Northeast Michigan
Northeast Michigan is the place to be for a vacation that features romping with Mother Nature in a relatively unfettered setting. The region is a maze of rivers, lakes, streams, and coastal waters that draw anglers, sailors, beach combers, and nature enthusiasts in droves. Large tracts of land are dedicated to state and national forests, making the area perfect for a stroll among the untouched pine trees. Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, beach combing, bird watching, golf, and skiing (both the snow and water varieties) can be a part of a day's play in this part of Michigan.
After the logging trade dried up, Midland, Michigan might have gone the way of the Edsel if it were not for Herbert H. Dow. He developed a way to extract chemicals from the salt brine that was below the surface in the region. Soon after, Dow Chemical was formed. His fingerprints are all over the city, including the stunningly beautiful Dow Gardens, a 100-acre park filled with herb gardens, a maze, fruit trees, and other horticultural wonders. Midland is also a great place to hike or cycle among the forested area. The Pere Marquette Rail Trail takes those on foot, bicycle, or rollerblades over a 22-mile trail that starts in downtown Midland and leads to the small town of Sanford.
Grayling is river country. The Boardman, Manistee, Pine, Rifle, and Au Sable Rivers meander through wetlands, dunes, and tree covered hills. The Grayling area is kayak and canoe heaven, and there are numerous places that offer tours and rent equipment. The Au Sable is also known as a fly fishing stream, and knowledgeable guides point you to the best fishing holes. One popular route is the Michigan Cross Country Cycle Trail, which extends for miles out to North Higgins Lake State Park.
With over 20 courses (and more on the drawing boards), Gaylord is very quietly developing a reputation as one of the top golf destinations in the country. The Black Forest Golf Resort is a full-service golf and recreational facility. Treetops Sylvan Resort, a Fazio course, has 81 holes catering to all skill levels. Black Bear is unique in that it is the area's first and only 19 hole layout (the first hole is for warming up).
Nature enthusiasts will want to visit Cheboygan's Grass Bay Preserve. The area has one of the finest examples of an interdunal wetland habitat. With beach pools, marshes, flats, and wetlands that are separated by low dunes, this ecosystem is home to a great diversity of plant life. Beach lovers will want to seek out Burt Lake State Park and the miles of sandy beach that hug the shoreline. Nearby Mullet Lake is one of the most popular angling sites in the state. Fishermen vie for walleye and northern pike, but an occasional huge sturgeon can be pulled from the lake as well.
Oscoda serves as a fishing village and a sports fishing center for Lake Huron. Charter captains are available to take anglers in search of Chinook salmon, lake and brown trout, and a host of others. Canoeists head inland, following the Au Sable River as it wanders as far as Roscommon. Oscoda is also the gateway to Huron National Forest. Swimmers, hikers, anglers, and cross-country skiers all find numerous activites in this protected park.
Northeastern Michigan is a wonderland of scenic possibility. Bear, deer, elk, and moose call the area home. Rivers teem with trout and Lake Huron is brimming with bass and salmon. Hiking and cycling trails are everywhere. Book your Northern Lake Michigan Vacation Rentals today to experience all this outdoor playground has to offer.
