Featured Articles

For most of my life, I dreaded the arrival of winter in Michigan! The cold, the snow, the blowing winds and treacherous roads – I cursed them and longed for the arrival of spring, the heat of summer and the colors of autumn. Then, about a half-dozen years ago, at the urging of some winter-loving friends, I decided to step outside the warmth of my comfort zone and give the snow a chance.

This year, make the selection of your Christmas tree a real family experience, by visiting one of the hundreds of farms throughout Michigan that have kept the tradition of fresh-cut trees alive and growing.

Throughout Michigan’s wine regions, you’ll find countless lodging properties offering a variety of packages, with everything from wine dinners and guided tours to special events and unique gift baskets.

Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state, and nearly two dozen of these 117 beacons are rumored to be haunted, most by dedicated light keepers or members of their families. Following are a few stories that wash upon their shores.

Simply marvel at or set sail yourself aboard one of Michigan’s majestic ships.

Picture yourself lounging lakeside, with your toes dug into the wet sand and the waves lapping at the shoreline. Above you, the sun radiates. In front of you, a glorious lake reaches for miles and miles before disappearing into the distance. To your left and right, the beach extends beyond sight. This is summer along Lake Michigan.

It’s a lesson we can all afford to learn in today’s fast-paced world…how to relax, get away and recconect with nature. On almost any given day, fly fishing can teach us just that.

Wanted: Lighthouse keepers. Must be in excellent health, able to climb stairs, work long hours and have a passion for history. Paid daily in surprises and sunsets.

Is there such a thing as too many cooks in the kitchen? Lori and Mike Venturini, owners of the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville, don’t think so. In fact, 14 cooks is what they normally host for their Chef Night private parties.

As early as the 1830s, lighthouses began dotting the Lake Michigan shoreline, protecting dangerous passages and guiding ships safely into harbors. These sentimental sentinels stand tall today as a testament to the history of the Great Lake’s maritime heritage. More than 100 continue to grace Lake Michigan’s 1,100-plus miles of shoreline.

Maybe it is the allure of the Petra exhibit at Calvin College. Or it could be the influence of music or movies that incorporate Middle Eastern sounds.

Dianna Stampfler has left her position as the marketing and media director of the West Michigan Tourist Association to form a new business, Promote Michigan.

Plainwell consultant and media-relations professional Dianna Stampfler puts in a lot of hours every week representing her tourist-industry clients.