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Hey Travel Friends,

With our unusually long stretch of warm temperatures, some of us have been a little worried that fall would never arrive. Or if it did, the too-dry leaves would simply curl up without giving us a color show. Boy, were we wrong. Colder temperatures this past week kicked Mother Nature’s autumn show into high gear. Peak color is happening now across our wild and beautiful Upper Peninsula. Friends at Tahquamenon Falls, Pictured Rocks and the Keweenaw Peninsula have been amazing us with the lush fall color photos they’ve been sharing. Northern Michigan’s leaf show is heating up, too, from Traverse City to Gaylord. We’re now entering that wonderful, frenetic travel phase called “Chasing Fall.” Are you ready?

Unlike those squat, flat states that we quickly take turnpikes through, our Michigan is a marvel when it comes to Chasing Fall. Two peninsulas give us color in waves that lasts for weeks. You could start in the U.P. and follow those changing reds, yellows and oranges south across the Mackinac Bridge, down through northern and Mid-Michigan, fanning out to West Michigan and then the southeast and southwest corners. The last to turn? Our lovely islands and Great Lakes shorelines.

In order to help your Chasing Fall adventure, our travel team has had to run slightly ahead of you to make sure you’ve got some great ideas as you get ready to leaf-peep. It’s a little like Ginger Rogers’ dancing. As the famous quote says: She did everything Fred Astaire did, just backwards and in high heels. Our dance card this week includes some great photos and video of Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive (Legendary Sleeping Bear overlook offers beautiful sunsets, sweeping Lake Michigan views – mlive.com), a beautiful stroll through a forest pathway near Ludington (Take a fall color stroll in this thriving 80-acre forest – mlive.com), and a trail that winds past century-old farms in Northern Michigan (Hike past century-old farms and bluffs formed by glaciers in Sleeping Bear’s historic district – mlive.com). Enjoy this beautiful season and drop us a line about your favorite spots.

Happy Travels,

Tanda

Take a fall adventure through this tranquil remote wilderness area

Photo by Joel Bissell | MLive

A vehicle drives along Porter Creek Road in Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area in Mason County, Mich. on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.

Stretches of orange, red and yellow leaves are starting to emerge in northern Lower Michigan. One particular road, West Forest Trail Road, was teeming with color this week on our drive toward the Lake Michigan Recreation Area at Nordhouse Dunes.

The expansive 3,500-acre Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area, which is practically untouched by human progress, is located in the Huron-Manistee National Forest. The Wilderness Area features over 10 miles of trails that can be accessed from two developed trailheads: Nurnberg Road and Lake Michigan Recreation Area.

One key note is that the fall colors were just starting to appear closer to the lakeshore, which typically sees peak color a week after inland areas. So colors should remain vibrant through the end of October.

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New sauna with panoramic views coming to U.P. waterfront

Photo by provided by Takka Portage

Takka Portage, a new sauna experience, will open on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at 101 Navy St. in Hancock. The sauna is next to the Portage Canal and features panoramic views.

A new sauna spot is about to open in the Upper Peninsula right on a popular waterfront. Takka, a growing sauna wellness consortium in the Keweenaw Peninsula, will fire up its newest location for the first time from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 101 Navy St. on the Portage Canal in Hancock.

“You can experience the ritual of sauna, tours and giveaways at the new site next to Porvoo Park,” according to Visit Keweenaw. “Bask in a hot sauna with panoramic views of the glistening Portage Canal.”

Attendees will have the chance to experience sauna rituals, guided tours, special giveaways, live music and a chance to relax and make connections around the fire, according to a news release from Taaka.

Michigan welcomed a record-breaking number of visitors last year. See how they spent $29B

Photo by Joel Bissell | MLive

People ride a Shepler’s Ferry to Mackinac Island, Mich. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Michigan’s visitor pool grew to more than 12 times the state’s population last year.

The state welcomed 128.3 million tourists last year, officially pushing Michigan’s tourism out of pandemic recovery and into a growth period. The key driver, according to Pure Michigan’s study, was more visitors spending more time in the Great Lakes State.

Spending was driven by increased prices in the lodging and food categories, according to the study. Collectively, tourists spent $29.3 billion in Michigan last year. That direct spend translates to $53.2 billion in economic impact, meaning investments in future construction, sustaining jobs and generating tax revenues.

Other top stories

• Take a fall color stroll in this thriving 80-acre forest

• Hike past century-old farms and bluffs formed by glaciers in Sleeping Bear’s historic district

• Contest will send people racing after big wheel of cheese rolling down Marquette Mountain

• Porcupine Mountains extends visitor center hours amid late fall color
• Legendary Sleeping Bear overlook offers beautiful sunsets, sweeping Lake Michigan views

A note from Tanda:

We love to hear from our travel friends. Have a story tip for us? A suggestion for a new destination to check out? Feel free to send us the details. You can email me at tgmiter@mlive.com

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