Golden Dunes at Grand Mere State Park

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

_MG_8420 Golden Dunes Grand Mere State Park

_MG_8420 Golden Dunes Grand Mere State Park, photo by cemillerphotography.photoshelter.com.

Sleeping Bear Dunes have been soaking up all the love in the media lately courtesy Good Morning America naming them the most beautiful place in America.

When I saw these photos I thought they were from Sleeping Bear, then I realized they were from Grand Mere State Park near St. Joseph, which the state of Michigan says is characterized by magnificent sand dunes, deep blowouts and one mile of Lake Michigan shoreline. Another page adds:

The magnificent high-relief dunes in Grand Mere were formed approximately 10,000 years ago during the recession of glacial lakes. They are a natural phenomenon not found anywhere else in the world. Located between Lake Michigan and several inland lakes and unique wetlands, the dunes afford an excellent perspective of the surrounding region. The lakes and wetlands provide a unique ecological area that encompasses the full range of open water aquatic to closed forest terrestrial communities. The wetlands and lakes are significant waterfowl and songbirds migrating areas.

More about Lake Michigan coastal dune structures in this really great Sand Dune Inventory.

Check this out background bigtacular and in Charles’ Grand Mere State Park slideshow.

More dunes on Michigan in Pictures.

Watching the Water

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Watching the Water

Watching the Water, photo by derekspacelewis.

I can have 2 photos of the most beautiful place in America in a week, right?

Check it out background big and in Derek’s Sleeping Bear Dunes slideshow.

Greeny Goodness from Michigan’s Vineyards

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Greeny Goodness

Greeny Goodness, photo by sgs_1019.

The sun, with all those plants revolving around it and dependent upon it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.
~Galileo Galilei

The sun is working away on the 2011 vintage in Michigan’s vineyards, and today I’m working away on the lawn of the Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City on the 3rd annual Traverse City Wine & Art Festival. It’s a celebration of the culture & cuisine of northwest Michigan that brings together 24 wineries from Leelanau, Old Mission, Traverse City & Benzie with over 100 wines from 2010 and other years along with a slew of artists with work for show and sale, great food & music and some incredible performance art!

If you’re in the neighborhood, please come by as I think it’s going to be amazing! If not, definitely pick up a bottle of Michigan wine – you will be happy to learn what the sun has been up to! If you’re looking for some suggestions, check out the medal winners from the 2011 Michigan Wine Competition!

Check this out bigger and in Sarah’s slideshow.

Blackberries … the taste of summer

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

The taste of summer.. The taste of summer.., photo by Blondieyooper.

Our feature on blackberries on Absolute Michigan has some blackberry facts courtesy Taste the Local Difference says:

Blackberries are very high in Vitamin C and K and manganese and a good source of Vitamin E, folate, magnesium, potassium, and copper. They have one of the highest levels of the antioxidant antocyanin, which may help fight cancer, aging, and improve vision. Some fun facts:

  • Blackberries are also known as “black caps”
  • Blackberry tea was considered a cure for dysentery during the Civil War
  • The blackberry leaf was used as a hair dye
  • Blackberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow

Get more including some tasty blackberry recipes like Blackberry and Peach Buttermilk Cobbler! The article also features another photo by April, who I’m guessing really likes blackberries! She shot these wild Michigan blackberries late last August in the U.P. – check this one out background bigilicious and see more in her Nature (Upper Michigan) slideshow!

Pride and Joy at the Woodward Dream Cruise

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Pride and Joy

Pride and Joy, photo by country_boy_shane.

The annual Woodward Dream Cruise is the is the world’s largest one-day automotive event, drawing 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars. It takes place this Saturday (August 20, 2011) and has come a long way since August 1995, Nelson House and a group of volunteers looked to relive and recreate the cruisin’ heydays of the 50s and 60s.

The one day cruise is paired with the Ferndale Woodward Dream Cruise which happens August 18-20 and has many special exhibitions and musical performances.

More about the Woodward Dream Cruise on Michigan in Pictures.

Check this out background big and in Shane’s Woodward Dream Cruise 2008 slideshow. You can also get your own copy from Shane Gorski Photography!

Want more? Have a look at the Woodward Dream Cruise Group on Flickr!

Sunset for Fishing on the Great Lakes?

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Fishing

Fishing, photo by kevindooley.

On this photo Kevin writes:

I think one of our best indicators of the planet’s health is the price of a fish sandwich. Notice how much the price has gone up in last 5 years? It’s because we’re depleting our fisheries.

Seems to me an Earth without fish is not a good sign.

Here in the Great Lakes we are waging a desperate battle against invasive species including Asian Carp and zebra & quagga mussels. Today on Absolute Michigan I featured a sobering article about how we are losing the battle to control sea lamprey, a longtime invasive that we once had under control due to funding cuts that are projected to get even worse in the years to come. Click through to check it out and to go up close with the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s lamprey control efforts via Michigan Radio and also Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs.

View this big as the Great Lakes and in Kevin’s Lake Michigan Sunsets slideshow.

Back To the Bricks in Flint!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Back To the Bricks: Flint Michigan

Back To the Bricks: Flint Michigan, photo by maryn0503.

The annual Back to the Bricks Cruise Weekend takes place August 16-20 in Flint. Vehicle City goes back to its roots as around 25,000 show car owners and hundreds of thousands of car fans celebrate classic cars and car culture with a rolling cruise, car show and many more events.

One of the coolest things is that the showing and cruising are free, so if you have a car that meets their criteria, you can just head over! Check backtothebricks.org for all the details.

Check this out big as the 70s and in Mary’s Back to the Bricks slideshow.

For even more, see Back to the Bricks 2010 slideshow from Flint Foto Factory.

Fancy a stay at the Grand Hotel?

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Privileged

Privileged, photo by cmu chem prof.

mLive reports:

Mackinac Island’s grande dame of lodging, recently named among the top 50 hotels in North America, is hosting its fourth wildly popular Celebrate Michigan promotion, during which residents of the state can stay for half the hotel’s usual rate.

The package costs $95 per person, per night (taxes and fees are extra), and is offered Sept. 11, Sept. 20-22, Oct. 3 and Oct 23. It includes one night’s lodging, a full breakfast and five-course dinner, Michigan-themed reception and complimentary golf green fees.

I feel like I have to mention a particular movie that was shot here so let me say that if you’re interested, you probably better act fast so you can be somewhere in time for this offer which usually sells out. ;)

Seriously, while there’s no doubt that the Grand Hotel can be a little hoity, but the Mackinac Island landmark is also one of the coolest properties in Michigan. This morning I sorted through photos of the Grand Hotel from the water, the Grand Hotel’s signature front porch (including a very interesting composition on the porch), a panorama of the Grand Hotel and even a sight I’d never seen in quite this way, the Grand Hotel at night. Next year the hotel turns 125, so I’ll return then for some of the history and such.

Check it out big as the Grand and in Phil’s massive Northern Michigan slideshow.

August Nights

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

August Nights

August Nights, photo by False Verdict Photo.

Quincy, Michigan in Branch County. Such a classic Michigan scene. Here’s hoping the August evenings are treating you well.

Check this out background big and in Lauren’s Michigan slideshow.

More Michigan barns on Michigan in Pictures.

Make it a Michigan brew for International Beer Day!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Oberon

Oberon, photo by RLHyde.

The good folks at Drink Michigan alerted me that today is International Beer Day.

mLive notes that Michigan has over 80 craft breweries, ranking 5th in the US. Of these, the oldest and largest is Bell’s Brewery of Kalamazoo, who opened in 1985, is also the oldest craft-brewer east of Boulder! They are also one of the biggest, weighing in at #8 on the Brewers Association list of the Top 50 US Breweries. Oberon (their most most popular beer) comes out at the beginning of summer every year and is a wheat ale fermented with Bell’s house ale yeast, mixing a spicy hop character with mildly fruity aromas.

Also check out Absolute Michigan’s Michigan beer listings for articles and tons of beer-related links including some of our favorites like the Michigan Brewer’s Guild and Rex Halfpenny’s Michigan Beer Guide!

See this photo bigger than a beer and in Ryan’s Alcohol slideshow.