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

Benzie County Grand Vision workshop TONIGHT

 Old Rail Road Bridge at Betsie Bay by j_lakechickApologies - we meant to post this last week!

Tonight (May 28, 2008) at 6:30 PM there's a chance for Benzie County residents (and others) to speak out about the Grand Vision! Using a unique process that features maps, the workshop will focus on Benzie County's future land use and transportation system. The scenario planning workshop will be held at Crystal Mountain Resort's James Bay Hall (follow the signs to the Crystal Center).

This workshop is open to everyone–you do NOT need to live or work in Benzie County to attend. It's part of a region-wide process that seeks to shape the next 50 years of transportation and land use planning in our region. Other studies in the area have done a great job at listening and even synthesizing data, but what will set this study apart will be real and implementable solutions to the transportation issues we all know the region will be facing. It will also help to direct how Federal highway dollars will be spent in the region!

You can pre-register and get more details at thegrandvision.org or call toll-free: 866-441-5214 (pre-registration not required).

The photo is Old Rail Road Bridge at Betsie Bay by j_lakechick, and when you're planning at the 50 year level, I think you have to consider rail and other mass transit.

Walking the Old Indian Trail

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

Baver Barn, Northeast View (and Baver Herbs)

Baver Barn, Northeast View

Baver Barn, Northeast View, photo by jimflix.

This is the barn at Baver Herbs, located between Frankfort-Elberta and Beulah-Benzonia at 1565 Baver Road. (Baver Road runs north of Grace Road between Paul Rose Road and Forrester Road)

A bit of sad news is that 2008 will be their last year and they are having a liquidation sale. From their home page:

We are selling everything, right now, at discount prices, such as:

* Sun / Shade perennials
* A few annuals in the greenhouse
* Native plants
* Ground cover plants
* Shepherd's hooks (singles and doubles)
* Baskets
* All gift shop items
* Store fixtures
* Portable generator
* Many display tables and benches
* Greenhouse plastic (new, 6 mil, about 30' x 33', still on the roll)
* One 8' x 14' greenhouse shell: wood frame and metal bows.
* One complete 18' x 24' greenhouse — 4' spaced bows, double-layer 6 mil greenhouse-quality poly film with inflation fan, thermostatically-controlled exhaust fan and propane heater, double doors at both ends, full electric, fully winterized.

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.


Visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes

At the Mouth of Otter Creek, Autumn, 2007 by John Clement HoweOver on Absolute Michigan there's a nice feature on visiting the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It features some thoughts about fun things to do in the park along with a ton of links & photos. Check out Dig Michigan: Sleeping Bear Dunes.

While there's a tendency to think of the park as a Glen Arbor or Leelanau park, much of the acreage is in Benzie County and Benzie played a significant role in the early days of the park as you can read in the online book A Nationalized Lakeshore: The Creation and Administration of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore:

The first lakeshore headquarters was in Frankfort, Michigan, at the site of the former State Savings Bank, a terra cotta trimmed commercial building located on Main Street. Martinek, a former Traverse City resident, would have preferred that location as a temporary headquarters. But the park service had already committed itself to Frankfort, besides, Benzie County had a number of long-time supporters of the project and Martinek was informed they were offering space in the bank for free. The space had to be thoroughly renovated, teller cages removed and carpets put in, and ended up costing the agency $700 dollars a month in rent. Of greater assistance to the lakeshore was Ted Carland's offer to the superintendent to publish in the Benzie County Patriot a series of columns (eventually titled "Bear Facts") to explain park service policy and give readers an update on the development of the lakeshore.

…Although all owners of property within the lakeshore boundaries were notified of the existence of the park project immediately after the passage of Public Law 91-479, they were generally at sea concerning how it would affect them. Property owners had to come down to Frankfort and discover what classification their tracts had been assigned. If their land was projected for public use it was rated "Category I" and it was doomed to be lost to the government.

We've also added a ton of trails and other items of interest to the betsiebay.net map!

The photo is At the Mouth of Otter Creek, Autumn, 2007 by John Clement Howe, part of his amazing Benzie County set (slideshow).

Morel Season!

...and the winner is by plattegalReports are rolling in from all over that morel season is in full swing!

Now we have photographic evidence in this photo titled …and the winner is by plattegal!

Check out Morel Season in Benzie County in the Benzie County group on Flickr for the latest reports and even recipes!!

Frankfort Breakwater Light by Billie K67

Frankfort Breakwater Light by Billie K67

Frankfort Breakwater Light, photo by Billie K67

This photo is part of Bill's cool Benzie County gallery (slideshow).

He posts them "big enough for backgrounds" too!