I love this photo taken by guest photographer, Rhianna Hudson. It’s taken at the Grand Haven State Park on the Lake Michigan shoreline.
You might think that the beach is only for summer, but in Michigan, I love seeing the ever changing snowy, icy sculpture of a seascape found at one of my favorite places, Grand Haven, MI. The catwalk is under construction and is closed, but that’s ok, it’s still well worth visiting. Rhianna Hudson and I recently captured these photos. If you decide to make the trip, you might want to visit one of these great places while you’re there:

Buffalo Bobs: From the outside, this looks like a small general store that might have clothes, but wow is that decieving! This gem of a store never fails to have something cute that I just have to buy, they carry major brands such as Free People, BB Dakota, Woolrich, Kut, Maui Jim, Oakley Native, Bula, Havana, See-thru Soul Denim and much more. Basically, they have the latest trends for guys and gals, plus lots of things to support your active life for camping, fishing, skating, etc. Located at 136 Washington, Grand Haven, MI and locally owned and operated.

The Toasted Pickle: A local favorite, that has an eclectic and delicious menu of sandwiches, salad and soups. I always go there, and I’ve never been disappointed. Located at 112 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI and locally owned and operated.

Aldea Coffee: This place is another local favorite and features some of the best coffee I’ve had in my life. Plus, the folks who work here are super nice. The are located in the Armory Buiding at 17 S 2nd Street, Grand Haven, MI and locally owned and operated.

The Creative Fringe: Guys, this place is AWESOME! They have an amazing amount of beads, jewelry supplies, jewelry lessons and more. If you have a creative bone in your body, you owe it to yourself to visit this place. They are located at 210 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417 and locally owned and operated.

There’s lots more to enjoy, so stay tuned. I’ll be writing more about Grand Haven again soon!

The frozen beach with embedded frozen ice balls looks a bit like a lunar landscape.

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I discovered this unique barn driving on the backroads in Arcadia, MI.
It would be easy to pass by the Onekama / Arcadia, MI area – but that would be missing out big time. Online searches reveal very little about the place, perhaps that’s because being there feels like you are going back to a time when electronic devices took a back seat to nature and being a human at peace with the world. I took these photos driving around the back roads near Lake Michigan.

The landscape is dotted with historic barns, vineyards, and rolling hills. You’ll also discover golf courses and a beautiful. Here places to stay: Here are some place to check out when you visit.

Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course: This course is open to the public and resembles a seaside links course with rolling terrain and a windswept landscape with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan. Lodging and cottages are also available.

Artesian Wells: Some of the purest water in the country is located at these public wells, where folks have been known to travel for miles to bottle it up and take some home. Here are links Old Facefull (GPS 44.427615, -86.247132) Portage Point Well (GPS: 44.376511, -86.227881).

Portage Point Inn: I’ve never had a chance to stay here but have always wanted to. This historic inn was established in 1903, yet features a boutique gift shop, pub, fitness center, lake access, movie nights on the lawn, kayak and paddle board rentals, boating, fishing and much more.

Inspiration Point Scenic Overlook: This is one of the best overlooks I’ve been to in my entire life. It’s just off the Scenic Highway and you can see for miles and miles. Trust me, and be sure to lug your camera along with you for this one, all 120 steps to the top of the overlook!

Arcadia Marsh: This 273-acre marsh nature preserve has a short trail and is especially popular for birding.

Area Preserves and Trails: While I was researching this project, I found a link to this map with a bunch of preserves and trails that I didn’t even know existed in this region.

This is a great time to start planning your Michigan summer vacation. These are just a few of the great places to discover in the area.