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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).

Michigan is home to more lighthouses than any other state, at nearly 120. Dating back to the early 1800s, these towering beacons protected the often dangerous shorelines and aided ships of all shapes and sizes as they made their way through the freshwaters of the Great Lakes. Those who were charged with staffi ng these lights played a pivotal role in the state’s maritime history and their stories linger on for generations interested in the romance of life by the inland seas.

The east shore of Lake Michigan, which stretches from Berrien County north to the Straits of Mackinac, is the largest freshwater dune system in the world. With towering sands that rise several hundred feet above the lake, there are countless locales to soak up the sun during the day and then watch it set across the western horizon as night falls.

With its blend of fresh water and creative talent, Michigan’s craft beer industry is taking the state and the country by storm. Ranking fifth nationwide in breweries — already over 130 and counting — the Great Beer State is a burgeoning market for unique brews.

As winter settles along Michigan’s shoreline, festive harbor towns welcome holiday shoppers seeking unique gifts.