Following Northern Michigan’s Autumn Monarch Migration
Probably the most recognizable butterfly in North America is the monarch, with its distinguishable and vibrant black and orange color palette. Did you know that during the summer, millions of these beautiful winged creatures (if you recall from biology class: lepidoptera from Ancient Greek lepís “scale” + pterón “wing” – the order of insects that […]
19 Ways to Soak Up the Fall Colors in the Straits of Mackinac
Mackinaw City is considered the “Crossroads of the Great Lakes” for good reason – it is central to dozens of unique locations and activities along both the Lake Michigan and Lake Huron shorelines, as well as the vast woods and waters of both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. This autumn, bring the family, friends or […]
Planning Ahead for the 62nd Annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk – Monday, September 2, 2019
As it was for the 2018 Annual Bridge Walk, the Mackinac Bridge will be closed to public traffic from 6:30 a.m. to Noon on Monday, Sept. 2, 2019 to accommodate the 2019 Annual Bridge Walk. The walk begins at 7 a.m. You may start walking any time after the governor’s party starts the walk at approximately […]
The Sweetest Side of the Straits
Certain American cities or regions are known for their specialized cuisine – Philly for its steak sandwiches, New England for its clam chowder, Texas for its bar-b-cue, Atlantic City for its salt water taffy. Here in Michigan, we have Coney dogs in Detroit, pasties in the Upper Peninsula and fudge right here in the Straits […]
Hemingway’s 1919 Trip Through the Straits to Seney
By Dianna Stampfler, Board Member – Michigan Hemingway Society One hundred years ago, on a hot August day in 1919, a 20-year-old Ernest Hemingway and his two friends, Jack Pentecost and Al Walker, boarded the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad in Petoskey set out for the Seney in the central Upper Peninsula for the last […]
Celebrate an all American 4th of July in the Straits of Mackinac
No place celebrates America’s independence quite like the communities in the Straits of Mackinac. Bring your family and enjoy a full day of activities in Mackinaw City, including: Over on Mackinac Island, you’re invited to join in An American Picnic (July 4-5, 6:30-10:30pm) at Fort Mackinac, which will be decked out in its red, white […]
Pressed Pennies: Shiny Souvenirs from the Straits of Mackinac
By Jhai Smith and Dianna Stampfler Pressed pennies are definitely one of the most affordable souvenirs to “purchase” when visiting the Straits of Mackinac. Also known as “elongated coins,” they are quite a collector’s item for people traveling here from around the state and across the globe. “An elongated coin (or pressed penny) is one that has been […]
19 Things You May Not Know About Wilderness State Park
With the passage of Public Act 218 signed by Governor Albert Sleeper on May 12, 1919, the Michigan State Park Commission was officially organized…making this year the unit’s 100th Anniversary! Yet, there were two parks under state control prior to that act…according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website (www.michigan.gov/dnr). The first was Interlochen […]
America’s Longest-Running, Free Memorial Day Historical Program Continues in Mackinaw City (May 25-27)
Photo Credit: https://www.crazycrow.com/site/event/fort-michilimackinac-reenactment-pageant/ No place celebrates Memorial Weekend and the start of the Pure Michigan summer season quite like the Straits of Mackinac. For nearly 60 years, this community has hosted America’s longest-running, free Memorial Day historical program in the United States. The Memorial Pageant Weekend has been running consecutively since 1962 (although the first, small-scale pageant was […]
Everyone Loves a (Mackinac Bridge) Parade
Each year, a handful of special parades are held in which the participants travel across the 5-mile Mackinac Bridge. These events are fun not only for the participants, but for visitors in downtown Mackinaw City as well. Please add these dates to your summer travel calendar: Friday, April 26 4th Annual Jeep the Mac Last year, more […]