A trip to Kilcherman’s Christmas Cove Farm is a fall tradition in Northern Michigan. Located north of Northport in Leelanau County, Kilcherman’s is home to 200-plus varieties of antique apples. And while the Kilchermans have long been fascinated by heirloom varieties, they now find themselves on the leading edge of a much broader food movement. […]
A Walk in the City: 5 Northern Michigan Trails You Can Do In Town
In-town trails make it easy to get active in Northern Michigan. Health and fitness experts say that a minimum of 30 minutes of walking a day does everything from lower blood pressure to burn fat. And it just plain makes you feel better. In-town trails are a convenient way to make that happen—over lunch, after […]
Benefits of Working Out with Your Dog & Exercise Safety Tips for Your Pup
We know dogs add much to our lives. But studies show they not only make us happy, but also keep us healthy—having a dog in your life darn near guarantees increased activity, lower blood pressure, and elevated moods. Dogs can also be the ultimate motivators too. A long run seems better with a little company. […]
Eat for Your Health: Tomatoes
Try late summer tomatoes in a fresh, refreshing soup. A ripe tomato is food marvel for its health benefits alone. It’s their redness we have to thank, or more specifically, lycopene, the pigment that gives fruits like tomatoes, watermelon, guava, and pink grapefruit their color. Lycopene is in the family of pigments called cartenoids (another […]
Traverse City Track Club is 55 Years and Running
In 1962, George Kuhn started the Traverse City Track Club with a weekly summer race. Today, the non-profit organization still maintains that tradition and over the years has added on races, training programs, and charitable events. We chatted with Lisa Taylor, the executive director of the Traverse City Track Club, to learn more about Northern Michigan’s largest and oldest […]
How to Make Exercise Part of Your Daily Routine—Without the Gym
Your workout doesn’t have to include treadmills or dumbbells. Try these simple ways to make exercise part of your daily routine. I woke up one morning and, for the first time, decided to walk to work. The route took me a mile along West Grand Traverse Bay, and then when I reached the city limits […]
Secret Sleeping Bear: Hike Alligator Hill
Forget your watch. If you want a way to make your exercise routine last for more than 20 minutes, Alligator Hill—without a timepiece—is the way to go. Sticking to the groomed paths is a good way to lose yourself in the woods without actually getting lost. Alligator Hill is one of the hidden highlights of […]
Ultimate Summer Hike Guide
Summer is here and nature is calling, loudly. What better way to answer than to walk right into the season and onto the best Michigan trails. Consider this your hiking bucket list. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Explore a hiker’s heaven on the Lake Michigan shore, with 13 mainland trails and 105 miles of pathway […]
10 Best Beaches for Kids
Northern Michigan is home to some of the best beaches in the nation (maybe we’re a little biased), and these 10 are some of the finest, especially for young kids. Shallow water, playgrounds, sugary sand, shade trees, and public restrooms are some of the highlights. Clinch Park, Traverse City Earn everlasting adoration from your favorite […]
5 Gorgeous Preserves to Explore This Summer
In Northern Michigan, we’re surrounded by nature. Water, woods, trails—an abundance of natural resources are at our fingertips and waiting to be explored. An added bonus, exploration enhances our mental well-being as well as our physical health. Our region’s conservancies play a major role in maintaining these natural areas and protect them from future […]