Featured Articles

Tucked back in off Blue Water and Center roads in the heart of the Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, a lush 12-acre “Secret Garden” is waiting to be explored.

Who knew—summer camp is no longer just for kids! As many as a million adults, aged 21 and older, attend summer at more than 800 locations nationwide each year. And while some camps are theme focused—such as wine camp, baseball camp or band camp—many are created to replicate summer camps from our youth (with the addition of adult beverages, of course).

With two peninsulas, more miles of freshwater shoreline than any other state and countless opportunities from the thriving urban centers to the sprawling rural spaces, Michigan offers a wealth of ideas to keep you busy this summer season.

The year was 1899.

The intersection of Bay and Lewis streets in downtown Petoskey was taking shape with the completion of The Perry Hotel—the only one of this city’s grand turn-of-the-century resort hotels still in existence and the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Station—which was part of the 500-plus-mile passenger and freight system that traveled between Cincinnati, Ohio and the Straits of Mackinac from 1854 until 1918.

Imagine yourself getting close to nature with an overnight luxury experience known as glamping. On a global scale, glamping—short for “glamorous camping”—provides guests the opportunity to spend the night in a safari tent, yurt, treehouse, renovated vintage trailer or teepee, often with the amenities of a four-star resort.

It’s summer and that means grilling season in the Great Lakes State. With an increased interest in al fresco dining, there are a handful of restaurants opening up their outdoor spaces to accommodate the flavors and savors of the grill.

A true Midwesterner at heart, Webster Lansing Marble was raised in the woods, becoming an expert woodsman, hunter and trapper. After moving to Michigan with his family as a teenager, he found a career as a surveyor and timber cruiser, scouting land for companies. An inventor by nature, his time working the land lead to the development of new, innovative equipment that would be both practical and durable in the outdoors.

By the time Walstrom Marine (walstrom.com) launched its operations in 1946, Harbor Springs was a well-established resort community stretching out along the shores of Little Traverse Bay. Once called called L’Arbre Croche (meaning Crooked Tree) by the Native Americans and later Petit Traverse (Little Traverse) by French traders, the village was incorporated under its current name in 1880.

As the Michigan woods thaw and awaken from their winter slumber, a clear fresh sap begins to flow from the sun-warmed trees that dot the rural landscapes. Regarded as the state’s oldest agricultural activity—dating back to the Native Americans—maple sugaring draws a rich history on the process of boiling down sap into syrup.

It’s no surprise that the woods and waters of Michigan are home to more than 400 species of birds. From the endangered Kirtland’s Warbler and Great Lakes Piping Plover to the majestic Bald Eagle, these winged creatures draw crowds hoping to get a glimpse of them in their natural habitat.

Larry Bell was born and raised in Chicago, and while he still maintains a presence there (and is a diehard Cubs fan), he has an obvious sweet spot in his heart for Pure Michigan.

When I was invited back in October 2014 to cover the Bell’s Bayview to Mackinac Yacht Race, it was an honor to accept. Having minimal experience with sailing or sailboat racing (even as a spectator), I thought it was an exciting opportunity to learn about something new that has a long-standing history in Michigan.

Have you heard? Michigan is The Great Beer State, and with good reason! Currently, the Michigan Brewers Guild represents 150 member breweries (and counting) throughout the state’s two peninsulas (and ranking Michigan #5 nationally for the overall number of breweries per state).