Stacie
It has been a cloudy winter, without much sunshine or much good snow for outdoor recreation. Here in Northern Michigan today on this February Sunday, we are having blue skies, with sunshine to make the snow sparkle. Today was a first visit to the Mt. Minnie Nature Preserve in Honor, MI. This 65 acre preserve…
New Winter Gear! Winters in Northern Michigan can have a lot of snowfall, and what better than a snowblower to assist with clearing the driveway? We purchased a new Snow Joe SJ627E 22-Inch 15-Amp Electric Snow Thrower. Watch while we unbox it, and give you our first impression with an early snowfall. Product purchased HERE.…
Tour Cottage Row on North Mantiou Island Tour Cottage Row! Take a walking tour of the historic Cottage Row area in the Village on North Manitou Island. This remote wilderness island is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Northern Lake Michigan. This video features exterior views around all sides of the cottages,…
Just out: our product review for Fishell canoe paddles. Getting out for an October paddle on the Platte River and Platte Lake is a treat on a sunny fall day in Michigan! We finally got the chance to get out in the canoe with our new Fishell Paddles. These paddles are cherry wood with the…
Join me for this quick walk through tour of the beautiful historic cemetery on the North Manitou Island in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Located in federally protected wilderness, this cemetery is only visited by backcountry campers. Once part of a thriving island community of farmers, loggers, surfmen, and summer residents, it is now…
TRUDE COTTAGE Take a rare look inside the historic Trude Cottage on North Manitou Island, in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. As island volunteers, we are able to get inside structures that are being preserved. Come join us for a tour and learn a little about the history of this cottage. It was built…
COTTAGE ROW HISTORY What a night! Stacie presented on the history of Cottage Row on North Manitou Island recently at the Benzie Area Historical Society’s lecture series. There was a live audience of more than 50, and it was also broadcast on Zoom to around a dozen more. We met a lot of great people,…
Better late than never Outdoor adventuring over 50 for beginners. It’s not too late to get started! Are you thinking about getting out into nature and planning some new adventures? As two 50-somethings, we hope to share our experiences with you to get you thinking about what is possible. Nothing extreme – just getting out…
Volunteering in our National Park We love volunteering, especially for our local National Park, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore! Fun news: Inkus our dog is also now a volunteer. He is officially a BARK Ranger, helping bring awareness to proper dog behavior in the Park. This helps to protect the local piping plovers, an endangered…
Want to learn some new outdoor skills? Try hammock camping. Get outside and enjoy your summer! Curious about how to get started hammock camping? This presentation will review the basics: the advantages and disadvantages to hammocks, equipment that you can buy or make, safety tips, and Leave No Trace principles. Either for use as a…