Exploring Charlevoix!

Today's it...The last and final day to register for the Destination Prize Package to Charlevoix! We had a lot of fun this week...Visiting Castle Farms, Earl Young Home, Downtown Charlevoix, and even taking a Cruise with Keweenaw Excursions!

As we wrap up the week and the contest, we'll say one more thing about Charlevoix:

"Charlevoix is a unique harbor town with an incredible yacht basin, lighthouse, boutique shopping, Victorian summer home associations, quality restaurants, and breath‐taking sunsets. Main street even has a drawbridge!"

One note about the drawbridge...It's cool...but can be the cause of some slower traffic if you happen to catch it when it goes up at the Top & Bottom of every hour! Time it just right, and you'll have smooth 'sailing' through downtown Charlevoix.

That's about all we have for Charlevoix this week. If you'd like to read through the fun we had in August, click through each of the following:

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

DAY 4

DAY 5

That's it! Good luck to all how registered!

Exploring Charlevoix!

Cruise anyone? Sure! Why not!?

Keweenaw Excursions!

Come join the Keweenaw staff on an enjoyable sight‐seeing cruise along the scenic shorelines of Lake Michigan and/or Lake Charlevoix aboard the Keweenaw Star. Enjoy soft music, friendly staff, quiet drifting waters, and informative dialogue, as you take in the beauty of the area.

Keweenaw Excursions offer a variety of cruises to meet your needs, including eye catching fall color tours, dinner cruises, appetizers cruises, and wine tasting tours featuring local vineyards. Join them for a journey aboard the Keweenaw Star, a 110’ dinner cruise boat capable of carrying 149 passengers. Amenities include heated/air conditioned cabins, wide open upper deck, and more. Let them help you make your tour one to remember. Call today 906.482.0884 or online at www.keweenawexcursions.com

Cruise with a Local "Flavor"!

Enjoy a savory entrée catered by Charlevoix’s own, A Matter of Taste, while aboard the Keweenaw Star. Specializing in culinary baked goods and cuisine using only the freshest ingredients, A Matter of Taste and Keweenaw Star have partnered to bring you only the most delicious taste of Charlevoix.

Tomorrow's the last day to register...We'll also wrap things up!

Exploring Charlevoix!

Well..We're halfway through the week, and it's Day 3 of highlighting different places to visit in Charlevoix. It's also another day for you to register, if you haven't already. So hit the link above and get registering!

As promised yesterday, today we'll be visiting Downtown Charlevoix!

A setting of natural beauty, a charm that makes people smile. A visit to Charlevoix will convince you that water and land truly couldn’t have picked a finer place to meet. Live
a memory you’ll cherish forever...Compliments of Downtown Charlevoix.

Family Farm Market

”A Bushel of Family Fun!” awaits you at this family owned market. From your first step inside as the aroma from the bakery takes you back to grandma’s kitchen, your senses will be delighted by the many offerings Friske’s provides. Sample a wide variety of our products and shop our old style General Store and the converted Country Haus. All this and the finest quality fruits in season! 888.968.3554.

Little hint for tomorrow's visit to Charlevoix...We'll just be 'cruisin' around!

Exploring Charlevoix!

Yesterday we spent a little time in Charlevoix at Castle Farms, today we'll be heading over to the Earl Young Home!

Earl Young was a dreamer, designer, and builder of unique and fascinating stone houses that accommodate each building site with unusual stone fireplaces, chimneys, cedar shake roofs, and rooms with flowing curves. Step on guides are available for groups by contacting the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce at 231.547.2101 or www.Charlevoix.org.

On a personal note: No offense Earl, this is coming from a child of the 80's, but the house in the picture totally looks like a house the Smurfs would have lived in! :) Sorry Earl...Couldn't resist!

Anyway...Moving on and wrapping up...Tomorrow we'll head to Downtown Charlevoix!

Exploring Charlevoix!

Last week we gave away a Destination Prize Package to Sault Ste. Marie, and this week we're headed back to the lower peninsula to Charlevoix!

We visited Charlevoix back in August for the first round of Exploring Magnificent Michigan, but since we enjoyed it some much...we wanted to head there again.

So...for the next couple of days...not only can you register to win the Charlevoix prize package, but you can also catch a new update each morning, informing you of another exciting place you can visit if you happen to win, or make it up to Charlevoix any time soon!

Today...We're going to highlight one of our favorite places from our first trip...Castle Farms!

This Renaissance Castle is complete with magnificent soaring towers, stone archways, English gardens, and cobblestone courtyards–the perfect place to get a taste of Old‐World European charm. Your self-guided tour will delight you with the rich history of Castle Farms from its original construction in 1918 as a model farm through the art/studio and music concert eras into the present period which has won it an honored place on both the National and Historic Registers among numerous other awards.

Learn more about Castle Farms at CastleFarms.com

Exploring Sault Ste. Marie!

Well...Here we are. Friday...last day of the week. Last day to register for Sault Ste. Marie's Prize Package. So don't forget to register.

Before we close out for the week...We'll share one more thing about Sault Ste. Marie.

"The Place Where Michigan Was Born"

There are magical places on this planet that still speak to something in our hearts, places so gorgeous and diverse that they allow us to know exhilaration and peace, awe, and understanding. The Sault Ste. Marie region is one such place. Rushing waterfalls give way to majestic forests, rocky coastlines lead to picturesque lighthouses, and engineering feats of man stand side-by-side with small fishing skiffs and buckets of bait.

There you have it...just one more reason to visit Sault Ste. Marie!

Good luck...Next week, we're headed to Charlevoix!

Exploring Sault Ste. Marie!

We're still talking shipwrecks today. Yesterday, we mentioned the "Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum" and gave you a lot of detail about what you can expect to see. However...There's one thing we failed to mention...

"Explore the Haunting World of Shipwrecks"!

Lake Superior. Deceivingly beautiful, yet the big lake's unrelenting fury has earned her the reputation of being the most treacherous of the Great Lakes. Throughout the museum gallery, visitors see dramatic shipwreck legends come to life. Artifacts and exhibits tell stories of sailors and ships who braved the waters of Superior and those who were lost to her menacing waves. The bell of the famous Edmund Fitzgerald is displayed in the museum as a memorial to her lost crew. Whitefish Point marks the critical turning point for all ships entering or leaving the lake. The waters that extend west from Whitefish Point along the 80-mile stretch of rugged shoreline have earned the ominous title, "Lake Superior's Shipwreck Coast".

Don't forget to register again today. The link is up top. One more day of registering tomorrow, and we'll wrap things up talking just a little bit more about Sault Ste. Marie.

Exploring Sault Ste. Marie!

Wow! We're halfway through the week already! Have you registered for this week's Destination Prize Package to Sault Ste. Marie? Hope so...If not, the link is at the top of this page...CLICK IT! :)

Anyway...Yesterday we talked about the "Museum Ship Valley Camp", "River of History Museum", and the "Tower of History". Today we'll turn our focus to shipwrecks!

"The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum"!

Visit the "Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum" at Historic Whitefish Point. The "Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum" is the only one of its kind, dedicated to the perils of maritime transport on the Great Lakes. It is fittingly located at Whitefish Point, site of the oldest active lighthouse on Lake Superior!

You'll experience a self-guided tour, with exhibits about Lake Superior's Shipwrecks, history of Whitefish Point, U.S. Lighthouse Service, and the Edmund Fitzgerald. Exhibits display actual artifacts, interpreted through paintings, descriptive narratives, and ship models. Also catch a 15-minute video, "Shipwreck: The Mystery of the Edmund Fitzgerald" and enjoy a guided tour of the 1861 Lightkeepers Quarters Building. There's even a new Underwater Research exhibit featuring new artwork in the Theatre Building.

For more information...Visit ShipWreckMuseum.com!

Exploring Sault Ste. Marie!

Alright...So yesterday we highlighted the "Soo Locks Boat Tours" as an attraction in the great historic city of Sault Ste. Marie! Today...We've got a couple of attractions to bring to your attention.

First..."Museum Ship Valley Camp"!

"Museum Ship Valley Camp"...isn't a camp....it's a ship! A museum ship to be exact, and it's not one of those museum ships that only offers a tour of the deck. Housed inside "Valley Camp's" massive cargo hold, is a 20,000 square foot museum with over 100 exhibits, including aquariums!

For more information about "Museum Ship Valley Camp" Museum...Click HERE!

Second...We'll be heading to the "River of History Museum"!

The "River of History Museum" was opened by the Sault Foundation for Culture and History in 1992 with the mission of preserving and promoting the history of the St. Mary's River system. This well appointed and modern museum will relate the complete history of the St. Mary's River from its formation by the glaciers through the 20th Century.

More information can be found...HERE!

Finally...Let's talk about the "Tower of History"!

Soaring 210 feet about Sault Ste. Marie and the Soo Locks, the tower has observation platforms for visitors to get spectacular views and photos of the world's busiest inland shipping channel. In the view below from the "Tower of History", one can see several historic houses, and the "Museum Ship Valley Camp".

Check HERE for more information!

Tomorrow...Shipwrecks!

Exploring Sault Ste. Marie!

Well...Here we are...Week 3 in our Fall: Explore Magnificent Michigan promotion! Last week we awarded a Destination Prize Package for a visit to the Ludington Area...This week, we're sending you to Sault Ste. Marie!

For the next couple of days, we'll be highlighting some fun things you can do in Sault Ste. Marie, whether you're this week's winner, or if you just happen to make it a weekend trip in the next couple of weeks!

The first thing we'd like to highlight is the "Soo Locks Boat Tours"!

The Soo Locks have been referred to as one of the great wonders of the world and it is still the largest waterway traffic system on earth! On the tour...Your boat will travel along the international shoreline of the Lower Harbor, letting you experience all the sights, sounds, and excitement of Michigan's Oldest City! Also...The 2-hour tour...No Gilligan's Island jokes please...will also be narrated live!

Your tour boat will ride the water as it is raised 21 feet, straight up, to the level of Lake Superior. You'll also cruise under the International Bridge and Railroad Bridge as you cross into Canadian waters, where you'll see one of Canada's largest operational steel plants!

The tour will then have you return to the lower harbor through the historic, and "Newly Restored", Candian Lock and cruise past the St. Mary's Rapids.

For more information about the "Soo Locks Boat Tour"...Head HERE!

Today, we just focused on one attraction..but Tomorrow...We'll talk about three!

Explore Ludington Area!

Well yesterday we wrapped up the 4 fun-filled weekends of the Ludington area's "Bushel of Fall Fun"! Today we'll highlight some extra fall festivities that are just too good to pass up!
Scarecrows on Parade! - Sept. 26th - October 31st

• Enjoy scarecrows in Mason County!

Fall Color Tours! - Sept. - November?

• Road Side Markets, Antique Shops, Miles of Decorated Downtowns!
• Click here to download a PDF of the driving tours!

Downtown Scottville Farmer's Market! - Now through October 10th

• Each Saturday between now and October 10th from 9am - 1pm.

Downtown Ludington Farmer's Market! - Now through October 30th

• Each Friday between now and October 30th from 3pm - 8pm.

And...Just in case you can't make it at all this fall:

Downtown Ludington New Year's Eve Ball Drop! - December 31st

• Ring in the new year in Ludington.

Well...That's it! If after today you can't find one fun thing to do in the Ludington area, you need to go re-read all of this week's posts! That's a TON of stuff to do and ALL great family things!

If you'd like more information about the Ludington area's "Bushel of Fall Fun", or about the Ludington area in general, visit: LudingtonCVB.com

Thanks! Next week we head to Sault Ste. Marie!

Explore Ludington Area!

Okay...for three days, we've been sharing some fun things you can do for the next 3 weekends as part of the Ludington area's "Bushel of Fall Fun". It's time to wrap it up with the final weekend!

Today, we'll cover the weekend of October 16th - 18th!
Gallery Walk! - October 17th

• Over 20 artist Studios and Galleries will be open to the public, some with artist demonstrations. Please join us for a wonderful celebration and tour of our unique art scene. Maps will be at various locations to help find your way along the walk.

Apple Jam! - October 17th

• Enjoy Food, Fun, and Folk Music!

Major's Pumpkin Patch! - October 17th & 18th

• Get spooked in the haunted hall and lose yourself in the corn maze. Pomp in the covered hay fort or enjoy a leisurely fall hayride. Fall decorations and pumpkins for the picking all about.

There you have it. That completes the 4 fun filled weekends the Ludington area's "Bushel of Fall Fun" can bring you and your family! We hope you get a chance to enjoy one of them! Check back tomorrow when we bring you details about a couple of extra fall festivities!

Explore Ludington Area!

Let's keep moving through the month of October in the Ludington area's "Bushel of Fall Fun"!

Today's post will cover activities you can enjoy the weekend of October 9th - 11th!
Community Shopping Night on the S.S. Badger! - October 9th & 10th

• Enjoy tours of the Historic Lake Michigan Carferry. Employee discount on all purchases, refreshments, and a drawing for 2 round trip tickets on 2010 Sailing Season.

Barns & Byways! - October 10th

• Tour 8 barns of Mason County. Some barns will have cultural activities including: Horse & Plowing Demos, Quilter’s Guild Displays, Antique Tractor Pull, Petting Zoo, and Line-Dancing Performances.

Scottville BBQ Cook-off! - October 10th

• A local grilling competition where spectators will be able to enjoy the end products.

Major's Pumpkin Patch! - October 10th & 11th

• Get spooked in the haunted hall and lose yourself in the corn maze. Pomp in the covered hay fort or enjoy a leisurely fall hayride. Fall decorations and pumpkins for the picking all about.

2009 Driving Tour Barns & Byways! - October 11th

• An extended driving tour featuring Mason County’s Centennial Farms on Sunday.

That closes out that weekend...one more left, we'll share more tomorrow!

Explore Ludington Area!

Alright...So yesterday we highlighted the "Bushel of Fall Fun" events for this coming weekend, but what if you can get to the Ludington area this weekend? Well...There are plenty of fun packed weekends left!

The next "Bushel of Fall Fun" weekend we'll be highlighting will be for October 2nd - 4th.
Autumn Days! - October 2nd & 3rd

• Watch apples being pressed into cider, enjoy a hayride, and reminisce over farm machinery display and more. Interpreters will be found in many of the village’s buildings to answer questions and provide a nostalgic look at the past.

Applefest! - October 3rd

• Homemade goods & crafts booths, hot pork dinner with all the trimmings, and a large bake sale with apple dumplings and apple squares.

Michigan Horsemanship Competition! - October 3rd & 4th

• Team sport with horse & riders from 16 high schools.

Scottville Barn Dance! - October 3rd

• The Scottville Barn Dance is held at the Riverside Park Campground in Scottville. This family friendly event has live music, concessions, children’s events, and an entire evening of dancing.

Oktoberfest! - October 3rd

• Oktoberfest includes activities of music, food, games, and a craft fair.

That's it for today...we'll hit another fun filled weekend tomorrow!

Explore Ludington Area!

It's a new week in JQ99 and Pure Michigan's Fall Explore Magnificent Michigan adventure! Last week we gave away a Destination Prize Package to Mackinaw City...This week, we're headed to the Ludington area!

Even though summer is over, the fun doesn't have to be! That's why the Ludington area is excited to share "Bushel of Fall Fun" with you!
Today, we're going to highlight what fall fun is going on this weekend, September 25th - 26th. It all starts with:
The Scottville Harvest Festival! - Sept. 25th - 26th

• Thursday, Sept. 24th: Ox Roast & Carnival!
• Friday, Sept. 25th - Carnival, Kids Parade, Princess Presentation, Queens Contest and Entertainment Tent!
• Saturday, Sept. 26th - Farmers Market, Carnival, Grand Parade, Horseshoe Tournament, Garden & Antique Tractor Pull, Kids Pedal Pull, Clown Band Performance, Haystack Maize, Pumpkin Bowling, and Entertainment Tent!

Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship District Competition! - Sept. 26th & 27th

• Held 9a - 6p each day and will feature Horses and Riders from 12 high schools!

Picture Perfect Weekend Workshops! - Sept. 25th - 27th

• Weekend long workshop that will teach you the 20 artistic elements to use while you are in the field of "making" photographs.

More fun is coming, so check back as we highlight another weekend tomorrow!

Be a "Biggest Loser" and Run the Mighty Mac!

1st Annual Fall Colors Bridge Race!
Saturday, October 10th

Helen & Shannon Phillips along with Ron & Mike Morelli will be joining Mackinaw City for the First Annual Fall Foot Race across the Mighty Mackinac Bridge!
Helen is from Sterling Heights and was this year's winner of the "Biggest Loser 7". Helen and her daughter Shannon love Northern Michigan and enjoy spending time with family at their cabin in Carp Lake.

Ron and Mike are father and son from South Lyon and were part of the 4 finalists in this years show. Mike was one of the youngest competitors on the show and actually made it to the final 3.

Mackinaw City will be doing a "Meet & Greet" Friday night at Registration/Packet Pick-up, so sign up now to enjoy the beautiful fall colors of the Straits of Mackinac while getting a chance to run the Beautiful Mighty Mac and meet some very inspirational people at the same time!

Another thing to do in Mackinaw City!

14th Annual Big Truck Show & Parade of Lights!
September 18th & 19th
See these awesome semi-trucks with customized cabs, extradordinary paint/art work and neon light displays. Come see the spectacular view of the lighted big trucks as the parade through South Huron Avenue and Central Avenue on Saturday night.

Friday, September 18th
Semi-Trucks on Display.

Saturday, September 19th
Mackinac Bridge "Parade of Lights" at dusk starting in St. Ignace and ending in Mackinaw City.

Saturday, September 19th & Sunday, September 20th
Semi-Trucks on Display and Awards Ceremony.

Things to do in Mackinaw City!

2nd Annual Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Crossing!

September 18th
Come watch HUNDREDS of unique tractors in this year's Owosso Tractor Parts Antique Tractor Parade and Show!

Thursday, September 17th
4:00pm-8:00pm: Public can view the Tractors at the Historical Village in Mackinaw City.

Friday, September 18th
10:30am: Parade through Mackinaw City.
11:00am: Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Crossing.
11:30am: Parade through St. Ignace.

Saturday, September 19th & Sunday, September 20th
Tractor Show at Kewadin Shores Casino, St. Ignace

(All times are approximate)

Explore Magnificent Michigan... Historical Manistee Trolly Tour

Our weekend experience in Manistee was a glorious experience. We learned so much regarding the history of Manistee County. The trolly ride was quite the education experience. Check out the video from our trolley ride.

Lunch & Dessert in Manistee County

We had a great lunch at Stefano's in Manistee, and we had to hit the candy store after. The candy store is situated downtown in the middle of all the action, and was a huge hit with our kids. Check out the video and you will see how big of a hit it was!