Chariots of Fire Classic Car Show

Date: 09/08/12

Location: Clare Christ Church, 3260 E. Colonville Rd., Clare, MI 48617

Join us for our 4th Annual Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show! Bring your classic vehicle and you could win Best of Show, Furthest Car, Most Patriotic, Peoples Choice, Kids Choice, or any one of over 40 trophies! Come for the car show and enjoy the silent auction, automotive swap meet, lunch, cruise through Clare and our award ceremony. Registration starts at 8am and goes to 10am at Clare Christ Fellowship, 3260 E. Colonville Rd., Clare, MI 48617. The Cruise through Clare will start at 1:30pm and the award ceremony begins at 3pm.

Lights Out Across The Bay

Date:  09/08/12

Location: Petoskey

In Petoskey, million-dollar experiences are not reserved for sunset alone, and on Saturday, Sept. 8, you can find out why. We’ll have an evening of stargazing at Petoskey’s Bayfront Park, in the “land of the million dollar sunsets.” To highlight the beauty of the dark sky, the lights will be turned off to allow participants to get a better view of what’s overhead but oftentimes out of sight due to light trespass. This free program takes place from 8 to 10pm at the Ed White softball field near the clock tower at the Petoskey waterfront. Participants are to gather at the softball ball field at the waterfront and are invited to bring a picnic and picnic blanket and beach chairs for comfortable viewing overhead. Binoculars and telescopes are welcome, though not required. (Please note that in the event of rain, the event will be rescheduled for October.)

Taste of Benzie

Date: 09/08/12

Location: Elberta Waterfront Park

Fun for the whole family with tastes of local restaurants and caterers, a bounce house, kids games, a silent auction and much more at the Elberta Waterfront Park from 11:30am to 3:30pm.

Harvest Stompede

Date(s): 09/08/12 – 09/09/12

Location: Leelanau Peninsula Vintner’s Association

This annual weekend features a spectacular race through Leelanau’s vineyards followed by a self guided wine tour of LPVA member wineries featuring world class wines and culinary delights that reflect the season’s bounty. In 2012 we are once again highlighting local foods, and each winery’s food pairing will feature locally sourced items. Race & Wine Tour are SEPARATE EVENTS!! You DO NOT have to do the race to participate in the wine tour

Festival of the Pines

Date(s): 09/13/12 – 09/16/12

Location: Lake City

The hosts of the Greatest Fourth in the North rally with nature and celebrate the Pine forests surrounding them with a prince & princess contest, horseshoe competition, arts & crafts show, grand parade, youth archery competition, lumberjack competition, beverage tent with music, bingo, muzzle loader competition and much more.

Leland Heritage Celebration

Date: 09/15/12

Location: Leland

The annual Leland Heritage Celebration takes place September 15th, 2012. This annual event is free and open to the public. Highlights include the Leelanau Historical Museum’s “Wooden Boats on the Wall”, Van’s Garage antique car show, and music and festivities in Fishtown. There will also be an exhibit at the Old Art Building.

Lily Tomlin – Comedy

Date: 09/15/12

Location: City Opera House, Traverse City

An unforgettable night of laughter! “Tomlin is amazing,” The NY Times. This unique comedian takes her audience on what the Washington Post calls a “wise and howlingly funny” trip with her off-kilter characters. “With astounding skill, Tomlin conjures up her cast of characters with all the apparent ease of a magician pulling a whole menagerie from a single hat,” the NY Daily News. This Detroit native was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to go with her Emmys, Tonys and Grammy. Don’t miss a warm, affecting evening filled with sharp insights and wild, witty observations. Tickets starting at $45. 8pm performance.

TBAYS Autumn Classic Soccer Tournament

Date(s): 09/15/12 – 09/16/12

Location: Traverse City

This sanctioned tournament is a growing event with approximately 150 state-wide teams competing.

Scottville Harvest Festival

Date(s): 09/20/12 – 09/22/12

Location: Downtown Scottville

The Harvest Festival is a long-standing tradition in Scottville celebrating the agricultural history of the area. The festival showcases an entertainment tent, queen’s contest, performances by the famous Scottville Clown Band, a farmer’s market, grand parade, midway, Mull Pulls and much more.

Civil War Muster Days

Date(s): 09/21/12 – 09/22/12

Location: White Pine Village, Ludington

The Civil War Muster is an event paying tribute to those who have served in military action throughout our history. The two-day event will feature the Civil War this year. Visitors will experience cannon firings, weapons interpretation, 19th century fashion show, Civil War handcrafts as well as camp life. Memorabilia from the Civil War era will be on display and re-enactors and veterans will be available to give visitors a first hand account of this important period of our history.

Annual Taste of Harbor Springs

Date: 09/22/12

Location: Harbor Springs

Yum! Over 20 exhibitors ranging from restaurants and lunch counters to gourmet shops and confectioners. Sample appetizers, soups, entrees and desserts. It’s worth the view alone to join us, but the wonderful food makes it an even better deal! Ticket prices to be announced. Give your taste buds a treat and join us!

Fall Fever Festival in Cadillac

Date(s): 09/22/12 – 09/23/12

Location: Cadillac

A full festive weekend of events in Cadillac. Starting Saturday with activities in the City Park, events include Cadillac’s 3rd Annual Craft Beer Festival, 4th Annual Classic Car Show, 4th Annual NasDog Races (Nascar Theme Pee Wee Dog races), Fall Fever Parade, Cemetery Historic Tours, Family activities with Bounce Houses. New in 2012 a Craft Soda Pop Tent with local ice cream. Sunday morning breakfast with Criss Cakes – performing their fantastic flying pancakes under the tent. Located in the City Park, in Downtown Cadillac.

Acme Fall Festival

Date: 09/29/12

Location:  Flintfields Horse Park on Bates Rd in Williamsburg

The third annual Acme Fall Festival will be held Sept. 29th, 2012 at the beautiful Flintfields Horse Park on Bates Rd in Williamsburg. Classic cars, antique tractors, crafts, farmers market, pancake breakfast, chicken BBQ, dessert contest, live music, kids events and more! 10-5.

A Growing Legacy: Beth Van Hoesen

Date(s): 06/30/12 – 09/16/12

Location: Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City

Beth Van Hoesen was born in Boise Idaho in 1926. She studied printmaking at Stanford University and the California School of Fine Arts, San Francisco. She lived most of her adult life in San Francisco with her husband Mark Adams in a house and studio near the Castro District. She passed away in 2010 leaving a legacy of over 600 prints. Van Hoesen’s prints are valued by collectors and museums due to her ability to cut something down to its very essence.

Evolution/Revolution: 50 Years of American Studio Glass – Exhibit

Date(s): 06/30/12 – 09/16/12

Location: Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City

In honor of the 50th anniversary of American Studio Glass, we present Evolution/Revolution, an exhibit organized by Ferdinand Hampson at Habatat Galleries in Royal Oak, Michigan, that traces the evolution of glass as an artistic medium from the 1960s to the present, featuring selected works by noted artists from each decade.

Howard BenTre Cast Glass Sculpture – Exhibit

Date(s): 06/30/12 – 09/16/12

Location: Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City

This exhibition focuses on Howard BenTre’s latest Cast Glass and Bronze sculptures. Having pioneered the use of cast glass for monumental indoor and outdoor sculpture, this newest body of work reflects on lightness and strength, architecture and the human form.

Bay Harbor Open Air Market

Date(s): 06/15/12 – 09/07/12

Location: Village at Bay Harbor

Located on the grounds of Bay Harbor with the backdrop of sparkling Lake Michigan, this family friendly event offers music, food tasting, farmers homemade baked goods and unique handmade goods by artisans. Open every Friday 2pm to 6pm.

Harvest Celebration at Brys Estate

Date(s): 09/29/12 – 11/03/12

Location: Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery, Traverse City

Join us for our annual Harvest Celebration, September 29, October 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, and November 3 as we celebrate the 2012 harvest at Brys Estate. For $5 per person, guests will be given a large souvenir wine glass to use as they visit four different wine and food pairing stations throughout the tasting room, barrel rooms and winery cellar giving visitors a glimpse into the inner workings of the winery.

Art Quilts by Katie Pasquini Masopust – Exhibit

Date(s): 06/30/12 – 10/07/12

Location: Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City

For nearly 30 years Katie Pasquini Masopust has produced high quality contemporary art quilts that have been coveted and collected by a broad range of admirers. From her early beginnings as a painter dabbling in traditional quilt making, her work has evolved from structured Mandalas and mind-blowing dimensional pieces to very painterly landscapes and abstracts executed with the finest fabrics and most creative stitching techniques.

Sketches to Sculptures, Rendered Reality: Sixty Years with Marshall M. Fredericks

Date(s): 09/30/12 – 12/31/12

Location: Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City

Sketches to Sculptures: Rendered Reality, Sixty Years with Marshall M. Fredericks is an exhibition of 31 small sculptures and 36 related drawings and sketches that showcases the creative process of Fredericks both as designer and sculptor. This exhibition is comprised of four genres that represent most of Fredericks’ work: architectural, commemorative, spiritual and whimsical.

Miao Xiaochun – Exhibit

Dates: 09/30/12 – 02/03/13

Location: Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City

Beijing-based multidisciplinary artist Miao Xiaochun has been relentlessly expanding the boundaries of photography into the realm of new media. The exhibition will consist of digital video projections of his work

Odawa Warriors’ Journey Exhibit

Date(s): 09/08/11 – 09/30/12

Location: Pellston Regional Airport (PLN)

In 1754 a band of Odawa Indians traveled from Northern Michigan to Pennsylvania to fight in the opening battle of the French and Indian War. Artifacts from this historical journey have returned home and are on display for the next year at the Pellston Regional Airport. Daily, 8:00am – 8:00pm and free.

Inuit Gallery – Exhibit

Date(s): 08/17/12 – 08/31/14

Location: Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City

The works in the Dennos Museum Center’s Power Family Inuit Gallery present a survey of Inuit stonecut, stencil, lithograph, etching, aquatint and chine-collé prints, tapestries, sculptures and

artifacts from the late 1950s to the present. Selected from more than 1000 objects in the Museum’s permanent collection, the exhibition features artists from numerous communities within Nunavut, a Canadian territory in the Canadian Arctic. As a whole, the exhibition is intended to reveal the vision and scope of Contemporary Inuit art, not only through first generation masters such as Pudlo Pudlat, Kenojuak Ashevak, and Kananginak Pootoogook, but also of new artists whose works reflect not only Inuit traditions of years past, but of contemporary life and current issues in the Arctic and the art world.

Les Cheneaux Lighthouse Experience

Date: 09/05/12

Location: Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruises, Mackinaw City

New for 2012! This cruise is bigger and better than ever! Join us on a 5.5 hour extended cruise into the beautiful Les Cheneaux Islands in northern Lake Huron. On the way to the stunning Les Cheneaux Islands, you will pass by British Landing on Mackinac Island where, 200 years ago on July 17th, Fort Mackinac was captured by the British in one of the first major events in the War of 1812. You will also enjoy exceptional views of six lighthouses including Martin Reef, Spectacle Reef, and for the first time on this cruise, the Detour Reef Light, in addition to the Bois Blanc Lighthouse, the Round Island Light and the Round Island Passage Light. The cost includes a boxed lunch. Adults $77.50, children (ages 5-12) $42.50

Hopps of Fun Beer & Wine Festival

Date(s): 09/07/12 – 09/08/12

Location: Mackinaw Crossings, Mackinaw City

Mackinaw Crossings will host “Historic Depot Happy Hour Hopps of Fun.” This unique event will feature as extensive sampling of 50+ award winning Michigan micro brewed beers and over 40 wines from Michigan’s four internationally recognized wine regions. Plenty of food, wine, beer, entertainment and fun from 5pm till 11pm on Friday and 1pm till 11pm on Saturday

Murder Mystery at the Sportsplex

Date(s): 09/07/12 – 09/08/12

Location: Otsego County Sportsplex

Cocktails 6pm, dinner: 6:30pm

Posen Potato Festival 2012

Date(s): 09/07/12 – 09/09/12

Location: Downtown Posen

In downtown Posen, a weekend filled with family fun, carnival, parade, arts & crafts, live entertainment and food

Antiques & Collectibles Outdoor Market

Date: 09/08/12

Location: Pavilion on Court on downtown Gaylord

Antiques and collectibles under the pavilion in downtown Gaylord. Furniture, primitives, textiles, and vintage fabrics, glass, pottery, post cards, toys and much more for sale

Owosso Tractor Parts Antique Tractor Show & Parade

Date(s): 09/14/12 – 09/15/12

Location: Mackinaw Bridge

September 14 – Antique Tractor Parade on Mackinac Bridge beginning at 10am – tractors will start in Mackinaw City and cross the bridge to St. Ignace. Hundreds of tractors will make this crossing. September 15 – Tractors on display at Kewadin Shores Casino in St. Ignace. Tractors 1965 and older. Club Membership required

An Evening in the Logging Camp

Date: 09/15/12

Location: Hartwick Pines Visitors Center & Logging Museum

Hartwick Pines State Park will be hosting “An Evening in the Logging Camp” Lantern program on September 15, 7pm to 9pm. Take this opportunity to journey back to the year 1896 and meet some of the members of the Salling, Hanson and Company’s “Section 9 Camp” as they prepare for the upcoming winter logging season. Costumed interpreters will portray several members of the camp including Karen “Bessie Michelson (the future Karen Hartwick), a local boarding house owner, the landlooker, the camp clerk, the camp cooks, a teamster, and some of the “shantyboys” –the men who did the cutting of the trees. From these men and women you will learn all about the life in a camp, the variety of work that was done in logging in the Grayling area and the rest of Michigan and some of the dangers of the job.

Extended Eastbound Lighthouse Cruise

Date: 09/15/12

Location: Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruises, Mackinaw City

In addition to the lighthouses you see on our standard Lake Huron cruise, on a Shepler’s Extended Eastbound Lighthouse Cruise you’ll be treated to a chance to see the elusive Spectacle Reef Lighthouse. This lighthouse may only be viewed up-close from a boat and the cruise allows you unbelievable photo opportunities of this remarkable lighthouse. Lighhthouses on the standard cruise are Bois Blanc Island Light, Cheboygan Crib Light, Fourteen Foot Shoal Light, Poe Reef Light, Round Island Light, and Round Island Passage Light. The cruise is four hours long.

Festival on the Farm

Date: 09/15/12

Location: Gladwin

We have had everything from goats milk, soaps, artists, crafts, to farm produce. Goods and wares of all kinds. Games and prizes for little ones, and always something good to eat. Blue Barn Gallery & Farms is at 2628 W Ridge Rd; Gladwin, MI, 48624. No admission

Folk Arts Festival

Date: 09/15/12

Location: Wellington Farm Park, Grayling

This special event will feature artists, musicians, authors and storytellers from all across Northern Michigan. All of the Wellington Farm, USA historic buildings will be in operation during the one-day festival. In addition there will be artists, craftsmen, storytellers and musicians scattered about the park. A food concession will be available so families can plan on spending the entire day at the farm.

Wellington Country Music Show

Date: 09/15/12

Location: Wellington Farm Park, Grayling

The Wellington Country Music Show, a variety show with old-fashioned country music and corny country humor, is scheduled for Saturday, September 15. Presented on a picturesque outdoor stage, the Wellington show is a full evening of fun entertainment. Price of admission for the show is only $12.50 and tickets are presently available at the farm’s Visitor Center. Wellington Farm, USA is within easy reach of Exit 251 of I-75 and Exit 206 of US-127

Big Mac Shoreline Scenic Bike Tour

Date(s): 09/15/12 – 09/16/12

Location: Mackinaw City

The “Big Mac” Tour is designed as a recreational tour, it is not a race, but a test of stamina and a chance for families to enjoy this popular sport together at their own pace. These scenic tours will offer 25 mile, 50 mile, 75 mile, and 100 mile routes between Mackinaw City and Harbor Springs. Our scenic tour will take you along the Lake Michigan shoreline…pass sparking water, windswept dunes, through the renown “Tunnel of Trees”, over rolling hills, through quaint resort towns and old Indian villages, and across the Mackinac Bridge. Riders pre-register, meet, and depart from Mackinaw Recreation Complex

Paul Bunyan Days

Date(s): 09/15/12 – 09/16/12

Location: Oscoda

Chainsaw carving competition where chainsaw carvers turn logs into intricate sculptures (sold at auction), Lumberjack show, arts & crafts show, classic car show, kids games, food vendors, & so much more. Located at the Paul Bunyan Field (center of Oscoda on US 23)

Extended Westbound Lighthouse Cruise

Date: 09/16/12

Location: Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruises, Mackinaw City

Take an extended Westbound Lighthouse Cruise and get an up-close glimpse of Skillagalee Lighthouse added to our standard westbound tour. You will be able to take some wonderful photos from a great vantage point on board this cruise. The cruise is 3.5 hours long. Lighthouses you will see on the standard Westbound Lighthouse cruise are: Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, St. Helena Island Light, Gray’s Reef Light, White Shoal Light, and Waugashaunce Lighthouse. Adults $61, children 5-12 $35.

Northern Michigan Lamb & Wool Festival

Date(s): 09/29/12 – 09/30/12

Location: Ogemaw County Fairgrounds, West Branch

We’re about the friendliest little fiber festival around. We work to bring together small producers of fiber products and fiber fan(atic)s and we have a great time doing so. Fiber and food vendors, fiber classes, sheep and pasture management sessions and a pasture tour.

Elk Viewing Carriage Ride, Gourmet Dinner & Wine Tasting Event

Date(s): 06/03/12 – 12/27/12

Location: Thunder Bay Resort, Hillman

Join us as we kick off the season. The elk are in velvet leaving a smooth rounded appearance for the antlers. Book one of our Elk Viewing Carriage/Sleigh Rides, Gourmet Dinner & Wine Tasting Event Packages to see these amazing creatures (bring your camera!) and prepared to be pampered with a five course gourmet meal! Also during your evening guests get a chance to sample local Michigan wine that are perfectly paired with your courses.

Lunchbox Social at the Zoo

Date: 09/05/12

Location: Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square

The Children’s Zoo invites our senior citizens to participate in our “Lunchbox Social at the Zoo”. Admission is free for seniors age 60+. 12pm-4pm. Ride tickets are $2 per person, per ride or $5 per person for an unlimited wristband.

Dinner Sail

Date(s): 09/07/12, 9/15/12, 9/21/12

Location: Appledore Tall Ships: Public Sails and Dinner Cruises, Bay City

Join us for an unforgettable evening of sailing on the Saginaw Bay. Enjoy the sails, the sunset, and a delicious three-course dinner

Frankenmuth Auto Fest

Date(s): 09/07/12 – 09/09/12

Location: Heritage Park – Frankenmuth

Located in Heritage Park on Weiss Street in Frankenmuth. Over 2,500 classic cars, street rods, and muscle cars. Come and enjoy a weekend of fun and entertainment for all ages. Friday night Big Block Party on Main Street from 5-10pm. Saturday & Sunday view the classic cars in Heritage Park. Oldies fest dance in the Harvey Kern Pavilion on Saturday from 7-midnight.

Pioneer Day and Fall Festival

Date: 09/08/12

Location: Podunk House & Pioneer Museum

The Podunk House is a Greek Revival home furnished with local period furniture. Museum includes artifacts from sternwheelers that carried passengers across Long Lake (now Lake Fenton). Displays include items from area one room schools, farm tools, barber shop memorabilia, Lake Fenton school and much more. Public welcome. Event held at Podunk House & Pioneer Museum; 2436 North Long Lake Rd; (Lake) Fenton, MI. $1 admission.

Apple Country Craft Show

Location: Leaman’s Green Applebarn & Cider Mill

Dates: 9/8/2012 – 9/9/2012

Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 4pm. No admission charge. Fresh donuts made each day. Over 50 crafters with hand made items

Legends of the Saginaw Sails

Date(s): 09/09/12, 9/16/12, 9/23/12, 9/30/12

From: Appledore Tall Ships: Public Sails and Dinner Cruises, Bay City

Learn the fascinating history of the Saginaw River as the Appledore sails from Downtown Bay City out to the Saginaw Bay. Once out on the open water, help the crew set the sails or relax and enjoy the view. A hearty lunch is served underway. Adults $37

Main Street Glow

Date: 09/13/12

Location: Downtown Midland

Join in the fun as the RE/MAX Balloon Festival kicks off with a night GLOW on Main Street in Downtown Midland. Hot air balloons will launch from Chippewassee Park (across the Tridge) starting around 6 pm. Then stroll among tethered hot air balloons on Main Street (between Gordon Street and McDonald Street). Enjoy more fun at the RE/MAX Balloon Festival all weekend long at the Midland County Fairgrounds (morning launches on Friday, Saturday, Sunday mornings at 7:30 am plus evening activities Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 6 pm). All scheduled events are weather permitting

Stargazer Dinner Sail

Date(s): 09/14/12, 9/22/12

Location: Appledore Tall Ships: Public Sails and Dinner Cruises, Bay City

A special live presentation onboard the Schooner APPLEDORE IV by astronomers from the delta college planetarium: View constellations, listen to star legends, learn to navigate by the stars, hear the words of poets, and enjoy the beauty of the night sky under sail. A three-course dinner is served underway. Reservations required.

Cruise ‘n Car Show in Downtown Midland

Date(s): 09/14/12 – 09/15/12

Location: Downtown Midland

Hot Rods, motorcycles, muscle cars, trucks and more on the streets of downtown Midland. The cruise parade starts at 7pm on Friday night and runs from the Tridge area to Rodd Street to Main Street and M-20. Following the parade is the Cruisers Ball featuring Diversity Entertainment for dancing in the street until 10pm. The Car Show starts Saturday morning at 9am with Top 60 Awards presented at 3pm.

Rusty Rocket’s Last Blast

Date(s): 09/01/12 – 09/29/12

Location: Longway Planetarium

Saturdays in September: Lift off with Rusty Rocket and learn rocket basics, relive great moments in space exploration, and discover how far it really is to the moon and planets. After decades of teaching rocket rookies the basics of rocket physics, Rusty Rocket has announced that this will be his last blast, and he already has plans for how he will spend his free time. Meanwhile, Rusty has one final mission to command: an introductory tour of the solar system for a class of rocket rookies that focuses on the wide variety of planetary environments. Saturday’s in September only. Suitable for ages 5 years old.

Michigan Festival of Gourds

Date(s): 09/14/12 – 09/16/12

Location: Eastern Michigan Fairgrounds

Learn about the exciting world of gourds. Educational classes, free demo’s, supplies and art for sale, make and take, entertainment and so much more

Gun & Knife Show  

Date(s): 09/15/12 – 09/16/12

Location: Birch Run Expo Center

Saturday, September 15, 9am – 5pm and Sunday, September 16, 10am – 3pm. The Midwest’s largest gun & knife show. $7 per person. Free parking.

Dahlia Hill Autumn Equinox

Date: 09/16/12

Location: Dahlia Hill, Midland

Everyone invited to view dahlias. FREE cider & donuts, music & studio tours. 2pm to 4pm. Parking at Dahlia Hill; 2809 Orchard Dr; Midland, MI 48640. & Emerson Park

Golden Memories Car Show

Date: 09/16/12

Loation: Flint Cultural Center

A very special event exclusively for original or authentically restored vehicles produced in 1962 or earlier. No visual modifications are allowed. This event is non-competitive, so there will be no judging, just a relaxing day with friends and fellow car enthusiasts who love well preserved and restored automobiles. This is a free vintage car show. 10am-4pm.

Wedding Dresses Through the Years

Dates: 08/08/12 – 09/09/12

Location: Castle Museum of Saginaw County History

A small but charming exhibit featuring some of the Museum’s wedding dresses from the 1800s through the 1950s. Admission is $1 for adults and 50¢ for children. Exhibit hours are 10am – 4:30pm daily, closed Mondays

Fall RV & Camper Show

Date(s): 09/20/12 – 09/23/12

Location: Birch Run Expo Center

Come see the RVs and campers at our fall show. Thursday & Friday 2-9pm, Saturday 11-9pm, and Sunday 11-5pm. $5 admission. Kids 12 and under are free.

Keepsake Collections Arts and Craft Show

Date(s): 09/21/12 – 09/23/12

Location:  Downtown Frankenmuth

Art and Craft Show. 125 juried exhibits will fill the park. Artwork and handmade crafts, Authors and metalwork. Friday 12-6, Saturday 10-6, and Sunday 11-5. Free admission. Downtown at Zehnder Park

Frankenmuth Oktoberfest 2012 –

Date(s): 09/20/12 – 09/23/12

Location: Heritage Park – Frankenmuth

A German festival with a large wooden dance floor. Good food, drinks, and souvenirs. Located in the Harvey Kern Pavilion in Heritage Park

Downtown Midland’s Chili & Salsa Taste-Off

Date: 09/22/12

Location: Dowtown Midland

14th Annual Chili & Salsa Taste-Off. Stroll through downtown and taste the different chili & salsa recipes, then vote for your favorite. Ticket required

Windjamming Day Sail

Date(s): 09/22/12, 9/29/12

From: Appledore Tall Ships: Public Sails and Dinner Cruises, Bay City

Get onboard and take advantage of the blustery fall conditions as we push the schooner to really fly. This is a sail for those ready to join in and help the crew, get their hands dirty, and hang on for a wild ride. Space is limited. Reservations required

ZOOberfest

Date: 09/22/12

From: Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square

Celebrate fall and Mid-Michigan’s agriculture heritage with a kid-size “harvest” and “farmers market”, and other farm-themed activities. 12pm-4pm

Lexington Days

Date(s): 09/22/12 – 09/23/12

Location: Downtown Lexington

Come to Lexington for a weekend of family fun. There are Outhouse Races and a craft show on Saturday 10-6 and the craft show and Classic Car Show Sunday 10 -5.

Michigan Antique & Collectibles Festival

Date(s): 09/22/12 – 09/23/12

Location: Midland County Fairgrounds

One of the Midwest’s largest antique and collectibles markets and special interest auto shows, comes to the Midland County Fairgrounds. Over 1000 Vendors and 80 Acres of Treasures & Memories. Antiques, collectibles, unique, coin & sports memorabilia, classic car show, swap meet, for-sale car lot, live entertainment, taste of Michigan, classic car auction and great family fun.

Dow Gardens Art in the Garden – Sculptures of the Great Lakes Bay

Date(s): 08/13/12 – 09/30/12

Location: Dow Gardens, Midland

Thirty sculptures by Great Lakes Bay artists are featured throughout Dow Gardens. Enjoy a unique stroll of beauty and art. A printable guide is available at the visitor center.

Title of Show – An Original Musical Performance

Date(s): 09/27/12 – 09/29/12

Location: Midland Center for the Arts

Follow Hunter and Jeff as they struggle to write a musical about…well…writing a musical. Witty, fresh and irreverent, [title of show] is, above all, a love letter to musical theatre! Book by Tony Award nominee Hunter Bell. Music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen. Directed by Andrew Southwell. Adult language and content. Sept 27-29, 2012, 8pm.

River of Time Reenactment

Date(s): 09/28/12 – 09/30/12

From: Veterans Memorial Park, Bay City

River of Time draws re-enactors from all over the country to dress, work and live like people did from several eras in Michigan’s past. Representing time periods from pre-contact Native Americans, Revolutionary War, French and Indian War, Civil War, and the great World Wars, this free, family-oriented, educational event is a wonderful way to look back at simpler if not more difficult times. This event, held the last weekend in September, brings in thousands of people every year including school groups from all over the area.

Celebration of the Horse Festival

Date: 09/29/12

Location: Downtown Metamora

Once a year the streets of Metamora are filled with horses, horse owners and horse lovers. Celebration of the Horse Festival is an annual small town festival celebrating “everything equine”. The celebration is well-known for its wide range of activities and events for all ages. The festival features breed displays, parade, entertainment, training demonstrations, informative speakers and veterinarians, horse drawn trolley, business expo, children’s activities, pony rides, historic carriage tours, great food and more

Whistles on the Water

Date: 09/29/12

Location: Palmer Park, St. Clair

Whistles on the Water will capture the familiar and yet unique sound of a wide range of old steam whistles in Palmer Park on the banks of the St. Clair River in downtown St. Clair. A steam engine, once owned by Henry Ford, will provide the operative force necessary to wake up the city of St. Clair! Joining the engine will be about 30 more steam whistles, brought by collectors. Most whistle events use compressed air to give voice to the large steam whistles. St. Clair, however will be using live steam.

Mining for Prosperity: Coal in the Saginaw Valley

Date(s): 07/20/12 – 09/30/12

Location: Castle Museum of Saginaw County History, Saginaw

More coal was mined in Saginaw County than any other county in Michigan. Learn about the Saginaw Valley coal boom and why it went bust in a new exhibit at the Castle Museum. Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00am – 4:00pm, Sunday, 1:00pm – 4:00pm and closed Mondays

Project 1893: Artifacts from the Great Saginaw Fire – Exhibit

Date(s): 07/25/12 – 10/20/12

Location: Castle Museum of Saginaw County History

On May 20, 1893, a fire ravaged the city of Saginaw and destroyed more than 250 buildings in less than three hours. In the summer and fall of 2011, Castle Museum Archaeologist Jeff Sommer and a team of volunteers worked at a site that was the remains of a home destroyed in the fire. The museum has an exhibit examining the Great Fire in more detail with particular emphasis on the artifacts our archaeology team uncovered. This is a fascinating piece of Saginaw history that you won’t want to miss. 10am – 4pm.

Voices: Extraordinary Women of Midland County – Exhibit

Date(s): 07/26/12 – 10/27/12

Location: Heritage Park, Midland

A one-of-a-kind exhibit- powerful stories, engaging photographs and videotapes, and interesting personal artifacts of hundreds of Midland women, past and present. From Native Americans and pioneers to contemporary women, see the photomosaic of thousands of faces of Midland women. Discover the 120 Hidden Heroines submitted by the public. $5 per adult (over 15), $3 per child (four – 14) under three free. Thursday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm

Diana Sweet Shoppe Exhibit

Date(s): 06/23/12 – 10/13/12

Location: Knowltons Ice Museum of North America, Port Huron

Remember Diana’s? Charming memorabilia from the original Diana Sweet Shoppe will be on display just a few short blocks from where the original sweet shoppe store operated for 75 years. Exhibit depicts one of Port Huron’s most revered businesses which operated from 1926 – 2001!

100 Years and S’More: Celebrating a Century of Girl Scouting

Date(s): 04/19/12 – 10/27/12

Location: Heritage Park, Midland

Juliette Gordon Low started Girl Scouts in 1912 to teach young girls essential skills, to build their confidence, and to offer them experiences beyond the ordinary. Celebrate at Heritage Park century of Girl Scouting with storytelling, sing-a-longs, scouting memorabilia and s’more. View historical artifacts from area Girl Scouts! Take part in a fun scavenger hunt! Hear tales from Girl Scouts of yesterday & today! $5 per adult (15 and older), $3 per child (4-14), and free for children 3 and younger.

Bradley Home Tour

Date(s): 04/12/12 – 10/27/12

From: Heritage Park, Midland

Experience the authentic Victorian Gothic architecture of the beautifully restored Bradley Home, a hands on historic house museum where you can get a glimpse of the everyday life of an early Midland family. The adjacent Carriage House features an amazing collection of horse-drawn carriages and sleighs and is home to mid-Michigan’s largest functioning blacksmith’s

 Upper Peninsula Fall Colors

Fall colors in Michigan range from mid September through late October and start changing first in the Western Upper Peninsula first and then spread south and east across the rest of the Upper Peninsula. Next they are on display from north to south over the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. In areas close to Lake Superior and Lake Michigan fall colors are slightly delayed so pick your spot and get out your camera and be amazed all thanks to Mother Nature.

Fall Colors in  Upper Peninsula

The  Upper Peninsula fall color driving tours includes spectacular vistas, gentle country roads, waterfalls and a stroll along the Lake Superior shore. The forest covered area is alive with waves of red, oranges, gold and green that tint the countryside from mid-September to early October. Autumn colored rainbows can be seen around every bend surrounded by mountains, bluffs and lakes.

Ironwood – Silver City – Wakefield

Best Enjoyed: Mid-September to Early October
Approximate Length: 100 miles

To start your Fall Color tour, head east out of Ironwood on U.S. 2 towards the #1) Ottawa National Forest. For a beautiful side trip, take 513 north out of Bessemer to the Black River Parkway, an 11.5-mile paved route that winds through hardwood forests and past numerous waterfalls to a historic harbor on Lake Superior. Be sure to stop at  #2) Copper Peak, a ski flying hill. From the observation deck, nearly 1882 feet above sea level and 1180 feet above Lake Superior, the view is breathtaking.

After returning from the Black River Parkway, continue east on U.S. 2 to Wakefield. At Wakefield take County Road 519, to the beautiful  #3) Porcupine Mountains on Lake Superior. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park’s 60,000 acres are one of the few remaining large wilderness areas in the Midwest. Towering virgin timber, secluded lakes, and miles of wild rivers and streams make a visit to the “Porkies” a trip to remember. High summits and rocky outcrops treat visitors to panoramic views of crystal blue lakes, forested river valleys and distant mountain peaks.

Continue east to Silver City and then south on M-64 to Bergland. Bergland sits on the northern tip of the Upper Peninsula’s largest lake, Lake Gogebic, which runs 18 miles long and 3 miles wide. Want to stretch your legs? Explore #4)  Gogebic Ridge Hiking Trail, an 8-mile linear hiking trail that bends and winds through rolling hills of mixed hardwood and conifer trees.

Follow M-64 south as it runs along the western shore of Lake Gogebic. Stop at #5)  Lake Gogebic State Park which covers 360 acres and nearly a mile of lake frontage on the west shore of the lake. Recreational opportunities include fishing, boating, picnicking and hiking.

Complete your tour by continuing south on M-64 to U.S. 2 and then back west to Ironwood.

Houghton – Eagle River – Copper Harbor

Best Enjoyed: Mid-September to Early October
Approximate Length: 100 miles

Begin your tour in Houghton and Hancock, the hometowns of Michigan Tech and Finlandia Universities. For a spectacular view of the two cities and surrounding, color-splashed countryside, take the Cog Rail Tram down the steep hill at the 1) Quincy Mine in Hancock. The mine is open for tours and offers a glimpse of the mining history that gives the area its “Copper Country” moniker.

Head north on US-41, a state Historic Scenic Route where the curving roadway competes for a driver’s full attention with the tree tunnels’ canopy of color. The highway, which stretches from Florida to Michigan’s Copper Harbor, winds through small mining communities and past the giant snow gauge, a thermometer that measures snowfall by the foot–a sign of the season to come. At the old mining town of Phoenix, the 1858   2)  Church of the Assumption is open to visitors. This is where you’ll turn west on M-26 to Eagle River, a picturesque village that was a booming port during copper’s heyday. Just before you reach the town you can stop and take a short walk to see Eagle River Falls. The 1855  3) Eagle River Lighthouse is now a private residence, but just west of town the 4) Sand Hills Lighthouse Inn welcomes overnight (adult) guests.

Continue on M-26 along the rocky Lake Superior shore; you’ll find roadside picnic spots and scenic turnouts to absorb the beauty. The eight-mile stretch between Eagle River and Eagle Harbor, high along a sandy bluff, is known as the Sand Dune Drive. Just about three miles out of Eagle River watch for Jacob’s Falls, visible from the road, and 5) The Jampot, a bakery operated by monks, Brothers of the St. John Monastery.

In Eagle Harbor the brick lighthouse, which dates to 1871, is part of the  6) Light Station Museum Complex and open to visitors. Follow M-26 from Eagle Harbor to Copper Harbor for some of the most dramatic scenery in the state. The section known as  7) Brockway Mountain Drive, the highest above sea-level drive between the Rockies and the Alleghenies, was a WPA project. The 9.5 mile route is a designated Michigan Wildlife Viewing Area, and offers spectacular sunsets.

Copper Harbor, the state’s most northern community, is the year ’round home to just a handful of hardy souls. But from May through fall color season you can find plenty of company, comfortable lodging, delicious meals, local art, warm hospitality and the scenic beauty of this remote and rugged spot.

Next on the list is a visit to the 1848 light keepers house and the  8). Copper Harbor Ligthouse and Museum built in 1866. Also memorable: a quiet walk through the virgin White Pines preserved at  9) The Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary and a visit to   10) Fort Wilkins State Park.

Catch US-41 out of Copper Harbor en route back to Houghton/Hancock. The Michigan Scenic Heritage Route, also called the Copper Country Trail, was recently designated a National Scenic Byway. The road will take you to the  11) Keweenaw Mountain Lodge & Golf Course, another WPA project that dates to the Depression era when unemployment in the region was 85 percent. The rustic lodge features a nine-hole course, fine dining, and sleeping in log structures with stone fireplaces.

Continuing south of Copper Harbor is the authentic  12) Delaware Mine, which yielded eight million pounds of the metal between 1847-1887. The scenic route continues through wonderful forests and through the city of Calumet, which was the cultural and commercial center of the Keweenaw Copper Range. Take time to visit the restored  13) Calumet Theater and the red sandstone buildings of the downtown business district. This is the heart of the  14) Keweenaw National Historic Park, which recognizes the importance of the mining history of this rugged and scenic region.

Iron River – Bruce Crossing – Watersmeet

Best Enjoyed: Mid-September to Early October
Approximate Length: 135 miles

Begin your tour in the Iron County seat of  Crystal Falls, a picturesque city on a hill dominated by its 1891 Romanesque Courthouse. Take a side trip down County Road-424 to the Alpha Circle Historic District, a 1914 mining village intriguingly built around a traffic circle. Travel a bit further west on 424 to 1) Pentoga Park Indian Burial Grounds, the site of an Ojibwa gathering spot on the south shore of Chicagon Lake.

Back on US-2, 2) Bewabic State Park, four miles west of Crystal Falls, is on the Fortune Chain of Lakes and ideal for canoeing or kayaking. Stone and log structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the difficult 1930s remain.

Continue west on US-2 to 3) Iron River and jog about two mile south to  Caspian and the outdoor collection of buildings of the   Iron County Museum. Exhibits include six log structures of a pioneer homestead, lumber camp buildings, a headframe used in hoisting ore, and the 1890 home of Carrie Jacobs Bond, composer of “I Love You Truly” and “A Perfect Day.” (Open through September).

Just across from the museum along the Iron River is Apple Blossom Trail, where U.S. Surveyor Harvey Mellen identified the outcropping of ore in 1851. The hike/bike trail follows the rail line that once hauled iron ore.

If you’re interested in seeing a Civilian Conservation Corps project that is on the National Register of Historic Places, take a sidetrip to see more than a dozen buildings at the 1930s Camp Gibbs, now a recreation area. Two miles west of Iron River turn north on County Road-657 and head 10 miles north.

Head west toward  Watersmeet, where the Ontonagon River flows north into Lake Superior, the Wisconsin River flows south into the Mississippi, and the Paint River flows east into Lake Michigan: it’s where the waters meet. Sports fans will know Watersmeet as home of the Nimrods high school basketball team, and those itching to try their luck will want to stop at the  4) Lac Vieux Desert Casino Resort.

This area is a blur of woods, wildlife and, of course, water, including the Cisco Chain of Lakes, with more than 270 miles of shoreline along 15 interconnected lakes. Fall color is abundant in the surrounding  5) Ottawa National Forest and 19,000-acre 6) Sylvania Wilderness Area, with its spruce, balsam, maple, birch, and aspen trees—many of them 300-400 years old. Watch for wolves, white tail deer, American bald eagles, loons, black, bear, coyotes—even the elusive moose. Stop at the Ottawa Visitor Center at the crossroads of US-2 and US-45 for information to help you make the most of your visit.

The color continues north on US-45 through Paulding, and if it’s near nightfall you may want to make a side trip to witness the “Paulding Light,” a distant glow that rises out of the forest, hovers, and disappears. Is it a ghost, gases or car lights? Theories abound. Travel about four miles north of Watersmeet, turn left on Old US-45, then left in about a half mile onto Robbins Pond Rd. Wait at the pullover on the second hill, and make your own guess about the mysterious light.

Continue north on US-45 and be prepared to brake for waterfalls — hundreds of known and unnamed falls. Most require that you drive unpaved county and forest roads, and then hike to reach them (some are extremely remote), however the lovely Bond Falls are easily accessible from the town of Paulding; take Bond Falls Road east to the natural attraction.

Back on US-45 head north to Bruce Crossing, and turn right at the intersection of State Route 28. Travel about seven miles east to the roadside park, and take a short walk to view Agate Falls.

Continue east on SR-28 through Trout Creek, an old lumber town being brought back to life by new settlers seeking a simpler life. Still heading east on SR-28 you’ll breeze through Sidnaw, another lumber settlement with Henry Ford connections.          The spectacular  7) Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness Area is just north of Sidnaw.

Follow SR-28 to Covington, a farming center that still celebrates is largely Finnish immigrant heritage. Check out the UP Made Artists Market housed in the old Covington School. Turn south on US-141, and watch for moose. You’ll pass through Amasa, another one-time logging and mining boomtown. Then it’s another 15 miles back to Crystal Falls, where the courthouse clock chime will pronounce an end to your wilderness excursion.

Marquette – Negaunee – Au Train

Best Enjoyed: Mid-September to Early October
Approximate Length: 185 miles

Begin your tour in Marquette, the Upper Peninsula’s largest city. Before heading out of town, be sure to visit the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse leased by the Marquette Maritime Museum. The lighthouse was constructed in 1866 and is the oldest significant structure in the city and more importantly, the lighthouse is one of the most historic navigation beacons on Lake Superior.

Presque Isle Park is also worth a visit. As Marquette’s recreational crown jewel, the 323 acre forested oval shaped park juts into Lake Superior in the northern tip of the City and is served by a number of foot trails. There are a number of scenic turnouts for those wishing to stop and travel by foot on a portion, or simply enjoy the scenery.

As you leave Marquette, head north on County Road 550 to Big Bay. The 35 minute ride is an impressive drive through cut rock harboring a beautiful array of fall color. If you’re feeling adventurous, you may want to stop and climb Sugerloaf Mountain, a 20 minute hike.

In Big Bay, you’ll find Thunder Bay Inn, a historic lumber baron inn, used as a location for the film “Anatomy of a Murder.” Stop in and visit the gift shop or restaurant and pub. Also call the Big Bay Point Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast to schedule a tour of one of the few surviving resident lighthouses in the country.

The return trip from Big Bay along County Road 510 will take you through the majestic Huron Mountains and through trees which arch over the roadway to form a tunnel of color.

At US-41 take a right and head south into Negaunee. While in Negaunee visit the Michigan Iron Industry Museum which includes hands-on exhibits, outdoor interpretive paths and is the site of the first iron forge in the Lake Superior region. As you leave Negaunee, follow M-28 to Ishpeming, home of the National Ski Hall of Fame. Then take County Road 476 to Palmer.

From Palmer, follow M-35 south to Gwinn. The Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground offers hiking and mountain biking opportunities on six miles of rolling terrain. Continue south on M-35 to Little Lake and take County Road 456 east to US-41. Take a left on US-41 heading north to M-94. Turn right on M-94 to Chatham. Three miles north off M-94 at Sundell is Laughing Whitefish Falls, one of the Upper Peninsula’s many impressive waterfalls. The site features a mile of foot trails, picnic area with water pump and three observation decks overlooking the falls.

Continue east until you reach H-03 located between Chatham and Forest Lake. Drive north on H-03 along the AuTrain River and past scenic AuTrain Lake until you reach the junction of M-28. Travel east along the Lake Superior shoreline on M-28. For a short hike, stop at Tyoga Pathway, 12 miles west of AuTrain. Complete your tour by continuing west on M-28 back to Marquette.

Menominee – Escanaba – Manistique

Best Enjoyed: Mid-September to Early October
Approximate Length: 290 miles

The Menominee River defines a good portion of Michigan’s border with Wisconsin, anchored by the “Twin Cities” of Menominee (MI) and Marinette (WI). The Upper Peninsula city claims that Menominee is “Where the Best of Michigan Begins,” and it’s a good place to begin an early fall color tour that stretches about 290 miles, much of it along Lake Michigan waters. Autumn color is usually best enjoyed from mid-September to early October in this region, which is sometimes called the “Banana Belt” for its relatively mild weather.

The Native American tribe of Menominee (“wild rice people”) preceded by thousands of years the French voyageurs who arrived in the 1660s, and the lumbermen who established the first sawmill here in 1832. Evidence of the booming logging days remains in the grand lumber baron homes and ornate buildings, and in its Historic Waterfront District. In addition to its importance as a lumber-shipping port, Menominee became known for its commercial fishing, and the surrounding area for its dairy farms.

Enjoy Menominee’s downtown shops, interesting architecture, parks, beaches and striking red North Pier Lighthouse. Pick up provisions for a picnic stop at one of several parks along M-35, then head in a northerly direction along Lake Michigan’s Green Bay Shore.

About 25 miles out of town is the J.W. Wells State Park, named for a local lumberman and former Menominee mayor. The park boasts old-growth woods, a three-mile shoreline and seven-mile hiking trail.

Continue 30 miles along M-35 to Escanaba, a 19th century iron and lumber port that eventually received tourists who arrived by steamship. Visitors then, as today, enjoyed the waterfront Ludington Park and 1870 House of Ludington Hotel (Nelson Ludington was a prominent local lumberman). Nearby, standing sentinel as it has since 1867, is the gleaming white Sand Point Lighthouse.

Explore the one-of-a-kind shops and eateries along Escanaba’s wide main street. Treat yourself to Sayklly’s candy—the family has made it locally since 1906. Then follow US-2/41 for a breathtaking view of Little Bay de Noc to Gladstone, a quiet city on the bay that is home to Marble Arms, maker of collectible hunting knives, and Hoegh Pet Casket Company (tours are available).

Continue to Rapid River and eastward along US-2 a short distance to County Road 513. Follow that south along the Stonington Peninsula to the Peninsula Point Lighthouse. This scenic spot on the eastern shore of Little Bay de Noc is an important stop for thousands of Monarch butterflies heading south in late summer/early fall. The heaviest migration is in August, but usually continues through September when the hardwoods burst into color.

Once back on US-2, continue east through the Hiawatha National Forest to County Road 497, then head south to the former lumber company town of Nahma. A few buildings and residents remain, and varied wildlife viewing along the Nahma Marsh Trail.

Travel County Road 495 north out of Nahma to US-2 and continue east to the intersection at Garden Corners. County Road 183 will take you to one of the hidden gems of the Upper Peninsula, the Historic Fayette Townsite. En route you’ll have opportunity to slow down and see what shops are open in the village of Garden, and sample the fruits of the Threefold Vine Winery, which makes its wine from grapes grown in the U.P. If the timing is right, buy apples or pick a pumpkin from the family’s fields.

The Fayette State Park tells the story of the remote community that manufactured charcoal pig iron from 1867-1891. Scheduled tours are offered in season, but visitors can roam the grounds year round to see the ruins and restored buildings, a lovely protected harbor on Big Bay de Noc, and hiking trail.

A few miles further east on US-2, turn north on state highway M-149 where the Thompson State Fish Hatchery welcomes visitors. Continue east on US-2 to the city of Manistique, known for its nearly two-mile long Lake Michigan boardwalk, lighthouse, main street business district, landmark 137-foot high water tower, and Kewadin Casino. Just north of Manistique is Indian Lake State Park as well as the Bishop Baraga Shrine. A chapel of logs and bark marks the site the original 1832 mission. At Rainey Wildlife Area, about five miles north of Manistique, a hiking trail through maple and birch trees leads to an elevated observation platform for viewing wildlife, including the fall warbler migration.

Not to be missed is Kitch-iti-kipi, The Big Spring, at Palms Book State Park. The largest freshwater spring in the state measures 200 feet across and 40 feet deep, with more than 10,000 gallons of clear water gushing each minute.

Return westward on US-2 toward Rapid River; shortly before town turn north on County Road 509 to the Tunnel of Trees, still in the Hiawatha National Forest. A short 1/4 mile foot trail follows Haymeadow Creek. Drive across Forest Road 2236 to US-41, head south and catch County Road 428 west to the old farming community of Perkins. Turn south on M-35 and be prepared for the high bluff overview of Little Bay de Noc and the Gladstone area. Slip through Escanaba along US-2/41 through the Escanaba River State Forest. Turn south on US-41 and enjoy the peaceful farmlands of Menominee County as you wind up your tour in Menominee which, you might tell the city officials, is “Where the Best of Michigan Ends.”

Munising – Newberry – Grand Marais

Best Enjoyed: Mid-September to Early October
Approximate Length: 170 miles

Some of the most remote, yet accessible, territory in the UP is between Munising and Grand Marais in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Sculpted by wind and water and painted by mineral-rich seepage, the towering sandstone cliffs along Lake Superior are among Michigan’s most spectacular natural wonders.

Begin a tour at the Pictured Rocks/Hiawatha National Forest Interagency Visitor Center at the park’s western gateway of Munising. This harbor town of about 2,500 is the departure point for regularly scheduled, 2-1/2 hour, narrated Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises. Hikers can tackle all or a portion of the 43 mile Pictured Rocks segment of The North Country Trail (NCT), a national scenic hiking route from North Dakota to New York (this is the only major segment of National Park Service land on the entire NCT).

Motorists will want to pack a picnic before heading out on scenic county road H-58, the main driving route—portions of which are unpaved. Allow time for visits to sites such as Munising Falls, Miners Falls, and Miners Castle, the most-photographed of the park’s sandstone landmarks. The route also offers short hikes to additional waterfalls, rock hounding along Lake Superior and other scenic spots, including the Au Sable Light. Still in operation, the white conical tower with black lantern was built in 1874. Grand Sable Lake, Grand Sable Dunes and Sable Falls anchor the eastern end of the park. Note: the Grand Sable Visitor Center located here is open only until September 29.

From the tiny town of Grand Marais, the eastern anchor of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, continue east to 6). Muskallonge Lake State Park, situated between the shores of Lake Superior and Muskallonge Lake. This was the booming lumbering town of Deer Park in the late 1880′s, and before that an Indian encampment. Follow county road H 37 south to the intersection of highway 123. From here you can head north for a scenic trip to the state park at Tahquamenon Falls, or turn south to Newberry. Just a mile and a half before town is the Tahquamenon Logging Museum, a complex that includes Civilian Conservation Corps buildings, a one-room school house, pioneer home, nature trail and lumberjack cookshack, where the public can occasionally enjoy bountiful breakfasts (in season).

At M-28 head west to 9) Seney National Wildlife Refuge, a safe haven for migratory birds, especially Canada Geese. The seven-mile Marshland Wildlife Drive takes you through a small portion of the 95,455-acre mix of marsh, swamp, bog, grasslands and forest habitat. Bicycling, hiking and canoeing are also permitted. Early morning and evening are the best time to spot eagles, beavers, black bears, deer and a multitude of other wildlife that call Seney home.

Continue about 34 miles west along “The Seney Stretch.” Fall color adds seasonal interest to the long, strait roadway, often recognized as the state’s most boring route. The highway leads back to Munising and two of the area’s 17 waterfalls, including roadside Alger Falls. Be sure to take a short detour to Wagner Falls Scenic Site, just west of M-28 on M-94. At 22 acres it’s the smallest park in the state system. A worthwhile, half-mile trail through virgin pine and hemlock trees takes you to an observation deck overlooking the falls—an appropriate end to a fall color tour.

Saint Ignace – Whitefish Point – Engadine

Best Enjoyed: Mid-September to Early October
Approximate Length: 170 miles

Before leaving St. Ignace, be sure to visit the Father Marquette National Memorial. The memorial includes an outdoor interpretive trail, a picnicking area and a panoramic view of the Mackinac Bridge.

Head north out of St. Igance on I75 to M123 at Exit 352. Turn left onto M123 and continue north to Paradise through the Hiawatha National Forest. The northern hardwoods and conifers of the Hiawatha National Forest offer spectacular fall colors. At Paradise, follow Whitefish Point Road north to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum & Whitefish Point Light Station. View the fury of Lake Superior at the museum and take a trip back in time on a guided tour of the fully restored 1861 lightkeepers quarters of the oldest active light on Lake Superior.

Backtrack to Paradise and head west on M123 to Tahquamenon Falls State Park, one of the largest waterfalls west of Niagra. Tahquamenon Falls consists of the Upper and Lower Falls. The Upper Falls is 200 feet wide and drops nearly 50 feet. The Lower Falls consists of a series of five smaller falls surging around an island. It can be viewed from the riverbank or the island, and can be reached by rented rowboat. The park includes more than 30 miles of trails open to hikers and has one of Michigan’s largest old-growth forest stands.

Continue west on M123 towards Newberry. At Four Mile Corner turn right on H-37 and go 4-1/2 miles to Oswald’s Bear Ranch. This complex is the largest bear-only ranch in the United States. Here you will see 24 American Black Bears in their unique and natural habitats. All of the fenced in large habitats are well maintained and safe for your viewing. The ranch is open through September 30.

Newberry offers many hiking opportunities including the Canada Lake Pathway in the Lake Superior State Forest.

Continue south on M-123 to M-28. Turn right and head west to M-117. Turn left on M-117 and head south through Engadine to US-2. Turn left at US-2 and head east back to St. Igance.

About six miles east of Naubinway you will find Garlyn Zoological Park. See live cougar, bear, wolves, reindeer and more. Feed can be purchased to feed many of the animals. The kids will love it.

As you continue east the scenery along US-2 becomes increasingly gorgeous with bay views of Lake Michigan. In one grand stretch, the lake breaks through fully, and you’re literally skimming a beachside causeway. Bordering the road are huge dunes, real sand dunes with green tufts of mixed grass sprouting amidst the golden grains.

Coming into St. Ignace along US-2, be sure to stop at a number of “scenic overlooks” west of town, all offering a chance to stretch and view the Mackinac Bridge over blue Lake Michigan.

Sault Sainte Marie – Drummond Island – Hessel

Best Enjoyed: Mid-September to Early October
Approximate Length: 160 miles

The oldest European settlements in the Midwest, and the third oldest in the U.S., are at the heart of this tour of the Eastern Upper Peninsula. As early as 1618 French explorer Etienne Brulé, looking for a route to the Orient, paddled to the land inhabited by the Chippewa (Ojibwa) Indians. Fur trappers followed in the mid-1600s and in 1668 Father Jacques Marquette founded a Jesuit missionary at Sault Ste. Marie. In 1671 he did the same at Michilimackinac, which the priest renamed St. Ignace. The historic city at the Straits of Mackinac is a good place to begin this 160-mile tour; fall color is best from mid-September to early October.

1).Straits State Park in St. Ignace is well worth a visit for the one-mile trail with views of the 2) Mackinac Bridge, and a bit of area history at the Father Marquette Memorial.

Follow US-2 (it becomes State Street) through the city of St. Ignace, and visit the excellent Museum of Ojibwa Culture and museum shop with authentic Native American art, crafts, music and books (closes for the season in mid-October). In St. Ignace you can catch a ferry to Mackinac Island for a day or several. No cars are allowed on the historic island, where the 18th century Fort Mackinac and legendary Grand Hotel, shops and private Victorian cottages are well worth exploring by bicycle, horseback or carriage. Be sure to take in the fall color along the shoreline path and interior trails of Mackinac Island State Park—Michigan’s first state park (and only the second one in the nation).

Back on the mainland Upper Peninsula, head north out of St. Ignace on I-75 for a short distance, past the natural formation known as Castle Rock. At 195 feet high, it served Indians as a lookout and offers great views of autumn hues.

At state route M-134 travel east to the area of islands and waterfront villages known as Les Cheneaux (“the channels,” sometimes referred to as “The Snows”). Fishing and boating, boatbuilding and nature are important in this area which—although it is populated with second homes for “Trolls” (people who live in territory below the Mackinac Bridge) — retains an unpretentious, laid-back feel. Antique wooden boats are regularly used as transportation between the mainland and islands, and for pleasure cruising, and hopping among the three dozen islands. The quiet waters are ideal for kayaking and canoeing as well. The pleasant drive along M-134 through areas of forests, marshlands, bays, low dunes, and nature preserves is dotted with the towns of Hessel, Cedarville, and De Tour Village. At the far eastern tip of the U.P. the De Tour ferry carries passengers and vehicles on a 15-minute crossing to Drummond Island. The heavily wooded island is a haven for hikers, paddlers, mountain bikers, hunters, boaters, fishers and observers of nature. There are cottages for rent and the Drummond Island Resort offers many amenities, including its acclaimed golf course, but it’s also nice just to take the ferry for a picnic and drive around the island.

From De Tour Village zig-zag along M-48 and M-129 north along country roads through color-rimmed farmland and the small towns of Goetzville, Raber, Stalwart, Pickford and Donaldson, to Sault Ste. Marie.

This centuries-old center for shipping shares its name with its Canadian sister city across the St. Marys River. The Michigan city is the home of the two Soo Locks, which compensate for a 21-foot difference in water levels and make possible navigation between Lakes Superior and Huron. It’s fascinating to examine the exhibits in the visitor center and—if the timing is right—watch giant Great Lakes freighters and ocean-going “salties” squeeze through the engineering marvels. The Soo Lock Boat Tours offer cruises that serve dinner (and sometimes an up-close and personal look at a 1,000-foot freighter) with a backdrop of fall color.

Get an overview of Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding seasonal patchwork of orange, red, yellow and bronze from the top of the 21-story Tower of History, four blocks east of the Soo Locks. For another kind of colorful experience visit the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie, which showcases top names in entertainment in addition to plenty of gaming excitement.

Follow I-75 south out of Sault Ste. Marie to M-28, and jog west for about seven miles to  14)  Brimley State Park. Established in 1923, this is one of the oldest U.P. state parks. Located on the Lake Superior shore at Whitefish Bay, this is a great spot for enjoying a fall picnic.

It’s a quick trip along I-75 south to St. Ignace and a hot cup of coffee at Java Joe’s Café.

Mackinaw City – Petoskey – Charlevoix

 Grayling – Torch Lake – Lake City

Best Enjoyed: Late September to Mid-October
Approximate Length: 170 miles

You can enjoy Grayling’s fall color by car, on foot, canoe or on a vintage train ride. The winding Au Sable River is the perfect waterway to paddle and enjoy the splashes of vibrant color against towering evergreens.

The 60-acre Wellington Farm Park USA, “Where It’s Always 1932,” is located on S. Military Road off US-27, near Grayling. Step back in time with family and friends for a little cider and donuts, a corn maze and a look at rural America during the Great Depression. Take a free hayride to enjoy the autumn color show every weekend in October; test your catapulting skills during the annual Punkin’ Chunkin.’

Grayling is a popular stop on I-75 with the North and South Higgins State Parks just south of the city between US-27 and I-75. The clear water of the spring-fed Higgins Lake is the backdrop for 700 acres of maple, oak and pine trees at the south park. Both parks have nature trails and a combined total of 13 miles for hiking. Another beautiful fall color viewing site is on Lake Margrethe, west of Grayling. Take M-72 west to McIntyres Landing Road and follow the state campground signs. This is a picnic area, boat launch and rustic state campground.

Leave the Grayling area on US-27 south to M-55 west to Lake City. Enjoy a slower pace with an area dotted with 4,800 acres of inland lakes filled with trout, walleye, perch and more. Lake City rests on the eastern shore of the beautiful Lake Missaukee where visitors flock every summer. There’s plenty of fall color with 100,000 acres of wild public land and forests in which grouse, woodcock, turkey, ducks and white tail deer reside.

Continue on M-55 west to M-43 to the town of Manton. Manton is within 3 miles of both the Pere Marquette State Forest to the north and the Manistee National Forest to the southwest. The spring time offers morel mushrooms and fall offers colorful scenery. Lake Billings is within the town of Manton and perfect for canoeing, camping and fishing. Stretch your legs and enjoy a visit to the Manton Pathway and Garden, a 1-1/2 mile nature walk with bridges and benches to linger and gaze on an abundance of wildlife. Just a couple miles north of downtown Manton is the Monroe Achers Bed & Breakfastwhere you can enjoy farm charm, a great breakfast and plentiful baked goods served in the “old” farmhouse kitchen.

Head north on M-131 that travels through Pere Marquette State Forest for a stop at Fife Lake and Spring Lake Campground, just 1-1/2 miles southwest, Michigan’s first state forest campground. This resort community swells with visitors in the summer with an assortment of watersports and fishing; snowmobiles arrive for winter trails. Enjoy a fall picnic lunch in Lakeview Park located in the heart of the city, or on the edge of Fife Lake.

Just 25 miles northwest is Traverse City. Enjoy this short ride that is filled with scenic landscapes that will keep your camera clicking. With 250 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, the Grand Traverse area offers unmatched fall color viewing. It’s a great time to climb aboard the twin-masted schooner Manitou for a sail across Grand Traverse Bay. Take advantage of the Fab Fall Packages to enjoy a getaway weekend with plenty of options for charter fishing, cycling, gaming, golf, shopping and luxurious spas. Golfers get a great bonus with spectacular vistas of fall color on area fairways. Soar up, up and away (sometimes more than 3,000 feet) for the most dramatic views of East and West Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan’s Chain of Lakes and colorful northern Michigan landscapes by booking a hot air balloon flight with Grand Traverse Balloons. Rest a spell at the 47-acre urban Traverse City State Park overlooking the east arm of the bay. Bring your bike for a leisurely ride on a paved trail, hike the TART trail, rent a kayak or hydrobike, or reserve one of nearly 350 campsites just 3 miles from downtown Traverse City.

For an optional side trip, follow M-37 (Center Road) north from Traverse City. The road begins with a steep climb through pleasant residential and orchard country, descends to the shore of East Bay and gradually climbs again to a spectacular view point near the Chateau Grand Traverse winery that overlooks both East and West Grand Traverse Bays. About a mile past the town of Mapleton, turn right onto Smoky Hollow Road and follow it down through vineyards and orchards to the quiet village of Old Mission, the oldest permanent settlement in the region. Take a left turn onto Swaney Road and follow it back to M-37, where a right turn will have you heading north to the picturesque Old Mission Point Lighthouse. On the return journey, head back south on M-37 to Mapleton. Here you’ll turn right onto Bowers Harbor Road and follow it down to the shore of West Bay. Keeping to the left, you’ll return to Traverse City by way of Peninsula Drive, a pleasant residential road that skirts the shore of the bay with wonderful views of isolated Power Island, Neahtawanta Point and the distant hills of the Leelanau Peninsula (more wineries and charming villages).

Head north from Traverse City’s eastern edge on US-31, following the highway as it carves its way past orchards and farms along the shore of East Bay. At the lively little port of Elk Rapids, turn right at the light and follow Ames Street (which becomes the Cairn Highway) along the northern shore of Elk Lake, through the village of Kewadin and southward again on County Road 593. This road will take you along the eastern shore of the lake, across the Torch River as it empties into Torch Lake. Get ready for an amazing experience when you see Torch Lake, ranked by National Geographic as “the third most beautiful lake in the world.” The lake’s deep Caribbean blue color is mesmerizing. At 18 miles long, it is Michigan’s longest lake, and is the state’s second largest lake, covering an area of 29-square miles. Enjoy the rich hues of autumn and the dramatic backdrop of Michigan’s “Chain of Lakes” with more than 70 miles of shoreline that includes Torch Lake, Torch River, Elk Lake, Lake Skegmog, Clam Lake, Grass River, and Lake Bellaire.

For a delicious side trip go north on US-31 to Atwood and turn east onto CR-48 for a visit to Friske Orchards in Ellsworth; take home fresh apples, jams, pastries, and lots of cherry goodies. Every Saturday in October enjoy apple cider, wagon rides, u-pick apples and pumpkins, fresh donuts and lots of sampling of Friske products.

Open dusk to dawn and less than 20 minutes away from the Torch Lake area is the Grass River Natural Area with 3 miles of boardwalks, and wood-chipped trails that wind through the area; the Perception Pathway for the visually-impaired is also wheelchair and stroller accessible. Start out going west on W. Old State Rd/CR-624 toward N. East Torch Lake Dr. /CR-593; turn left and continue to follow CR-593. Turn right onto SE Torch Lake Dr.; turn left onto Alden Highway to the entrance of the 1,325-acre Grass River Natural Area. Hike or stroll on over 7 miles of trails in upland forests. There is no admission fee to enjoy lakes, a meandering river, rushing streams and crystal clear creeks – a haven for plant and animal life, including both rare and endangered species. Be sure to call ahead to find out about educational classes for the entire family.

Your next stop is Kalkaska. Head south on CR-593 to M-72 west to Kalkaska, and make a visit to Sand Lakes Quiet Area. The trailhead is located at Guernsey Lake State Forest Campground 8 miles west of Kalkaska via Island Lake Road and Campground Road in Pere Marquette State Forest. One of the most popular natural areas in northwest Michigan it offers 10 miles of hiking, biking and cross-country skiing with 5 lakes surrounded by rolling hills of oak-pine forest and offers opportunities for viewing deer, turkey, squirrel, and other woodland wildlife. Some lakes are stocked with test populations of hybrid fish. Return to Kalkaska next year for the annual National Trout Festival.

Leaving Kalkaska on M-72 west is pure delight with masses of colorful trees and towering pines lining the highway. There’s a rest stop between Kalkaska and Grayling that is worth a visit to photograph some of the vibrant sugar maples. It’s about a 25 mile drive to Grayling where you can spend more time on the Au Sable to soak up the splendor of Michigan’s autumn.

Manistee – Cadillac – Ludington

Best Enjoyed: Early to Mid-October
Approximate Length: 230 miles

Before leaving Bay City, spend time at the 1) Bay City Recreation Area, home to one of the largest remaining freshwater, coastal wetlands on the Great Lakes. The park has long been known for its outstanding variety of bird life and is an ideal staging area for migratory birds. Other activities include biking, hiking and an interactive visitor center.

Follow M-25 east out of Bay City to Sebewaing. At this point M-25 will run along the edge of the thumb along the Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. Be sure to “get lost” at the corn maze and pick up a pumpkin at 2)Depner Farms near Caseville.  3) Sleeper State Park is another opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with a half mile of sandy beach along Saginaw Bay and four miles of hiking and mountain biking trails.

Continue east on M-25 to Port Austin at the tip of the “thumb”.  4) Port Crescent State Park includes three miles of sandy shoreline of Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay and additional opportunities to hike and bike. Continuing on M-25 you will find the  5) Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse and Museum, one of the few remaining operational lighthouses on the Great Lakes.

Follow M-25 into Harbor Beach, the site of the 6) Harbor Beach Breakwater Light. Take M-142 west out of Harbor Beach to Bad Axe, then M-81 south to Cass City and Caro. At Caro, follow M-24 south to County Road 39. Take a right heading east to M-15.

Turn right on M-15, north to Millington. Browse the  7) Millington Antique Co-op Mall featuring over 40 dealers of antiques and collectables. Continue north on M-15 to Vassar. Follow Frankenmuth Road SW out of Vasser to Frankenmuth, Michigan’s Little Bavaria. Suggested stops in Frankenmuth include:

• 8)  Frankenmuth River Place
• 9) Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland
•  10) Bavarian Inn Restaurant
•   11)Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth

Follow M-83 north out of Frankenmuth to M-81. Turn left, heading east into Saginaw. Saginaw highlights include:

•  12)  Johnson’s Giant Pumpkins
•  13) Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge
•  14) Japanese Cultural Center and Tea House

To complete your tour, take M-13 north back to Bay City.

Detroit – Algonac – Lake Orion – Port Huron

Best Enjoyed: Early to Late October
Approximate Length: 195 miles

Rev up for this tour at Detroit’s  Belle Isle, site of the annual Grand Prix auto race. Frederick Law Olmstead (who also designed New York’s Central Park) planned the nearly 1,000-acre leaf-laden park in 1883. Located in the Detroit River between the U.S. and Canada, the island oasis is accessible by bridge.

From Detroit take a leisurely drive along Jefferson Avenue east, called Lakeshore Drive as it passes through the Grosse Pointes, with stately homes on the left and Lake St. Clair on the right. Or hop on I-94 east and take a break at a bistro in downtown Mount Clemens. Exit I-94 at Exit 236; travel east on Metropolitan Parkway/16 Mile Road to Crocker Boulevard. Turn left and travel two miles to the city on the Clinton River that was first surveyed in 1795. (If you continue east on 16 Mile Road you will come to 1)  Metro Beach Metropark on Lake St. Clair).

Continue east on I-94 to exit 243, M-29. Travel east through New Baltimore, whose first settler arrived in 1796. Now teeming with development, this area neighbors one of the largest fresh-water deltas in the world. Follow 29 around Lake St. Clair’s Anchor Bay and pass through a portion of St. John’s Marsh and the St. Clair Flats. Nature study, photography and non-motorized boating are allowed; watch for designated parking areas. It’s a quick ferry ride to Harsens Island and the St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area; take a relaxing drive around the island escape that has attracted vacationers and hunters since the late 1800s.

Back on the mainland, continue along M-29 to Algonac on the St. Clair River, settled in 1805 and home of the Chris Craft boat building company. Stroll the boardwalk and watch giant freighters pass by. Just north of town, 2) Algonac State Park, fronted on the St. Clair River, allows short hikes through rare lakeplain prairies and lakeplain oak savannas.

Follow M-29 to Marine City, an old shipbuilding center located on the Belle and St. Clair Rivers. Visit Lighthouse Park, home of the 1908  3) Peche Island Rear Range Light.

Continue north to the city of St. Clair, which was visited by French voyageurs in the 1600s and settled in 1818. Enjoy the riverfront boardwalk, browse the gallery of marine artist Jim Clary, and refresh at a choice of dining spots, including the 1926  4) St. Clair Inn on the bank of the river.

Stay on M-29 north to Port Huron, where the St. Clair River and Lake Huron meet. View freighter traffic from the Great Lakes Maritime Center at Vantage Point, or from the Thomas Edison Parkway, along the river near the Blue Water Bridge connecting the U.S. and Canada. Learn about the inventor’s young life in Port Huron at the 5)Thomas Edison Depot Museum, or visit the  6) Huron Lightship, 7) Coast Guard Cutter Bramble, and  8) Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, Michigan’s oldest surviving lighthouse.

From Port Huron travel I-69 west, or detour for cider and donuts by taking Lapeer Road west to Abbotsford Road; turn right to 9) Ruby Farms, family-owned since 1956. From Ruby Farms take Lapeer Road to Castor Road and turn left to Goodells County Park. From Goodells Park travel north on Fargo Road to Imlay City Road, turn left to park and walk to the 60-foot high Mill Creek Trestle for a treetop view of vibrant fall colors. The 640-foot long railroad bridge dates to the late 1800s and is a part of the 12-mile Wadhams to Avoca Trail, along a former rail line.

Get back to I-69 and head west through rolling countryside to M-19; turn left and travel south to Richmond, settled in the 1830s. Head west on 32 Mile Road and detour for cider and donuts by turning north at North Road to  10) Blake’s Big Apple in Armada, or take Armada Center Road west a few miles to 11) Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill—two locations of the family business, growing since 1946.

Continue west on 32 Mile Road to the charming 1822 village of Romeo. Kid Rock grew up in this area of lovely Victorian homes; the Historical Society sells a Walking Tour Guide to more than 80 sites.

Take 32 Mile Road west to Rochester Road; turn right, then left and then right again to jog up to Lakeville Road. Head west on Lakeville Road to Oxford, settled in 1832. Enjoy the restaurants and shops in historic downtown buildings.

Head south on Lapeer Road/24 to Lake Orion, which dates to 1819. Just south of town, accessible from Lapeer Road, is  12)  Bald Mountain Recreation Area with 4,637 rolling acres of trails for hiking and mountain biking, and canoe-friendly lakes.

From Lake Orion travel southeast on Orion Road to the bustling city of Rochester, the hometown of Material Girl Madonna. Stroll the vibrant downtown and the Paint Creek and Clinton River Trails. From Rochester take 24 Mile Road east to Shelby Road and head north to 26 Mile Road, and Stony Creek Metropark. Continue east on 26 Mile to Earl Memorial Highway/53. Follow that south to Eight Mile Road (made famous by Eminem).

Travel west on Eight Mile/102 to I-75, head south to downtown Detroit and the city’s tallest building. Take a glass-enclosed elevator to the Coach Insignia restaurant atop the 73-story Renaissance Center for a miles-wide view of a patchwork of fall color as the sun sets on a tour worth singing about.

Flint – Brighton – Bloomfield Hills

Alpena – Gaylord – Mio

Best Enjoyed: Late September to Mid-October
Approximate Length: 200 miles

Alpena, the largest city in the northeast Lower Peninsula, was a waterfront lumbering town that shifted its attention to another local resource—limestone—and the production of Portland Cement. Soon, in 1904, Alpena businessman Jesse Besser launched another industry with his development of a machine to form concrete blocks. Note the many buildings made of concrete, including the fine museum that bears his name. It houses art, history and science exhibits, and a planetarium.

Due to its location on Thunder Bay and a treacherous stretch of Lake Huron known as “Shipwreck Alley” for the number of vessels at rest in these waters, the Alpena area is dotted with lighthouses along the shore as well as (about three miles offshore) the Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse. The area has proven ideal location for the annual Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival.

Alpena is also the home of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Preserve, which protects more than 100 shipwrecks that went down in a 448-square mile area of Lake Huron. The Marine Sanctuary and the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, where live video feeds allow visitors to explore shipwrecks without getting wet, are a part of the redevelopment of the Fletcher Paper Mill complex, which includes the Fletcher Street Brewing Company.

Before leaving the city take a stroll through the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary’s Island Park. The Thunder Bay River wraps around the 17-acre island with its 3/4 mile nature trail and platform for viewing the diverse birds and other animals that find refuge there.

Follow M-32 west out of town and take in the breathtaking colors as you head toward the Pigeon River Country State Forest and Elk Range. This part of Michigan is home to the largest free-roaming elk herd east of the Mississippi, and it’s not uncommon to see the animals in the wild. In September the males are active and vocal, trying to impress the females and putting on a good show. (Tip: Bring binoculars and stay in the vehicle to view the wildlife.) Find designated viewing areas by continuing along M-32 to Gaylord, then travel north I-75 or meander up Old US-27 to Vanderbilt. Turn east on Sturgeon Valley Road, travel about 10 miles and watch for elk. For maps or more information continue east to Hardwood Lake Road and then head north for about one mile to the area DNR Forestry Field Office.

Back in Gaylord you may want to browse the shops or pick up a picnic lunch to enjoy at Otsego Lake State Park, just a few miles south of the city. Continue south on I-75 to Grayling, Exit 259, then northeast on M-93 to Hartwick Pines State Park. Here, in a 49-acre patch of old growth pines, is where you’ll get a taste of what Michigan looked like before the loggers stripped the state of its valuable forests. Make time to learn about this natural resource and the life and work of the loggers and lumber camps on a visit to the Logging Museum and the Michigan Forest Visitor Center. (This is the interpretive center for the largest state forest system in the U.S.: Michigan’s, at 3.9 million acres.) A choice of hiking trails ranging from 1/4 to 3-1/2 miles pass through old forests, along logging paths and across the Au Sable River, a favorite stream for paddling and fly fishing.

Leave the majesty of the tall pines behind and head south on I-75, then head east on M-72 to Mio, where you can see a monument to the Kirtland’s Warbler, an endangered bird that prefers the jack pine ecosystem in the Mio area. Sightings are highly prized, so keep the binoculars handy on a self-drive Jack Pine Wildlife Viewing Tour through the Au Sable River Valley. Stop at designated wildlife viewing spots, and if the elusive Kirtland’s Warblers haven’t departed to winter in the Bahamas you may catch a glimpse of them. The wildlife tour route begins on 600/F32 east out of Mio to Au Sable Road. Head south on 4001 and cross over the Au Sable River; continue west to 604/Curtisville Road. Follow that to 33 north back to Mio.

From Mio travel M-72 north to Fairview. Jog north two miles on M-33 to the Steiner Museum, where volunteers welcome visitors on weekends. The collection of pioneer and logging tools, equipment and artifacts was started by a local man, the late Earl Steiner, who rallied the community to preserve and appreciated pieces of the area’s past.

Head back to M-72 and continue east to M-65. Turn north and at Werth Road head east; follow Werth Road back to Alpena for one last bite of history at John A. Lau Saloon and restaurant, which catered to lumbermen during the logging heyday (ask about the resident ghost).

Oscoda – West Branch – Tawas City

Best enjoyed: Late September to Mid-October
Approximate Length: 190 miles

Before departing Oscoda visit Tuttle Marsh Wildlife Area, a 5,000 acre wetland project managed to optimize nesting potential for ducks, geese and other birds. Two osprey platforms and a blue heron rookery may be observed here.

Driving along Lake Huron, depart Oscoda south on US-23 to Tawas City. While in the Tawas area, tour the Tawas Point Lighthouse and visit Tawas Point State Park, the “Cape Cod of the Midwest.” Tawas Point is a stop over point for hundreds of species of migratory birds, and it is a favorite spot for many bird watchers from all over the midwest.

Continue south on US-23 through Au Gres to M-65. Turn right on M-65 heading north to M-55. Turn left and head east on M-55 to West Branch. If you want to do a little shopping, stop by the Tanger Outlet Center and buy direct from such outlet stores as Eddie Bauer, Gap, Liz Claiborne, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Reebok.

Take Tawas Rd. west out of West Branch to County Rd. 600 & F97 (St. Helen Road). Follow this through the town of St. Helen to County Rd. F28. Turn right heading east to Rose City. For the ATV and dirt bike enthusiasts, Ogemaw Sport and Trail Center offers miles of trails and hill climbs, an excellent MotoCross track and a kiddie track.

Follow M-33 north out of Rose City to Heath Rd. Turn right to Lupton. The Rifle River Recreation Area is a wilderness region located within the AuSable State Forest and provides a variety of recreational opportunities including wildlife viewing, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking and fishing. Continue east on Heath Rd. to South Branch. Just south of South Branch, take Wickert Road east to M-65.

Take a left on M-65 to the River Road Scenic Byway which branches off to the east and parallels the south bank of the Au Sable River back to Oscoda. The Byway offers panoramic views of the river, its forested banks and wooded islands. There are several suggested stops including:

• Iargo Springs
• Eagles’ Nest Overlook
• Lumberman’s Monument

If you have extra time, an alternative route back to Oscoda is to continue north on M-65 to F-30 in Glennie. Head east on F-30 to Greenbush and then head south on Cedar Lake Road back to Oscoda.

 Rogers City – Cheboygan – Indian River

Best Enjoyed: Late September to Mid-October
Approximate Length: 200 miles

Begin in Indian River, just stone’s throw–but a world away–from I-75. Snuggled between Burt Lake and Mullett Lake, this resort town is just about midway on the Inland Waterway, a 38-mile chain of navigable waters between Crooked Lake to the west and Lake Huron to the east.

Here you can rent a canoe, browse a gift shop, and pick up some smoked fish for a picnic at Burt Lake State Park, one of six state parks in this corner of Michigan. Stop by Chillermania, the home bookstore of local author Johnathan Rand, who pens the American Chillers series and thrillers for kids of all ages. Pause to reflect at The Cross In The Woods, a 55-foot high crucifix made of a single redwood tree, with a 7-ton bronze sculpture of Christ by sculptor Marshall Fredericks. Since 1954 visitors of all faiths have strolled the paths surrounding the work of art and attended Catholic masses offered outdoors or, if weather dictates, in the new church, overlooking the cross.

Travel north about 22 miles on a colorful, tree-lined stretch of I-75 to the Straits of Mackinac, and stop just south of town at Mill Creek State Park. This is where Scotsman Robert Campbell built a water-powered sawmill in the 1780s, establishing one of the first industrial sites in the Great Lakes region. You can see a working demonstration of the recreated mill, view additional exhibits, and stroll two trails through hardwood and aspen (through September 24).

The 56-mile drive on US-23 between Mackinaw City and Rogers City is liberally sprinkled with scenic turnouts, roadside parks and state parks, so allow time to stop and enjoy the views, gaze at Lake Huron, and stroll the low dunes.

The harbor town of Cheboygan is a pleasant place to shop, dine, catch a performance at the restored 1877 Opera House, or just stroll the waterfront. See the Cheboygan Lock, which since 1869 has been making up the 15-foot difference in water levels for small boats navigating the Cheboygan River and the Inland Waterway. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts venture 13 miles southeast of the city to Black Mountain Recreation Area, a forested wonderland on Black Lake, known for its walleye and lake sturgeon fisheries. Or follow M-33 just 5 miles south of Cheboygan to Aloha State Park on Mullett Lake, on the Inland Waterway. About three miles east of town on US-23, stop at Cheboygan State Park for a picnic on the Lake Huron shore and mountain bike and hiking trails.

The highway hugs the shoreline to Presque Isle County’s Lighthouse Park and the Forty Mile Point Light Station, one of seven lighthouses in the area. Built in 1896, the 52′ high tower is located 40 Miles southeast of Old Mackinaw Point and 40 miles northwest of Thunder Bay.

Bicyclists might hop on the paved Huron Sunrise Trail at Hoeft State Park, 5 miles north of Rogers City off US-23. The park also features 4.5 miles of scenic hiking trails that wind through a mixed forest and along Lake Huron.

Rogers City, known for excellent salmon fishing, is home to the world’s largest open pit limestone quarry, which you can view from a viewing platform. The Port of Calcite is one of the largest shipping ports on the Great Lakes.

Continue southeast from Rogers City on US-23 for about 12 miles to the undeveloped Thompson’s Harbor State Park. The rustic, undeveloped site protects about 7 miles of Lake Huron shoreline and sand dunes, and appeals to hikers with its 6 miles of trails.

You’ll have to swing east from US-23 for a worthwhile visit to a pair of Presque Isle lighthouses. Located just about a mile apart, you are welcome to climb to the top of both towers. Take Highway 638 to Grand Lake Road where you’ll turn north to reach the New Presque Isle Lighthouse, located in a 99-acre township park. Built in 1870, at 38 feet it is the tallest Great Lakes lighthouse tower that is accessible to the public. The restored 1905 keeper’s dwelling is a museum. Also on Grand Lake Road, the 30-foot tall Old Presque Isle Lighthouse was built in 1840 and is one of the oldest surviving lighthouses on the Great Lakes.

Continue on Grand Lake Road 6 miles south of Presque Isle to the Besser Natural Area, a quiet pocket of Lake Huron shore and forest with virgin red and white pine, plus spruce, balsam, cedar and birch trees. The Bell Cemetery is all that remains of the lumber and sawmill town located here in the 1800s.

Make your way back to US-23 and head west on M- 68 toward Onaway, but watch for signs and make a detour to Ocqueoc Falls. The two gentle cascades, 300 feet apart, are the only natural waterfalls in the Lower Peninsula. Hikers will enjoy a choice of 3, 4, and 6.5 mile loops on the Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway.

A logging town in the 1880s, Onaway is now recognized as the Sturgeon Capital of Michigan in honor of the giant prehistoric fish that thrives in nearby Black Lake. Visit the Onaway Historical Society Museum to learn about the city that “Steered the World” as a major producer of automobile steering wheels, then turn yours west on M-68 for a colorful close to your tour of this northern Michigan triangle.