Category Archives: Lodging & Travel

EVENT LISTING

National Coho Festival

The Coho QueenThe National Coho Festival, held in Honor, runs this Thursday-Sunday (Aug 21-24, 2008). The festival features a wide variety of entertainment, food & drink, kids events like a rubber duck race and games, contests and of course the parade at 2 PM on Saturday. Much more at the link below!

The National Coho Festival web site explains that Coho Salmon were introduced to the state of Michigan in April, 1966 with the first planting from the Platte River Fish Hatchery, located just east of Honor.

Three local men soon developed the idea of having a festival to promote the Coho Salmon and Benzie County. The first festival was held October 7 -15, 1967…

The second festival was held in September of 1968 and was considered a great success. By this time the National Coho Salmon Festival, Inc. was an official organization. In 1968, the first National Coho Queen, Claudia Eberly, was selected.



Blocking The View

Blocking The View

Blocking The View, photo by jbnuthatch.

jbnuthatch writes Channel marker base on the northern stub pier of Frankfort Harbor. The channel is the entrance into Betsie Bay - a.k.a. Lake Betsie

Sorry posting has been light this month - too much fun stuff to do outside!
Speaking of lighthouses, if you haven't already, take a look at The Town Between Two Lighthouses video!

Otter Creek aka Esch Road Beach

Empire Bluff from Esch Road (Otter Creek)

Empire Bluff from Esch Road (Otter Creek) , photo by jsorbieus.

For my money, one of the world's best beaches is Otter Creek in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The park calls it Esch Road Beach and it's the site of the former logging village of Aral. (we'll tell you the story of Aral someday).

The photo is part of Jim's Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore set (slideshow) and like all his photos, it's available "biggie-sized" to grace your desktop!

Here's Otter Creek/Esch Rd Beach on the betsiebay.net map!

EVENT LISTING

Come to Vacationland … and the Elberta Summer Solstice Festival!

~Vacationland

The Elberta Summer Solstice Festival takes place next Saturday (June 21st, 2008) from 2 PM - Midnight at Elberta Waterfront Park

Activities start at 2pm and include local food vendors, kids games, pony rides, bull-train. The beer tent is open from 4pm-Midnight and features brews from Shorts Brewery of Bellaire and music by "Rusty Blaides".

You can check out Waterfront Park on our betsiebay.net map and listen to some music from Rusty Blaides at their MySpace.

About the photo: Joy took this photo titled "~Vacationland" at Elberta's Trick Dog Gallery.


Fun in the Sun: Early Season Surfing, Paddle-surfing, Kayaking & Kiteboarding in Frankfort

Manistee River Looking West by photoshoparama

This is a 3-exposure HDR photo (High Dynamic Range).

Wikipedia's entry on the Manistee River says:

The river's name comes from the Ojibwa word Manistiqweita, meaning "Crooked River".[1] Historically, the upper river was renowned for its outstanding grayling fishery, among the finest in the world, as catches in excess of 1000 fish per weekend outing were commonly reported up until the 1880s, when extensive logging in the area ruined the habitat. Logging in the area commenced in earnest between 1880 and 1910, with peak production occurring in the 1890s. The rivers relatively large size, stable flows, and dearth of cataracts or other difficult passages made it ideal for the transportation of lumber. During this period huge numbers of white pine logs, some as large as six feet in diameter, were floated down the river to the port at Manistee and eventually on to the lumber markets of Grand Rapids, Milwaukee and Chicago where the wood was used to build the cities and towns of the Midwestern United States

Dan has a lot more photos from all across the region in his Up North Michigan set (slideshow)

Benzie area golf course map

the 18th green

the 18th green, photo by numstead.

Our region is blessed with some amazing terrain and golfers know that when terrain isn't making you hurl your clubs, it's creating a challenge that sharpens your game and enjoyment.

In addition to our sponsor Champion Hill Golf Course (map), we have listed many more of the region's great golf courses including Crystal Mountain (pictured above), Bear Lake County Highlands, the Dunes Golf Club and Arcadia Bluffs.

Check them all out on the betsiebay.net map ans also see the Golf Benzie from the Benzie County Visitor's Bureau.

Sleeping Bear Dunes General Management Plan meetings

From the current edition of the Glen Arbor Sun:

In early June, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (the local branch of the National Park Service) will hold three identical public meetings on consecutive days to present four action alternatives, including the Park's "preferred alternative," for a new General Management Plan (GMP), and solicit public comments in the process. The Park will hold meetings on June 3 at Platte River Elementary School in Honor; June 4 at the Hagerty Center in Traverse City; and June 5 at the Glen Arbor Township Hall — all from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The public can also comment on the alternatives at the Park's website until June 13.

Read the rest in Park unveils revamped General Management Plan to public from the Sun.

View the alternatives, make your comments and get all the details on the GMP from the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The proposed plans include options such as a bike path, a 30 mile bay-to-bay hiking path stretching from Platte Bay to Good Harbor Bay and some changes to recreational use (though not nearly as extreme as the last round).

Photo credit: Sleeping Bear Dunes - photo by Don Miller/Glen Arbor Sun

Walking the Old Indian Trail

A video tour of the Old Indian Trail in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

EVENT LISTING

Michigan Beer & Brat Festival at Crystal Mountain - Memorial Weekend

Crystal Mountain will host the 3rd Annual Michigan Beer & Brat Festival on Saturday, May 24 from 4-8 PM. This year the Michigan Brewers Guild will partner with Crystal, and the festival features more than 40 Michigan microbrews from Bell's, Short's, New Holland, Founder's, Arbor, Arcadia, Jolly Pumpkin and more. Specialty brats (jalapeno to tart cherry), Bavarian pretzels and live entertainment by Egon complete the day (check out that link - awesome rendition of Red House!).

Admission is $20 and includes a commemorative mug and tickets for beer and brats. Crystal is also offering Michigan Beer & Brat Festival package which includes free admission FREE admission to the festival.

Get all the details on the Michigan Beer & Brat Festival from Crystal Mountain.