5 Spots Of Unrivalled Natural Beauty In The USA
#4 Petoskey, MI
Michigan is the sweetheart of the American midwest. Known for its five Great Lakes, it sits at the northern-most tip of the US and reaps the benefits of a diverse climate. Nutrient-rich land gives birth to fields of wildflowers and sunflowers. There’s grassy beaches and plenty of farmland, and the sunsets in the northern part of the state are the most golden I’ve witnessed. We drove past floral pastures and slowed down for deer casually crossing the road. The mountains, snow-capped in the winter, are lush and green in the summer, and horses, mostly wild, make the perfect trail guides.
The waters of Lake Michigan glisten in the sun, creating a one-way peninsula to what many Michiganders call “sparkle island.” One of the state’s largest freshwater lakes, the beaches are popular swimming spots for their calm, cold, and crystal waters. Starting in the sleepy vacation town of Petoskey, take a drive down the M119 (a route known as the Tunnel of Trees) to Sturgeon Bay, or swim closer to town at ‘locals only’ Walloon Lake. Full of sailboats, jetskis and wakeboarders, the lake is ideal for a full day of boating and the resulting sun-kissed skin.
Walloon Lake, with its blue lagoon feel, is enclosed by state forest and endless woods in which to wander. Manned with a boat and a picnic, we floated through the lilies of the west end, before finding a bank to anchor. In spring time, the lake is mild and the town’s centre is quiet. We passed no one as we cruised the shallows under an overcast sky.
Ivy and climbing vines sprawled across unworn paths as we walked through the forest inspecting spider webs and fungi. I picked the wildflowers and other earthly treasures as we passed along the way.
Up next: Olympic National Forest, Washington…
