Pioneer Michigan

Night Life in the Great Lake State

admin — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Michigan is commonly referred to as the Great Lake State due to the fact that it is surrounded by four of the five great lakes, creating two separate peninsulas within the state itself. If you are looking to explore a beautiful state with a lot to offer travelers, then you might want to consider the option of making Michigan your next vacation destination.

Not to mention, if you are the type of person who enjoys big city night life, Michigan is actually one of the best states to visit when it comes to this. After all, there are many large cities in Michigan that are known for their night clubs and bars. So if you are wondering which cities in Michigan you should check out during your trip, there are a couple that you will not want to pass up.

Detroit is a must-see city, especially if you are looking for some of the largest and most popular night clubs in the state. Located in southeastern Michigan, Detroit is the largest city in the state and has a lot to offer. Furthermore, visiting the bustling up-north region and Traverse City is also a must for those who enjoy the night life.

Coastal City Attractions for Family Vacations

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

There are plenty of coastal city attractions for family vacations in the Great Lakes region. Museums in the area have exhibits on maritime history. Visitors to the region can explore historic homes and lighthouses. People who enjoy music can attend concerts performed by symphony orchestras in cities on the shores of the lakes. Shoppers will find plenty of places to visit in large cities such as Chicago.

Great Lakes area visitors who want to spend time on the lakes will find plenty of places for swimming, boating and fishing. Those who want to spend time on the water can take lunch and dinner cruises around the lakes.

People who want to explore the land near the lakes will find miles of trails for hiking. There are places near the lakes to enjoy picnics. The scenery around the lakes changes with the seasons. Autumn visitors can admire the brilliant colors on the trees. Winter visitors can see fields covered with snow while they go cross-country skiing on trails near the lakes.

Michigan’s Produce

mgeedey — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

You’ve seen plenty of reruns of Home Improvement on your Michigan Direct TV and you’ve been drawn in by those Travel Michigan commercials – it’s time for a trip! This is a great time of year to go and the nice thing about Michigan is that they grow all types of produce, check out our favorites:
Asparagus – Did you know that Michigan grows more asparagus than any other state in the union? That’s right, those green, delicious, healthy veggies are plentiful and CHEAP here so head to a Detroit restaurant and get some green.
Cherries – Michigan’s climate is perfect for growing lush, juicy cherries which is why they’re in just about everything here. A topping for fish, a great spread for bread and even baked into pies and baked goods – they’re all about cherries here.
Cranberries – Much like cherries, the climate is great for growing cranberries here. Cranberry juice is a great way to get some essential vitamins and taste the tartness that put Michigan on the map? If you’ve got some time and you’re curious take a trip to a bog, too!

History of Michigan’s Nickname: The Great Lake State

admin — Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Michigan is a beautiful state with a beautiful name taken from the Indian words “Michi-gama” which mean large lake. With so much water in and surrounding the state it is no wonder that Indians may have thought they were enveloped by one giant lake. Michigan is actually comprised of two very distinct parts. The Upper and The Lower Peninsulas which are separated by Lake Michigan, one of the four Great Lakes surrounding Michigan. Lake Superior, Lake Huron and Lake Erie also touch the amazing shorelines of Michigan. Second only to Alaska Michigan has the most shoreline in the United States. Almost half of Michigan is water and more than 3,100 miles of shoreline are on the Great Lakes. Within borders of the state of Michigan there are more than 11,000 inland lakes. This means that at any given place in the state, a person is never more than six miles from a lake or 85 miles from one of the bordering Great Lakes. The state has been known by other nicknames such as the Wolverine State but the American Indians had aptly named Michigama. It is breathtakingly beautiful surrounded by water no matter where you visit, live, work or play.

Speed Boating on the Great Lakes

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Great Lakes have much more to offer than the crowded beaches on the Pacific Coast. Here, you and your family can visit historical sites and scenic forests before heading down to the pristine beaches for relaxation, swimming, and fishing. For proactive individuals and families, there are many opportunities that the Great Lakes have to offer; bike or hike on the many scenic trails, or get into a canoe, kayak,or speedboat for an exhilarating ride through lakes and streams. For a unique getaway, your family can do anything from going on breath-taking cruises and visiting freshwater islands, to scuba-diving though miles of preserved bottom-land wildlife and colossus sunken ships. The Great Lakes also boasts major cities across several states and provinces like Chicago, IL; Toledo, OH; Green Bay, WI; Detroit, MI; Buffalo, NY; and Niagara Falls, ON; in these cities you can enjoy fine dining, museums, sporting events, and shopping. If the big city is just not for you, there are many historical communities like Sault Sainte Marie, MI; Traverse City, MI; or Mackinac Island; these cities are ample with historical sites, shopping, and, of course, Great Lakes beach access. So, if you’re planning a family vacation or looking for a place to raise a family, no place comes close to the Great Lakes.

The History of The Ice Fishing

admin — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The history of the ice fishing started roughly 3,000 years ago. Back then spears and hooks were made from bone or wood. Horsehair or silk made up the fishing line and cutting a hole in the ice with a knife was always a bit difficult. Ice fishing has always been a social event. Having others to share a fire and a catch with helped the time go by faster. It was in the 1950′s that ice fishing became a sport and was not just for sustenance. Tips and trick of ice fishing have been passed from generation to generation since the inception of the sport.

Building small huts around the ice hole made for a more comfortable position when the wind became a problem for fishers. The weather has become less of an issue for lovers of ice fishing. Portable heaters, insulated tents makes the expedition a bit more comfortable. Snowmobiles made it possible to reach the ice fishing hole easier. Power augers have become a favorite for making a hole in the ice. Rod and reels made specifically for this type of fishing can be found in abundance and many fishermen have a favorite they use. With up to date equipment and family or friends makes the experience of waiting on the perfect fish to bite more enjoyable

Is Michigan the New Hollywood?

www.pioneer-michigan.com — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:05:09 +0000

You may not know it, but Michigan has seen a growing number of movies being filmed in the state over 30 in 2010 as a matter of fact.And the state has growing incentives to increase that number as time goes on.So if you’re longing for a Michigan fix and can’t get there (or don’t want to get there during the winter months) why not take a look at some of the following films released this year (most available from Netflix) to get yourself a little closer to the state that you crave.

30 Minutes or LessA Very Harold & Kumar ChristmasAll You Can DreamDetroit UnleadedHome Run ShowdownHostel: Part IIIIt Ain’t Over Till It’s OverJinnLOL: Laughing Out LoudMachine Gun PreacherPerfectly PrudencePlaybackReal SteelRestitutionReturn to the Hiding PlaceS.W.A.T Fire FightSalvation BoulevardScream 4Silent Memoirs Life Stories from the DeafSmoochStreet Kings: Motor CitySuckerThe Christmas BunnyThe DoubleThe Frontier BoysThings Fall ApartTouchbackTransformers: Dark of the MoonVampsWar Flowers

Stay tuned for next year’s list since 2011 should be a banner year for the state’s movie involvement.

Upper Peninsula Winter Weather

www.pioneer-michigan.com — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:14:44 +0000

Michigan aligns itself with the adage of “if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes” since its dynamic weather conditions can often be viewed as a challenge. Another challenge to the weather is the different regions in which Michigan is constructed. For example, some areas have to be respectful of lake-effect snow patterns while others fall squarely within a humid continental climate and the Great Lakes play a major role in the state’s climate. In general, however, winters tend to be long, cold, and snowy for most of the peninsula, and because of its northern latitude, the daylight hours are short around 8 hours between sunrise and sunset in the winter. Lake Superior has the greatest effect on the area, especially the northern and western parts. Many areas get in excess of 100250 inches of snow per yearespecially in the Keweenaw Peninsula and Baraga, Marquette and Alger counties where Lake Superior contributes to the already-mentioned lake-effect snow, making them a prominent part of the Midwestern Snow Belt. Records of 390inches of snow (yes, you read that right) or more have been set in many communities in this area, and the Keweenaw Peninsula averages more snowfall than almost anywhere in the United States. Because of the howling storms across Lake Superior (which cause dramatic amounts of precipitation) it has been said that the lake-effect snow makes the Keweenaw Peninsula the snowiest place east of the Rocky Mountains. Lake-effect snow can cause blinding white snow that can last for days in mere minutes hence the adage about “waiting five minutes.” Unfortunately, in the midst of a winter storm, the relief of summer seems more than five minutes away!

Greenfield Village

www.pioneer-michigan.com — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:13:01 +0000

If you are a history lover, there are plenty of Michigan attractions to fulfill your longing for the past. However, with over 80 acres of historic districts, Greenfield Village is one of the state’s best historical attractions. Not only can you visit Noah Webster’s home (creator of the first American dictionary), but also, the court house where the future president (Abraham Lincoln) first pursued justice and practiced law. No worries if none of these buildings sound interesting, there are 81 other structures for viewing.The village contains seven different districts; the Railroad Junction, Edison at Work, Main Street, Henry Ford’s Model T, Liberty Craftworks, Working Farms, and Porches and Parlors.One of the most popular districts is the Henry Ford’s Model T neighborhood. Here, visitors can actually ride in a vintage Model T. But the Railroad Junction is just as well-liked with auto lovers. At the Junction, visitors can explore the various trains that helped develop American travel.Meanwhile, at the Edison at Work district, view the impact of the inventor’s bright idea; the light bulb. From engineers to architects, the Porches and Parlors neighborhood lets home lovers view houses from 1650, 1750, 1840, and 1930.No matter which district you visit, you’ll find a collection of historic artifacts and structures. The attraction’s hours vary depending on the season. From November 29^th through to April 14^th of next year, Greenfield Village will be closed due to the harsh winter months. That means you have a little over a month left to explore the attraction.Greenfield will be open throughout the week from 9:30am-5:00pm until the end of October. Leading up to November 29^th, they will open on weekends only for the same hours.Tickets are a little costly, but you do get to visit seven exhibits with your admission. An adult’s ticket is 22, while seniors are offered a 1 discount. Children who are 5 years old or younger are granted free admission, but a youth’s ticket is 16.For more on Greenfield Village’s hours and ticket prices, visit the attraction’s website.

Explore Fort Wayne for free

www.pioneer-michigan.com — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:09:47 +0000

Located in Detroit (overlooking the Detroit River) is the historic Fort Wayne. For over a century (1841-1972) this fort was used by the United States Army; in-fact, the vicinity was particularly useful during the Civil War. During this troubling period of American history, the fort was used as a volunteer instruction camp.When other needs arose, such as the accommodation of Army MPs, Quartermaster warehouses and offices, as well as larger infantry garrisons, the building underwent multiple renovations. The rebuilding and constant development would start in the year 1862.However, throughout 19^th and 20^th century conflicts, Fort Wayne has been the induction center for the state’s military men and women.Now, visitors from all across the nation can visit the historic location for free, however, parking is 5. Hours vary depending on the day you make your trip. Visitors can stop by on Saturdays anywhere from 9:00am to 4:00pm, or on Sundays from 11:00am to 4:00pm.