Northern Michigan Forum-Share Events, Travel Ideas, Photos, Videos
Channels dug beneath the snow this winter.
What, you may be asking, is the subnivean zone. Well, it is a magical world that exists between the bottom of the snow and the top of the ground, and there's a lot more animal action there than what you may be aware of, a secret…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on April 29, 2013 at 10:00am — 1 Comment
Wine tasting room at Blustone Vineyards, a sleek, contemporary space set amid captivating rolling Leelanau hills and orchards just north of Lake Leelanau village.
At the invitation of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association, I hit the wine trail last…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on April 24, 2013 at 4:06pm — No Comments
With shovels, from left: Mayor Michael Estes, Brownfield coordinator Jean Derenzy, Managing Partner Jeff Schmitz, with Grand Traverse Hotel Properties.
The owners of Hotel Indigo, the long-talked-about boutique hotel that is being built in Traverse…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on April 12, 2013 at 3:30pm — No Comments
Good Harbor Bay on the first day of spring, 2013.
When I first moved to Northern Michigan, I was so surprised at how much beauty I found in what was then called "the off season." These pictures are a perfect example of what I mean. They were taken at sunset…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on March 26, 2013 at 7:00am — 2 Comments
Barista Spencer McQueen, in the new Cavallino Cafe, brews a cup with an AeroPress coffee press.
When I think about the best changes in American culture during my lifetime, the proliferation of the new American café is right there in the Top 10. Sure, the great coffee and aromas are…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on March 21, 2013 at 3:00pm — No Comments
Rico Cruz (front) and Brian Price on cross-country skis, cutting through the cattails near Shell Lake in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
I have a friend who loves to cross-country ski, but avoids trails. For him XC means sticking to the roots of the…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on March 17, 2013 at 2:29pm — No Comments
Added by Jeff Smith on March 15, 2013 at 5:48am — No Comments
Camping compadre Tim, up on the Escarpment Trail, Porcupine Mountains, Michigan.
I had the great pleasure recently of heading up to the Porcupine Mountains for a winter campout in the snowy backcountry with a couple of longtime pals from Minnesota.
The Porkies are…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on March 5, 2013 at 8:33am — No Comments
Camping compadre Tim sporting a snappy MyNorth beanie (compass always pointing NORTH!), up on the Escarpment Trail, Porcupine Mountains, Michigan.
I had the great pleasure recently of heading up to the Porcupine Mountains for a winter campout in the snowy backcountry with a couple of…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on March 5, 2013 at 8:30am — No Comments
Added by Jeff Smith on February 25, 2013 at 8:00am — 1 Comment
Pushing into the backcountry with your grown-up kids, one more reason to stay fit and strong.
The other night at the Great Wolf Lodge, I attended a regional kickoff of a health initiative called ShapeMichigan, the two main local sponsors of the event being…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on November 19, 2012 at 9:00am — No Comments
Mr. Bravo considers the curiously fitting words painted on Right Brain Brewery as we hit the first stop on our journey down the Microbrew Canoe Trail.
Like all good notions, the Traverse City Microbrew Canoe Trail resulted from a convergence, a nexus, a confluence, a splicing…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on November 3, 2012 at 8:30am — No Comments
Photo by Mark Lindsay
For those of you following the Brown Bridge Dam removal and the pond's breech of the containment structure, here is an official incident report that includes a chronology of the accident. The first few paragraphs just give some basic background and…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on October 12, 2012 at 11:00am — 1 Comment
Photos by Mark Lindsay
For a century this was a dam impoundment called Brown Bridge Pond. Here you can see the river returning to its natural path.
Back in the May 2012 issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine,…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on October 9, 2012 at 8:30am — 1 Comment
Northern Michigan’s best omelet, best microbrew, best cherry pie, best beach … the June issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine is one beautiful and high-energy…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on June 4, 2012 at 7:30am — No Comments
I admit it. I happen to think that time spent pedaling around the back roads of Northern Michigan is one of the greatest pleasures our great nation has to offer. And clearly lots of other people share this feeling, to which our…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on May 9, 2012 at 7:30am — 1 Comment
Opening spread of story "New Wave, Classic Craft" in May 2012 Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine.
When I look at the story about the Great Lakes Boat Building…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on May 7, 2012 at 9:15am — No Comments
One story I’m really liking in the May 2012 Traverse Magazine is called Local Foods All-Stars. Okay, full disclosure, I wrote said story, but that’s not why I like it. I like it because…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on May 1, 2012 at 7:43am — No Comments

Tribute to a Pond, from the May 2012 issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine
I wanted to share a little backstory on how a surprise relationship evolved into the photo feature about Brown Bridge Pond in the May 2012 issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine.
When…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on April 27, 2012 at 7:30am — No Comments
Story opener, April issue, Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine
One of the stories I’m loving most in the April edition of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine is titled “Flow.” I suppose that idea could be attached to lots of things, but what it applies to here is…
ContinueAdded by Jeff Smith on April 9, 2012 at 11:30am — No Comments
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