Coastal Color Tour

Each fall, Michigan puts on a magnificent show as nearly 150 species of trees turn vibrant shades of red, orange, gold, and yellow, adorning more than 18.5 million acres of forests set against a backdrop of evergreens and the deep blue waters of the Great Lakes. The northern Lake Michigan shoreline, from Charlevoix to Harbor Springs, boasts countless attractions and activities to enhance your coastal color tour.

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Picture This: Laurence Helms’ Bright Idea

The concept—a framed, backlit image—is simple. Yet, Helmscenes become much more than the sum of their parts once plugged in and switched on. Beloved by collectors today as ambiance-creating décor, Helmscenes transport their views to scenes near and far—and serve as physical reminders of the years in the mid-twentieth century when they were produced in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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Explore History Along Petoskey’s Unique Trails

Michigan has many monikers – like the Great Lakes State. According to the , it is also known as The Trails State, with thousands of seasonal routes crisscrossing the state – from hiking and biking to paddling and skiing, and so much more. These various paths are so important to the state’s image that a designated Michigan Trails Week is even held every fall, this year September 17-24.

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The Personal Power of Memoirs

The word “memoir” is the French word for memory and is a genre of literature where the author writes about his or her memories. Not to be confused with a “autobiography” which is a more historical and factual version of one’s life, from beginning to end.

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Cheers: Michigan’s newest wine trail

Early French explorers were the first to discover grapes growing wild along what they ultimately called Riviere aux Raisin – the River Raisin, which flows for about 139 miles through Jackson, Hillsdale, Washtenaw, Lenawee and Monroe counties, before emptying into Lake Erie. Today, more than 240 years later, this region maintains its agricultural roots and is home to the newly established River Raisin Wine Trail.

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Hitting the Pure Michigan Trails

To celebrate its vast system of trails – biking, hiking, paddling and even horseback riding – the Michigan Department of Natural Resources implemented the Pure Michigan Trails (including Water Trails) and Pure Michigan Trail Towns designation program in 2019. Since that time, the program has grown in terms of the number of communities and organizations looking to highlight the unparalleled experiences that can be found off the beaten path around the Great Lakes State.

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Rebuilding on the Horizon: Gaylord One Year After its First Tornado

There were no sirens that day. Given the rarity of tornadoes in northern Michigan, cities like Gaylord (Otsego County) aren’t equipped with such emergency alert systems. So, when an EF3 tornado touched down heading for the community of just under 4,300 on the afternoon of Friday, May 20, 2022, residents were notified by a CodeRED text message. Those on the west side of town were afforded a seven-minute warning, as many as 11 minutes for those on the east side. This was the first tornado to hit Gaylord – ever.

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