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Coffee on the porch

Product Review and Demo: Jetboil Flash Stove with Java Edition Kit

Camping is a game of continuous improvement for us – we are always learning and adjusting! We love finding new ways to be comfortable, happy, and enjoy things that we love.Every camper has some luxury item they take on the trail. For us it is coffee! We make fresh ground French press coffee every morning…

Hammock gear in forest

DIY Hammock Camping Gear

Hammock camping is our go-to! We get a lot of questions about our hammock set up for camping. It is extremely comfortable, even with two people in it! Yes, we really both sleep in the same hammock for our long trips. While it’s not ultralight, splitting up the gear in our backpacks works for us.…

Stacie at outdoor table

Product Review and Demo: Batiste Dry Shampoo

Product Review: Batiste Dry Shampoo On our recent trip to North Manitou Island for two weeks in our hammock, I tried out dry shampoo for the first time. With long thick hair, I was skeptical but hoped for the best!

Stacie by Pilgrim Haven sign

Pilgrimage to Pilgrim Haven

Visiting Pilgrim Haven Last week, I visited Pilgrim Haven Natural Area near South Haven for a day hike. The Pilgrim Haven Natural Area is part of the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC), having been set aside through a generous donation by a local philanthropist Suzanne Upjohn Parish. After decades of sitting idle, this special property…

News article

Hammock Camping in the News

Back in 2014, our annual Winter Hang camping trip to Ludington State Park was featured in the Ludington Daily News. Vince was interviewed and photographed as part of the feature story. In an earlier feature, in 2012, Vince’s hammock was featured in a photo at the end of the article.  

Tending a Comfortable Wilderness

Tending a Comfortable Wilderness

Eric MacDonald with Arnold R. Alanen A History of Agricultural Landscapes on North Manitou Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, MI 429 pages, 2000     Purchase     PDF

North Manitou Island: between Sunrise and Sunset

North Manitou Island: Between Sunrise and Sunset

Rita Hadra Rusco Part memoir, part island history, the must-read account of life on the island. 170 pages, 1991 From the Leelanau Historical Society Purchase From Amazon  Purchase

Exploring North Manitou

Exploring North Manitou, South Manitou, High and Garden Islands of the Lake Michigan Archipelago

Robert H. Ruchhoft Histories and trailguides for the hiker and backpacker for these eastern Lake Michigan Islands which are part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Beaver Island Group 357 pages, 1991     Purchase

Views from the Sleeping Bear

Views from the Sleeping Bear

Thomas Kachadurian Photographs of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. 144 pages, 1998     Purchase

Farming at the Water's Edge

Farming at the Water’s Edge

Marla J. McEnaney, William H. Tishler, Arnold R. Alanen An assessment of agricultural and cultural landscape resources in the proposed Port Oneida Rural Historic District at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan. 407 pages, 1995     Purchase     PDF