mackinac

Michigan Air Quality remains terrible

Posted on July 14, 2025July 14, 2025 by farlane

Mackinac Bridge Haze July 14 by Riviera Motel of Mackinac City

The Huron Daily Tribune shares that the National Weather Service & Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy issued an air quality alert for elevated levels of fine particulate over the weekend:

“Pollutants across the state are expected to reach the very unhealthy to unhealthy range in northern locations, with ranges of unhealthy to (unhealthy for sensitive groups) further south,” according to the service. Wildfire smoke from Canada is pushing into Michigan from till Monday. Increased fine particulate levels reached the western portion of the Upper Peninsula on Saturday afternoon.

This zoomed in view of the live Mackinac Bridge webcam at the Riviera Motel shows how much the smoke from wildfires is impacting the view of the Bridge this morning in Mackinac City.

Tune into the live Mackinac Bridge Cam!

Posted on July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 by farlane

Rainbow at the Riviera Motel of Mackinac City

Might Mac Rainbow by the Riviera Motel of Mackinac City

One of my favorite recent finds is the 24-hour live Mackinac Bridge Camera presented by Mackinac City’s Riviera Motel. Enjoy!!

Canada brings the smoke to Michigan

Posted on June 5, 2025June 5, 2025 by farlane

Canadian Wildfire Smoke by Mackinac Bridge Authority

“Unfortunately, what you’re seeing today is not fog surrounding the Mackinac Bridge but smoke coming from the wildfires and our neighbors to the North.” -The Mackinac Bridge on X (which I won’t link to)

Yesterday morning the Mackinac Bridge Cam captured smoke so dense that it looked like the bridge was shrouded in fog! There’s less today but it’s still an astonishing amount of smoke so be sure to keep an eye on your local air quality because as the map shows, it’s not great right now!

Iced Over on Mackinac Island

Posted on April 14, 2025 by farlane

Iced Over by Joann’s Fudge of Mackinac Island

Today is one of those days when I see the photo first and go looking for the post because honestly WOW! So here are some updates:

Last week Gov Whitmer met with President Trump & officially requested a Presidential Emergency Declaration for 12 counties and the Little Traverse Bands of Odawa. The request has nothing to do with FEMA actions or the ongoing process to pursue a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration, which is required to access longer-term recovery programs.
mLive shares that nearly 1,000,000 acres of state forest were impacted by the ice storm. As recovery efforts continue, more than a dozen state parks are closed along with all state-managed trails in the 12 affected counties.
The State of Michigan has some vetted places for your donations.
Bridge shares that Tax Day is tomorrow, but ice storm victims can request additional time for their taxes
Also from Bridge, Michigan likely lost 1/3 of our 90,000 gallon maple syrup crop – we’ll just buy it from Canada, right?
And finally, Mackinac Island shared that while some roads & trails may be closed, they will be ready to welcome visitors starting April 25th.

When the huge ice storm hit, Joann’s Fudge of Mackinac Island shared this photo & noted they might suffer some shipping delays. In addition to a donation to one of the places above, consider buying a little fudge from Joann’s! Here are some more great shots including one of them taking advantage of the ice storm by playing hockey and some great lilac photos from the upcoming Mackinac Island Lilac Festival (June 6-16, 2025). See lots more of their pics on their Facebook.

Blue Ice at the Straits of Mackinac

Posted on March 21, 2025March 21, 2025 by farlane

Blue Ice at the Straits of Mackinac by Martin Hogan Photography

Although winter “officially” ended yesterday, the snowy pictures I’m seeing from around Michigan this morning make me feel OK sharing these pics Marty got of blue ice on the Straits of Mackinac last weekend. Click to follow Marty on Facebook & for sure check out some of his past photos on Michigan in Pictures!

If you are wondering Why Ice is Blue, Michigan in Pictures says (in part):

As with water, this color is caused by the absorption of both red and yellow light (leaving light at the blue end of the visible light spectrum) … In simplest of terms, think of the ice or snow layer as a filter. If it is only a centimeter thick, all the light makes it through; if it is a meter thick, mostly blue light makes it through. This is similar to the way coffee often appears light when poured, but much darker when it is in a cup.

Happy Birthday to America’s second National Park!

Posted on March 3, 2025March 3, 2025 by farlane

Mackinac Island by Mark Swanson

Most remember that President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law establishing that Yellowstone as America’s first national park on March 1, 1872, but not that many are aware of the 2nd national park that Congress created just three years later on March 3, 1875. The National Parks Traveler has a great feature on America’s “forgotten” national park which existed from 1875 to 1895 when it became Mackinac Island State Park, the nation’s first state park which is now Mackinac State Historic Parks.

Mark has shared a ton of Mackinac Island pics on Flickr and in our Absolute Michigan group. Here are some of my faves. See more in his Mackinac, Michigan gallery on Flickr!!

Mist over the Straits of Mackinac

Posted on November 7, 2024November 7, 2024 by farlane

Mackinac Bridge in Fog by Joe Lieghio

Joe got these great shots on October 31st of the Mackinac Bridge and a freighter & shared them saying “Mackinaw City has a ghost ship for Halloween!” You can see more of his pics & those of others in the Mackinaw City, Michigan group that he manages on Facebook.

Freighter in the Straits of Mackinac in Fog by Joe Lieghio

2024 Michigan Whale Migration underway!

Posted on September 19, 2024September 20, 2024 by farlane

Mackinac Bridge Whalewatching Station September 18, 2024

Researchers at the Mackinac Bridge Whalewatching Station (MBWS) have announced that the 2024 Great Lakes Whale Migration is officially underway!

“Warmer temperatures have once again pushed the migration several weeks earlier, but we are seeing great numbers from all species except of course Orcas who just don’t seem to be that into the Great Lakes,” explained MBWS Chief Cetologist Bonnie Beluga. Lots more on the Lake Michigan Whale Migration Station website.

More about Great Lakes whales on Michigan in Pictures.

Hilarious update: Michigan in Pictures is teaching Meta AI about nature!

Remembering the first Mackinac Bridge Walk

Posted on August 28, 2024June 16, 2026 by farlane

Oldsmobile Convertibles at Mackinac Bridge Dedication ~ June 25, 1958 by Motor Cities National Heritage Area

“Michigan at last is to be one state geographically, economically and culturally, as well as politically. Where nature divided us, we have bound ourselves together with this web of steel. This mighty bridge, the world’s greatest, is a symbol of our strength.”
Michigan Governor G. Mennen Williams, June 1958

Yesterday’s Mackinac Bridge walk post was so popular I had to bring you a little more! Although the Mackinac Bridge opened to vehicle traffic on November 1, 1957, the official Mackinac Bridge dedication didn’t take place until June of 1958 when only 68 people walked the Bridge. The walk was moved to Labor Day in 1959, and it has been held every Labor Day since then!

Get ready for the 2024 Mackinac Bridge Walk!

Posted on August 27, 2024June 16, 2026 by farlane

This photo was the fourth most popular photo of 2024 on Michigan in Pictures!!

Mackinac Bridge Walk & Herbert C Jackson by the Mackinac Bridge Auhtority

The Mackinac Bridge Walk is a Michigan tradition that takes place every year on Labor Day morning. People may begin their walk on either end Monday, September 2024 anytime between 7 AM and 11:30 AM and walk as much of the bridge as they are able to do before the bridge reopens to traffic at noon. Walkers may start their Mackinac Bridge Walk from Mackinaw City or St Ignace at either end of the Mighty Mac, and there are no longer busses traveling across the bridge during the walk. Get all the details from the Mackinac Bridge Authority.

The photo above shows the freighter Herbert C Jackson passing under the bridge, and Mike Rezabek took the pic of the walk below from the deck of the Jackson to complete the 360 view. Click for more of Mike’s shots!!

Bridge Walk from Herbert C Jackson by Mike Rezabek

So much more about Michigan’s Mighty Mackinac Bridge on Michigan in Pictures!

Michigan in Pictures

Photos of the Great Lakes State

Michigan Air Quality remains terrible

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Tune into the live Mackinac Bridge Cam!

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Canada brings the smoke to Michigan

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Iced Over on Mackinac Island

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Blue Ice at the Straits of Mackinac

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Happy Birthday to America’s second National Park!

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Mist over the Straits of Mackinac

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2024 Michigan Whale Migration underway!

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Remembering the first Mackinac Bridge Walk

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Get ready for the 2024 Mackinac Bridge Walk!

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