“Jobs fill your pocket but adventures fill your soul.” – Jamie Lyn Beatty
Hello 2020! As we usher in a new year, it seems appropriate to reflect on the one we left behind. 2019 had its ups and downs; I suppose that’s life. But I did make some amazing memories, traveled to some favorite places (both close to home and in the Upper Peninsula), and accomplished some personal and professional goals. In all honesty, 2019 was a pretty good year compared to others in recent memory.
Perhaps it is because I enjoyed several weekend trips and a Pure Michigan vacation! In 2019, I experienced many “firsts,” despite having lived in the Mitten since 2005. I also try to be “on the pulse” – always scoping out destinations and attractions others would find fun and interesting. Take it from travel experts and a local: Michigan is the place to vacation in 2020! Last week, Mackinac Island and West Michigan received national media attention as hot 2020 travel destinations.
West Michigan got a big plug during a segment on the TODAY show. Mark Ellwood, contributing editor for Conde Nast Traveler, included it in his Top 5 travel destinations to explore in 2020. They even flashed a picture of Muskegon’s pierhead! Travel + Leisure editor-in-chief, Jacqui Gifford, also appeared on the 3rd hour of TODAY to share the best places to travel in 2020. Gifford highlighted Great Lakes cruising and Mackinac Island as “one of the most quintessentially cool American places to stay.”
That’s also good news for Muskegon, which is a regular cruise ship port. Cruise ship visits are expected to double by 2021. The downtown has transformed so much since I moved here in 2005, and it’s nice to finally see it getting some well-deserved recognition.
In October, Muskegon made Thrillist’s Best Small Cities in America to Visit for a Weekend list. The region also garnered recognition in the 2019 Best of Experience Michigan Readers’ Survey. Several of my favorite places and events, including Muskegon Museum of Art, Hoffmaster State Park, Muskegon Winter Sports Complex, and Michigan Irish Music Festival, won in their respective categories. Word is definitely getting out!
Here are some of my favorite memories and photos from my 2019 highlight reel. These are all places I wouldn’t hesitate to visit to again! Some are a mere 15 minutes away!
Snowmobiling takes us across the state
We kicked off February by returning to a favorite spot, Timber Ridge Resort, to celebrate my Groundhog’s Day birthday and ride the snowmobile trails around the Boardman River Valley. Traverse City’s trail system often goes overlooked, which we actually like because low traffic makes for nice trails!
Ice, ice baby. Crossing the ice bridge to Mackinac Island was an experience I won’t soon forget and definitely one of those “bucket list” trips. Read more about that adventure here.
Riding a snowmobile in a real blizzard in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula wasn’t for the faint of heart. Seriously. Lake Superior is badass. We rode home with sheets of snow blowing in our face and blinding us as the wind whipped up more than 40 miles per hour. We lost power at Hilltop Cabins, delayed our trip home due to highway closures, and saw the storm’s aftermath. Fallen trees and four-foot snow drifts along Lake Superior did a number on the Grand Marais Sno-Trails Association’s Crazy 8s trail system, but those dedicated groomers were back at it the next day. We also helped a fellow snowmobiler get unstuck after he nearly hit a downed tree, and we passed some very courteous riders who waved us down to tell us about fallen trees on the trail. Check out this video to see what it’s really like riding the Crazy 8s! One word: Awesome!
Mother Nature cooperated last winter, and we enjoyed great snowmobiling and trail conditions throughout the Lower Peninsula. We rode nicely groomed trails in Benzie and Manistee counties, maintained by Benzie Manistee Snowbirds Club, and fit in one final trip to the Harbor Springs area to ride the Moosejaw Trails in late March. Snowmobiling has become a way to make winter fly by, and see some amazing scenery, which I chronicle in this blog.
Inn at Bay Harbor delivers on views, Petoskey stones
In early June, I took my first FAM media trip to Inn at Bay Harbor. It is a beautiful resort and was an overall great experience. I met some new travel writers, ate too much amazing food, and enjoyed Charlevoix’s Mushroom House Tour. Edith Pair has started herself a great little business there! Read my story in BLUE Magazine. My favorite things about the trip: the breathtaking views of the bay from my room and a collection of Petoskey stones that magically appeared before my eyes! More on that in another post!
Enjoying summer close to home
We rarely travel far in the summer because there is so much to do close to home. This year, in part due to the high water plaguing the region, we left our cruiser safe in the backyard and took our small jet boat out on a few short excursions. One of the most memorable: watching Grand Haven’s U.S. Coast Guard Festival fireworks from Lake Michigan. We launched at Mona Lake Boat Club and anchored outside of Grand Haven’s channel.
We found a new spot to watch Fourth of July fireworks near Terrace Point Marina and Shoreline Inn. We also spent many summer days soaking up the sun and sand and enjoying Muskegon’s Pere Marquette Beach. I hadn’t walked the pier in a decade, so it was nice to get in a few walks before the pier closed for major repairs.
A week exploring the Straits of Mackinac
We usually drive over Mackinac Bridge in the winter and continue on to Grand Marais, so it was a real treat (and good for the soul) to spend a week with a front-row view of the Mighty Mac and explore the Straits of Mackinac in late August. I lucked out and found a bridge view campsite at Straits State Park, and we spent three nights there – even hunkering down in a tarp-covered tent during an all-night rain. It was great to see so many license plates from different states, unique campers, and a steady stream of traffic crossing the bridge. I woke up early to see the sunrise and found myself saying good night to the bridge. Straits State Park is a real gem – a well-maintained park with awesome views of the bridge, modern and clean restrooms, a few short hiking trails, and convenient access to St. Ignace and I-75. The St. Ignace trolley makes a stop near the entrance, and area Mackinac Island ferries also will pick you (and bicycles) up or deliver you to the park.
We visited several tourist spots, including Castle Rock, The Soo Locks, and Brevort Lake Campground in the Hiawatha National Forest. We enjoyed at beer at Soo Brewing Company and a nice dinner featuring fresh whitefish at the waterfront Mackinac Grille in St. Ignace.
Mackinac Island is always magical
The trip continued with a two-night stay on Mackinac Island. Each time I return to the island, I discover something new and fall in love a little more. We bicycled around M-185 twice, reversing our direction and riding inland by the airport and Battlefield of 1814 marker; dined at Pink Pony, Seabiscuit Café, Pancake House, and Mary’s Bistro Draught House; and toured Mackinac Island Art Museum. In the museum, I stumbled on a fascinating exhibit featuring prints by William Gardiner, a prominent turn-of-the-century photographer who passed away on his way to winter in Florida. His glass-plate negatives sat in his former studio above Doud’s Market for decades. They were about to be tossed in the trash when someone alerted Mackinac State Historic Parks, and state park officials acquired them for safekeeping. Steven Brisson, chief curator for Mackinac State Historic Parks, has since written a book titled “Picturesque Mackinac: The Photographs of William H. Gardiner.”
Another REAL highlight was being treated to an upgrade at Mission Point Resort. After some issues with our initial room, the guest services manager moved us to a beautiful executive suite – with its own elevator – overlooking the Straits of Mackinac. Seriously, the suite was larger than our house!!!! It was one of those pinch-me, good karma moments rolled into one! We returned to an old favorite on our second night, Island House Hotel, which always delivers great hospitality, amenities, and spectacular views! Island House opened in 1852, has been owned by the Callewaert family for 50 years, and is the oldest operating hotel on the island!
The vacation continued off the island with more camping at Wilderness State Park and the city-sized Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping. We were there over Labor Day weekend, so we were lucky to even get a site, and wind and waves finally calmed down enough to take a short kayak trip in the Straits. On our final night, we were treated to fireworks over the Mighty Mac. We took the long way home, traveling the Tunnel of Trees, and stopping for a picnic lunch in front of the public marina in Petoskey. Truly, it was a trip that will always hold very special memories!
Sleeping Bear always amazes me
In September, we took advantage of National Public Lands Day, which offers free admission to national parks and public lands, and headed to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It was a beautiful and sunny Saturday to take in the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and Lake Michigan Overlook and enjoy a night of autumn camping at Platte River Campground.
Small towns make for great weekend getaways
Throughout the year, we also enjoyed day trips to Holland and Saugatuck, visits to Frankfort and Traverse City, and a one-night’s stay at the historic Ramsdell Inn in downtown Manistee. The building’s 1891 Victorian architecture, carved woodwork and a beautiful mural in the lobby brings to life Michigan’s rich lumber baron history.
While tropical getaways and exotic locales are nice, one thing I know for sure is there is plenty to discover close to home! You don’t have to spend a fortune – or even take a week off – to renew your spirit, take in breathtaking beauty, and be a tourist in your own town! I enjoy being an ambassador for West Michigan and Muskegon. It’s definitely come a long way. Take it from the travel pros and put Michigan on your places to explore. Cheers to 2020 and more adventure!
Marla R. Miller is an award-winning journalist and content marketing writer who lives in Norton Shores. Please “like” or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
