News — Great Lakes

Courtesy of NPS When most people think of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, they think of outdoor adventures! Winter in the Upper Peninsula is no exception! One thing that is on our bucket list is exploring Pictured Rocks in the winter!  Pictured Rocks is beautiful in every season, but winter brings an unique sense of adventure to the area! There are a lot of activities at Pictured Rocks during the snowy season - cross country skiing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, winter camping and more! Some winters, the Pictured Rocks area receives more than 200 inches, so you will have no shortage...

This year the Michigan State Parks is celebrating 100 years, as they were established on May 12, 1919. The State Park system has gone all out in creating a year long celebration for this momentous occasion. So many events have happened this year for the Centennial Celebration, but we wanted to tell you about one of our favorite events that was created. The Virtual Race series was created specifically for the busy individual in an effort to encourage you to get out and explore. One run in The Virtual Race Series is the MI Run, which you can do on...

Everyone who comes to Mackinac Island wants to know why Mackinac Island is spelled with a ‘C’, when Mackinaw City is spelled with a ‘W’. Today on the blog, we wanted to answer that for you! The first name given to Mackinac Island was Michilimackinac, the place of the ‘Great Turtle,’ because of the shape of the island, with the greater region being known as the Straits of Mackinac. Eventually, the name shortened and the island became known as Mackinac Island.  When Mackinac Island became shortened from Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City decided to go with the phonetic spelling of the name...

The first day of fall is just around the corner! We’ve rounded up a few fall favorite pumpkin patches, apple mills and more that are favorite places for Michigan residents to visit:  Pond Hill Farm is located a little north of Harbor Springs and is so fun to visit in the fall! They have a pumpkin launcher, animals to see, hayrides, pumpkin patch and more! It’s the perfect family friendly outing for you and your kids on a fall afternoon - they even have a farm - to -table restaurant for a delicious lunch or dinner! Fall Color Tour: Have...

Chances are, if you have been to Mackinac Island before, you have done the typical bike ride around the island, a picnic thanks to fresh selections from Doud’s Market, wandering through the shops downtown and then dinner on the island before either staying on the island for the night or heading home via the ferry.  But have you ever wondered what else is on the island to explore? Here are some of our favorite hidden spots on Mackinac Island: Mackinac Island Solider’s Garden: This hidden gem on the island is a peaceful place. From many years ago, you will see...