Michigan Bus Break & Our Towed Car Fire Story: An Update

In the last three months, we’ve done our fair share of traveling, but two months ago we officially landed for a Michigan Bus Break. So while we’re stationary, the journey continues — just a little more locally flavored! Michigan is one of our Home Bases, so we came up to soak in the summer, reconnect …

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 …

The Bear Store Hale Michigan – Quirky Roadside Stop

Giant Chairs, Spicy Humor, and a Quick Roadside Detour Bear Store Hale Michigan is parked right at 6787 M‑65 in Hale. You can find more details here if you want the official scoop — but honestly, just pull over when you see it. Why Bear Store Hale Michigan is Worth the Stop We weren’t even …