Beautiful Video of the Fall Colors in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

I just love fall here in Michigan. In fact, I came up with a solid list of the five main reasons that it's such a favorite of mine.

1. Cool, crisp air means sweatshirt weather.
2. Apple picking (and eating in pie, applesauce, apple crisp, etc.)
3. Cider season (and my favorite cider donuts from Corey Lake Orchards!)
4. I feel like making chili, pot roast, and turkey with all the fixings
5. Last, but not least - The Beautiful Fall Colors

Put on a sweatshirt, grab a glass of cider, and dunk a donut while you watch this beautiful video of the fall colors in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. See if you can spot the locations - Pictured Rocks, Grand Marais, Au Train, and Kingston Lake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXzP-jY8k2w

Copper Country: A Unique Board Game Set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Ah, that headline doesn't really do this game justice. Copper Country is an incredible looking board game set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, well the Keewenaw Peninsula to be precise. The game is designed by two Yoopers, David Lankton and Scott Diehl.

The year is 1840 and America's first mining boom is about to change Michigan's Upper Peninsula forever. Take on the role of a mining company and compete for copper by casting miners and machines into the underground lottery.

As the industry grows, so do the communities surrounding your mines. But every attempt to wrest copper from the ground hangs the fortunes of your company, and the lives of your miners, in the balance.

Life, Work, Profit, Death: Copper Country.

The passion these two guys have in seeing this game become a reality is evident throughout the presentation and look of Copper Country. David's dad, Larry Lankton, taught Copper Country history at Michigan Tech University in addition to researching and writing books on the subject. He passed that love of the area's history to his son and he, in turn, is attempting to pass it along through his love of board games.

I've pored over the Kickstarter page, looked over the game components, and studied how the game plays out. I have to say, this is probably the best looking and well thought out board game project I have seen on Kickstarter. This game looks like it is ready to go - the guys just need funding to get it printed and shipped.

I collect and play a large number of board games and it's funny, but just this week I was trying to dream up (while building a bunch of our great gift baskets) a board game set in Michigan. Then, I happened to stumble upon Copper Country last night.

What a coincidence, eh?

Copper Country knocks it out of the park with its theme, artwork, and gameplay. I can't wait to add this to my collection and get it into our game night rotation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVay4yg33TM

And another review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTMUhEXBgBU#t=947

I can't wait for this game! Check out their Kickstarter and see for yourself.

Want to see a runthrough of the game? Grab a Pasty, sit down, and watch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzAB0Uu0Nl8

I already have ideas for creating a gift basket based around this game. Yep, you could say I'm a little bit excited to see this get funded!

Say Ya to Copper Country, eh!

1953 Home Movie of Mackinac Island

This either took a long time to edit and splice together or the narrator did not finish until sometime around 1957 or later as he mentions the Mackinac Bridge (along with the fact that the trip took place in 1953) which was not completed until 1957. Love this quote about Fort Mackinac on the island in reference to its past importance in the days of the fur trade compared to today -

No danger of having your scalp lifted, it's just the contents of your wallet that they want.

I like how the narrator explains how he made certain shots and offers tips on how to film in poor lighting as well as asking permission to include people in his shots in order to "avoid any unpleasantness".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTZchtQ_Ij8

Jeff Daniels talking about the U.P. of Michigan on David Letterman

Favorite quote from the interview - David Letterman, "It's [Grand Hotel and Mackinac Island] stunningly beautiful and picturesque!" Jeff Daniels, "Especially if you're eating some fudge and you're sitting on a horse."

50 Fun Things to do in Michigan This Summer

[Edit: May 16, 2014] Wow, this post has gone viral the past few weeks! Thanks for sharing my love of Michigan. Another great way to share some of the great things that Michigan has to offer is by sending our great Michigan gift baskets and boxes.

During the long cold winters here in Michigan I like think of all of the places I want to visit and things I want to do during Michigan's beautiful summer. The list tends to grow and grow until it reaches a length that I know makes it impossible to see and do everything that is on it.

So, I thought I would share my list with everyone in the hopes that others will find something in Michigan that they hadn't thought of before or didn't know about.

These are in no particular order.

1. Climb the big dune at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.
2. Spend the day at Mackinac Island.
3. Catch a Tigers game at Comerica Park.
4. Take a copper mine tour in the U.P.
5. Visit Fort Michilimackinac with your kids.
6. Go for a swim in Lake Michigan.
7. Go camping at one of the numerous state or private campgrounds.
8. Take the family and watch the synchronized musical fountains of The Cascades in Jackson
9. Climb Castle Rock in St. Ignace
10. Tour the Valley Camp Ship museum in Sault Saint Marie
11. Take a hike in the Porkies - The Porcupine Mountains that is
12. Drive one of the Great Lakes Circle Tours
13. Bike around the 8 mile highway, M-185, on Mackinac Island. You won't have to watch out for vehicles :)
14. Love cherries? Get your fill at The Cherry Hut in Beulah, Michigan. It started out as a roadside pie stand in 1922.
15. Cross the Kalamazoo River in Saugatuck via one of the oldest hand-cranked chain ferries in America.
16. Visit the Roadside Attractions store in Metamora, Michigan.
17. Take in a movie at the Capri Drive-In in Coldwater. Rated one of the Top 10 Drive-In movie theaters in the country.
18. Hike or bike the Kal-Haven Trail.
19. Ride the S.S. Badger Car Ferry from Ludington to Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
20. Take a couple of days to visit The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village
21. Watch a Great Lakes freighter pass through the Soo Locks.
22. Spend some time hiking around Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
23. Visit one of Michigan's 115 Historic Lighthouses
24. Play a pickup game of baseball at the Tiger Stadium site at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull
25. If you happen to be driving along U.S. 2 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, stop in for a refreshing glass bottle of soda at the Hog Island General Store just east of Naubinway.
26. Stay the night at a working lighthouse on Lake Superior - Big Bay Point Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast
27. Drive across the Mackinac Bridge. For only $3.50 for a car you, too, can earn the badge of honor of being able to say, "yep, I drove across that bridge."
28. Visit one of Michigan's numerous farmers markets. Find a Michigan Farmers Market near you.
29. Spend a day at Michigan's Adventure. It's the perfect size amusement park for young families. You get all of the rides plus their huge waterpark for one admission fee.
30. After Michigan's Adventure stop in at a classic drive-in, Dog-N-Suds in Montague.
31. While I'm on the subject of food - if you are ever near New Buffalo, do yourself a favor and try a burger at Redamak's.
32. Give some love to the overlooked Great Lake - Lake Huron. Drive along M-25 and M-23 and discover all of the great places on Michigan's east side.
33. Take in a concert on a Thursday in South Haven along the river. The Community Riverfront Concert Series is all summer long and starts at 7pm.
34. Get the tastiest and freshest whitefish at Scalawags Whitefish and Chips in downtown Mackinaw City or Traverse City.
35. Get all Bavarian up in Frankenmuth.
36. Go for a ride on the dunes with Mac Wood's Dune Rides in Mears.
37. Do some beachcombing along Michigan's 2,147 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. You never know what you will find.
38. Go fishing!
39. If your kids are acting like animals, consider a trip to the zoo. John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, the Detroit Zoo, and Kalamazoo (not a zoo, but still a fun town!).
40. While you are in Kalamazoo, how about the Air Zoo! (technically in Portage, but who's counting?)
41. Go blueberry picking eating!
42. Want to see some Michigan black bears up close, but not be in any danger? You have to go to Oswald's Bear Ranch near Newberry, Michigan.
43. Tour a Michigan Ghost Town. The Fayette Historic State Park is a unique opportunity to walk through a wonderfully preserved abandoned townsite from the early days of iron mining in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
44. There are 197 waterfalls in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. You won't have to travel far to find one!
45. Do yourself a favor and visit Traverse City. One of Michigan's most beautiful beach towns.
46. Stay at one of Michigan's numerous Indoor Water Park Hotels.
47. Shoot for par (I like to aim low, just like my drives off the tee :) ) at one of Michigan's golf courses.
48. Spend the day at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners just minutes from Kalamazoo. Over 200 cars of all eras to gawk over, grab something to eat at a 1940s era Diner, and see what a gas station looked like in the 1930s.
49. Canoe the Platte River near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We canoed the Lower Platte before and had a great time spotting wildlife and enjoying the ride.
50. Ride into history on the Little River Railroad in Coldwater. Take a ride on a steam-powered locomotive for a unique experience the whole family will love!
51. Bonus! Stop in at one of Michigan's 14 Welcome Centers and come up with hundreds of ideas for great things to do in Michigan.