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Friday, April 16, 2010 Newberry Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner will be held at the American Legion in Newberry.  “Unity in Our Community” is the theme with cocktails starting at 5:30, dinner at 6:30 and awards and entertainment at 7:30.  Entertainment this year will be provided by Mike Ridley, singer-comedian.  For more information call the chamber office at 906-293-5562.  Hope to see you there!

Friday-Sunday, April 23-25 2010 22nd Annual Spring Fling at The Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, Whitefish Point, Paradise, MI.  Workshops, keynote speaker, birding experiences and a banquet.

Friday-Saturday, April 30-May 1 2010 Live music by Potter’s Field at Chamberlin’s Ole Forest Inn, Curtis, MI

Friday-Sunday, May 7-9  2010 Live music by John D. Lamb at Chamberlin’s Ole Forest Inn, Curtis, MI

Thursday-Sunday, May 13-16, 2010 1st Annual North of 45 Retreat for Writers, sponsored by The Erickson Center for the Arts. The retreat is open to writers of any style and will be held at Chamberlin’s Ole Forest Inn, on the southeast shore of Big Manistique Lake, Curtis, MI. On staff are novelist Steve Amick, creative writing professor Shelley St. Ange-Sheldon, songwriter and playwright Amy Speace and children’s author Jeff Schatzer. On Saturday night the public is invited to a presentation at the Erickson Center for the Arts in Curtis, where North of 45 staff will read from their work. For more information or to register, contact Kelly Chamberlin at 906-586-6000 or chamberlininn@sbcglobal.net.

Friday-Saturday, May 21-22 2010 Live music by Bob Hausler at Chamberlin’s Ole Forest Inn, Curtis, MI

Friday-Saturday, May 28-29  2010 Live music by Billy Brandt and Sarana Verlin at Chamberlin’s Ole Forest Inn, Curtis, MI

Saturday, May 29, 2010,  7am-noon Lumberjack Breakfast at the Tahquamenon Logging Museum, M-123 north of Newberry.  Come out for a great breakfast of bacon, eggs, homemade sausage, pancakes and fried potatoes cooked over an authentic wood stove and served in the Cook Shack as it was done 100 years ago. Cost is $7.50 each.

Sunday, May 30 2010 Live music by Michael Lee at Chamberlin’s Ole Forest Inn, Curtis, MI

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is the only one of its kind dedicated to the perils of maritime transport on the Great Lakes. It is fittingly located at Whitefish Point, Michigan, site of the oldest active lighthouse on Lake Superior.

Explore the Haunting World of Shipwrecks

Lake Superior. Deceivingly beautiful, yet the big lake’s unrelenting fury has earned her the reputation of being the most treacherous of the Great Lakes. Throughout the museum gallery visitors see dramatic shipwreck legends come to life. Artifacts and exhibits tell stories of sailors and ships who braved the waters of Superior and those who were lost to her menacing waves. The bell of the famous Edmund Fitzgerald is displayed in the museum as a memorial to her lost crew. Whitefish Point marks the critical turning point for all ships entering or leaving the lake. The waters that extend west from Whitefish Point along the 80-mile stretch of rugged shoreline have earned the ominous title, “Lake Superior’s Shipwreck Coast.”

Lightkeeper’s Quarters

Take a trip back in time on a guided tour of the fully restored 1861 Lightkeepers Quarters. You’ll hear first-hand accounts of keepers and their families who manned this side-by-side duplex building while tending the light. The Lightkeepers Quarters features period furnishings, descriptive panels, and artifacts from the days of the U.S. Lighthouse Service and the U.S. Life Saving Service.

Visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum Website >>>>

Tahquamenon Falls State Park encompasses close to 40,000 acres stretching over 13 miles. Most of this is undeveloped woodland without roads, buildings or power lines. The centerpiece of the park, and the very reason for its existence, is the Tahquamenon River, with its waterfalls.

The Upper Falls
One of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. It has a drop of nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across. A maximum flow of more than 50,000 gallons of water per second has been recorded cascading over these falls.

The Lower Falls
Four miles downstream is the Lower Falls, a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island. Although not as dramatic as the Upper Falls, they are equally magnificent. The falls can be viewed from the river bank or from the island, which can be reached by rowboat rented from a park concession. The island walk affords a view of the falls in the south channel.

The Tahquamenon River
Rising from springs north of McMillan and drains the watershed of an area of more than 790 square miles. From its source, it meanders 94 miles before emptying into Whitefish Bay. The amber color of the water is not rust nor is it muddiness; it is caused by tannin leached from the Cedar, Spruce and Hemlock in the swamps drained by the river. The extremely soft water churned by the action of the falls causes the large amounts of foam, which has been the trademark of the Tahquamenon since the days of the voyagers.

Recreational Activities
The park offers visitors a wide variety of recreational opportunities. During the spring and summer, camping, hiking, fishing, canoeing, nature study and photography are popular activities. Fall colors provide a beautiful picturesque view of the park. In addition, hunters will find ample opportunities to pursue their sport. Winter offers opportunity for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing with miles of marked trails. Ice formations along Lake Superior and frozen waterfalls are a photographer’s delight. Moose are occasionally seen wandering through the park, and from time to time, bald eagles are also spotted by visitors. Black bear, coyotes, otter, deer, fox, porcupine, beaver and mink are a few of the other wildlife which can be seen in the park. The abundant bird life includes spruce grouse, sharptail grouse, pileated woodpeckers and a variety of waterfowl and songbirds. One of the few nesting sites in Michigan for the sandhill crane is found in the park.

Camping
Four campgrounds are available in the park; two modern campgrounds at the Lower Falls and a modern and semi-modern campground at the Rivermouth. Each of the modern campgrounds have approximately 90 sites and each site is equipped with electricity, a fire pit and a table. Hot showers and flush toilets are also features of the modern campground. Sanitation stations are available at the Lower Falls and Rivermouth Units. There is no campground located at the Upper Falls. This is the land of Longfellow’s Hiawatha - “by the rushing Tahquamenaw” Hiawatha built his canoe. Long before the white man set eyes on the river, the abundance of fish in its waters and animals along its shores attracted the Ojibwa Indians, who camped, farmed, fished and trapped along its banks. In the late 1800’s came the lumber barons and the river carried their logs by the millions to the mills. Lumberjacks, who harvested the tall timber, were among the first permanent white settlers in the area.

For More Information Click Here >>>

Nearby Best Up North Lodging >>>

Multicolored sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, inland lakes, wildlife and the forest of the Lake Superior shoreline beckon visitors to explore this 73,000+ acre park. Attractions include a lighthouse and former Coast Guard life-saving stations along with old farmsteads and former logging trails. The park is a four season recreational destination where hiking, camping, hunting, nature study, and winter activities abound. At its widest point the Lakeshore is only five miles and hugs the Superior shoreline for more than 40 miles. This was the first National Lakeshore and was authorized in 1966

Operating Hours, Seasons

Visitor Center hours are listed under the Facilities section of this site. Park headquarters at Sand Point in Munising is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, year round, with the exception of federal holidays.

There is no particular “best season” to visit the Lakeshore for each has its own charm and variety of activities. In the spring, wild flowers bloom in great profusion and add to the beauty of the natural scene. The summer brings pleasantly warm weather and abundant sunshine. Fall boasts a colorful display as the hardwood forest changes color. A mantle of snow sets the stage for wintertime adventure.

Getting There

PLANE - Grass airfields are located near Grand Marais and Munising. Regularly scheduled commercial airline service is located in Marquette, Escanaba, and Sault Ste. Marie Michigan.

CAR - Michigan state highways M-28 and M-94 lead to Munising; state highway M-77 leads to Grand Marais. County road H-58 and other spur roads provide access throughout the park.

BUS - Regional bus lines stop in Marquette and Escanaba.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Local bus service (Altran, (906) 387-4845) offers backpacker shuttle service in summer; reservations are required.

Weather & Climate

The climate varies as much as the seasons. Summertime high temperatures can reach the 90’s with much cooler evening temperatures. Temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s are more common. Wintertime temperatures below freezing are common. Layered clothing for changing weather and a rain suit are recommended.

Accessibility

Each drive-in campground has at least one handicapped accessible campsite. Paved trails and boardwalks provide access at Miners Castle, Munising Falls and the Sand Point Marsh Trail. Visitor centers are accessible.

For More Information Click Here >>>

Newberry Best Up North Lodging >>>

Munising Best Up North Lodging >>>

A Great Place to Watch Wildlife!

In 1935 Seney National Wildlife Refuge was established as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. Today, Seney supports a variety of wildlife, including endangered and reintroduced species. Bald eagles, common loons and trumpeter swans are regularly seen during the summer months, especially June and July, when they are raising their young.

Peak populations of waterfowl are present in late summer and fall. Common species observed include Canada geese, hooded mergansers, mallards, black ducks, ring-necked ducks, and wood ducks. Sandhill cranes can be observed in moderate numbers prior to fall migration. Animals that live on the Refuge but are not always seen include black bear, white-tailed deer, coyote, river otter, beaver, ruffed, spruce, and sharp-tailed grouse, yellow rails, and woodcock.

Biting insects (black flies, deer flies, and mosquitoes) can be a problem during warmer months. Wood ticks may also be found in this area.

Visitor Center

The Visitor Center is open from 9am - 5pm, May 15 - October 15. At the Visitor Center you can: explore the Children’s Touch Table and interactive exhibits, watch the multi-projector orientation slide show and shop for books and souvenirs in the Seney Natural History Association’s bookstore.

During the season nature programs and special events are offered. Most programs meet at the Visitor Center. Click on the hyperlink above for a schedule of upcoming programs.

The Marshland Wildlife Drive
This self-guided auto tour is 7 miles long and is open during daylight hours from May 15th through October 15th. Observation decks offer wheelchair accessible scopes to view wildlife on the pools.

Hiking - The Pine Ridge Nature Trail
Pine ridge nature trail is open year-round during daylight hours. The 1.2 mile trail starts at Visitor Center and takes visitors through a wide variety of habitats. Take your time on the trail, often animals can’t be seen, but signs of their passing are present, such as tracks and homes. For the more adventuresome all backcountry roads are open to hiking. Trails are only open during daylight hours so you need to plan your trip carefully.

Biking
Bicycling is a wonderful way to see the Refuge because you can travel through large portions of the backcountry. All Refuge roads are open to bicycles, but the Refuge Manager may close some areas during peak migration. The Pine Ridge nature trail and the cross-country ski trails, however, are not open to bicycles. Refuge staff drive through the backcountry while conducting surveys so please be aware of the possibility of vehicles on the roads. To help you plan your visit, mileage is marked on the Refuge map.

Canoeing & Paddling
Canoeing is allowed on the Manistique and Driggs River. The Manistique River flows through the southern portion of the Refuge and offers paddlers an enjoyable trip. Due to numerous snags, shallow water, limited access by road, and no camping allowed, the Driggs is not recommended for canoeing. Boats or flotation devices of any kind are not allowed on the Refuge pools.Canoes and river kayaks are available at two outfitters in the nearby town of Germfask:

Northland Outfitters - 906/586-9801
Big Cedar Campground 906/586-6684

Fishing & Hunting
Fishing is permitted on the refuge in designated areas, with a Michigan fishing license. For more information see Fishing. Upland game hunting is available during state seasons in specified areas of the refuge. For more information see Hunting.

X-Country Skiing
The Northern Hardwoods Cross Country Ski Trail are groomed for traditional diagonal skiing. Trails are groomed as needed, usually just before the weekend if there has been sufficient snowfall. See X C Skiing for more information and a map.

Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is permitted anywhere on the Refuge, except on groomed ski trails. Crossing the pools is not recommended as thin ice conditions may exist.

History
Seney National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935 for the protection and production of migratory birds and other wildlife. Today the refuge is comprised of a rich mosaic of marsh, swamp, bog, grasslands, and forest, with nearly two-thirds wetlands.

Over a century ago, lumbering operations forever altered the landscape of the Upper Peninsula’s great pine forests. The ring of the lumberman’s axe echoed through the forests as local mills depleted the region’s valuable supply of red and white pine. After the pine forests were cut, mill owners turned their axes and saws to the refuge’s northern hardwood and swamp conifer species.

Following the lumbering operations, fires were often set to clear away the debris. These fires burned deep into the rich organic soil, damaging its quality and killing the seeds that would have produced a new forest. On many areas of the refuge, the scars from these lumbering operations remain visible to this day.

After the fires burned out, a land development company dug many miles of drainage ditches throughout Seney. This drained acreage was then sold using extravagant promises of agricultural productivity. But the new owners quickly learned that these promises were unfounded. One by one, the farms were abandoned, and the exploited lands reverted to state ownership.

In 1934 the Michigan Conservation Department recommended to the Federal Government that the Seney area be developed for wildlife. This proposal was accepted and Seney National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935.

Physical development and restoration of the refuge land began soon after establishment. With the aid of the Civilian Conservation Corps, an intricate system of dikes, water control structures, ditches, and roads was built. This system now impounds over 7,000 acres of open water in 26 major pools. These wetlands make Seney National Wildlife Refuge a great place to watch wildlife!

For More Information Click Here

Newberry Best Up North Lodging >>>

Munising Best Up North Lodging >>>

The TOONERVILLE TROLLEY, an authentic narrow gauge railroad, takes you 5 1/2 miles through thick forest, the habitat of bear, deer, moose, gray wolf, and many types of birds. This incredible train has been in operation since its early beginnings in 1927. Partners Joe Beach and Robert Hunter developed this unique train ride and river boat tour that provided the only access to the Upper Tahquamenon Falls.

Visitors and dignitaries from afar travelled here for this unique opportunity to view one of Michigan’s greatest attractions! Utilizing Hunter’s Logging Railroad, Mr. Beach and Mr. Hunter began a business that is still moving along the tracks to this day. Mr. Hunter’s great grandson Kris Stewart continues the family dream.

Tahquamenon Country and a Family’s Commitment

The Stewart Family is committed to providing guests with an incredible experience combining the 24″ narrow-gauge track - Toonerville Trolley ride of yesteryear with an old fashion Riverboat Trip that is second to none in Wilderness Adventures!

Toonerville Trolley Riverboat Tour
Soo Junction, MI
1-888-77TRAIN
Depot: 906-876-2311

Visit Toonerville Trolley Riverboat Tour Website >>>

Welcome to Oswald’s Bear Ranch. Your hosts Dean and Jewel Oswald invite you to explore their world of the American Black Bear! This complex is the Largest (bear only) Bear Ranch in the entire United States! We are found only in the Wild Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Rescued cubs are brought here every year and they are always a joy to see! Area youth enter contests yearly to name these newborn creatures. People love to see them grow, play and become adult bears!

Located just 20 minutes south of Tahquamenon Falls, or from Newberry go 4 miles north on M-123 towards Tahquamenon Falls. Turn left at 4 Mile Corner (Deer Park Rd., Muskallonge Lake, H-37 H-407).Then it’s 4 1/2 more miles to see the home of Tyson Bear (died July 2, 2000) certified weight of 880 lbs.
The Largest Black Bear in the U.S. and possibly the World.
Also see 30 Live Roaming Bears!

Oswald’s Bear Ranch
Open the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend thru Sept. 30th
PHONE : 906 293-3147
Owners : Dean & Jewel Oswald
Admission: $15/per car or $10 for motorcycle or individuals

Visit Oswald’s Bear Ranch Website >>>

See The Fall Color In Newberry and the Eastern U.P.