Author: promotemi

Recognizing an opportunity to enhance its mission in a creative and immersive way, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena launched a multi-day, regional event more than a decade ago that continues to spark thoughtful conversations about protecting and preserving the Great Lakes’ aquatic resources and maritime heritage.

Considered the “Sanctuary of the Great Lakes,” the Alpena area boasts over 300 miles of Lake Huron coastline with seven historic lighthouses and a “shipwreck alley,” where countless vessels have been lost over time. Since 2022, Alpena has been a destination for 400-passenger Viking Cruises ships that bring visitors to explore its culture and heritage.

Whether you’re meeting friends to catch up or sneaking away for some quiet time with a warm beverage and a good book, you’ll find a cozy coffee shop or café nearby to warm your heart and soul on a chilly (pre) winter day.

With more miles of freshwater coastline than any other state, it’s no wonder that Michigan also boasts the highest number of lighthouses in America (at about 129). Predating Michigan’s statehood, the first light was constructed in 1825 at Fort Gratiot in Port Huron. It, along with nearly three dozen others, also have the distinction of being “haunted.”

November can be a finicky month—the fall colors of autumn have faded and the rush of holiday spirit has yet to arrive. There are years when the temperatures are unseasonably warm and those when skiers are hitting the slopes soon after Thanksgiving. Fortunately, the Petoskey area offers a variety of outdoor activities that can be enjoyed, without too much concern about the weather.

Michigan has more lighthouses than any state (about 129) dating back to the mid-1820s. These majestic beacons were erected to guide mariners transporting iron ore and copper, lumber, fish, produce and eventually passengers throughout the Great Lakes region.

For three days each September, bibliophiles — a person who collects or has a great love of books — gather in northern Michigan to celebrate mutual literary interests at the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book. This year’s event takes place September 27-29, at several venues throughout town.

For more than a century, Cadillac has welcomed visitors seeking natural settings for leisure and business activities. Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) is among them, choosing Cadillac for this year’s Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference at the end of May. “Cadillac is growing fast with new retail shops, restaurants, and cafes opening in just the last year,” says Parker Jones, innovation counselor at MSUE’s Product Center, citing Threads North, The Bird House, Roasted Cafe, Chunky Bear Coffee Roasters, and Wildflour Bakery among them. “It’s that entrepreneurial ecosystem that we want to showcase to other communities across the state.”

Nostalgic charm meets modern flair in the art-centric small towns of Saugatuck and Douglas. For decades, these communities—located just 140 miles around the Lake Michigan coastline from Chicago—have welcomed all creative types and proudly promoted themselves as being LGBTQ+ friendly. Nestled between two of Michigan’s five federally recognized American Viticultural Areas, the region also is known for its deep agricultural roots and growing beverage offerings including wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries. Gerald R. Ford International Airport, located 45 miles away in Grand Rapids, is the closest transportation hub with service from Detroit, Chicago, and all points beyond.

Midwestern hospitality, history, and culture are found at every turn throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region – encompassing three counties (Bay, Midland, and Saginaw) and six communities (Bay City, Midland, Saginaw, Chesaning, Frankenmuth, and Birch Run).

October is Michigan AgriTourism month…a colorful and flavorful time to celebrate the state’s rich bounty. Michigan is the second most agriculturally diverse state in the country (behind California) and its position in the heart of the Great Lakes creates the ideal “cool climate” conditions to grow more than 200 different commodities. From the tapping of the first maple tree in the spring to the harvest of the 1.05 billion pounds of apples statewide each fall, Michigan is a “Mitten of Plenty” waiting to be savored.