Five Fun Things to do in Michigan This Weekend - 8/18 - 8/21/11

Summer is winding down. School will be back in session before you know it. But that hasn't slowed down the number of festivals and events taking place all across Michigan this weekend.

1. Mackinac Island Fudge Festival - 8/19 - 8/20/11. Get your fill of fudge this weekend by tasting some Mackinac Island Fudge Stout Beer, crazy fudge drink combinations, a dinner with fudge (of course) as the theme, and much more chocolate-related fun.
2. Take your kids to A Day Out With Thomas at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad - 8/19 - 8/20/11.
3. Southeast Michigan Civil War Remembrance Tour - Metro Detroit - 8/20/11. "Join David Ingall, a Civil War expert and former assistant director of the Monroe County Historical Museum, and traverse a historic trail created by linking local monuments, museum exhibits, markers, forgotten landmarks, forts, and grave sites centered on this pivotal period in American history."
4. National Pickle Festival in Linwood - 8/19 - 8/21/11. Parade, car show, entertainment, kid rides, and (of course) free pickles.
5. Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 8/21/11 at 1pm. I'm guessing that in addition to some great racing you will see a lot of ads for Pure Michigan :).

My 10 most favorite things to do in the Sleeping Bear Dunes area

Good Morning America announced today that Sleeping Bear Dunes won their contest for Most Beautiful Place in America. I'm super excited for the Sleeping Bear Dunes area. It really is one of my favorite spots to visit in Michigan.

I started thinking about what it is about Sleeping Bear Dunes that keeps me coming back and decided that a list was in order. So, without further ado - here are my 10 Favorite things to do in the Sleeping Bear Dunes area:

1. The 7.4 mile Pierce Stocking Drive. Some of the most beautiful views you will see in Michigan.
2. The Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum which is located just west of Glen Haven. A really neat museum about the predecessor to the Coast Guard, the U.S. Life-Saving Service.
3. The picturesque Point Betsie Lighthouse. One of (if not THE) most photographed lighthouses in Michigan. Had a fun time playing a pickup game of wiffle ball there one evening as the sun set into Lake Michigan.
4. Glen Arbor - beautiful little town that is home to two of my favorite Michigan businesses - Cherry Republic and Leelanau Coffee.
5. The Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire should be your starting point if you have never visited (shame on you! :) ) the Sleeping Bear Dunes.
6. The Dune Climb is a great way to wear your kids out. Plus, if you make it to the top you will be rewarded with a great 360 degree panoramic of the surrounding area.
7. The former logging village of Glen Haven has been restored to how it appeared in the 1920s. Visit the Blacksmith Shop, Glen Haven Cannery Boathouse, and Glen Haven General Store.
8. Head on over to Riverside Canoe Rentals and canoe the Lower Platte River. It's leisurely pace is great for families and there is plenty of great views and wildlife to see along your trip to Lake Michigan.
9. Hike nearly 100 miles over 13 different trails in the area.
10. Visit the Port Oneida Rural Historic District to get a view of farming life without any modern developments. There is an annual fair the first weekend in August.

Roaming Through Michigan - 1949 travel documentary

Watch some classic footage of Northern Michigan - Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mackinac Island, Traverse City, Sault Ste. Marie, Tahquamenon Falls and more.

Five Things to do This Weekend in Michigan - 8/4 - 8/7/11

Oh man. There are so many great events going on in Michigan this weekend. It was really difficult to narrow them down to just five, but I did it. If you are looking for something fun and unique to do this weekend in Michigan - check these ideas out:

1. Dunegrass Music Festival - near Lake Anne - 8/5 - 8/7/11. Great group of local, regional, and national bands will be playing all weekend long.
2. 3rd Annual Buy Michigan Now Festival - Northville - 8/5 - 8/7/11. Come celebrate Michigan-made products!
3. Michilimackinac Marines Encampment - 8/5 - 8/7/11 - Mackinaw City. Park opens at 9am - "Camp reenactors show cooking, camp life, children's games, and dress up. Inside the fort, demonstrations of reliability firing tests, flag raising, and marching of the 1750's French soliders and civilians at Michilimackinac."
4. The Ribs 'n' R&B Festival - Detroit - 8/5 - 8/7/11.
5. Railfans at Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad - 8/6 - 8/7/11 - Flint. "Trains! Trains! Trains! Celebrate our famous Huckleberry Railroad with tours, demonstrations and model trains galore. Tour our Train Shop, which is only open to the public this weekend!"

Seth Bernard and Daisy May will be performing at the Dunegrass Music Festival this year - here's a video of one of my favorite songs:

Five Fun Things to do in Michigan this Weekend 7/21-7/24/11

1. Taste of Kalamazoo - 7/21 - 7/23. Great food and music!
2. 33rd Annual Hiawatha Music Fest in Marquette - 7/22 - 7/24. Bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, Celtic, acoustic blues and folk - including singer/songwriters and dance.
3. Vintage Base Ball game on Mackinac Island 7/23 at 6:30pm. This game features the Fort Mackinac Never Sweats against the Bay City Independents.
4. Michigan Antique & Collectibles Festival at the Midland County Fairgrounds - 7/23 - 7/24. Over 1000 Vendors and 80 Acres of Treasures & Memories featuring - Antiques, collectibles, classic car show, a taste of Michigan, and more!
5. Paul McCartney On The Run Tour at Comerica Park 7/24 at 8pm. This is McCartney's first visit back to the City of Detroit since 1976.