Oversized wooden chair outside Gustafson’s Smoked Fish in Moran, Michigan, part of a playful roadside photo tradition.

Gustafson’s Smoked Fish | Brevort’s Smoked Seafood

Some stops are about the food, some are about the photo ops — and Gustafson’s Smoked Fish in Moran, Michigan manages to be both. Known since 1978 for smoking Michigan fish to perfection, they also stock jerky in every flavor imaginable, plus a mix of snacks, souvenirs, and “just passing through” essentials. On our visit, …

Call of the Wild – Gaylord, Michigan

Sometimes the best travel discoveries are the ones you stumble into without much of a plan. That’s exactly what happened when we found ourselves at Call of the Wild in Gaylord, Michigan, located at 850 South Wisconsin Avenue. Now, I’ll be honest – this was one of those stops where we wandered through, enjoyed ourselves, …

Entrance to Garlyn Zoo in Naubinway, Michigan, showing a rustic wooden building with “Entrance” and “Gifts & Souvenirs” signs, surrounded by trees and an elephant sculpture.

GarLyn Zoo | Exotic Animals & Nature Trails on US-2

Garlyn Zoo | Naubinway, Michigan We stopped at the Garlyn Zoo and Wildlife Park during one of our Upper Peninsula drives a few years back — one of those spontaneous “why not?” detours that ends up being a highlight. I didn’t write about it at the time (rookie mistake), but I’m fixing that now so …

Group of elk resting behind chain-link fence at Elk View Park in Gaylord, Michigan. Foreground elk lies on grass with large, branched antlers; others visible in background. Trees, dirt path, and cloudy sky frame the outdoor enclosure next to the Elk's Lodge Gaylord Michigan elk viewing site.

Elk’s Lodge Gaylord Michigan Elk Viewing

🦌✨Where roadside randomness meets actual elk We weren’t planning to see elk, Zach was just trying to find a decent parking spot. But Gaylord, Michigan had other plans. Turns out, the Elk’s Lodge Gaylord Michigan elk viewing setup is not just a fluke — it’s a full-on roadside jackpot. You park once, and boom: lodge …

Giant Adirondack chair photo opportunity at Bear Store in Hale Michigan

We Stopped for a Giant Chair… and Somehow Ended Up Looking at Bears

The Bear Store in Hale, Michigan sits right along M-65 at 6787 M-65, and if you’re driving by, the giant Adirondack chair out front is probably what gets your attention first. That’s what got ours, anyway. We weren’t planning to stop, didn’t have it marked, weren’t looking for anything — but the chair was enough …

Springfield Sculpture Walk | Rotating Public Art

Springfield Sculpture Walk  We love outdoor art. Simply captivated by the sight of sculptures created from unconventional materials and thematic artworks that can completely transform entire towns with the presence of bears, butterflies, or bison. Each piece offers a glimpse into the vision and creativity of the artist. You can print out a map HERE!