S U M M E R 2 0 21 | WA N D E R L U S T I D E A S
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Guidebook author outlines tempting tour of seven Great Lakes-surrounded nature destinations Story and Photos by Maureen Dunphy
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he time may come when you just want to get away from it all. In Michigan, we’re fortunate to have an abundance of lakes we can escape to. In fact, it’s been written that the Ojibwe Native Americans who lived here believed “water is the first medicine.” While visiting the shore of a Great Lake certainly might help, consider that swaths of the Great Lakes are studded with islands. Ferrying across the water to one of those beautiful destinations might really take care of any wanderlust or desire to escape from your routine, even briefly. Imagine starting in southeast Michigan and heading north to embark on an islandhopping arc that involves ferrying to Harsens Island, Bois Blanc Island, Drummond Island, Grand Island, Beaver Island, and North and South Manitou Islands, and dipping into Lake Huron, Lake Superior, and Lake Michigan on your way. When you’re surrounded by water, you may be surprised at how easy it is to shed any stress or doldrums you may be holding onto. Set aside two weeks, or an entire summer, to travel by ferry to all these less-discovered islands, or plan to take a series of day and overnight trips during Michigan’s May-through-October season of warmer-weather delight. Let these islands serve as the bow for your spirit’s arrow.
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