Author: promotemi

Without a doubt, fall is the most colorful and flavorful season in Michigan. With color tours on the horizon, it’s time to throw on your boots, flannel shirt and puffy vest, grab your wide brimmed hat and head out in search of all things pumpkin and apple spice.

People have been fascinated with the afterlife and what collectively is known as thanatourism (dark tourism) for generations. In the early 1800s, Madame Tussaud’s scandalized wax sculptures provided a macabre form of entertainment and by the 1860s, “Ghost Clubs” (which evolved into paranormal investigative teams) were finding their place in history. The 19th-century Spiritualist movement fueled a widespread Victorian fascination with seances. Today, the ever-growing number of television shows, podcasts, books and other mediums have fostered a global paranormal tourism industry valued at $31.89 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $40.82 billion by 2034, according to AmericanGhostWalks.com.

Sitting at the intersection of Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127, Jackson has been an important stop between Chicago, Illinois, and Detroit since before expressways existed. Jackson’s rich heritage and cultural assets complement its vast outdoor recreational resources. There are 188 lakes in Jackson County, along with the headwaters for four major Michigan rivers, earning the area its moniker, “Land of Falling Waters.”

In February 1954, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios released a 96-minute movie called “The Long, Long Trailer” with the beloved husband-and-wife duo Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. While the film became the highest grossing comedy at the time—earning just under five million dollars across the United States and Canada—the real star of the show was the luxurious 1953 36-foot New Moon camper made by the Redman Trailer Company in Alma, Michigan.

New year-round Walloon Watershed eatery and bar becomes an instant gathering place for locals and visitors.

South Haven—aka, the Blueberry Capital of the World—has been attracting groups for generations. Set in the heart of Michigan’s fruit belt, the port city features a thriving downtown, two city beaches, a historic pier and lighthouse, boatloads of recreational activities, and some of the most stunning sunsets in the state.

A Michigan brewing legend grows his distinctive beer lineup and expands his footprint to include five fun hotspots.

Fall lingered a little longer this year, but when Old Man Winter arrived over Thanksgiving weekend, he made his presence known in a big way. He hasn’t quieted down since, leaving plenty of snow in his wake — much to the pleasure of skiers, resort owners and chionophiles (those who love snow and winter).

With over 415,000-square miles of area, Ontario is Canada’s second largest province, bordering four of the five Great Lakes and boasting 2,390 miles of coastline. From the country’s capital city of Ottawa to the amethyst mines of Thunder Bay—and all points in between—this neighbor to the north offers a wealth of historic, natural, and cultural sites worth exploring.

Sitting at the heart of the Great Lakes, Sandusky serves as the seat of Erie County with 68 miles of freshwater Lake Erie shoreline. From there, it is just a hop, skip, and a jump to a handful of distinct islands. South Bass Island is home to Put-in-Bay—a Midwestern hot spot with rooftop eateries, poolside bars, and historic sites like the 352-foot-tall Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial. The former Lonz Winery on Middle Bass Island has been converted into a bed-and-breakfast, coffee shop, waterfront patio bar, and speakeasy, all within Middle Bass Island State Park.

The first European settlers arrived in what is now called St. Ignace—named for St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuit religion order—in 1671 making this the second-oldest European settlement in the state. Situated in the heart of the Straits of Mackinac, St. Ignace blends history, culture and nature with unparalleled Great Lakes views.