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Benzie Information on: Honor

Family Friendly Fun -Platte River State Fish Hatchery

June 27, 2009 – 7:37 am

This picture appears courtesy of Matt Guymon. Make sure to check out his Flickrstream. He has some of the coolest pictures of fish i've ever seen.

~ Platte River State Fish Hatchery – 15210 US 31, Honor (231) 325-4611
Kids will love seeing the tanks teeming with fingerlings at the largest fish hatchery in the Midwest. The facility stocks all the Great Lakes with over two million Coho and Chinook Salmon. A great learning experience, with displays on the many species of mature fish in the area.

Hatchery Hours: The hatchery grounds are open to the public at no charge from dawn to dusk. The hatchery building is open to the public from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. For more information or to schedule group tours call Jan Sapak at (231) 325-4611.

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EVENT LISTING

Weekend Calendar of Events

June 25, 2009 – 12:13 pm

By Colin Merry

Frankfort

Take a Kid Fishing
When: June 26th and 27th. Nightcrawler hunt starts at dusk, fishing starts around 8a.m.
Where: Mineral Springs and Open Space parks.
What: The 6th annual Take a Kid Fishing event gives children the opportunity to learn fishing doesn’t have to be hard or about competition. Kids don’t even need their own equipment! Volunteers teach aspiring anglers the basics of fishing and set them up with a rod, reel and some bait. The kids do the rest. Coffee and doughnuts will be available in the morning and a picnic lunch with hot dogs, chips and pop will be provided in the afternoon. Everything is free of charge. Event organizer Bob McNabb said no child will be turned away, though it is preferred they come accompanied by an adult. Call Bob McNabb at 231-352-4440 or 231-352-7251 for more information.

Frankfort Farmers Market
When: June 27th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Open Space Park
What: Local growers and food producers offer a variety of organically grown produce, baked goods, fresh eggs and free range meats in a traditional farmers market setting. This week is the Lavender Festival. Learn about the properties of lavender and experience crafts, beverages, baked goods, soaps and skin care products created using lavender. Actual lavender plants will also be available for purchase.

Honor

Strawberry Social
When: June 27th, from 1-3 p.m
Where: Benzie County Road Commission in Honor
What: Strawberry shortcake, ice cream, lemonade, and ice tea are served for a $5 donation to support the programs of the Benzie Area Historical Society. Social butterflies can also take a look at the equipment used to maintain Benzie County roads. Visit the Benzie Historical Societies Website or the Benzie County Chamber of Commerce for more information.

Benzonia/Beulah

Big Band Concert Fundraiser for the Benzie Area Zonta Club
When: June 27th at 7 pm
Where: Benzie Central High School Auditoruim
What: The Couriers from Ann Arbor will perform music in the “Big Band” style, with guest performers from the high school. True North will open the concert. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Call Kath at 231-383-2434 for more information.

Beulah Boosters’ Family Bike and Picnic Day
When: June 28th, from 9:30 am to 11am Lunch and activities from 11am to noon.
Where: Beulah Downtown Park
What: Bike the trail with family, then enjoy children’s activities and the “Taste of Beulah” lunch afterwards. Musical entertainment will be on hand. This event is sponsored by the Village of Beulah Boosters Club. Call 231-882-4457 for more information.

Wheels 4 Wellness Bike Ride
When: June 27th, starting at 9:30 am.
Where: The Beulah Village Park
What: A scenic and leisurely bike ride around Crystal Lake with the intention of helping programs and organizations such as the Benzie Human Services Collaborative provide food, clothing and emergency services like heating and transportation. Registration is $40 per pair of riders, $25 for a single rider and $50 for a family. Visit www.endomanpromotions.com/events/wheels4wellness.php for more information.

Onekema

Michigan Energy Fair
When: June 26th, 27th, and 28th. Events start at 12 pm Friday and 8-9 Saturday & Sunday
Where: Manistee County Fairgrounds
What: Created by the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, the Michigan Energy Fair brings together exhibitors and keynote speakers to educate people about renewable energy technologies. Keynote speakers this year include Lt. Governor John D. Cherry, State Representative Dan Scripps and Scott T. Harrison, CEO of Azure Dynamics. The 3-day fair also includes live music, barbecues, banquets, workshops, children’s games and much more. Visit the Michigan Energy Fair website for more information and a full schedule.

Empire

Free programs offered by the Park Service

rangerhike When: Saturday, June 27th, at 1 p.m.
Where: Heart Visitor Center in Empire
What: Each Saturday afternoon in June, the National Park Service offers free programs to help park visitors explore the area. This Saturday, the NPS has scheduled a walking tour of the lakeshore. Learn about the workings of a beach ecosystem as you explore the Lake Michigan’s sand and surf. Visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore's official website for more information.

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EVENT LISTING

Fun For Under $20

June 23, 2009 – 6:56 am

The best of times are free and easy in Northern Michigan
By Danielle Horvath
For around 20 bucks or less, you can go back in time for that all-American summer date at Cherry Bowl Drive-In, just east of Honor. One of only a handful of drive in movie theaters left in the US, the Cherry Bowl is celebrating its 56th year and boasts all the nostalgia you’d expect, including an occasional Elvis sighting! Since it is family-run, movies are in the PG-13 range, they change weekly, open April – September, show starts at dusk, call ahead for the latest line up. 231-325-3413.

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The Platte River Campground

May 9, 2009 – 9:05 pm

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has campgrounds that offer many options for a variety of camping styles. The Platte River Campground has a little bit of everything including back-in and pull-through RV sites, beautiful tent sites, group camping, and even adventurous walk-in or back-country sites. Much of the campground is open all year, with both reservation sites and first come first serve site available. The campground is located 10 miles south of Empire on Lake Michigan Road off M-22 at 5685 Lake Michigan Road, Honor, MI 49640.

Platte River Campground Information
Hours: Open All Year (Reservations accepted for the summer months only)
Memorial Day to Labor Day (Summer) 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Spring & Fall – Hours vary
December thru March (Winter) Self-Registration
Phone: 231-325-5881
Location: At the entrance to the Platte River Campground, Lake Michigan Road, 1/4 mi. off M-22, southern end of the park.
Special Programs: Amphitheater located adjacent to the Ranger Station provides Evening Campfire Programs every day during the summer.
Campground: Platte River Campground is open all year.

Campsites with electrical hook-up for 1-6 persons: 96 Total Sites, 27 Reservable.
Fee/night = $21.00 with no reservation or $24.00 when reserved.
Campsites are reservable 5/22/2009 to 9/7/2009.

Campsites with no electrical hook-up for 1-6 persons: 53 Total Sites, 10 Reservable.
Fee/night = $16.00 with no reservation or $19.00 when reserved.
Campsites are reservable 5/22/2009 to 9/7/2009.

Walk-in Sites for 1-6 persons: 25 Total Sites, 6 Reservable
Fee/night = $12.00 with no reservation or $15.00 when reserved.
Campsites are reservable 5/22/2009 to 9/7/2009.

Platte River Group Campsites (hike-in, tents only) for 7-25 persons: 5 Total Sites, 5 Reservable.
Fee/night = $40.00 with no reservation or $43.00 when reserved.
Reservations Required 5/01/2009 to 10/1/2009.

Shower Tokens : Two 3-minute Tokens for $1.00.

Backcountry Sites (Open All Year)

White Pine Campground: 6 Sites Total, 0 Reservable. $5.00/night
Valley View Campground: 5 Sites Total, 0 Reservable. $5.00/night

For more information on camping fees, or to make online camping reservations click here.

For Sleeping Bear Dunes entrance fee information click here.

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The Platte River

May 8, 2009 – 11:51 pm

The Platte River, which flows through the Pere Marquette State Forest, is about 14 miles long and averages 2 – 3 feet deep. The river is a favorite for canoers, kayakers, and tubers. The upper Platte is fast moving with tight turns and underwater obstacles perfect for the more experienced canoer. The lower Platte's flow is more gentle, making a tubing or canoeing trip the perfect family activity for a hot summer day.

The mouth of the Platte empties in to Lake Michigan, located in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Platte Point Beach is the end destination of many of the canoers and tubers. The river is shallow and flows rapidly at this point. Riding the current into Lake Michigan is an exciting activity for beach goers. The park, which also hosts a picnic area, boat launch, and restroom facilities, is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the activity on the river with the view of Lake Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes in the background.

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