Promote Michigan Blog

I was just three years old when Father’s Day became an official holiday in 1972 (58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official). It was about that time that I remember taking my first family trip (to Northern Michigan…Leelanau State Park and Clinch Park Zoo).

I’ve made a decision about who I’d like to see as the next President of the United States! After being truly embarrassed by the characters currently in the race (in what, to me, reminds me a remake of The Gong Show), I was wracking my brain about WHO in the world (okay, yes, the country) has the skills and ability that I think would be useful in running our nation.

Originally started in the United Kingdom, Astronomy Week has stretched across the globe to the United States—leading up to Astronomy Day (Saturday, May 14). Doug Berger, the president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California, first held Astronomy Day in 1973. His intent was to set up various telescopes in busy urban locations so that passersby could enjoys views of the stars and skies above.

When you live in Pure Michigan, the spring season means the return of golf, fishing, biking and hunting—not necessarily for animals, but for wild edibles such as morels, asparagus, fiddleheads, leeks (also known as ramps) and more. Early- to mid-May is the typical timeframe for these spring edibles, although Mother Nature makes the final determination.

As the winter snow melts away, spring wildflowers begin to push their way up through the ground to welcome the new warm-weather season. Located in the heart of the Great Lakes region, Michigan is home to approximately 1700 native wildflower species of all shapes and sizes, found from coast to coast to coast.

On May 7, 1917, some 75 delegates representing every county in western Michigan came together at the Pantlind Hotel (now the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel) in downtown Grand Rapids. The result of that initial meeting was the formation of the Michigan Tourist and Resort Association (MTRA), later called the West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA).

Once again, I’ve spent a great deal of time eating my way around the state of Michigan. It’s a wonderful life when it is your “job” to eat, drink and play in your homestate. Living now in Petoskey has introduced me to a wealth of new restaurants serving up the tastiest of fare. Here are 15 that stood out as best of the best for me.

Since the early 1800s, families have hung stockings from the mantel on Christmas Eve in anticipation of a visit from St. Nicholas. As you plan for this year’s holiday season, look to the Mitten State for unique and inexpensive stocking stuffers for everyone in the family.

When it came time to celebrate my dad’s birthday on October 9, only one place was on my radar. I began plotting the secret gathering before Labor Day and there were times I was so excited I almost blurted it out to him or shared something publicly on my Facebook.

I’ve been fascinated Michigan lighthouses since 1997, when I started working at the West Michigan Tourist Association (1997-2004). Did you know Michigan has more lighthouses than any state? And, that a fair number of those are rumored to be haunted? Although I’ve never experienced any of these ghostly encounters myself, I’m happy to share the stories that have been passed along to me by others. If you’d like to learn more about “Michigan’s Ghostly Beacons,” I invite you to attend one of my upcoming presentations on the topic.

There’s still plenty of time to get out and explore Michigan’s waterways before the seasons change. Whether you’re looking for a two-hour sail or a four-day excursion, there are countless ways to set sail here in Pure Michigan!