5 Epic Reasons You Should Want to Visit Michigan

Chris Boothman
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5
5 Epic Reasons You Should Want to Visit Michigan

Why should you visit Michigan? Well, there are plenty of reasons, none more so than the fact it is the state known for being the home of the Great Lakes. Bordering four of these iconic lakes, Michigan is a haven for breathtaking scenery yet this state offers so much more than just a place to relax on the lake. Perhaps the more urbanized folks will think about Detroit and the famed auto industry that once thrived in this part of the nation.

visit detroit michigan

We are not only intrigued by the top reasons for visiting Michigan but also some of the lesser known pull factors such as Mackinac Island and Tahquamenon Falls State Park in the Upper Peninsula. We are delighted to introduce Heather Raulerson from Raulerson Girls Travel who shares her thoughts on why Michigan should be on your radar in the near future.

visit michigan

Rather than focusing simply on the Great Lakes or Detroit, Heather highlights a couple of these aforementioned ‘hidden gems’ that we all love to discover when traveling. We hope that you are inspired to visit Michigan as much as we are after reading Heather’s recommendations. Following our short visit to Benton Harbor during a trip to Chicago, we are ready to head back and explore more of this iconic state.

According to Heather:

Michigan is a great state that has several aquatic destinations for the outdoor enthusiast to explore.

Let’s take a look at exactly what Heather is referring to with some of her favorite examples.

Tahquamenon Falls

Tahquamenon Falls State Park is one of my favorite places to visit in the Upper Peninsula. The Upper Tahquamenon Falls is the second largest waterfall east of the Mississippi and the largest in Michigan. It drops almost 50 feet and reaches 200 feet across allowing for 50,000 gallons of water each second to flow over it. There is a well-marked trail to the falls along with over 90 steps to get down to the edge of the Upper Falls.

visit michigan for amazing waterfalls

Watch out, you might get a little wet from the mist rising up around you. There are even more waterfalls 4 miles down the road that you can drive or hike to. If you want a closer look at the Lower Falls, take a canoe over to the island.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Located right next to Lake Michigan, this National State Park is where you can slip off your shoes, submerge your toes in the sand, and sit back and enjoy amazing sunsets. If you are the athletic type, you can exert some energy running up and down the dunes all afternoon.

sleeping bear dunes in visit michigan

The dune pictured above is a 450 ft drop directly to Lake Michigan on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. My niece loved running down this dune but she didn’t realize that it was easier to get down than to get back up.

Soo Locks

Experience the Soo Locks as the freighters do. A Soo Lock Boat Tour will take you through the locks between Lake Huron and Lake Superior. This is an amazing experience that does not compare with standing on the sidelines and watching the ships go through.

soo locks michigan

You can actually touch the side of the locks as you wait for the water to rise/lower. There are tons of sightseeing on this trip with going under the International Highway Bridge, sailing next to St. Mary Rapids, and watching the fishermen by the giant hydro-electric plants. It is definitely a nice way to spend an afternoon!

Alpena Shipwreck Tours

If you are interested in Michigan’s Great Lakes maritime history this is a must-see. The Shipwreck Tour is a two-hour ride in a glass-bottom boat through the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary which has over 50 shipwrecks for you to view.

alpena shipwreck tours

You can see clearly through the glass bottom boat and on clear days you can even see from the top deck. You may see wood hulls, gears, ropes and steel cranes on the bottom of the bay. It is amazing how much detail is preserved in these shipwrecks.

Pictured Rocks Sunset Cruise

Munising is where you will find breathtaking views of nature while enjoying the sunset cruise of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. You will be able to see all the amazing colors and rock formations of the Pictured Rocks and the colors are amplified with the sun setting over Lake Superior.

pictured rocks visit michigan

The multiple colors on the rocks (browns, greens, reds, white and black) remind me of abstract paintings where the water runs down the page taking the colors with it. Each trip will be different because Mother Nature never stops changing. It is a perfect way to end the day in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Visit Michigan – Our Thoughts

Although our only visit to Michigan was rather disappointing given that we only ventured as far as Benton Harbor, we are raring to go back and explore further. We did have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Lake Michigan and any state that is located on or around one of the Great Lakes is certainly going to offer plenty of amazing landscapes to attract visitors.

I am particularly intrigued to visit Detroit (rather than just passing through DTW airport) and learn everything there is to know about the US motor industry.

visit michigan

It’s the home of the automotive industry so I am sure there is plenty to learn. Along with cities such as Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor, Michigan is home to a number of urban gems.

But for those of you that don’t have similar urban interests, Michigan is spoiled for choice when it comes to amazing rural landscapes. Heather has shared a myriad of reasons to inspire us all to visit Michigan and certainly we can’t wait to head back and have a positive experience, unlike our previous trip. We received a lot of criticism on the post that we put together and we are excited to return to put a positive spin on the state of Michigan.

mackinac island

Summary

Long gone are the days where everything you hear about Michigan is related to the auto industry. Destinations such as Mackinac Island and Tahquamenon Falls are intriguing and will continue to inspire visitors to explore others parts of Michigan that perhaps are forgotten. We are excited about returning to Michigan in the near future and experiencing everything that Heather has recommended.

Thanks to Heather for sharing her thoughts on why you should visit Michigan. In addition to her website highlighted above, you can also follow Heather on her travels via her social media networks:

Twitter – @RaulersonTravel
Facebook – Raulerson Girls Travel
Instagram – Raulerson Girls Travel

Have you visited Michigan before? Are you inspired to visit urban or rural Michigan or perhaps both?

Fall Foliage in Minnesota – Discover the Best Kept Secrets

Chris Boothman
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6
Fall Foliage in Minnesota – Discover the Best Kept Secrets

Whether you refer to the season between summer and winter as fall or autumn, there is one common denominator between both of them – spectacular scenery. It’s arguably the best time of the year to travel and explore the beauty around the world but perhaps there are certain places that are even more breathtaking during the fall season. Experiencing fall foliage in Minnesota is amazing, especially when you have the opportunity to admire such gorgeous colors as a backdrop to epic landscapes.

scenic byways in the fall

We have been fortunate to explore both Alaska and Minnesota during the fall season this year and I have to admit that both are breathtakingly beautiful. It’s difficult to compare both locations but one thing they both have in common are the awe-inspiring views across landscapes that we can’t wait to revisit.

We thought the drive from Anchorage to Denali National Park was spectacular but after visiting Minnesota, we were literally spoiled for choice.

fall foliage in minnesota

Focusing solely on Minnesota, we had the opportunity to explore the Twin Cities and beyond during our recent visit for the 2016 Ryder Cup tournament at Hazeltine National. Beyond the beauty of this golf course, Minnesota is blessed to have a myriad of amazing landscapes that will inspire everyone to get out and explore. Let’s take a look at some of the best places to experience fall foliage in Minnesota.

fall foliage in minnesota

The Sound of Fall

Waking up in the morning during the fall season offers an unmistakable sound that I’m sure you are all familiar with…the rustling of leaves! When you open your eyes and peer out of the window, there is nothing quite like the enchanting sound of those leaves blowing around in the brisk autumn breeze.

fall foliage in minnesota

Two sounds of autumn are unmistakable…the hurrying rustle of crisp leaves blown along the street…by a gusty wind, and the gabble of a flock of migrating geese (Hal Borland)

Our time in Minnesota offered the perfect opportunity to experience this. Staying at the gorgeous Comfort Inn and Suites in St. Cloud, we woke up to this sound of the leaves briskly flying around the fairways of the nearby Angushire Golf Club.

fall foliage in minnesota

Minnesota is a spectacular state all year round but there is something quite beautiful about the fall season in this part of the world. The journey from St. Cloud back to the Twin Cities offered more opportunities to appreciate the fall landscapes but when we arrived in the Mississippi Valley, that’s when the real beauty started.

fall foliage in minnesota

Mississippi River and The Twin Cities

Minneapolis and St. Paul and divided by the Mississippi River. Two gorgeous cities that combine to create “The Twin Cities”, undoubtedly the pinnacle of tourism throughout the state of Minnesota.

fall foliage by mississippi river

As we drove through the city of Minneapolis in search of some gorgeous fall foliage, we immediately realized that the divide between the two cities is actually the most spectacular part of both cities…at least during the fall season.

fall foliage in minnesota

The views along the banks of the Mississippi are beyond breathtaking. We literally could have spent hours just admiring the views here but the real beauty here is when we headed down to the very banks and appreciated the beauty of the river, the fall colors and the modern architecture that connects these iconic Twin Cities.

fall foliage in the twin cities

Minnehaha Park

For the waterfall aficionados out there, a short drive from the Mississippi River will lead you to the entrance of Minnehaha Park, home of the stunningly beautiful Minnehaha Falls.

fall foliage in minnesota

Even if the sight of a gorgeous waterfall doesn’t offer much intrigue, taking a stroll through this gorgeous park during the fall season will only give you more reason to believe that Minnesota is the ‘BEST’ place to be at this time of the year.

fall foliage in minnesota

Whether you want to take a seat and admire the beauty surrounding you or simply take a leisurely stroll around the park, this is the perfect setting to just get away and relax.

fall foliage in minnesota

The prevalence of parks in urban areas is becoming more and more prominent in today’s society as the desire for folks to enjoy moments of solitude. Minnehaha Park offers this perfect landscape and for a few moments, you can forget that you are in the heart of Minnesota’s Twin Cities.

Minnehaha Falls

Let’s take a look at why Minnehaha Falls is so spectacular. Standing at 53 feet at its tallest point, Minnehaha Falls may not have the height of some of the world’s leading iconic falls, but it certainly makes up for that with beauty.

minnehaha falls

Surrounded by gorgeous parkland in the heart of an urban setting, Minnehaha is a popular spot for locals and tourists to relax away from the hustle and bustle of life in the Twin Cities.

Trails are available on either side of the gorge and there are a plethora of viewing points to capture that perfect selfie with the waterfall as the beautiful backdrop. At the summit of the falls, you can walk across a bridge and then head down either side before crossing another bridge at the bottom. The more adventurous folks will get close to the waterfall though there are plenty of signs cautioning people to stay away from the edge.

minnehaha falls

Although the foliage around the waterfall doesn’t reflect the vibrant colors of fall that we all love, there is enough color here to suggest that we are in the fall season. The various blends of foliage around a destination will always determine the colors that we can expect to see but the beauty of Minnehaha Falls continues to inspire visitors regardless of the surrounding landscape.

Summary

If you are interested in exploring the gorgeous fall foliage in Minnesota, you can see from our brief insight that there are plenty of places to appreciate the natural phenomenon of leaves changing color. The Mississippi River valley was undoubtedly our favorite spot for capturing truly epic fall colors but we also stumbled across several hidden gems where the colors were vibrant providing picture perfect settings.

We barely touched the surface in terms of exploring Minnesota and as the title of this post goes, Minnesota “best-kept secrets” are waiting to be discovered. We have so much more to explore and we can’t wait to go back to experience more of this gorgeous state.

Do you enjoy experiencing fall foliage? Have you visited Minnesota during the autumn season?

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5 Epic Reasons You Should Want to Visit Colorado

Chris Boothman
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4
5 Epic Reasons You Should Want to Visit Colorado

If you enjoy admiring a plethora of epic natural scenery, you will want to visit Colorado and experience everything this beautiful state has to offer. It’s the home of the Rocky Mountains and with more than 1,000 peaks that are at least 10,000 ft tall, it’s no surprise to hear that Colorado has the highest elevation of any state across the nation.

But Colorado is more than just a haven for awe-inspiring panoramic landscapes. In fact, this is just the start and we are delighted to welcome Taylor and Daniel from Travel Outlandish who we are collaborating with to introduce a few more reasons why Colorado should be on your radar if it isn’t already.

visit colorado

I have been fortunate to explore several parts of Colorado, including Denver which has quickly risen to near the top of my favorite US cities but what else is there to experience in the Centennial State? Let’s see what Taylor and Daniel think!

Introduction

While travelers often skip over the central states during a US adventure, we can promise you that Colorado is always worth the trip. Where else can you experience 190 inches of snow and 300 days of sunshine a year? With unmatched outdoor culture, a hint of weirdness, and super fun cities to explore, it’s a wonder that the Centennial State isn’t on more people’s radar.

Outdoor Culture

Colorado is a complete natural paradise for those of us who could do without beach days. You can head to Aspen or Vail for world class skiing, Rocky Mountain National Park for elk spotting or Sand Dunes National Park to experience a surreal desert landscape all within the same state.

visit colorado

Whether you’re into snowboarding, kayaking, camping out, or just lazing amongst natural beauty, Colorado makes it easy for anyone to love spending time outside.

rocky mountains colorado

Offbeat Experiences

Growing up with field trips to the palace of kitsch – Casa Bonita – and family outings to Frozen Dead Guy Days, Colorado is definitely where I fell in love with all things outlandish. There’s plenty of serious fun to be had, but Colorado never takes itself too seriously!

colorado offbeat experiences

If you visit with an open mind and a sense of humor, you could find yourself on a naked bike ride or munching Rocky Mountain oysters with some good company.

denver bicycle tour

The Very Best Beer

The West Coast may have a reputation as the best coast for craft beer, but any Colorado native will tell you the truth. All it really takes is a trip to Denver Beer Fest to know who does IPA best. You won’t want to miss a brewery tour at Avery or Breckenridge Colorado Craft followed by a beer (or four) in the tap room.

visit colorado craft beers

Not into craft beer? Colorado is also home to the world’s biggest brewery — Coors Brewery — where you can sip light beers and learn all about large-scale production.

The Fourteeners

Sure, you can travel thousands of miles to scale Everest & Kilimanjaro, but in the unassuming state of Colorado, you can get your fair share of adventure with just a long weekend to spare.

colorado fourteeners

Colorado has 53 peaks that climb past the 14,000ft mark (aka “Fourteeners”). Join a club of true outdoorsmen and adventurers by climbing a Fourteener during your visit.

Modern Cities

While the best part of Colorado cities is their proximity to the outdoors, there are plenty of reasons to make your vacation an urban adventure, too. Denver is a sufficiently awesome capital city, offering the perfect mix of style and grit.

visit colorado

In nearby Boulder and Fort Collins, you can enjoy cultural events, bars, and walking streets that far exceed your expectations from a college town. Like other cities, you can dine in inspired restaurants, explore public art, and catch a music festival, but the big difference about Colorado is that you’ll have a place to park and some spare change at the end of it all.

denver art museum

Visit Colorado – Our Thoughts

I have been fortunate to visit Denver on a couple of occasions and both times I was able to experience the different conditions that typify Denver living. The first time was in the heart of summer when the weather was perfect while my recent visit was a mixture of a Colorado snowstorm and freezing cold conditions.

explore denver colorado

Denver is a very walkable city and although my recent visit was predominantly work related, I did find some time to get out and take my very own self-guided walking tour of the Mile High City. If you love architecture, you will certainly appreciate the Colorado State Capitol Building while a short distance from here is the other end of the architectural spectrum with the Denver Art Museum which offers a much more modern design.

colorado state capitol

Take a stroll down the 16th street mall which is the heart and soul of the central business district or if you are worn out from walking around, why not hop on the free bus service that takes visitors from one end to the other making stops at almost every block.

union station denver

Union Station is located at the end of the 16th street mall and from here you can explore other parts of Denver, including the Mile High Stadium, home of the Denver Broncos (perhaps you will be fortunate to see John Elway or Peyton Manning on your journey exploring the stadium!) or perhaps head out of the city and visit other parts of the state.

visit colorado

Denver is perfectly located to explore the Rocky Mountains. Just a short drive outside of the city and you will be surrounded by gorgeous alpine scenery. This is a part of Colorado that I can’t wait to explore with Heather. We love natural scenery, so having the opportunity to drive through the Rocky Mountains and visit places like Aspen and Vail are certainly high on our agenda.

aspen visit colorado

On the other side of the state, Heather and I briefly passed through the towns of Durango and Cortez following our visit to Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. We drove from Moab to New Mexico and passed through the southwest corner of Colorado. This area is famous for being home to the Four Corners Monument which marks the point where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet.

Summary

Colorado is famous for many reasons. The Rocky Mountains, Denver, amazing craft beers and much more. I’m sure you will be inspired to take a trip to Colorado after reading this post and even if you are not, I know we are! We would like to reiterate our appreciation to Taylor and Daniel for sharing their opinions and experiences on Colorado.

In addition to their website highlighted above, you can also follow Taylor and Daniel on their travels via the following social media networks:

Twitter – @TravelOutlandish
Facebook – Travel Outlandish
Instagram – Travel Outlandish

Have you visited Colorado? Do you prefer to explore rural environments like the Rocky Mountains or would you be intrigued by the highlights of Denver?

Why the 2016 Ryder Cup Tournament Was Amazing to Watch?

Chris Boothman
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3
Why the 2016 Ryder Cup Tournament Was Amazing to Watch?

The Ryder Cup tournament is the pinnacle of all golfing events around the world, especially for folks either side of the pond. Since 1927, the battle for bragging rights between the United States and Europe (formerly just Great Britain and Ireland) has been an ongoing encounter and if you have never had the opportunity to experience this, you are in for a real treat!

2016 ryder cup

We have been incredibly fortunate to visit three consecutive Ryder Cups, dating back to 2012 at Medinah Country Club in Chicago, 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland and most recently, the 2016 battle at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. We have enjoyed attending all three and look forward to visiting many more in the future.

2016 ryder cup tournament

The Ryder Cup is unlike any other golfing event, in fact, it is the exact opposite. Golf is renowned as being an individual sport but every two years, teams from USA and Europe come together in this team-centric environment and work together to win the ultimate prize.

A Tribute to The King

If you follow the world of golf, you will know that the 2016 Ryder Cup tournament was an extra-special experience because of one man – Arnold Palmer!

arnold palmer tribute

This tournament was the ultimate tribute to this sporting legend. Not only did Arnold Palmer change the face of golf, he was an iconic individual around the world that everyone loved.

ryder cup tournament

The conduct of players, fans (99% of them) and everyone associated with the Ryder Cup was a fitting reflection on Palmer’s legacy and approach to life. I think it’s fair to say that “The King” would have been proud to be part of the 2016 Ryder Cup.

The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done. (Arnold Palmer)

I think it’s fitting to include the above quote, especially when we relate golf to our desire to explore the world. We are frequently told that traveling as much as we do is impossible and unrealistic for most people. But our response is frequently related to what Palmer states when he suggests that the most rewarding experiences are those that you have to work for.

2016 ryder cup tournament

2016 Ryder Cup Tournament

For those of you unfamiliar with the Ryder Cup, the 2016 tournament was held at Hazeltine National in Chaska, about 15 minutes southwest of Minneapolis. The event is played over three days with the first two days comprising of two sets of four matches (fourballs and foursomes) and the final day where all twelve members of the two teams play head to head in singles play.

2016 ryder cup hazeltine

We attended Hazeltine on the second and third day after spending an amazing day exploring St. Cloud and of course preparing for the Ryder Cup experience by playing 18 holes at Territory Golf Club in the Granite City.

ryder cup tournament

Rumors across social media suggested that public parking was a nightmare, so we headed to Canterbury Park around 9:00AM on Saturday morning hoping that the rush had already passed. We were pleasantly surprised to see the shuttle bus lines relatively quiet and we were able to pass through security quickly and hop on a school bus (that’s right, it was a school bus for the 20-minute shuttle ride to Hazeltine!) before heading to the golf course.

Amazing Ryder Cup Atmosphere

The moment we entered the grounds at Hazeltine, we immediately felt the buzz of the Ryder Cup atmosphere. As I mentioned, it’s completely different to any other golf event around the world with patriotic fans dressed the part and showing their support for their team.

ryder cup tournament minnesota

Walking around and focusing on fans dressed as Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Dumb and Dumber is certainly a memorable experience.

ryder cup 2016 hazeltine

For those less interested in the action inside the ropes, you could certainly spend your time having fun identifying your favorite dress.

ryder cup tournament atmosphere

Roars echoed throughout Hazeltine and it was intensified even more with only four matches taking place. Imagine 60,000+ fans packed into four holes and that’s the type of atmosphere created for the players honored to represent both teams.

niall horan one direction

Heather’s claim to fame saw her moment in the spotlight when she captured a selfie with former One Direction star, Niall Horan.

Saturday’s Action

We spent the morning session behind the 17th tee hoping that the matches would reach this hole. We were disappointed to hear that the first match ended on the 16th with Europe’s dynamic duo of Rory McIlory and debutant Thomas Pieters defeating the flamboyant American pair of Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler.

ryder cup 2016

The second match quickly followed suit and we were left wondering if our choice to wait on 17 was going to backfire.

Fortunately, the third match didn’t disappoint. Justin Rose and Chris Wood for Europe against Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson. The atmosphere was electric and certainly pro-America but this didn’t stop Rose/Wood closing out the match after halving the 17th.

justin rose 2016 ryder cup

Only one match left and USA’s Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed appeared to be in control against the Spanish pair of Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera-Bello. A moment of magic on 17 by Cabrera-Bello when he chipped in from off the green helped them claim a half point.

2016 ryder cup tournament

We spent the afternoon walking around the course and following several different matches. The best advice I can give anyone visiting the Ryder Cup is to get ahead of the groups and wait for them to come to you. With so many people crammed into a small space, it’s almost impossible to try and follow a group around.

ryder cup tournament

The end of Saturday’s play saw the American team extend their lead to 9.5-6.5 and the European’s were left heading into Sunday’s singles action hoping for a recreation of the “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012!

thomas pieters team europe ryder cup

Final Day Drama

2012 saw an epic comeback by Jose Maria Olazabal’s European team and 2016 skipper, Darren Clarke, was hoping that his men would fight back in similar fashion.

ryder cup 2016 hazeltine

Unfortunately, this never materialized and the Americans secured an impressive 17-11 victory to regain the Ryder Cup after three consecutive defeats dating back to their last victory in 2008.

rickie fowler 2016 ryder cup

We were honored to watch the likes of Reed, McIlroy, Garcia and Mickelson put on amazing displays during the final day. There is always going to be a winner and a loser in this format but the way in which this match was played was an absolute credit to both teams.

rory mcilroy ryder cup tournament

It was an incredible spectacle for everyone and again, we chose to stand behind the 17th green to watch the action.

Summary

It’s fair to say that the 2016 Ryder Cup tournament will be remembered as a tribute to Arnold Palmer as much as the American team securing victory at Hazeltine. The passion on show from both teams was evident as was the amazing atmosphere created by the fans that made their way from all corners of the globe to watch this amazing event.

phil mickelson ryder cup tournament

We were privileged to be present at our third Ryder Cup and regardless of the outcome, it was an amazing experience that we would encourage everyone to attend at least once. Even if you are not a huge golfing fan, this is more about the experience and enjoying the electric atmosphere created inside the grounds.

ryder cup 2016

As a Brit, I have to say that I was disappointed with the outcome but given the previous two Ryder Cups we attended went in favor of the European team, I can’t be too disheartened.

Have you attended a Ryder Cup? Do you enjoy playing/watching golf?

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