A Record of a Lifetime of Wanderlust
Baraga, Michigan Hundreds of lighthouses, like the Sand Point or Baraga Lighthouse, dot the landscape throughout the Great Lakes Region. These lighthouses became vital to protecting the shores, later integrating into the towns that they served. As we drove down the Keweenaw Peninsula towards the rest of the Upper Peninsula, we decided to make a…
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Walmart stores are highly prevalent across the United States, making them a convenient option for purchasing essential goods and groceries. We needed a few supplies, so I decided to try my first stop at a Canadian Walmart to experience the similarities and differences. The first difference to any American is the…
Houghton, Munising, and St. Ignace, Upper Peninsula, Michigan Imagine having a physically demanding mining job that requires you to work underground for 10+ hours a day. It is not easy for you to leave your work location, so you only make the trip once a day when your shift is over—exerting the effort that you…
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario As Matt Mitchell, a great Southern philosopher, has asked, how was poutine not a Southern dish? I mean the staples of poutine feature fried potatoes, cheese curds, and gravy, three dishes that on their own provide artery-clogging comfort. A dish that includes French fries, gravy, and cheese would have been popular…
Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Paradise, Michigan The Tahquamenon (Rhymes with Phenomenon) Falls are awe-inspiring, located on the Tahquamenon River in Tahquamenon State Park in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Tahquamenon Falls are nicknamed the Root Beer Falls due to the tannins naturally found in the river, thanks to the cedar, cypress, and hemlock trees…
River Raisin National Battlefield Park, Monroe, Michigan A visit to Monroe, Michigan, by an outsider would never lead one to guess that a significant battle of the War of 1812 was fought between the Americans and British here on the banks of the Raisin River. At the time, the River Raisin settlement of Frenchtown was…
Mackinac Island, Michigan Welcome to Mackinac Island, a place that has no non-emergency horseless carriages, more veterinarians than medical doctors, and a fudge shop for about every 40 full-time residents. People have been seasonally flocking to this time-capsule oasis for many years. Mackinac Island has long been considered a sacred place; the Anishinaabek people referred…
Mackinac Island, Michigan Using the device you are reading this post on, there is a very good chance that you either have the Amazon app or a link and an account in your computer browser for Amazon.com. The world is at your fingertips, and planes, trucks, and in some instances, drones can bring you guaranteed…
Lansing, Michigan Why is Michigan’s capital in Lansing? Lansing is not the most populous city in the state, as that honor has always been held by Detroit. Lansing, while more centrally located than Detroit, is still quite far from the Upper Peninsula. A more centralized location would be closer to St. Louis, Michigan, if you…
Keweenaw National Historic Park, Hancock, Michigan Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame has a quote: “Every tangible thing our society needs is either pulled from the ground or grown from the ground.” Here on the Keweenaw Peninsula, the precious resource was copper. Copper as a material is extremely important in modern-day life. Copper is an…