There are plenty of things to do in Northern Michigan, no matter what the season. From the arts, to festivals, skiing, boating, and fishing.
We've highlighted some great activities you can enjoy in the area.
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Have a Winter Weenie Roast |
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Want to have some great fun with the kids when you go ice fishing, snowmobiling, or are enjoying any of the many outdoor winter sports? Have an outdoor weenie roast. Build a big fire, drag out the lawn chairs, and the hotdog forks. The kids will have a ball helping with the fire and then warming themselves after a long day out in the great outdoors. Get out the summertime weenie forks, weenies, buns, chips, and the makings for some-mors and have fun. Serve hot chocolate or mulled cidar for a warming drink. Invite your friends and neighbors along with their kids and have a ball. There is nothing like an outdoor fire and food on a winter afternoon.
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So here I am living in Northern Michigan, almost 63 years old and I had never been in a kayak. I’ve been in my share of boats and canoes but never plopped my backside in a kayak. I can remember as a kid that kayaks were something that Eskimos (now properly called Inuit) used. They were constructed of wood and sealskins. I don’t know when they became popular. I suppose it was when someone discovered how much easier it was to make them out of fiberglass. I’m sure the seals appreciated that immensely.
The word “kayak” means “man’s boat” or “hunter’s boat” but they are no longer limited to just us guys. There are almost as many different styles of kayaks out there as there are tennis shoes, but that’s the topic of a future column. They have been designed for white water, surf, ocean, racing, recreational…the list goes on and on.
I have a good friend who I’ll just refer to as Dave. Dave and his wife live in a beautiful cottage along the Manistee River. Recently, I got a call from Dave reminding me about a previous plan we hatched to do a day trip down the Manistee River…. In kayaks! I had always wanted to try one but thought that a nice calm lake would be a better place to attempt my maiden voyage.
The big day arrived and Dave picked me up in his pick-up with our craft hanging over the tailgate. Life jacket in hand, my wallet and cell phone in zip lock bags, and a half-melted Snickers in my pocket, we took off on our adventure. We drove South on M-66 past Taffeltown and put in below the bridge in the old campground. I must admit I was a bit nervous thinking that I would dunked just getting in the thing. Dave said that “if” I made it all the way without getting wet, I should be proud. I didn’t like the “if” part.
At first I felt like I was sitting on eggs in that I was afraid to make any sudden moves. After a few minutes I became more confidant until the current grabbed me and before I knew it, I was proceeding downstream backward thinking that the end was near. Soon I figured the whole thing out, relaxed and took in the beauty of the nature that surrounded us. There were few cottages and even fewer people along our 8-mile float. It was totally quiet except for the sounds of our paddles dipping in the river and our conversation. If you’ve never experienced it, I encourage you to give kayaking a try. It’s another great way to enjoy outdoor Michigan.
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If you want to have fun and create some memories that a child will carry with him through life, just take them fishing. Think about it. Don’t you remember someone taking you fishing when you were a kid?
The main thing to remember is to keep it simple. Don’t expect to get a lot of fishing in yourself. In fact if I am taking two of the grandkids fishing at the same time, I don’t even attempt to fish myself. I can do plenty of that when they are older. You will be plenty busy baiting up their hooks and taking the fish off. The older they are, the more they can do for themselves.
The thing to remember is that kids, unlike adults, care more about quantity than size of the fish caught. If they catch lots of fish, they are happy and the day is a big success. Pan fish are the answer to a successful day on the old pond. Be sure to take plenty of worms. Small artificial worms sometimes work but there is nothing like live bait.
To keep them happy, if it gets a bit slow, take along some snacks and drinks. For the little ones, I like juice boxes with the little plastic straw. They work better and are less likely to spill than canned soda. Buy them a fishing hat to wear and slather them with sunscreen. We have kiddie poles for all of them rigged with bobbers, long shanked hooks and a small split shot six inches above the hook. The long shank makes hook removal much easier for grandpa or dad.
Be sure to take your camera and record the fun. Try to keep track of how many fish you catch, like keeping score. Kids don’t last real long before they start wanting to do something else. Keep you sessions short and then take them for a swim or an ice cream cone. Have fun and enjoy your time together. 04/09/07
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Snowmobiling - Join the Fun |
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Snowmobiling in Northern Michigan is a B-I-G Deal and fun for all the family. Old Man Winter has been barking at our door and we just got our second major snowstorm of the winter. It’s time to roll out the snowmobiles and hit the trails. If you don’t live in the area, come on up and join the fun.
Most people don’t realize the impact of snowmobiling on the area. There are more snowmobiles registered in the State of Michigan than in any other state in the country including Alaska. The latest information indicates that there are 374,500 machines registered in the Wolverine State.
The average snowmobiler rides 995 miles per year and spends $4500 annually on snowmobile related recreation. What a positive impact that has on our local economy during the winter months!
Snowmobiling is a wonderful family activity that holds the interest of both the kids and their parents. Kids that start snowmobiling with their parents often continue to ride with them as they grow into adulthood. It offers opportunities to see the countryside in its winter splendor, to be with friends, to reduce stress, and to be close to nature.
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Ice Fishing? Are you kidding?
Before moving up to northern Michigan, I vaguely remember going ice fishing once with my dad when I was about 8 years old. Down in southern Illinois the weather rarely got cold enough to freeze up the lakes to walk or skate on. If someone tried to drive their pickup out on a lake down there they would most likely be committed to an institution…after they were rescued.
Up in the Great White North, ice fishing is a way of life and a privilege. After all, where else can you go out when the mercury is hiding down around the –10 mark, sit on an up-side-down five gallon bucket, and catch fish through a six inch hole in the ice? Retired geezers all over the South are ringing their hands with jealously.
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