An Ocean of the Midwest

Red Arrow Beach. Lake Michigan, Wisconsin.

Lake Michigan, some would argue the crown jewel - but for certain, she's a rustic beauty of the upper Midwest with warm summer waters and foamy whitecaps unfurling to encroach upon sand, creating a smooth welcome with bits of freshwater gifts graciously dotting the shoreline for explorer and seagull alike. Tracks marking hundreds of feet, bare and softly imprinted upon wet grains of sand simply wash away within seconds as the cycle of water continues to erode the beach. There's a great relief in perspective that things in life are fleeting and overthinking and planning too much in detail for every possible scenario is an incredibly wasteful use of energy. There really is a genuine, spectacular ocean vibe along its shores. Michigan means "large lake" via translation of the word, mishigami, which is said to be the origin term from the Ojibwa, a First Nation Tribe of North America. The humor of Lake Large Lake in my head now repeating itself like a chant is going to very likely entertain me every time I read, think, hear or speak about it.

Neshotah Beach. Lake Michigan, Wisconsin.

Though Lake Michigan feels softer and gentler than Lake Superior in a lot of ways to me, there's still a grit I love about it which generally speaking, the oceans I've visited simply do not embody. Maybe it's the four seasons which can be experienced in their extremes. I've spent time up and down the coast from the Eastern Seaboard and the Atlantic Ocean with the Jersey Shore boardwalk's saltwater taffy then down and around the warm, clear water and squeaky white sand beaches of the Gulf. The wave I rode continued, including the paradise of Mexico's stunning waters and then swung back up along the Pacific coast all the way to Washington. There was comparable variety with this wild travel adventure from my early adulthood in those journeys to even this small sampling of the Great Lakes. The Pacific Northwest and some of the Gulf waters along Mississippi's shores are the only thing I've experienced that comes close to the spirit and character the two northwestern lakes of the Greats personify.

View from Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse

When native Wisconsinites and the invasion of tourists aren't avoiding Lake Michigan's shores because of the third consecutive summer of dangerous Canadian wildfire smoke, heat or beach closure advisories one can enjoy more than just the scenery and calming sound of the waves. There are a great many festivals year-round, fishing, farmer's markets, live music, great food, ice cream, shopping, hiking, biking, horseback riding trails, camping, kayaking, paddleboarding, museums, a historic fishing village, wineries, breweries, pubs, antiquing, arts, theatre, the zoo, a beautiful West of the Lake Gardens estate and so much more. Like cheese. Of course, cheese! This is Wisconsin, after all.

Alternatively, you can catch the ferry across the Lake Large Lake to Michigan for even more exploring. I'm not sure what else they are really known for besides cars. Maybe you can build it "One Piece at a Time," like that Johnny Cash song. That would certainly be a wild ride and get you noticed.

In any case, the winter season brings additional activities to pursue such as ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. There really is something for every season be it a festival, outdoor activity or exploring the town when the quiet of a stark winter falls like a heavy, frigid curtain over this part of the world and the deadly howl of wind off of the lake shake and shiver your timbers. Hibernate, eat, drink and be merry or brave the wild. You can do either of them here plus a whole lot more.

Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse

And what would a visit to Lake Michigan be without lighthouses? My favorite lighthouse of this trip was the Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse, which was built in 1839 and is located by the harbor near the marina. It is said the indigenous folk of this area call this spot-turned-town, "manidoowaak" which loosely translated, means, "dwelling of the spirit". Fisherman dot the raised concrete walkway leading to the lighthouse during the summer with their large pails, flipped over to sit on and pulling small wagons with all their gear. It doesn't seem like a stretch to image they are quite likely annoyed by the tourists on this narrow path and counting the very seconds until the invaders finally leave their home and extract themselves from what these natives of Manitowoc and the surrounding communities must enjoy in their everyday lives.

After all, "a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work."

Woodland Dunes. Point Beach State Forest.