111.

Suds & Snow
March 3, 2012, Traverse City
Have you ever want to participate in a beer tasting, or snow shoeing. Well here’s your chance to do both. At Timber Ridge Resort from 2-6:30pm you can enjoy both beer tasting and snow shoeing. In addition to the wide variety of beer samples from Michigan Breweries, there are several other activities including winter volleyball, and live music, and several kinds of food to try. For ticket purchase and information, call (231) 947-2770.

Southeast

Southern Michigan Winter Beer Festival
March 10, 2012, Jackson
The Southern Michigan Winter Beer Festival is back. Enjoy outdoor beer tasting with outdoor patio, food, bonfires, DJ music and giveaways. The Southern Michigan Winter Beer Festival is a craft and specialty beer tasting event featuring over 80 different types of premium brews with 140 beers available. Noon to 5pm. Event is for patrons 21 years and over only. For ticket information, visit the website.

Michigan Home & Garden Show
March 9 – 11, 2012, Pontiac
The 21st Michigan Home & Garden Show is where you will find inspiration from the latest trends in landscaping, gardening and home improvement. Exhibit displays will fill the Silverdome with home and garden products and services for new homes, remodeling and maintenance. All the major home product categories are available from the basics of heating, cooling, kitchens, baths, windows and doors to room additions, siding, closets, vacuums, appliances, fixtures, furnishings, landscaping and decorative accessories. Advance tickets are available online. Discount coupons for $2 off Friday or Sunday adult admission are available on-line. Adults $10; Children (6-14) $5; 5 & under Free. On-site is parking available for a fee. Show times are March 9 noon-9pm; March 10 10am-9pm; and March 11 10am-6pm.

Downtown Divas at Dusk
March 22, 2012, Tecumseh
Grab your mother, daughter, sister and BFF and come to Downtown Tecumseh for this fun Diva night. Divas at Dusk is a fun filled night for women in which downtown merchants open their doors with lots of delights for these women. These include food, entertainment, prizes and more. The event will take place in downtown Tecumseh, from 5-9pm. For more information, click here or call (517) 424-6003.

Fenner Maple Syrup Festival
March 17 – 18, 2012, Lansing
Come join us for the arrival of Spring at the Fenner Nature Center Maple Syrup Festival! Weekend festival activities include Tap a tree (children’s activity/hands on guided activity), sugar bush sap boiling demo “out in the woods”, maple sugar and candy making demos, outstanding crafts displays, winter bird and tree identification walks, tasty food items (maple syrup sundaes, cookies, hot beverages, and more!), and face painting for kids. This is a great trip for you and your family so come on out. For information call (517) 483-4224.

Southwest

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
March 16 – 17, 2012, Grand Ledge
This annual celebration is set in historic downtown Grand Ledge and consists of two nights of Irish dance performances, lots of Irish music, a grand parade and more. For more information contact (517) 627-8360.

Upper Peninsula

U.P. Ice Chip Golf Scramble
March 3, 2012, St. Ignace
Like the ice? Like golf? Here’s a great opportunity to bring your hobby to winter. Test your skills against others at the U.P. Ice Chip Golf Scramble on the Wild Ice of Moran Bay on Lake Huron in St. Ignace. We offer a 9-hole course that will test your balance on the ice while attempting to hit that perfect shot. Register at the Mackinac Grille Restaurant beginning at 9:00 am. Registration fee of $30/person includes lunch and dinner at the Mackinac Grille. Great food, fun, and prizes. Best Sled’ contest, men’s and women’s divisions. Prizes are awarded. You may also visit us here.

Brule Bash
March 24 – 25, 2012, Iron River
The Brule Bash is a great trip for families. There are events all weekend such as treasure hunt, petting zoo, mattress race, sled dog rides, silly slalom, snow bowling, and many more activities. 1/2 off tickets when in full costume. For more information on this event, call (800) 362-7853.

Maple Sugaring Day at Tahquamenon Falls State Park
March 24, 2012, Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Come participate in turning nature’s sweet sap into yummy maple syrup during this hands-on event. Grab your families, bundle up, and take a hike through the sugar bush, trying your hand at tapping trees and boiling sap. Learn how to identify which trees to tap and the materials you’ll need to make maple syrup at home. The Recreation Passport is your $10 ticket to Michigan’s state parks and outdoor adventures. For more information visit this website.

West Central

Girlfriends Weekend 2012
March 2 – 4, 2012, Holland
Girlfriends weekend is a great get away for you and your friends. This three day event filled weekend is filled with activities women love, but also leaves free time for them to explore on their own. This weekend is designed to be a fun and relaxing getaway for girlfriends, sisters, mothers, and daughters, the event offers everything from belly dancing lessons and a wine tasting, to a closet makeover contest, in store activities, dueling pianos, a champagne brunch, and much, much more. You must be 21 to participate. The weekend package is $100 per attendee, or $95 per person for group of four or more. Saturday only passes available for just $55. For more information on this event, to register, or check the scheduled activities, click here or call (616) 796-1210.

Michigan Laughfest
March 8 – 18, 2012, Grand Rapids
A festival of laughs celebrates laughter for the health of it — a festival of comedy, performance, film, and a variety of seriously funny stuff that makes us laugh. Enjoy many aspects of humor from top comedians to laughter yoga and funny pet contests at the first such festival of laughter at 20 venues in and around Grand Rapids. To learn more about tickets or additional information about LaughFest, please phone (616) 776-3511 or visit the Laughfest website.

St. Patrick`s Day Parade
March 17, 2012, Muskegon
The first ever Muskegon St. Patrick’s Day Parade is approaching. Don’t miss out; be sure to be in downtown Muskegon on Jefferson street at 11am to enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day parade. For more information on this event, call (231) 724-3100.

St. Patrick’s Parade
March 17, 2012, Pentwater
St. Patrick’s Day only happens once a year, so come join us for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade will begin at 1pm on Hancock street. Come bring your families for this fun filled event, and enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. For more information call (231) 869-4150.

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It’s Open!

May 27, 2010

in Fishing,Outdoors

Dan Donarski is back, and this time, he’s sharing some great advice on how to make the most of bass fishing season, which opens this Saturday!

The last Saturday of May is upon us, and that brings bass fishing season! (Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers don’t open for a few weeks yet)

One of my military instructors implored our class to “Go for the bronze.” He felt that unless you were incredibly lucky that the gold was out of reach. If you achieved silver then you’d be green with envy about not getting the gold and be mad at yourself. For this fellow, if you got the bronze you got your medal, everyone behind you did not, and you should be quite happy. In military parlance, you’d be a stud.

When it comes to the bass world, going for the bronze may as well be going for the gold. Smallmouths or bronzebacks, no matter what you call them, are the studs of the Great Lakes bass scene. To be quite frank, smallies make largemouths look like pigs with fins.

For the fly rodder, particularly in the early part of the summer, smallies will give you the time of your life. Going for the bronze doesn’t get any better than right now.

It’s romance time in the world of the smallmouth bass. The fish are cruising the shallows, anywhere from two to eight feet of water, searching out the perfect matrimonial bed to do their duty and ensure that the species continues to flourish.

Fine gravel or gritty sand is what you should be looking for in these shallows. A nice break, where the water drops quickly to deeper water, makes the area even more enticing. Throw in a few good sized rocks or even boulders for added cover and you’ll be in the smallies’ version of the No-Tell Motel.

Here’s what you’re going to need to get in on this late May and June action:

A nice, fast action 7- or 8-weight rod is perfect. Attach a matching reel that has a smooth disc drag and you’re all set. In most cases with this early summer bite you’ll be just fine using a weight-forward floating line. When you do need to go deeper, you can always attach one of those short lead heads to help get your fly down. Or simply use a small split shot a couple of feet above the fly.
For a leader you can stay away from the pre-tied variety that go for four dollars or more. Instead grab a couple 100 yard spools of mono, one in the 10-pound class and the other in six.
Tie up your leader using six feet of the 10-pound attached to the fly line (or the lead head) and then tie in a 4-foot section of the six to use as your tippet. The easiest knot to tie these pieces of mono together with is the double surgeons, which is basically just two overhand knots. Of course, you can always get fancy by tying a blood knot or two uni knots but these take a bit longer to tie.
Fluorocarbon lines definitely have their place for leaders and especially tippets. If you find yourself in clear water these new semi-invisible lines will go a long way towards improving your hook-up rate. Smallies aren’t particularly line shy, but they are aware of their surroundings and what looks like trouble.
Flies are an easy matter. Like just about anything in the fly fishing world you need to match the hatch. For smallies you’ll need to have a selection of streamers that imitate the local baitfish and a few that come in hot colors (yellow seems to really excite these fish). Then you should put a few crayfish imitations in the fly box along with a variety of leech patterns. Always leave room for a number of Wooly Buggers. These impressionistic flies, rather than the imitating varieties, are smallmouth candy. Depending on the retrieve, they can give the impression of a baitfish, crayfish, or leech.

Fly rodding smallies in late May and early June is a load of fun but, like all things with flies or fake baits like spinners and plastics, sometimes they just don’t do the job. While I’d rather catch them on a fly or plastic, the mission is to catch fish, not to practice your casting.

So, when the fly, plastic and hardware bite isn’t biting, go to the real thing. Big juicy crawlers and/or squiggling minnows. These are as close to “no-fail” baits as you are going to get.

The set up is simple. For rivers, simply tie in a No. 4 hook on the terminal end and place a splitshot about 18 inches above the hook. Load that hook up a crawler or minnow and send it into the current, preferably a current break or a hole created by a mid stream obstruction. Now, keeping a tight line let the thing tumble with the current. When it gets directly below you reel it back in and cast again.

In lakes it is the very same set up. While you could simply cast this offering out and let it sit on the bottom and wait for the fish to come to you, there is a better way. Start casting and let the bait fall to the bottom. Now, very slowly start reeling the bait back to you keeping the bait next to the bottom. When, not if, you get that tell-tale tap, stop reeling, give the fish some line, and when the fish moves off with your bait, hammer the hook home. If you fish two rods, let one sit and fan cast the other. Unless you like buying new outfits, you’ll want to keep the bail open on the stationary rod.

Where to go? Let’s see, there’s Little Bay de Noc, the Menominee River, Lake Gogebic and the Les Cheneaux Islands, along with Drummond Island in the U.P. In the lower peninsula look at Wilderness State Park, Beaver Island, Grand Traverse Bay and the Lower AuSable River. The Kalamazoo River, along with the other drowned river mouth lakes along the Michigan coast will also be worthwhile.

Dan Donarski is an award-winning journalist/photographer and author. He specializes in the outdoors and adventure travel. When he’s not out and about he lays his head in Sault Ste. Marie.

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A Morning at the Dunes

May 25, 2010

in Beaches,Outdoors

Thanks to guest blogger John Nicka for his story on camping in northwest Michigan, and his climb up Sleeping Bear Dunes.

In the summer of 2008 I went camping in Northern Michigan to celebrate the end of college. Suttons Bay, Elk Rapids, Old Mission—uniquely named places beckoned me as I drove my little Nissan up U.S. 131 to my own little paradise. I pitched my tent in Traverse City that night and slept soundly.

The next morning I rose early and headed west on M-72 through Leelanau county with the intention of climbing the “Big Dune” at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a massive dune complex that snakes for 35 miles along the Leelanau and Benzie county lakeshore.

After forty minutes of driving past cherry orchards, fruit stands and gorgeous countryside, I got to the park, paid my ten bucks and went in. I drove a couple of miles, parked my car, got out, and there it was—the Big dune. Actually, it was freaking ginormous. Over 400 feet high and so steep you can’t see the shoreline below, climbing it is no small feat. Beyond the dune was Lake Michigan—simply known as “The Lake” to us. This morning it was a stunning sapphire blue. The waves gently moved toward shore as a few boats lingered on the horizon. Nobody was on the dune itself, but several were on the lookout deck a hundred yards away.

With the sun climbing higher, I knew I had to get this done. So I peeled off my shirt and started down the dune. The shore slowly got bigger as I bounded down, and reaching the bottom only took ten minutes. Peering up from the lake, the tourists looked like ants milling about. “Why do guys like me do this stuff?” I asked myself. No matter. Climbing was my only way out of this, so I sucked it up, planted all fours in the sand, and began climbing, almost apelike, up the dune. I fell one foot for every three feet I climbed. Still, I was doing alright until halfway up, when I had to stop and rest. The view was sweet, but I noticed those two boats had parked on shore. Were they watching?

Turning, I noticed some tourists atop the dune. They had migrated from the deck, apparently wanting a closer look at the weirdo down below, so now I had an audience. The pressure was now on, but I still stopped three times, panting and sweating, wondering what on earth I was thinking.

I clawed my way to the summit to the tourists’ applause, and tried not to look exhausted as a couple from Detroit came up and asked me about the climb. Sucking wind, I looked back at the lake as I spoke to them, and we all agreed there was no more beautiful spot on earth than Michigan in the summer. And they agreed that they’d never try what I just did.

I returned to my car, dried off, put on my shirt, and moved on to the next town—Glen Arbor. But that’s for another day.

A native of West Michigan, John has just finished his first year of teaching in North Carolina, where he teaches High School History and English. He still enjoys visiting Michigan and is enthusiastic about promoting his home state as a place to visit and to live. You can share your thoughts with John on Twitter, or by leaving a comment below.