The three largest Great Lakes (Huron, Michigan and Superior) lap against the shores of the upper arm of Michigan, where beauty and bounty feel timeless.
50 things to do in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that should be on your bucket list. Amazing locations and incredible adventures. Something for everyone.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park encompasses close to 50,000 acres stretching over 13 miles. Most of this is undeveloped woodland without roads, buildings or power lines. The centerpiece of the park, and the very reason for its existence, is the Tahquamenon River with its waterfalls. The Upper Falls is one the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. It has a drop of nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across. A maximum flow of more than 50,000 gallons of water per second has been recorded cascading over these falls. Four miles downstream is the Lower Falls, a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island. Although not as dramatic as the Upper Falls, they are equally magnificent. The falls can be viewed from the river bank or from the island, which can be reached by rowboat rented from a park concession. The island walk affords a view of the falls in the south channel. This is the land of Longfellow's Hiawatha - "by the rushing Tahquamenaw" Hiawatha built his canoe. Long before the white man set eyes on the river, the abundance of fish in its waters and animals along its shores attracted the Ojibwa Indians, who camped, farmed, fished and trapped along its banks. In the late 1800's came the lumber barons and the river carried their logs by the millions to the mills. Lumberjacks, who harvested the tall timber, were among the first permanent white settlers in the area. Rising from springs north of McMillan, the Tahquamenon River drains the watershed of an area of more than 790 square miles. From its source, it meanders 94 miles before emptying into Whitefish Bay. The amber color of the water is caused by tannins leached from the Cedar, Spruce and Hemlock in the swamps drained by the river. The extremely soft water churned by the action of the falls causes the large amounts of foam, which has been the trademark of the Tahquamenon since the days of the voyager.
Taken during the wind storm. Many people went out on the pier as well as surfing in the large waves.
Explore yooper1949's 1267 photos on Flickr!
Grand Haven, Michigan Inner light of the Grand Haven Pier.
This is another shot from a few weeks ago. After processing parts of this image (i.e. brightening the shadow areas, sharpening the snow, boosting the color saturation in the sky) I was left with an image full of harsh artifacts (e.g. noise, sharpening jaggies etc.) and while I wasn't entirely happy with that image I still liked the composition and color, so I applied a subtle dry brush effect to the whole thing (which you may not even be able to see unless you view this LARGE and ON BLACK): bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblack.php?id=3237486474&size... I'm not sure I'm 100% happy with the outcome, but I do like it much better than the "natural" pre-filter image.
View my best work from Zion, Acadia, Michigan and beyond. All images are available as fine-art prints in several sizes and formats.
These weekend destinations may keep low profiles, but they earn high marks for art, history and outdoor fun.
I'll meet you at the boardwalk!
We love the beach as much as the next person, so here is a list of 6 Michigan beaches to find adventure during off-season so the fun never ends.
10 must-see natural wonders in Michigan listed by Grandpa Shorter's Gifts in Downtown Petoskey, Michigan your Petoskey stone gift store.
A wonderful list of things to do on Mackinac Island with kids! Follow these tips for spending a day with kids on this island in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Bonus - find out where to spend the night, too!
Explore Pure Michigan's 14870 photos on Flickr!
Photo by Tracy Galvani
NAP_Canon EOS 7D_20111012_IMG_7988_0040-Edit-Edit.tif
Explore marysloft's 849 photos on Flickr!
we're locked down in some serious weather today in petoskey. still, i took a walk down to the petoskey waterfront to get some "storm story" pics. at times, due to the blowing snow, it was hard to even see the petoskey D9 beacon, at other times (like in this pic), it cleared up nicely. update - just in case you're curious, yes, i realize how many times i used the word "petoskey" in this description. i'm in a fierce duel with Odalaigh for supremacy in petoskey picture relevancy.
In the Upper Peninsula, the state’s oldest city goes with the flow of the St. Marys River. Its Soo Locks link two Great Lakes, bringing vessels and visitors. Caption: Kayaking on the St. Marys River [...]
The Petoskey stone is a unique and beautiful fossil composed of rugose coral, specifically the species Hexagonaria percarinata. These prehi...
A very peaceful and dramatic Lake Superior.. Taken near Munising, MI.
Have you ever wonder what the tip of the thumb looks like. How this spot isn't part of a state park, Ill never understand. It takes about 1.5 hours to get to from Port Austin by Kayak and Its worth the trip. www.amazingplacesonearth.com/turnip-rock-usa/
This lighthouse is on Grand Island in the bay leading to Lake Superior by Munising, Michigan. I love lighthouses and this is a great old example. It's not being used any longer, but the old lighthouse keeper had 12 kids living there! As the guy on the boat said...what else did he have to do? To this day there is little/no electricity on the island and the few summer homes there rarely have indoor plumbing. Pretty but rustic.
A Michigan man made the discovery of a lifetime when he stumbled on glowing rocks on the beaches of Lake Superior. The rocks, which he named "Yooperlites" emit an eerie glow, appearing to be partially molten rock.
You need to experience these unique Michigan day trips first hand! Put them at the top of your bucket list this year.
Wind gusts up to 50mph in Charlevoix created some rough water and brought out the surfers.
Rockport State Park - home to a gigantic limestone quarry where you can dig fossils & a massive rockpile you can climb for magnificent Lake Huron views.
Ohio’s slogan is the “Heart of it All”, partly because the state looks a bit like a heart, but also because it sits within a one-day of half of North ... Read more
Sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, lakes, forest, and shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Hiking, camping, sightseeing, and four season outdoor opportunities abound. The Lakeshore hugs the Lake Superior shoreline for more than 40 miles. Lake Superior is the largest, deepest, coldest, and most pristine of all the Great Lakes. Unlike any other place on Lake Superior, Pictured Rocks offers the opportunity to explore miles of pristine beaches, hike over 100 miles of trails, and experience the serenity of the northern hardwood forest. In the spring, a new world appears along trails carpeted with the soft beauty of wildflowers. Summer gives way to warm basking days. Blinking lights of orange, red, and yellow signal the wonder of change in autumn. In the winter, the raw windy beauty of snow frequents the days though periodically the snow blazes forth with sunlight. Take time to experience and learn about the different worlds of Pictured Rocks, a mosaic of colors, textures, and sights. Enjoy your stay! In 1992, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore began installing photovoltaic powered well pump systems at its drive-in campgrounds. All remote water wells within the lakeshore are now solar-powered.
