Michigan

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The author bundled in all black begins to accelerate. Blue sky behind, white snow everywhere. The moonbike is side angle showing the rear wheel is a track and the front tire a ski

What it’s like to Ride a MoonBike in Michigan  

When it comes to winter adventure, you may think you’ve done it all, but then they invent a MoonBike and it’s back out into the great white outdoors we go. If you’ve followed my adventures these last two years as I’ve traveled around North America on my solo road trip, you’ll have noticed I don’t spend much time in the snow. I’ve actively avoided it until now. But that was before I saw the word “MoonBike” in a news story....

Clear teal water show white limestone-covered tree stumps in front of tall green pine trees

Journey to Kitch-iti-kipi, Michigan’s Mirror of Heaven

Kitch-iti-kipi is so crystal-clear that you can see the bottom of the 40-foot-deep spring, where the water gushes in. However, it’s so still on top it reflects the surrounding trees like a mirror. It’s a natural freshwater spring in Palms Book State Park in Manistique, Michigan, in the Central Upper Peninsula. As the largest spring in Michigan, it’s known for unusually clear teal water. It’s a great place to visit as a part of your Michigan UP journey or to...

A costumed man stands in front of Lake Superior give a demonstration of boat making a canoe.

Five Highlights to See at Fort Michilimackinac

The past comes to life at Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City, next to the Mackinaw Bridge. Technically known as  Colonial Michilimackinac, this historic gem is an 18th-century French and British fur trading and military outpost on the Straits of Mackinac. Historians have reconstructed the fort using maps and 60+ years of archaeological excavations. Today, it’s a fascinating look into the history of the seldom-traveled Mackinac area. If you’ve reached the top of Michigan, you’ve come a long way, no matter...

Front view of bridge from a high vantage point in the pine trees

Michigan Coastal Road Trip: A Unique Adventure

If you’re looking for a unique adventure and beautiful drive, a Michigan coastal road trip should top your list. Why? There are 129 lighthouses in Michigan and 3,200 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. Plus, Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state, dozens in the lower portion alone. Though I didn’t plan to see them all, or not even many, this fact spurred me to realize I hadn’t seen enough of the Michigan coastline. So, I set off on a...

The Holland sign in front of peach tulips

15 Things to Do at the Holland, Michigan Tulip Festival

During the first two weeks of May, the Holland, Michigan Tulip Festival presents millions of tulips and Dutch traditions in America, making it a must-see destination. Despite being a Michigan resident for most of my life, I had never attended the festival before and now I regret waiting so long. Holland, Michigan is in lower western Michigan near Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, where nearly 30% of the population has identified as being of Dutch descent. During the festival, the...

Detroit Instuite of Arts

8 Must-See Art and American History Museums in Detroit

These American Art and History Museums in Detroit should be on your list. OK, my love of museums and Detroit is no secret, but as someone who’s been to many of the most revered museums in the world, I’m telling you, these are worth the time. Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) The best thing about the DIA is its fabulous modern and contemporary collections. They have several van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, O’Keeffe, Warhol and — my favorite the Diego Rivera...

Eastern Market Detroit

8+ Reasons to Visit Detroit’s Historic Eastern Market

Eastern Market sits unassumingly just outside of Downtown Detroit in what has become its own district. If you pass it by on a weekday, you may not even notice the sheds lining the road, but on certain days this nationally recognized icon comes to life. When I’m in Detroit, I don’t miss an opportunity to spend a morning at the market, wandering the stalls, taking in the scents of various food vendors, sampling the produce and watching the buskers perform...

Horseback Riding Mackinaw Island, Michigan

5 Things that Make Mackinac Island Special

Mackinac Island is a nearly secret place in Michigan that hardly anyone outside of the state knows about or visits. It’s hidden in northern Michigan in between the top of the mitten and the upper peninsula. On the island, there are no motorized vehicles and life moves at a much slower pace. There are few places to stay and none of them are chain hotels. Once there, you can hike, bike, or horseback ride. Non-motorized watersports, like kayaking, are popular...