It was more than 25 years ago when I first learned about Boyne City, thanks to the then director of the local chamber of commerce, Scott MacKenzie. He often waxed poetically about how his roughly 4,000-resident community was thriving with distinct businesses and events, and touted it as a great place to live and visit.
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Rural experiences—in the field, garden, orchard or vineyard—are no longer reserved exclusively for farmers thanks to a growing interest in hands-on agritourism activities throughout the region. Driven by the need to preserve family farms for future generations, destinations are creating unique opportunities for locals and visitors alike to experience agriculture in diverse ways.
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Late this summer, I had the opportunity to spend nearly two weeks in Michigan’s scenic and remote Upper Peninsula. My trips were work related, centered around speaking engagements, festivals, conferences and paranormal research. One three separate nights, I threw caution to the wind and checked into the “haunted rooms” of historically notable hotels and inns to see if I could meet the spirited residents who are said to still be eternal guests.
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The small farming town of Clare (population around 3,300) is experiencing significant business growth thanks to group of entrepreneurs working collaboratively to enhance the historic downtown district with boutiques, cafés and unique shops. Centrally located in the heart of Michigan’s lower peninsula, Clare sits at the crossroads of US-10 and US-127. In 2016, 51 buildings were collectively listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Clare Downtown Historic District.
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The quaint northern Michigan village of Walloon Lake provides an idyllic backdrop for writers to discover and hone their skills and the 3rd Annual Walloon Lake Writer’s Retreat (April 18-21, 2024) offers an inspiring, intimate and collaborative setting for those seeking stimulation and ideas for their literary works. This year’s special guest moderator is Valerie Hemingway, author of the 2005 memoir Running with the Bulls: My Years with the Hemingways.
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Snowy days make for magical get-aways at these quaint fairytale Michigan inns.
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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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Each year, an estimated 88,000 people visit the Seney National Wildlife Refuge in the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in search of flora, fauna, migratory birds and other creatures. Visitors this year will find parts of this Schoolcraft County unit in a bit of disarray as a series of projects are underway to improve access and the overall educational experience for generations to come.
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Author John Patrick Hemingway – grandson of Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winning author Ernest Hemingway – will be the guest of honor at the 2nd Annual Walloon Lake Writer’s Retreat coming up April 13-16 in Walloon Lake. Activities will be held throughout the event at Hotel Walloon, Talcott Center, Walloon Lake Inn and other locations meant to inspire and motivate budding writers.
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Two engineers walk into a bar… No, wait…two engineers OPEN a (cocktail) bar and craft distillery in downtown Marquette and call it The Honorable Distillery (THD).
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The small town of Colon, Michigan in St. Joseph County (population 1,128 according to the 2020 census) is commonly referred to as the “Magic Capital of the World”. It was here in Colon that magicians of the early twentieth century would flock to buy their supplies, tricks and costumes and where they would gather each summer for a festival like no other (an event which is held annually in August). And, it is where many remain today — interred in the Lakeside Cemetery.
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Visitors have been traveling the Lake Michigan shoreline for generations, drawn to the cooler climate, sugar sand beaches and quaint coastal towns. This region – known as Michigan’s “fruit belt” – is also deeply rooted to the agricultural industry with vineyards, orchard and farms dotting the landscape.
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One of the most unique hands-on Pure Michigan experiences is to spend several days sailing the freshwaters aboard a dual-masted tall ship. You’re invited to board one of the largest sailing vessels in the Great Lakes during one of these autumn windjammer cruises aboard the Tall Ship Manitou with the Traverse Tall Ship Company. Coming up September 13-17 is a four-day excursion focused on the hundreds of historic lighthouses throughout the Great Lakes region with best-selling author and freelance travel writer, Dianna Stampfler.
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