Dan Donarski is back – this time with a creative twist.  Check out this fly-fishing story – do you know someone who could play the starring role?

(Fly fishing after dark on rivers like the Indian and Escanaba in the UP, or the Au Sable, Manistee, or PM in the Lower, are simply pure magic. Here’s a scene that could feature you.)

Like Christmas for a young child wishing the time was now, not later. That’s what the day has been like. Instead of Christmas the wish was for nightfall, and the hopeful subsequent trout-rise.

A breeze of any kind barely rustled the leaves in the trees during the afternoon. The temperature rose so quickly into the low 90s, that a perceptible fellow may have felt the rush of air escaping through backyard thermometers as the mercury rushed higher. Even those unable to discern this could certainly feel the breezes from tempers rising even higher than the mercury.

“Perfect”, he thought sitting on an ancient fallen hemlock alongside the Indian River. Mosquitoes tormented him as they needled him as relentlessly as the sun’s heat had hours before. “Just perfect”. Even now, at just a hair past 9:30, with the clouds kissed in the hues of cotton candy, the temperature was still in the 80s. Save for the mosquito wings, that slight afternoon breeze was a distant memory.

Sweat ran down the middle of his back, across his brow, stinging his eyes as it trickled from his graying hair beneath the well-stained cap. His legs wrapped in old canvas duck waders were as wet from the sweat as if he had been wading all day in pants.

When he got to the hemlock an hour or so earlier, the deer flies and horseflies, the stable flies and black flies, seemingly all that bites and flies descended down upon him. Nothing on the river showed promise. Not even the ever present skipper brook trout, the style that come so small that once he set the hook they come skipping back at him, were out.

But that was an hour ago. The skippers were out now. Tell-tale rings from their rises expanded in ever increasing circles on the river’s still surface. Most were upstream, just behind the remnants of an old white pine that never made it to the mills in Manistique.

Over the past 20 years he had sat here, watching the pine. Each year there was less and less of it. Succumbing to the tugs of current, the crash of break-up ice, and the slow work of various mosses and lichens it was not quite what it once was. Not all that different than him. Still holding strong, but the holding was getting more and more precious.

As the cotton candy clouds turned from vivid orange to deep red he opened his fly box, choosing a scruffy looking pattern that used to be called a mouse. Tying the fly on the line in a loop knot of 10-pound test– thank God for magnifying glasses– he tested the knot with a quick heavy tug. Satisfied that the knot was right he continued to watch, and wait.

Nighthawks and whip-poor-wills slashed against the purple night sky. Above them a crescent moon slid silently further to the west like a silent canoe.

Finally he made a concession to the mosquitoes and started to apply bug dope. He was careful of the fly and the line. Using the backs of his hands as the spreaders he kept his fingers and palms repellent free. A few years ago some fly dope had come in contact with his line and the result was melted plastic and another $45 for a new line. Not to mention a ruined fishing trip upon its untimely discovery.

Just after 10 he thought he heard something in the river just upstream from his seat on the hemlock. Straining his eyes he could make out a doe and two fawns crossing the river. The doe was sure footed along the bottom while the fawns flailed away in the deeper sections, forced to swim.

The deer startled a barred owl when they came out of the river. The owl flew down the river directly in front of him, landing in a popple, or aspen tree on the other side.  Displaying its displeasure of having to move the owl’s call of “Who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-too?” echoed through the valley. It was joined by at least three others answering that questioning call.

His ears caught the familiar sound of a big trout feeding, that unmistakable sound of a big brown coming up for a bug, or a mouse, or something substantial in that huge discourteous slurp. He had once read that the sound was not unlike a pig falling off a diving board but to him it reminded him of an old girlfriend’s father and how he slurped soup.

Not long after came another slurp from the same location, pinpointing the rise. And then another from a bit upstream of the first two. Then another from just downstream. What was a barren river just two short hours ago was no alive with feeding trout. Under the cover of darkness, and urged on by the hatch of giant mayflies, the trout had come out of their hiding places and were now feeding. He thought that his old girlfriend’s father had all his brothers with him tonight.

He moved into the water slowly, gently making his way towards the nearest soup slurper. The water felt cool against the canvass and pulled at his legs.  Playing out line by feel he measured by sound the distance and let the tattered mouse fall near the last rise.  He used mouse flies almost exclusively at night, leaving the dainty mayfly imitations to the more cultured fly anglers.

In more of a heavy swoosh than a slurp the mouse disappeared. Raising his rod quickly he could feel the heavy pulse of a big trout as it dug for the cover of an undercut bank. His reel whined, his rod arced over, his face became taught. The big brown ran for the tangle of a bak-side sweeper. Putting more pressure on the rod, and from the rod to the fish, he turned it. Now the fish bull-dogged, straining for deeper water, straining to find the current. Soon, the fish tired, and slid into weathered ash and cotton mesh net. Twenty-two inches of Indian River brown trout.

The old man cradled the fish in his hands, letting the water run through its gills, gaining its strength back. He could feel the trout grow strong, and with a shake of its head and a thrust of its tail it disappeared into the inky water.

Five minutes later he heard another big fish. Again he measured the distance with his ear and sent the mouse pattern upstream. Another slurp, another hook set. The fish was now joined to the old man. Just as quickly as it had become fastened tight to the old man, the fish became unbuttoned. And, just as quickly as the bugs and the trout became active, they just as quickly quit.

The old man went back to the hemlock and sat down. He listened as the world went to sleep. Walking back to his truck his smile was wide.

Dan Donarski is an award-winning journalist/photographer and author. He specializes in the outdoors and adventure travel. When he’s not out and about he lays his head in Sault Ste. Marie.

Patricia Mooradian, President of The Henry Ford lets us know exactly what to expect from the first annual Maker Faire Detroit  this summer.

A cupcake on wheels; Fire sculptures; Handmade hats; Robots playing soccer.

What do all of these things have in common?

On July 31 and August 1, you’ll find them all together in one place when Maker Faire Detroit takes over The Henry Ford, with more than 260 unique and wonderful creations  like the ones mentioned above on display at the home of innovation.

lifesize Mousetrap game

Created by the publishers of MAKE magazine and makezine.com, the original Maker Faire in California’s Bay Area draws tens of thousands of families, teachers, students, hobby and science clubs, as well as tech and do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts each year to see what’s new and what’s next.

So just what is Maker Faire? Think science fair meets craft fair meets farmers market – from handmade crafts to technological inventions to local products and food, this is a hands-on, fun family-friendly event that celebrates the creativity and resourcefulness of everyday people, many from right here in the great state of Michigan.

If you’ve ever wanted to know how something is made – or even taken something apart just to see how it ticks – you will love this event. It’s a tinkerer’s paradise, with just about every incredible invention and design you can imagine. We think it’s a pretty perfect fit for The Henry Ford: future creators, surrounded by the great inventors of the past.

But it’s not just displays and demonstrations; there are plenty of opportunities for you to roll up your sleeves and become a Maker yourself.

Have you ever wanted to make a model rocket? You’ll learn how, and then set it off on the front lawn of Henry Ford Museum.

You can learn how to turn scrap materials into something entirely new, like cereal box pencil boxes and personalized wine cork key chains, create simple machines using recycled industrial scraps, or learn how to knit or crochet a section of a scarf added to by thousands of other visitors to Maker Faire Detroit.

electric muffins at Maker Faire

I hope to see you at Maker Faire Detroit!

As president of The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, Patricia Mooradian oversees the development and implementation of every aspect of the institution’s business operations and strategic positioning with emphasis on attendance and revenue growth. Committed to driving economic development through cultural heritage and tourism, Mooradian maintains the historical integrity of the institution while focusing on the progression of the business through strategic alliances, a strong community presence, and ongoing funding initiatives.

Kendra Williams, Midwest Living travel editor and contributor to Michigan Travel Ideas, spills the details from her recent enviable spa experience at the Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa.

I’ve been to many spas throughout the Midwest, but none of those prepared me for my experience at Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa in Thompsonville (45 minutes south of Traverse City.)

The pristine outdoor meditation garden where I sipped on cucumber mint water and nibbled on mixed nuts studded with dried cherries.

Opened in 2009 and considered the only LEED-certified spa in the Midwest, the 11,000-square-foot Crystal Spa exudes pampering, tranquility and the serenity of nature. Frosted glass doors have long twigs somehow frozen inside the base of them. Ceramic tiles in shades of taupe, brown, tan, surprising hits of lavender iridescence accent in the huge showers.

Rolled white towels line a shelf and there are curling irons, blow dryers, makeup mirrors, cotton balls, toothbrushes and toothpaste in the women’s locker room. A hostess asks me what size shoe I wear, and based on that, leads me to a locker filled with towels, a fluffy white Sherpa fleece robe and sandals in my shoe size. I choose a four-digit code to lock my locker, then pad out in my robe to the mediation area. It’s a huge sitting room with a long gas fireplace at one end and a crystal-bubble-style chandelier on the other. I step out into a meditation garden with three stone water towers, lounge chairs and a jetted in-ground hot tub.

The bubbly and inviting hot tub in the meditation garden.

I was asked to arrive half an hour early and am so happy I did. I had plenty of time to get into my robe, settle into a lounge chair, sip some cucumber-mint water and nibble on mixed nuts studded with dried cherries. It’s all about getting into the relaxed frame of mind before your treatment. I definitely did.

For my treatment I choose a fresh air facial ($95 plus gratuity). Sherrie, my clinician, compliments my skin (the only time in my life when “pasty white” is a benefit) and leads me downstairs to my dimly lit treatment room. Piano music tinkles through the room as I settle in the heated bed. Sherrie returns and mixes the wasabi mask and carrot puree cream for my facial. After Sherrie applies the wasabi mask, she wraps my face in hot towels and gives me a hand and foot massage while the mask works its magic. At this point, I decide the staff would need a crowbar here to pry me out.

The treatment lasts for 50 magnificent minutes. Afterward, I put on my robe and linger in the meditation garden. I stay out here for nearly an hour, content to listen to the bubbling water fountain a little while longer before returning to my busy day.

Kendra Williams has been a writer and editor for 15 years. She is currently the travel editor at Midwest Living Magazine and oversees the magazine’s annual newsstand-only travel bookazine, Best of the Midwest.

Runaway with George Zimmermann on board crossed the finish line in Mackinac of the Pure Michigan Bayview Mackinac Race at approximately 2am this morning.  Listen to his final audio blog about his experience aboard the Runaway and check out some more amazing pictures taken during the race. 

Download audio file (final.mp3)

The race may be over for Runaway,  but you can follow the rest of the action on our site!

As the Pure Michigan Bayview Mackinac Race continues, listen to this audio blog from our own George Zimmermann on the Runaway from earlier today.

Download audio file (sundayam.mp3)

And remember all the boats are equipped with a GPS tracking system, and we are proud to be the exclusive host of the live tracking.  Follow Runaway, and all the action on our site!

It’s a beautiful morning in Port Huron as our own George Zimmermann and the crew of the Runaway get ready to start the Pure Michigan Bayview Mackinac Race.

Listen to George’s audio blog and check out the slide show of what is happening in Port Huron as they get ready to race.  Check in later tonight for an update on the Runaway’s progress.

Download audio file (porthuronam.mp3)

All the boats are equipped with a GPS tracking system, and we are proud to be the exclusive host of the live tracking.  Follow Runaway, and all the action on our site!

Thanks to John Palmer of www.MichiganMicrobrews.com for helping us celebrate Michigan craft beer month!

July… It’s easily one of the greatest months of the year (in my opinion). Summer vacation is in full tilt and people are out enjoying all that Michigan has to offer; the immense state parks, the vast amount of freshwater coastline, the beautiful weather, and craft beer.

Michigan Beers

Wait, what did I just say? How could I even compare the growing splendor of the Michigan outdoors to the product of a microbrewery?

It’s easy for this beer blogger. July is Michigan craft beer month. It’s legitimate! Breweries and craft beer bars all across this amazing state are celebrating with events, specials and even releasing some one-of-a-kind brews, likely to never be seen again. And it’s possible you live right by one of these places and don’t even know it!

Currently (and gaining ground), Michigan ranks #6 in the country in number of breweries and brewpubs with a brewing industry that contributes over $24 million in wages and a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. With 80+ such locations all across Lower Michigan and the UP, now is the perfect time to enjoy what Michigan has to offer.

At Founder's Brewing Company, enjoying a MPG IPA (Mango, Papaya, Guava) and Death (a black wheat wine). Cheers!

To make it easier, the Michigan Brewer’s Guild is hosting their 13^th Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival (July 23-24) in Ypsilanti. Here, festival-goers will have the opportunity to sample a variety of over 300 different brews from over 50 breweries. This event showcases how truly amazing the Michigan brewing industry is.

To think that we live in a state with such outstanding resources and products… it’s hard not to feel spoiled. This is a great time for all involved – the producer and the consumer.

What else could be more Pure Michigan then sitting on the beach, sipping a pint of your favorite hometown brew, and knowing you’re supporting your local economy. It’s a win-win!

So on this day, til the end of July, raise a pint of some Michigan craft beer and cheers the state of Michigan: The Great Beer State.

John Palmer is freelance marketer and current stay-at-home dad. An advocate of the Michigan brewing industry, John blogs frequently at www.MichiganMicrobrews.com and hopes to share his passion for Michigan craft beer with all craft beer enthusiasts and beyond. Cheers!

Share your favorite Michigan beers with John on Twitter (@MichiganBrew), or by leaving a comment below!

Thanks to Melissa Mackey for sharing her story about her trip up north with her husband and teenage twins!  Check out the end of the post to see the beautiful pictures she took!

This summer, instead of taking one long vacation like we usually do, my husband and I decided to take our 13 year old boy/girl twins to Northern Michigan for a long 4^th of July weekend.  We decided to stay in Mackinaw City and take day trips from there to Mackinac Island and the Pictured Rocks in the UP.  My husband and I had been to both places before, but the kids hadn’t, so they were psyched.

We arrived in Mackinaw City on Thursday evening, just in time for dinner at Darrow’s Restaurant.  Darrow’s is a must-visit if you’re anywhere near Mackinaw City.  Even if you’re not in the city, it’s worth the trip.  Portions are plentiful – enough for even the hungriest teen.  Cool family tip: Make sure to save room for dessert!  Darrow’s serves some of the best pie any of us have ever had.

After a restful night, we headed to the ferry docks bright and early the next morning for a day trip to Mackinac Island.  We chose Shepler’s Ferry this time.  The day was warm and sunny, so we followed our very excited children to the outdoor deck up top.

Cool Family Tip: Twice each day during peak season, Shepler’s takes the scenic route to the island – right under the Mackinac Bridge.  I’d driven across the bridge many times, but this was a view few get to see – and it was well worth it.

The trip to the island is an excursion in and of itself.  The kids were thrilled to be able to see the Grand Hotel and Fort Mackinac from the boat.

Once we arrived at the island, we headed to the eastern shore for some scenery.  As you may know, there are no cars allowed on the island, so travel takes place by horse & buggy, bicycle, or on foot.  We opted to go on foot.

Much of the island is actually a state park, and trails and footpaths abound.  We hiked along the lakeshore until we reached the steps to Arch Rock, one of the most scenic national landmarks on the island.  The steps are steep, and we heard a few moans from the kids on the way up.  When we got to the top, though, the moans turned to gasps as we enjoyed the phenomenal view of Lake Huron.  My son took this cool picture of the lake as seen through the rock.

After Arch Rock, we hiked for another hour or so – until the kids complained they were hungry.  We made our way back to downtown and had lunch at the Pink Pony.  This is one of the hottest night spots on the island, but by day it offers great food and a family atmosphere, with wonderful views of the lake & harbor.

Cool Family Tip: Save time to visit some of the unique shops along Main Street downtown on the island.  From clothing & books to the famous fudge, there’s something for every member of the family.  And don’t miss the Grand Hotel – even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth seeing from the outside.  It’s a great photo opp, like this one from my son (he says it looks like I postcard, and I agree!)

The next day, we got another early start on the drive to Munising and the Pictured Rocks.  It’s about 2.5 hours from Mackinaw City, and we heard moans about that from the kids, too.  But again, moans turned to awed silence as we drove across the Mighty Mac and onto scenic US-2 in the UP.  This 2-lane highway follows Lake Michigan along the southern shore of the UP.  Much of the lakeshore is unspoiled and tranquil, and it had even my video-game-loving teens mesmerized the entire way.

In the summer, the Pictured Rocks boat tours go almost hourly.  We arrived in Munising in time for the 1 p.m. sailing.  My husband and I had taken the tour in June 1990, and it was so cold out on Lake Superior that year that, even with jeans & windbreakers, we got really cold and had to go inside the cabin of the boat (which is still great but not quite as awesome as up on deck).  So, even though the air temperature in Munising was a balmy-for-the-UP 86 degrees, we made the kids wear jeans and bring sweatshirts and jackets (talk about moaning!).  It ended up staying so sunny and warm that we not only didn’t need the jackets & sweatshirts, we were rolling up the legs of our jeans.  Important Family Tip: Dress in layers and be prepared for any weather!  Temperatures on Lake Superior can vary wildly, even in the summer.

Warm clothes aside, we were enthralled by the unbelievable views of the magnificent rocks on the 2 ½ hour tour.

On the return cruise, we got a close-up view of the Grand Island Lighthouse, built in 1863.

Cool Family Tip: Stop in St. Ignace on your way back from the UP.  We ate pasties at the Mackinac Grille, and walked along the boardwalk next to the St. Ignace ferry dock.  The kids loved just watching the boats go to and from Mackinac Island, and we grownups loved the sunset over the lake.

We headed home on July 4, wishing we could stay longer, but glad our teens got to experience these Pure Michigan gems.

Melissa Mackey is Online Marketing Manager at Ann Arbor-based Fluency Media, where she is proud to be part of the team that works on the Pure Michigan online account. A lifelong Michigander, she and her husband live in East Lansing with their 13 year old twins.  Share your thoughts about Melissa’s story on Twitter (@Mel66), or by leaving a comment below.

Dan Donarski is back with more great Pure Michigan fishing tips for you!

Smallmouth bass have really captivated me of late. They are very dependable under almost all weather conditions and they are found throughout the U.P. here’s a quick look at three of my favorite places to fish them when I get the hankering to drive well west into the far reaches of the U.P.

Lake Medora

You can drive farther north than Lake Medora, but only about 5 miles to Copper Harbor, the northern-most town in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Up here July and August can require warm jackets when the wind blows in off the big lake. Tough it out. Get here anyway.

Medora isn’t a big lake, coming in just shy of 700 acres, but it has that special “heart” normally found only in wilderness areas. It also has just about any kind of cover you like to fish smallies in.

Jim Ekdahl likens it to smallmouth heaven. “There are an awful lot of smallmouth bass in the lake. Most are going to go about two pounds or so but fish above five aren’t out of the question. You do need to work various structures to find the fish.”

From the boat launch, located directly off US-41 on the lake’s southeastern shore, you’ll spot one of three closely associated islands to the north. These islands generally hold a fair number of fish. The bottom is rocky here, as it is along much of the eastern and north shore.

Going to the extreme northern bay you’ll find a reef coming up from the 20-foot depths and topping out around six. Rocks dominate here, too, with a smattering of weed beds along the edges.

In these rocky areas diving cranks work wonders. You’ll want to get that crank to bounce off those rocks for the best action, much like a wounded baitfish or a crayfish may move.

The lake’s eastern shore is much softer and has more weeds. The contours here are gentle.  Working the 10-foot contour with jigs and leeches in a slow methodical way will produce. Stickbaits work as well with gold/black being the top color.

Portage and Torch Lakes

Portage and Torch lakes are the anchors of the Keweenaw Waterway. Together they total over 13,000 acres of fishable water. That’s what makes this place so hard to figure out for first-time anglers. It doesn’t have to be.

The key, according to guide Doug Wyble, is to break each section down into defined areas. “Most people just see this huge expanse of water and get overwhelmed. What they should do is take each section by itself and really break it down.”

For instance, on Torch Lake, the northern lake of the system, you’ll find a lot of small bays and pockets along the north-western shore. The bottom slopes quickly in these and weed beds are few. Wyble fishes those that have the leftover mining equipment, some as big as a small factory poking up through the surface. These old dredges and other paraphernalia offer superb cover for smallmouths, sort of like smallie condos.

On bays without the mining leftovers he targets the 12-foot contours with jerk baits. Gold or bronze are the best finishes. These areas are fished a bit quicker than those with the mining junk. The fish aren’t as plentiful here but they are generally much bigger, with fish in the 6-pound range a real possibility.

On Portage, the southern lake in the system, much of the smallmouth fishing will be found along the eastern shore where the lake starts to narrow down to the Torch Lake Channel. The contours here are sharp with depths going from zero to 24 feet in sharp drops.

Access to Torch is best at Lake Linden Village Park, just east of Hancock on M-26. For Portage the best access is in Chassel, right off US-41.

Lake Gogebic

In a popular book among U.P. anglers Lake Gogebic’s smallmouth fishery is listed as “poor to fair.” Nothing could be further from the truth on Gogebic.

Gogebic, located in both Ontonagon and Gogebic counties is the U.P.’s largest lake, coming in at around 20 square miles. The lake is generally a long north-south tube with a small dog leg to the east at its northernmost point. Most folks would call it generally featureless with a gently sloping bottom and expansive deep water flats. All this is true, and then again…

Yeds, whose real name is Jerry Anderson but definitely prefers Yeds, showed me a smallmouth fishery that was on fire a few summers ago. The fishery was entirely based on structure.

“There is structure here. Some of it is subtle but when that’s all there is that’s where the smallmouth will be,” he told me. “Ya just have to work it with what the fish want.” We had just launched from the access site on the lake’s south eastern shore off of CR-525. Additional access sites will be found in Bergland, along the north shore on East Shore Road, and the state park, along the lake’s southwestern shore off of M-64.

No more than fifty feet off shore we were in six to eight feet of water. A few small boulders could be seen on the bottom. Beyond the boulders we lost sight of the bottom which dropped into 15 or so feet. “This drop goes on a long way,” Yeds told me, “rig up.”

Floating jig heads tipped with flathead minnows was his preferred style. Using nothing for weight Yeds told me to pitch the jig into the deeper water and just let it sit. With a gentle wind blowing us north and east towards the shore the jig slowly settled towards the bottom and was then carried with the wind to the bouldered edge.

The western shore is different when it comes to style.

Fish cribs rule the success factor here. Dozens of them have been placed over the years in about 12 feet of water up and down the western shore. A graph is almost a necessity to finding them. If you find a crib you can bet there will be a number of smallmouths in and around it. Catching these bass takes a bit of finesse.

Slip bobber rigs with either leeches or minnows fished quietly in and alongside the cribs is one productive method. The other involves rigging a soft plastic worm wacky style and, without weight, tossing it on top or near the edge of the crib. You want the worm to slowly sink on a slack line. Watch that line for any stop, or a slight move to the side. That shift from falling is a bass picking it up. Hit it hard when that happens or risk the fish spitting it out.

Dan Donarski is an award-winning journalist/photographer and author. He specializes in the outdoors and adventure travel. When he’s not out and about he lays his head in Sault Ste. Marie.

With the Pure Michigan Bayview Mackinac Race starting in Port Huron on Saturday July 17, 2010, we decided to give you a roundup of all the events that are happening in the Port Huron area in conjunction with the race.

The Blue Water Fest runs from July 15 through July 17 and is comprised of many fun family events:

Parade of Lights, July 17, 2010 at 10.pm: Be dazzled as a parade of boats twinkles over the waters on Black River.

Music on Four Stages, July 15 – 17, 2010: Enjoy an array of country, rock, pop and acoustic music to delight all ears on four stages through the Festival in Port Huron.

Physician Health Care Network Kid’s Zone, July 15 – 17, 2010: Meijer’s Kids Stage, moonwalks, clowns, puppet theater performances, beach parties, ventriloquists, magic show and more!

Operation Transformation, July 15, 2010: Not to be missed, a show by Magician David Yanik.  Other activities include clowns, facepainting, hair wrapping, tumbling demos, and the Port Huron Icehawks in the Majestic Parking Lot.

Art Fair, July 16 – 17, 2010: Over 40 artists will be exhibiting in a variety of media, featuring nautical themes along East and West Quay Street.

Blue Water Film Festival “Movie Tent”, July 16 – 17, 2010: Featuring amateur and classic short films from the silver screen to those locally produced in the Majestic Parking Lot.

The Blue Water Fest, Port Huron, Best Buy Experience, July 16 – 17, 2010: Interactive fun including Rock Band, Nintendo gaming consoles, and viewing station of footage from beneath the St. Clair River.

Make a weekend of it and enjoy the festivities in Port Huron. Follow the progress of the Pure Michigan Bayview Mackinac Coastal course and go boat spotting along the coast line all the way up to the finish in Mackinac.

Make a stop to check out the Tall Ships in Bay City, July 15 through July 17, 2010 to complete your sail away weekend that will be simply Pure Michigan.