[jeeg]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

Jeeg - I was just out at that very beach near Marquette two days ago. Our's were the only footprints on the whole beach. The tides were crashing into each other in between Little Presque Isle and the beach.

That's one of our ultimate favorite spots (that is easily accessible to us anyhow). We go out there frequently and I think the most people I have ever seen there was a weekend last July when there were 12 people out there. Usually we are alone or only a couple others.
I have only once seen another family with little ones there so if you see a big guy, his wife, and two toddlers running around..... it's probably me!


(I agree with the rest of your thoughts regarding Michigan's beauty and perception problems too)

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

these photos are from mackinac island from last summer
the photo of the pine trees (and the dark person) and the lake is Long Lake in Cheboygan...
i cant wait to come home in june and july!!

the sunset is from city beach/gordon turner park in cheboygan on lake huron

[kimba01]

Great pics! Takes your breath away especially being there!

[lilbear]

These are really great pics. I'm from MI, (sigh, why did I leave?) lol

[diamondgirl45]

Thank you for posting the wonderful photos. I am waiting for my house to sell out west and then I will be moving to Michigan. I am actually getting excited to see all these places now....I am going to send this link to my family and friends here, so they will stop asking "Why Michigan??"

[Jswee]

A few more including some winter pics and a pic of one of our most important natural resources, our Michigan wildlife.


.
Winter Cathedral


Snow on a Beech

Another summertime shot just to warm things back up.

At Anchor.


Leelanau Twins

[Iggs]

Thanks to all of you who posted the wonderful pics. They are all spectacular. I grew up in MI (we may be back in MI w/ a job transfer in the future)but lived in Chicago for over 15 years after college. I have converted many Wisconsin (sorry WI) bound people to MI. Everytime I hear Tim Allen's commercial it makes me homesick. At least I get to visit often as my parents live in beautiful North West MI.

[Bluefly]

I've always thought Michigan could redefine itself - perhaps in the way the Ford Rouge Plant did - as the backbone of a new green industrial revolution toward sustainable energies, technologies, building materials, etc... So long as jobs came with it, I think a lot of people across political ideologies would jump on board such a new purpose for the state.

Part of that would be a unified state effort to respect and nurture the vast ecological resources while at the same time nurturing centers of urban culture and vitality. People now have the freedom to live wherever they want. Simply providing jobs, while important, is not enough. A state needs to provide a quality of life, which is a big reason why Michigan is failing. Michigan sold out to the car and reduced itself to the efficiency of getting from one place to the next and providing an income without any regard to nurturing the souls of residents.

With all of its gorgeous coastline and open space, I see no reason why Michigan couldn't be regarded in the same way Colorado is with a little effort. Marquette, where I live, is certainly similar in nature to all the old western mining towns that have been reborn as vibrant cultural centers minutes from extensive open space. A lot of northern cities are. We just happen to have great beaches to go along with it.

Anyway - these pictures just inspire me. Thankfully, I get to live them everyday.

btw - puremichigan.org redirected to the Pure Michigan tourism campaign.

[HighlandsGal]

Well, as a native Michigander now living in Colorado, I have to say I am doubly lucky to live and have lived in such beautiful places. I can't wait to come back and spend time on Lake Michigan this July!!

Great pics everyone -- keep them coming!!

[Brent85]

These are such good pics so far! Michigan is very underrated. I was out in CA and told people where I'm from. When they heard Michigan, they had a "I'm better than you" attitude. Michigan's a nice laid back place, and I love it here.