Latest news with #LowerPeninsula
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Yahoo
Northern Michigan summer fun: Our favorite stops along the Tunnel of Trees
On a sunny summer day, a drive up the Tunnel of Trees will provide delicious treats, scenic views, unique shopping and beautiful beaches. The M-119 Tunnel of Trees runs along the northwestern coast of the Lower Peninsula, going north from Harbor Springs to Cross Village. It is designated as a State Scenic Byway, with more than 20 miles of narrow, winding road. The route is also popular with cyclists and is lined with towering trees, historic cottages and glimpses of Lake Michigan off to the west. Here are five stops we recommend along the way: Pond Hill Farm Located at 5699 S. Lake Shore Drive, Pond Hill Farm has got it all. The family-owned farm has vineyards, greenhouses, a farm market, an animal barn — and that's only the beginning. You'll often find live music on the farm's calendar, and you can enjoy brick oven pizzas, s'mores, wine, beer, cider and more while you listen. There's a playground, human foosball, the gnome house hunt, hiking trails and many other fun activities to fill your time at the farm. This year, Pond Hill Farm is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The farm is open during the summer from 12-8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and from 12-6 p.m. on Sundays. You can check out their complete events schedule and products at Trillium Woods Coffee Further north along the road you'll find Trillium Woods Coffee, 811 S. Lake Shore Drive, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This cozy little coffee spot looks like a log cabin and includes an outdoor dining space under the trees. Several people who stopped here at the same time were also thrilled to know there was a flushable toilet on site for customers. Inside you'll find not just coffee and pastries, but also books, candles, art and other unique trinkets available for purchase. Find out more at Good Hart You'll want to be sure to stop and check out the stores in Good Hart, including the Good Hart General Store, Primitive Images and A Studio. In the beloved Good Hart General Store, built in 1934, you can find Tunnel of Trees souvenirs and a wide selection of food, drinks and more. You can pick up a bottle of wine or a freshly made ciabatta sandwich right alongside homemade cookies and fruit pies. If you're planning on stopping at a beach or camping in the area, you are sure to elevate your meal experience by stopping at the general store first. The store is located at 1075 N. Lake Shore Drive. Check out more of their products at Woollam Family Nature Preserve Continuing north, you'll find the Little Traverse Conservancy's Woollam Family Nature Preserve, located at 5581 N. Lake Shore Drive. You'll take a short half-mile hike through the hilly woods before walking out onto the beach. The preserve features 3,300 feet of frontage on Lake Michigan, and the shoreline is both sandy and rocky in some places. According to the conservancy, much of the property is classified as 'critical dunes' by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and dogs are not allowed due to nesting birds. The trailhead is marked with a small parking lot and signage. For more information, visit Legs Inn If you're looking for lunch or dinner during your drive, Legs Inn in Cross Village should be at the top of your list. The restaurant was built in the 1930s by Polish immigrant Stanley Smolak. According to the Legs Inn website, Smolak, who was a self-trained artist, used tree roots, limbs and driftwood to carve fantastical creatures into the furniture and decorative objects still used in the building. The property is a State of Michigan Historic Site. Legs Inn specializes in housemade Polish cuisine, and you'll find classics like pierogi, Polska kielbasa and sauerkraut along with some Northern Michigan favorites like smoked whitefish on the menu. The restaurant is only open seasonally, so you'll have to catch them before they close for the winter on Oct. 19. Legs Inn is open daily from 12-9 p.m., closed on Tuesdays. Reservations are not accepted. The restaurant is located at 6425 N. Lake Shore Drive. Find out more at Bonus: Sturgeon Bay If you drive all the way to the end of Lake Shore Drive, you'll enter Wilderness State Park and hit an intersection with Sturgeon Bay Trail. Turn left, and you'll find yourself along a stretch of beautiful sandy beach at Sturgeon Bay Dunes. There are three miles of sandy dunes along Lake Michigan for you to stretch out on, making this one of the largest public beaches in northwestern Lower Michigan. According to the Little Traverse Conservancy, the property includes habitat for the endangered piping plover as well as four threatened species of plants. The North Country Trail also runs through the area, with nearby trailheads allowing access. There is roadside parking, and visitors should note that while there are seasonal port-o-johns there are no restrooms. For more information, visit — Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@ This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Northern Michigan summer fun: Our favorite stops along the M-119 Tunnel of Trees Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
These 'clumsy' beetles sometimes end up stuck in your hair. What to know about June bugs
Clumsy, large and, perhaps, mysterious beetles are once again active in Michigan: the June bug. "The term May or June beetles refers to some 10 different species of beetles in the genus Phyllophaga, that are known to injure turfgrass," Michigan State University's extension on integrated pest management said. "Eggs are laid, and hatch in June to early July." In Michigan, these beetles can be found in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. Their bodies can appear brown, black, tan or chestnut. They range from 0.5 to 1 inch long, according to MSU's Extension. While June (or July) bugs are harmless to people and are nocturnal insects, more than one person has been slightly traumatized when the clumsy bugs got stuck in their hair or on their clothes. Around the middle of summer, female June bugs lay eggs underground, then after a lengthy development period the new beetles emerge when the weather is warm. As June bugs keep flying around in July, here's what to know in Michigan: What do June bugs look like in Michigan? June bugs are a collective name given to scarab beetles in the Melolonthinae subfamily of beetles. A June bugs life cycle takes place mostly underground. For a couple weeks around mid-summer, females lay eggs. Their larvae eventually hatch into white grubs and remain underground for two to three years, according to MSU's Extension. The grubs hibernate over the winter and molt twice, according to Once the grubs develop into their adult form, an oval-shaped beetle, they emerge from the ground when the weather is warm around late May or early June — then females mate, lay eggs and the cycle repeats. "The exact timing of their emergence can vary based on geographical location and specific weather conditions," according to Mr. Buggs, a pest control company based in Alabama. Are June bugs dangerous? No, June bugs are not dangerous. They come out at night and are drawn to lights. They can cause damage to plants from underground by eating the roots causing the plants to wilt prematurely. To keep June bugs away from your house or backyard, Garrety Home Pros (a northeastern homeowners service) recommends these tips: Make a natural June bug trap, by mixing molasses with water in a container with a funnel neck. Introduce nematodes, June bug larvae are nutritional and essential for soil worms called nematodes to thrive. They provide a natural alternative to eradicating larvae populations. Create a bird-friendly environment, natural predators to June bugs, that will attract them to your lawn or garden. Keep a clean porch and lawn, June bugs and other insects prefer to hide while they search for food. Replace your porch lights or turn them off. LED lights may be efficient enough to mislead the bugs since orange or yellow bulbs fall outside their detectable light sensory scope. What do June bugs eat? Adult June bugs are called chafers because they eat leaves and flowers of trees and shrubs — they have gained a reputation for ruining gardens and being a nuisance especially in groups, according to The larvae feed on the roots of grasses and other plants as they develop underground. Why do June bugs crash into everything? June bugs have large wings and heavy bodies, which make them poor flyers. They can only fly for short periods of time and take breaks oftentimes flipped over, Plunkett's Pest Control explained. What is the difference between a Japanese beetle and a june bug? Similar in appearance and life cycle, Japanese beetles and the June bugs get confused with each other, but they are different species. The Japanese beetle is native to Japan and an invasive species in the U.S. They have metallic green bodies and brown wings. Similar to June bugs, they develop underground and eat plants, granting them the reputation of ruining gardens or crops, according to the National Invasive Species Information Center. Japanese beetles often can be seen flying around trees in groups. In Michigan, Japanese beetles are widespread and sightings in the state are no longer mapped. Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@ This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Summer in Michigan means June bugs. What to know about the clumsy beetles Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Heat wave: Southeast Michigan could reach 98 degrees
Heat advisories and extreme heat warnings are in place Monday, June 23, as Michigan feels actual temperatures in the mid to upper 90s. In southern Michigan, numerous counties are under an extreme heat warning until 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, including Macomb, Wayne, Oakland, Genesee, Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Branch and Hillsdale. "An extreme heat warning remains in effect through Tue (June 24) with heat indices at or above 100 each day. Minor relief arrives on Wed but it will still be hot and humid through the weekend. Heat and humidity will also support periodic thunderstorms, a few of which could be severe," the National Weather Service in northern Indiana said on X. In addition, a heat advisory is in place for the entire Lower Peninsula until midnight June 23. "Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening," the NWS said. "Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke." The high in Detroit on June 23 could reach 98 degrees, the NWS said. Tuesday is forecast to be 94 before it cools off. Flint could reach 97 degrees on June 23. Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw and Jackson could see 95 degree on June 23. Near the Great Lakes and farther north, it will be slightly cooler. Port Huron could see 92 degrees while Muskegon may hit 89. Gaylord also could hit 92. Here's more on the heat wave in Michigan: Officials issue an extreme heat warning when extremely dangerous heat conditions are expected or occurring, according to the NWS. Residents should avoid outdoor activities, especially during the heat of the day, drink water and check in on loved ones Officials issue a heat advisory for dangerous heat conditions that are not expected to reach warning criteria, the NWS said. Residents should consider postponing or rescheduling outdoor activities, and follow the same precautionary steps, like, drinking plenty of water and taking breaks indoors or under shade. Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@ This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Extreme heat warning. Michigan sees dangerous temperatures
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
A Michigan bear roamed the woods for two years with an awful lid on his neck. Not anymore.
Michigan wildlife experts finally were able to trap a black bear and remove a large lid that was stuck around his neck — for two years. 'It's pretty incredible that the bear survived and was able to feed itself,' state bear specialist Cody Norton said Wednesday. 'The neck was scarred and missing hair, but the bear was in much better condition than we expected it to be.' The bear first turned up on a trail camera as a cub in 2023 in the northern Lower Peninsula. After that, the Department of Natural Resources was on the lookout for the elusive animal with a hard plastic lid around the neck, Norton said. The bear appeared again on a camera in late May, still wearing the barrel lid, and the DNR responded by setting a cylindrical trap and safely luring him inside. The bear was immobilized with an injection and the lid was cut off in minutes on June 3. The bear eventually woke up and rambled away. Angela Kujawa, a wildlife biologist who was at the scene, said she wondered about the bear's ability to climb trees with the uncomfortable accessory. 'And he probably laid more on his back or side when he was resting,' she said. Norton said it's not precisely known how the lid got stuck on the bear's neck. Bear baiting is legal in Michigan, but the hole on a barrel lid typically must be large enough to avoid what happened to this bear. The bear weighed 110 pounds (49.9 kilograms), which is fairly typical for a 2-year-old. 'We were pleasantly surprised. It was still able to make a living like a pretty typical bear,' Norton said.
CTV News
22-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
A Michigan bear roamed the woods for two years with an awful lid on his neck. Not anymore.
DNS staffers work to remove a lid from the neck of an immobilized black bear near Hillman, Michigan, on June 3, 2025. (Michigan Department of Natural Resources via AP) Michigan wildlife experts finally were able to trap a black bear and remove a large lid that was stuck around his neck — for two years. 'It's pretty incredible that the bear survived and was able to feed itself,' state bear specialist Cody Norton said Wednesday. 'The neck was scarred and missing hair, but the bear was in much better condition than we expected it to be.' The bear first turned up on a trail camera as a cub in 2023 in the northern Lower Peninsula. After that, the Department of Natural Resources was on the lookout for the elusive animal with a hard plastic lid around the neck, Norton said. The bear appeared again on a camera in late May, still wearing the barrel lid, and the DNR responded by setting a cylindrical trap and safely luring him inside. The bear was immobilized with an injection and the lid was cut off in minutes on June 3. The bear eventually woke up and rambled away. Angela Kujawa, a wildlife biologist who was at the scene, said she wondered about the bear's ability to climb trees with the uncomfortable accessory. 'And he probably laid more on his back or side when he was resting,' she said. Norton said it's not precisely known how the lid got stuck on the bear's neck. Bear baiting is legal in Michigan, but the hole on a barrel lid typically must be large enough to avoid what happened to this bear. The bear weighed 110 pounds (49.9 kilograms), which is fairly typical for a 2-year-old. 'We were pleasantly surprised. It was still able to make a living like a pretty typical bear,' Norton said. Ed White, The Associated Press
