Hike and Bike the North Country Trail
The North Country Trail is the longest trail in the U.S. and stretches from North Dakota to New York, passing through Northern Michigan.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash.com
St. Ignatius Church is often first recognized by the steep, white steeple peering above the treeline as M-119 enters Good Hart, twenty miles north of Harbor Springs.
Travel along the Tunnel of Trees from Harbor Springs to Cross Village and you will pass through Good Hart, a Northern Michigan cross roads rich with history. In Good Hart, turn onto Lamkin Road and head down the hill into Middle Village, an old Native American village.
The first structure in Middle Village was a Jesuit Mission in 1823 but the mission began in this area, once called Apatawaaing, in 1741. It was rebuilt in 1823 by Native Americans and then built again in 1889 after a fire destroyed it. What was once named the St. Ignatius Church of Loyola is now known as St. Ignatius Church.
Thanks to a massive restoration project, the St. Ignatius Church is now open to the public for Sunday mass in July and August, weddings, and funeral visitations. The church is adjacent to the Middle Village Cemetery where row and row of white crosses mark the graves of Odawa Indians. Also nearby is a pathway to Middle Village Beach, a popular spot for swimming.
101 N. Lamkin Rd., Good Hart, MI, 49737
(231) 526-2017
The North Country Trail is the longest trail in the U.S. and stretches from North Dakota to New York, passing through Northern Michigan.
With Lake Michigan on one side and Lake Huron on the other side, Mackinaw City is a true Great Lake’s spot with lots of things to do!
The Headlands, just west of Mackinaw City, is one of six International Dark Sky Parks in the U.S. and one of nine in the world.
The Harbor Springs History Museum offers a unique look at the history of the community, starting with the first Catholic missionaries.
McGulpin Rock, near Mackinaw City, has been used as a navigational tool by explorers and mariners since before the Pilgrims landed.
Northern Michigan is home to several different museums for people of all ages which highlight the area’s businesses, history, and culture!
A visit to Northern Michigan is not complete without a walk along the Lake Michigan in search of Petoskey stones.
Arch Rock is a geologic wonder on Mackinac Island and stands 146′ over the Lake Huron shoreline- nearly 15 stories tall.
Summer’s not summer without a day at the beach and Northern Michigan offers some of the best beaches anywhere.