What is Pure Michigan to you?

I realized I had not put up a poll question recently and after reading the behind the scenes for the upcoming "Fresh" Pure Michigan ad. I am highly anticipating this new ad that's set to start airing this fall. The commercial features scenes from Michigan's bountiful harvest and many other delicious Michigan products and amazingly beautiful places. So, what is Pure Michigan to you?

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Take a shortcut across Lake Michigan on the S.S. Badger

I was eleven or twelve years old when my grandparents took my cousin and I on the S.S. Badger car ferry out of Ludington. We were on our way to northern Wisconsin where my grandpa grew up and he wanted my cousin and I to experience a trip across Lake Michigan. What an experience it was! We had to go to bed early the night before because we were making an early start the next morning to get on the first trip across the lake. My grandpa had the car all packed and we slept in the clothes we would be wearing the next day. Grandpa woke us up in the pitch black early hours of morning. With a large thermos of coffee in hand Grandpa, Grandma, my cousin, and I made the three hour trip up to Ludington.

I remember the feeling of awe at how huge the S.S. Badger was when we pulled up to the dock. Threads of black smoke were rising up from the large stack as the coal-fired boilers were warming up. The dock was a hustle of activity as my Grandpa handed over the car keys so one of the attendants could drive it onto the car ferry. It took a bit longer than planned to load the Badger that morning as they had to load up a number of railroad cars first. I couldn't believe they still used the car ferry to haul rail freight.

When we were onboard and it was time to go my cousin and I made sure we were standing out in the chilly morning air. We didn't want to miss a thing as the ship pulled away from the dock and began the trip across the lake. The deck beneath us rumbled with the thrumming of the engines and spray began to fly off the bow as we left the harbor and increased to cruising speed. I watched the shoreline slowly dissolve into the hazy morning air and then, there we were, all alone on the big blue waters of Lake Michigan.

Never before had I been out so far onto the lake that I could not see land in any direction. It was a strange and peaceful sensation that only added to the excitement of the adventure. My cousin and I spent the trip exploring the entire ship (well, the parts open to the paying passengers anyway) and I was a bit disappointed when the harbor at Manitowoc, Wisconsin came into view. All too soon our voyage across the lake was over.

It was time to get back into the cramped confines of the car. No more wandering about with freedom in the fresh air. Back to playing games and getting on each others nerves to pass the time until we would pull into Tomahawk, Wisconsin.

Oh what a trip that was :). Someday, when my kids are older, I will take them on the S.S. Badger for an adventure that I hope they will always remember just like my adventure with my grandparents and cousin.

More information about the S.S. Badger Car Ferry as well as schedule and Fares - www.ssbadger.com.

Get a brief taste of the S.S. Badger in this wonderful Pure Michigan ad that made me remember my first crossing:

Stop in at The Ice Cream Shop in Mears

On a recent trip up north to Manistee the family and I stopped at The Ice Cream Shop in Mears. It's under the umbrella of the Oceana Fruit Company in a string of neat little stores along the downtown area. Anyway, it's a great "old timey" looking ice cream shop with a huge black chalkboard displaying the available flavors, arched metal-backed chairs, little round tables, and an antique white porcelain "bubbling" drinking fountain to wash down the healthy portions of ice cream. The neatest detail about The Ice Cream Shop is the old player piano tucked away in the corner. I had thought it was just for decoration until one of the young ladies behind the counter walked over to it and inserted a roll of music. I was thinking, "How neat, a little musical ambiance while we eat our ice cream." When the music started the young lady began to sing along to the delight of everyone in the shop. She had a nice voice and it made for a neat surprise.

After that song, she put in a couple selections from the musical, Grease, and the other gal behind the counter joined her for two wonderfully entertaining duets. It was a fun experience all around with great ice cream and entertainment.

More of the best from our Michigan vacation

Note: This is Part Two of a series - Part One. So, when I left off last week my wife and I had just "caffeined up" at Java Joe's in St. Ignace. I enjoyed my caramel apple latte while we drove down one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in Michigan, nay I say, in the country. Sure California has the Pacific Coast Highway, but driving down U.S. 2 along the northern shore of Lake Michigan is nearly intoxicating to eyes that have seen more than their fair share of bumper-to-bumper traffic and the same old boring franchise-filled strip malls.

You have the white-capped waves of Lake Michigan crashing along the sugar-sanded shoreline on one side and the fresh scent of pines intermingled with creeks, swamps, and hardwood forests on your left. Interspersed along U.S. 2 are scenes from the past of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Motels and pasty shops that sprung up with the opening of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957 that had high hopes of summer tourists keeping them in business dot this stretch of highway. Some of the shops and motels are still open and look clean and tidy if not terribly busy. A number are either shut down with boarded up windows and 'for sale' signs older than me or are in such a sad state of disrepair that would not entice the weariest of travelers.

I was sad that the Cut River Bridge was under construction. Not because of the detour, but you get such a beautiful view from the span. I've enjoyed a nice picnic lunch there many a time.

Our destination for a few nights were the Hog Island Cottages just east of Naubinway. If you're looking for indoor pools, flat screen televisions with 50+ channels, and complementary continental breakfasts then you've come to the wrong place. If you are looking for a wonderful stay at a simple and clean cottage that is a throwback to the heyday of travel then you have found nirvana. The white clapboard cottages were originally moved to this location around 1942.

The owners, Tom and Sandy Jacobs, are super wonderful people. Sandy does a great job keeping the cottages clean (and readily supplied with the numerous fresh towels the kids went through) and Tom keeps the cottages in good shape. They both take turns running the old general store - that store in itself is reason enough to stop. I meant to get a picture of the exterior and interior and for some reason did not. You walk in and there are glass display cases filled with smoked whitefish, jerky, and beer. A cooler to the left holds bottles of soda pop and a freezer next to it contains pasties and ice cream.

We went in there everyday to buy something or other. It was always fun to walk in and chat with Tom or Sandy while the kids picked out a treat or two. The last night we were there we wanted to try some of their pasties and Tom was kind enough to cook it for us! He said he had it down to a science and believe me, he did. Those were the best pasties I have ever had. Sure some of it is how they were made, but the way Tom cooked them just right was a big part too.

I tell you what, the only other time I have been treated like this was when we have stayed at a bed and breakfast. Tom and Sandy greet you from the get go and treat you like old friends the whole time you're there. I needed to get in touch with some relatives in the U.P. and my cell wasn't getting a signal. I asked Sandy if I could pay her for use of her phone and she said she had free long distance and it wouldn't be a problem to make a call. How sweet is that?

We had a great time hanging out at the beach that was just a short walk from the cottages. I don't think a day went by that our oldest didn't go and swim. The time went by too fast and we were sad to say goodbye to Tom, Sandy, and our Hog Island Cottage.

I'll try and wrap this series up tomorrow by covering the places we visited during our stay in the U.P.

The best from our Michigan vacation

We had such a wonderful time on our vacation to northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. It's difficult to condense it all down to a single blog post so this is Part One. We traveled up along the coast of Lake Michigan passing through the beautiful towns of Holland, Muskegon, and Ludington. A picnic lunch was called for and the sugary sandy beach of Ludington was just the place. After lunch we continued up U.S. 31 and stopped at the Dairy King in Beulah for one of the best ice cream cones I have had in a long while. You read that right, it's Dairy King - not Queen and the ice cream was far superior to the Queen.

I was hoping to have time to swing up to Sleeping Bear Dunes and stop in Glen Arbor, but time was running short and we still had to set up our tent for the night so we pushed on through Traverse City (looking beautiful as always) and by recommendation camped at Barnes Park in Antrim County. If you are in the area I highly recommend camping there. The sites are all shaded and Lake Michigan is a short walk away.

Just up the road a bit from Barnes Park is Friske Orchard and Farm Market. The kids were excited by the animals and playground and the wife and I were enticed by the delicious aromas from the bakery and outdoor grill. A morning snack of super yummy chocolate chip cookies with cherries was enjoyed by all. After a quick time of feeding goats and playing on the playground we packed up the kiddos and headed on our way once more.

Just north of Petoskey on 31 is the little burg of Oden. It's home to artesian wells and one of the best fish hatcheries in the state. We picnicked at the Oden State Fish Hatchery and then hiked the paved pathway to the trout viewing window (you can watch trout at stream level through a glass viewing area) and on out to the trout ponds where you can feed the huge fish.

After Oden, it's just a short jog up the road and if you watch through the trees in front of you - you might be lucky enough to be the first one in the car to spot The Bridge. For those not in the know, The Bridge is the Mackinac Bridge. The most beautiful suspension bridge around as far as I'm concerned. Of course I'm a bit partial being a native of Michigan and all.

I would not trade jobs with these guys for all the money in the world:

Upon entering Michigan's Upper Peninsula the first stop we made was Java Joe's Cafe in St. Ignace. It's my favorite coffee shop in the whole U.P. I had a wonderful Caramel Apple Latte and the only disappointment was that Joe and Sandy (the owner's and simply nicest folks you'll ever meet) weren't in at the time.

Here's a great mural on the back wall of the cafe -

Well, that's as good a place as any to end Part One. The way this is going it's looking like a three part post :). So much fun, though!