rebekahcraft

As any Michigander will tell you, we love the outdoors. The appreciation for our lakes and forests is evident in both the Upper and Lower Peninsula’s. Though, if it wasn’t for a woman named Karen Hartwick breaking the boundaries of her time, the biggest state park in the Lower Peninsula wouldn’t exist. After 100 years, Karen is being inducted to the Michigan Environmental Hall of Fame for her efforts that led to the preservation of Hartwick Pines State Park.

The lucrative hobby of rock hunting is back in full swing for the summer 2022 season. Michigan is known for its diversity in rocks and minerals thanks to its surrounding bodies of water. These minerals have many reasons to be picked up for their contrasting colors and textures, but is this summer hobby actually harming our Great Lakes?

Sarkozy’s Bakery has been providing fresh baked goods to the Kalamazoo community since 1978. In hopes of preserving the strong business she made, a succession plan was set in place for the first time in 44 years.

With so much upkeep and changes every year, could we embrace a new change that would allow local artists to display their work on the streets? Street art has a way of brightening a city, waking people up to certain situations, or making light of the local community; should Kalamazoo adopt a more open mind to street art?

Now open for yearlong fun at the Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park in Wisconsin Dells, the Medusa Slidewheel combines the technology of a waterslide and the movement of a ferris wheel to become America’s first moving waterslide.

Now, while many people consider the yielding right of way of roundabouts to be more dangerous, it actually keeps the flow of traffic moving at a steady and safer pace. With more cities adding this traffic control system, which Southwest Michigan areas does everyone think is next?

Head on out to Hartford Speedway in Hartford Michigan for their season opener this Friday, April 20th. Known for being the widest 3/8-mile track in Michigan, this hidden speedway brings fun and cheers to Southwest Michigan residents every Friday night of the summer.

Whether it is because of the nice weather, more available options for venues, or the possible luxury of relatives and friends having available time for the festivities; the summer season is filled with weddings. With this annual season's festivities returning after Covid-19 put so many restraints on social gatherings, weddings are back in full swing in Southwest Michigan.

For years there have been rumors and close calls for the closure of Sugar Bear, but each summer it would hold strong to reemerge for their local guests. Summer 2022 will be different, having been recently purchased by Malia’s Mexican Mexican Restaurant, this will be their first expansion out of Gobles, MI.

Southwest Michigan has no limit to second hand stores, some summer days are best spent finding the next bargain. The secret to finding the best spots is knowing what local neighborhoods to go to, how timing leads to the best deals, and the overall intrigue thrifting brings to so many each year.