A Record of a Lifetime of Wanderlust
Grand Rapids, Michigan It is fitting that the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum has a replica of the White House Cabinet Room. Gerald Ford, probably more than any other president in modern history, wanted to surround himself with the best and the brightest to fill out his cabinet. He sought talent and gave many people…
Grand Rapids, Michigan “I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your president with your ballots, and so I ask you to confirm me as president with your prayers. I have not campaigned for either the presidency or the vice presidency, I am indebted to no man, and only one woman –…
Magoon Creek Natural Area, Filer Township, Michigan South of Manistee, the Magoon Creek Natural Area serves as a relatively undeveloped area along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The natural area features a couple of parking lots, both of which have pathways that lead down to the lakeshore. Wyatt, Henry, Simon, and I walked down to see…
Manistee, Michigan “A chocolatmeister is a great friend to have!” The tagline from the Alpine Chocolat Haus describes what the location is all about, which to me seems to be providing an answer to a sweet tooth with many options. The Chocolat Haus featured store-made candies, gourmet popcorn, and 32 flavors of ice cream. One…
Manistee, Michigan On the morning we left Manistee, we dropped by the waterfront before leaving town. Located in town was the 1st Street Park, situated harborside. The park offered sweeping views of downtown, the lighthouse, and Lake Michigan. The park also includes baseball and softball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, swimming beaches, and a dog…
Otter Creek Beach, Lake Township, Michigan Driving back from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Adrienne mentioned that we should try to find a place to watch the sunset. Since everywhere on the shore faces west, it seemed like an excellent opportunity to find a beach. Our search for a beach took us to Otter Creek…
Empire, Michigan After a long day in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, we had worked up quite an appetite. On the way back to our Airbnb, we stopped in the small town of Empire and grabbed a bite to eat at Joe’s Friendly Tavern. According to the restaurant’s website, the location where Joe’s is situated…
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Empire, Michigan One of the most outstanding features of many national park sites is accessibility. While there is some argument that roads add to the pollution of a natural area, making National Parks accessible actually encourages people to protect the natural wonders they can see and visit. Pierce Stocking was…
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Empire, Michigan The most popular destination at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is to complete the Dune Climb. Visitors will climb the 11-story dunes and can trudge through the sand almost 3 1/2 miles to and from Lake Michigan across five dunes. Besides climbing the dunes, people will run down…
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Glen Haven, Michigan Glen Haven is home to the remarkably well-preserved Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station. The station was originally 1 1/2 miles away, but was moved in 1931 to save it from the oncoming dunes that are prominent at the point. In places where there was treacherous water…