The U.P. Kid's Museum Receives Anonymous Donation

It will be a bit easier for the U.P. Children's Museum in Marquette to keep the lights and heat on this year. An anonymous donor gave $50,000 to the museum to use as they see fit. The money will help fund exhibits and programs throughout the year. For more information on the museum visit - www.upcmkids.org

Kid's museum receives big donation - The Mining Journal

Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland

You need to visit Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland in beautiful Frankenmuth at least once in your life just so you can say you have been there. When Wally Bronner founded the store way back in 1945 I doubt that he could foresee what it would look like now. The business grew from a single building in the middle of Frankenmuth to the huge store that is now the size of 5.5 football fields. With over 50,000 items and thousands of colorful lights to look at one can easily spend the majority of a day shopping at Bronner's. It is best to visit on a weekday as weekends (especially in November and December) can be very crowded. Also, wear comfortable shoes and leave the baby strollers at home. There are just too many people to maneuver around.

Arrive early and perhaps you will be done by lunchtime. I suggest the Bavarian Inn for lunch. It has excellent chicken dinners and at least half of the wait as Zehnders (the world famous chicken dinner). For an excellent array of baked goods the Zehnders bakery (downstairs from the restaurant) is a tasty choice.

If you prefer something other than chicken and wish to avoid crowds and waiting in line, then DaVinci's Restaurant is the place to go for hot sub sandwiches and great pizza. It is just on the northern edge of town past the car dealerships. Most tourists don't head that far out of town, so you shouldn't have much of a wait. Cold? Head on over to the Frankenmuth Kaffee Haus for a nice hot cup of coffee or latte.

If you go:

Hours are 9am to 9pm Monday through Saturday and Noon until 7pm on Sunday. Take exit 136 off of I-75 and head east (turn right) on M-54/Birch Run Road. Go approximately 2 miles to M-83/Gera Road and turn left at the light. You will travel about 5 miles and you can't miss Bronner's on the right-hand side of the road.

Bear Cave in Buchanan

Bear Cave is the only cavern in the Great Lakes area. It was formed in "tufa rock" which is a secondary limestone. It is estimated that this particular bed of rock is at least 25,000 years old and is resting on a glacial drift deposited during the last ice age approximately 50,000 years ago. Along the 40 foot winding stairway that leads visitors through the cave you will see stalactites, petrified leaves, and other peculiar shapes. The metal oxides of native ores color the entire cave. The cave measures 15 feet deep, four to six feet wide and 10-15 feet high.

The cave holds quite a bit of significant history. It played a significant part in the Underground Railroad during the period of slavery. In 1875 the "loot" from an Ohio bank robbery was "deposited" in the cave. This became the inspiration for the 1903 silent film The Great Train Robbery. The film is now considered a silent film classic and was the precursor of the thriller movies of today.

The area surrounding the Bear Cave is rich in tree-covered hills, deep ravines, wildflowers, and the grand St. Joseph River. Most likely, there are hundreds of "Bear Caves" all over the globe, but this cave is unique to Michigan and holds a distinct history.

If you go: Bear Cave is located 3 miles north of Buchanan on the Red Bud Trail. It is located within the Bear Cave Resort (a condo-style resort on 4085 Bear Cave Road). The cave is entered through the gift shop. It is open from May to October and there is an admission fee. Call 269-695-3050 for hours and other information.

The Leetsville Shoe Tree

Hundreds of lost soles (ooh, pun number one) have made their way to the branches of a big maple tree on the west side of U.S. 131. When the maple sheds its leaves each fall the shoes, sandals, and work boots numbering around 100, become the new foliage. The shoes are hanging there throughout the year, but are more apt to be seen after the leaves have fallen from this mighty maple. It takes some real sole-searching (ouch, the puns are killing me) to get to the origination of this mysterious maple malady. We came upon the tree in a way that I am sure most folks do. We were taking U.S. 131 south as we traveled home from northern Michigan. We topped a hill just south of Leetsville (between Mancelona and Kalkaska) and in the valley below on the west side of the road we saw a very peculiar looking tree. We pulled off the road for a closer look and some pictures. Needless to say, we were not the only ones to do so at that time. There must have been six or eight other vehicles that stopped to gaze upon this roadside oddity.

Now, back to the origins of the Leetsville Shoe Tree. Some locals say that is all began with just a pair or two thrown upon the maple's branches. Possibly as a prank of some sort by some road weary travelers who needed an excuse to stop and get some fresh air. Others think that it began with the nearby Kalkaska High students tossing their shoes upon the lofty branches just for fun. Regardless of the reasons, the shoe tree most likely began like all other shoe trees. One or two pairs were thrown up in the tree and when they were spotted, others joined in and now there are nearly a hundred shoes in the tree with some almost 70 feet high.

If you go:

Just south of Leetsville (between Kalkaska and Mancelona) on the west side of U.S. 131.