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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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As an avid outdoorsman from childhood, one of Jimmy Carter’s favorite pastimes was to enjoy all that nature had to offer. After a canceled trip freed up the former president’s weekend, Carter journeyed up to the Pigeon River Country State Forest, seeking to finally capture a trophy that had long eluded him—the ruffed grouse. The hunt was successful, but more than that, Carter and his hunting crew left with a newfound appreciation for “The Big Wild” of Northern Michigan.
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The waterfront community of Boyne City boasts the best of all worlds as a tourism destination, a quaint award-winning business
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When the Sima family decided to build a brewery in New Buffalo, overlooking the Galien River and its surrounding wetlands, they chose a name based on a spirited legend that has been perpetuated by the community for decades.
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Built out of necessity throughout the 19th century, covered bridges allowed farmers and country residents to cross rivers and streams which separated rural areas from urban centers. It was widely believed that when building or repairing these structures, it was easier to climb on the rooftops and replace shingles than it was to battle the currents while repairing floorboards and walls `from the water.
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Mention Mount Pleasant and most people think one of two things: Central Michigan University (CMU) and Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, opened by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan in 1998—and yet the area boasts so much more.
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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.
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Michigan has a longstanding history of military encampments, forts, bases and camps dating back to the early 1700s. A handful of these sites remain standing as attractions, shedding light on the state’s early history while one noted locale remains an active outpost where thousands of men and women actively practice their skills and drills throughout the year.
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