The Summer Solstice happens today (June 20th) at 4:51pm. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice is the moment when the sun reaches its highest and northernmost point in the sky. In addition to being the moment that summer officially begins, it also happens on the longest day of the year.
Kent took this in Charlevoix on the solstice in 2019. See his latest shots on his Flickr!
Saturday Sunset in Frankfort by SueFi Photography
Memorial Weekend 2024 is upon us. I’m wishing a great time for everyone, safe travels lucky enough to be traveling for pleasure, and for all of us, I wish patience. If you look around you will see Help Wanted signs everywhere you look, particularly in hot tourist destinations. Give those working an extra dose of kindness & have a blast!
To help folks enjoy the roads, the state has lifted some road closures for the weekend. We’ll need those roads because AAA Michigan is expecting nearly 1.3 million Michigan residents will travel at least 50 miles or more from home, second most since they began tracking in 1999.
Sue shared this photo last weekend – head over to SueFi Photography for lots more great shots from Frankfort & elsewhere in Michigan!
“Lonely Goose” Mouth of the Hurricane river by Michigan Nut Photography
The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore asks if you’ve ever thought about being a campground host?
If the answer is “Yes!” they are seeking a volunteer campground host for the month of June at Hurricane River Lower Campground. Volunteer campground hosts work 5 days a week and stay in a designated campsite, assisting fellow campers with information and registration, but they do not handle any money, and do not clean restrooms. Campground hosts are welcome to bring their own RVs and campers, though there are no electric or sewer hookups (vault toilets are available) and cell reception is limited.
Hurricane River Campground is on the eastern side of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, about 12 miles outside of Grand Marais. The campground sits above a sand and pebble beach on Lake Superior, which is dotted with shipwrecks as it stretches east towards the Au Sable Light Station.
It’s an awesome spot – learn more & apply on the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore website!
John took this photo of a lonely goose at the mouth of the Hurricane River way back in 2012! For sure view & purchase prints from Pictured Rocks & elsewhere on his website!!
mLive shares that the last coal fired passenger ferry on the Great Lakes, the SS Badger car ferry, is exploring plans to transition from burning coal:
Lake Michigan Carferry, Inc. is in the early phases of looking for ways to ditch the coal that currently propels the 410-foot historic ship across Lake Michigan.
“We are just in the early phases at looking at what other options could be viable for the Badger,” said Sara Spore, general manager of Lake Michigan Carferry. “There are not any definite plans, but we know that coal isn’t the long-term solution. We really are starting from scratch and looking at all of our options.”
More at mLive & check out the SS Badger website.
Diann took this shot of the Badger leaving port in Ludington way back in 2008. See more in her Third Coast gallery on Flickr.
More about the SS Badger on Michigan in Pictures.
You could definitely do worse than floating in one of Michigan’s lakes this weekend – here’s hoping it’s a great one!
Cheryl took this last August. See more in her massive SUMMER gallery on Flickr.
I found this photo from Mark a couple of months ago when I was looking for a photo of Leland Blue for Leelanau.com. Not what I was looking for, but this May 2021 sunset over the Manitou Passage in Lake Michigan is DEFINITELY a find!
Head over to Mark’s Flickr for his latest & for sure view and purchase his work at Leelanau Landscapes!
Ice Cave Sunset by Mark Miller
Today a photo from back in 2014 of the massive ice coverage along the coast of the Leelanau Peninsula showed up in my memories. While we’ve got nothing like that this year, I figured it would still be nice to take a look back.
You can see some more shots in Mark’s Leelanau’s Ice Caves of 2014 gallery on Flickr.
Get more on Leelanau’s ice caves from Leelanau.com & please remember, walking on the ice on Lake Michigan (or any lake) in the winter is never “safe” so please miss me with your complaints.
Valentines Skies #2 by Gary Brink Photography
Gary took this stunning shot at Holland’s “Big Red” lighthouse on Valentine’s Day back in 2017. Head over to his Flickr for the latest & I hope that you all have a lovely week!
Icy Sunset on Torch Lake by T P Mann
“Even the most terrible days eventually have their sunsets.”
-Andrew McFarlane
Since a Google search finds exactly ZERO results for “Even the most terrible days eventually have their sunsets” I am low key happy to close the year with an original quotation that I think is perfect for the end of 2021. Here’s hoping that the unfolding of 2022 will be miles better & that you are all happy, healthy, and with the ones you love in the coming year!
TP took this back in March of 2021. See more in his Torch Lake gallery on Flickr.
Sunset Boulevard by Derek Farr
Here’s a stunning shot of Detroit’s Michigan Avenue that was featured on Michigan in Pictures thirteen Novembers ago. See Derek’s latest on his Flickr.
Michigan in Pictures 