Fresh off two big Michigan wins in USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice polls (Ludington for Best Historic Small Town and Saugatuck for Best Coastal Small Town), a favorite vacation destination has a chance to be named Best Summer Travel Destination in the country. Mackinac Island is one of 20 finalists in this contest, as it draws praise for its history, natural features, recreation opportunities, and downtown shops. We love visiting this beautiful island in Lake Huron and wholeheartedly agree that it deserves to be in the conversation for best summer travel destination! Today we’ll take a look ..read more

Michigan Trail Tuesday is our attempt to showcase a different trail or trail segment each week. The Mitten State is home to thousands of miles of trails, including the new Iron Belle Trail that runs from Detroit in the southeast to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula and more miles of the North Country Trail than any other state. Just 15 minutes from downtown Kalamazoo, the Lillian Anderson Arboretum features trails that have been popular with locals for decades for good reason. We recently made our first visit to this beautiful 140-acre property, and were blown away by the towering trees ..read more

Port Huron is home to many great parks and outdoor areas, but the one we find ourselves coming back to the most is Lighthouse Beach and Park. Here you can visit the historic Fort Gratiot Lighthouse (Michigan’s oldest lighthouse), enjoy a sandy and accessible beach on Lake Huron, look for rocks in the water and along the beach, watch freighters go by, let the kids check out the playground, or spend some time enjoying a picnic. We recently picked this as our spot to watch the 2024 solar eclipse from and it proved to be a scenic and perfect spot – it was cool to see the light in the lighthouse t ..read more

Hundreds of planes arrive at and depart from Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids each day, and for those not flying there is a great park to watch these airplanes of all sizes from. The Airport Viewing Park is located just south of the airport, and offers more than a hundred parking spaces that face the airport terminal and runway. This is a popular spot to bring a lunch and sit in the car and watch the planes, or to get out and walk around. The Airport Viewing Park is open from 7:30 a.m. until dusk each day. In 2017 the park received several upgrades, including more pa ..read more

Michigan Roadside Attractions on Travel the Mitten highlights our attempts to explore the many interesting things that can be found on the highways, byways and back roads of Michigan, ranging from the interesting to the unusual. Muskegon’s downtown is home to many different works of art, and we seem to find one we haven’t seen before each time we visit. In front of the USS LST 393 museum is a statue that honors Clarence Zylman, who was known as Muskegon’s “boogie woogie bugle boy.” During our visit we learned more about Zylman’s life and service to his country, as well how he became famous en ..read more

Michigan Roadside Attractions on Travel the Mitten highlights our attempts to explore the many interesting things that can be found on the highways, byways and back roads of Michigan, ranging from the interesting to the unusual. We’ve driven by the Pere Marquette steam engine and coal tower in Grand Haven many times without ever stopping to take pictures or find out more about their significance. When we were in the area in March we finally stopped to check out the steam engine and the other train cars that sit behind it and were able to learn more from the informational signs in the park. If ..read more

Sault Ste. Marie is Michigan’s oldest city and home to the Soo Locks, a marvel of engineering that allows large freighters to transit the elevation difference between Lake Superior and the St. Mary’s River as it connects to Lake Huron. The locks are vital to Great Lakes shipping and have also been a tourist destination since they were constructed. We love visiting Soo Locks Park and today we take a look at everything you can see and do when you visit. The park is free to visit (though you will need to pass through security) and is open during most daylight hours during the shipping season (ty ..read more

Many of us are familiar with the struggle of trying to get summer camping reservations at Michigan state parks, as popular campgrounds like Ludington State Park, Cheboygan State Park, Grand Haven State Park, and others fill up shortly after they are able to be reserved for the year. A new proposal from state representative Cam Cavitt (Republican, Cheboygan) would give Michigan residents “first dibs” at reserving these campsites. While this bill has a ways to go before becoming state law, it is at the very least an interesting idea that deserves some discussion. Today we will take a look at Ca ..read more

This April, the Run for the Trees: Happy Little 5K returns for a fifth year, and you can hike, run, bike, skate, or paddle your way to some cool Bob Ross inspired swag. The proceeds from this virtual event also helps tree planting and forest protection efforts in Michigan state parks while helping honor the legacy of the legendary painter and educator. This year’s participants will received a finisher’s medal, sticker, commemorative race bib, and a t-shirt. You are asked to complete your 5K between April 22 (Earth Day) and April 26 (Arbor Day). The 5K can be completed anywhere and at any ..read more

Baraga County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has more than 79 miles of shoreline on Lake Superior but surprisingly is home to just one lighthouse. Once an area known for its lumbering and slate mining (and a heavy presence by Henry Ford), it is now the state’s fifth least populated county. It remains a four seasons paradise for adventure as it is home to many waterfalls, Michigan’s highest point Mt. Arvon, Baraga State Park, and many parks and trails. Today we will take a look at how to visit the Sand Point Lighthouse that overlooks the Keweenaw Bay, while also taking a look at its history. S ..read more