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Archive for August, 2010

This past week, the weather has given us a small taste of autumn. The temperatures have been much cooler and I’ve even seen a few rare trees with a slight tint of yellow. Even though the fall colors are several weeks away, it’s a good time to start planning your trip to Munising to see them! The colors tend to peak here towards the end of September into the first part of October. This can vary a little from year-to-year because of the climate conditions. Lake Superior also plays a part in the color change as the warmer water temperatures tend to delay the color change near the shore while trees, say 20 miles, inland will peak earlier. According to the 7-day forecast, these cooler temperatures will be rising as it’s suppose to be in the mid-80s for several days and summer will be back!

Click to view poster

If you’re looking to have some fun this weekend and hear some great music, we’ve got something for you. Starting today, at noon (Aug. 27th) and running through Sunday, Aug. 29th is the Porcupine Press’ Birthday Bash & Salute to the Military in Chatham, MI. This 3-day event is being labeled as the “Biggest Party of the Year.” It will feature 5 bands, vendors, silent auctions, beer tent, a mechanical bull and much more. If you’ve ever heard or been to the Sturgis Bike Week in South Dakota, you’ll definitely want to attend this event! For more info, visit the Birthday Bash website.

Have an enjoyable weekend!

Located about 45 miles from Munising and only 8 miles from Grand Marais, is one of the most beautiful spots within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Known as the “Log Slide”, this scenic spot gives you a great view of the Lake Superior shoreline. To the west you will the see the Au Sable Light Station and to the east is the majestic Grand Sable Dunes. The Log Slide gets its name from lumberjack stories that tell of logs being sent down a dry log chute, at this spot, would generate enough friction to cause the chute to catch fire. The chute is long gone, but the stories still carry on today. Many folks also like to run down the dune to Lake Superior but please be cautious. It only takes a few minutes to get to the bottom but almost an hour to get back to the top! The Log Slide area has paved parking, picnic area, is handicap accessible and there area information signs along the walking path, from the parking lot to the lookout. Make sure to bring your camera!

» View Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Map

As for the weather this week, we’ve seen cooler temperatures for the last several days and some rain. It’s only getting up in to the low 70s during the day and in the 50s at night. (Kind of a relief after our heat wave.) The summer heat looks to be returning this weekend and next week as the forecast is showing temperatures in the 80s. It looks to be another great weekend in the U.P.!

See ya around!

The Log Slide. See the adventurer?

To the west, Au Sable Light Station

To the east, Grand Sable Dunes

The beautiful weather is still continuing here in the U.P. It’s been in the mid-80s but a bit on the muggy side. The water temperature of Lake Superior is great for swimming and a nice relief from the heat. Please, though, use extreme caution while swimming in the big lake. The conditions can change drastically and rip currents are always a threat. Tragically, we saw four drownings last Thursday in the area– two individuals in Grand Marais and another two in Marquette. The waves on Lake Superior can be fun to play and swim in but also extremely dangerous. Please, please, please use caution!

In other news, the 29th annual Grand Marais Music & Arts Festival begins tomorrow August 13th and runs through Sunday, August 15th. The event features great music acts throughout the entire weekend and the weather forecast is looking great as well. The fun begins tomorrow at 6:30pm with a parade and the first music act starts at 7:00pm. Then on Saturday and Sunday, the music gets going at noon and runs all day. Visit the Music & Arts Festival website for a complete schedule of events and video clips of the bands. We hope to see you there!

As always in the Upper Peninsula, it’s going to be a great weekend!

For Solar, A Ray of Sunshine

The solar electrical power industry may be ready for its moment in the sun.

It’s still true that solar sources generate less than 1% of total U.S. electricity vs. the 70% generated from industrial-age fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas.

But energy price spikes in 2001, 2005 and 2008 spurred states and the federal government to explore alternatives to fossil fuels. Solar stocks soared alongside rising oil prices in 2008.

Solar panels at a power station in the northwest China city of Shizuishan. The country is pushing solar power projects, making up for Europe. AP View Enlarged Image

But solar has a fickle history of rising, then disappearing from view — often for what seems decades. This time is different, some industry watchers contend.

“In the 1970s and 1980s, there was a technology issue,” said Mike Taylor, director of research with the Solar Energy Power Association. “(Photovoltaic) solar wasn’t ready for prime time commercialization.”

Government-led energy initiatives in Japan through the 1990s fostered development of solar technologies and manufacturing. Spain and Germany picked up the baton, installing large-scale solar facilities over the past several years.

Now the industry appears set for another leap. The bulk of that is occurring in China, a country moving aggressively onto the solar-energy stage.

The U.S. also is creeping forward, as federal and state incentives lure utilities and larger commercial entities onto the scene.

The summer (so far) has been great with beautiful sunny days and warm temperatures! The warm weather is continuing this week and it’s the perfect time to head to the beach. The water temperature is relatively warm, for Lake Superior standards, with the surface water temperature being near 70 degrees. For those living in the northern Great Lakes region, this is a “warm” swimming temperature. Just the other day, I was watching the The Weather Channel and they were showing the water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico. The water was in the mid-80s near Miami and 90 degrees along the Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi shoreline! I don’t know about you, but that’s waaayyy too warm for me!

Anyways, one of the many beaches I would recommend visiting is the AuTrain Beach. Located about 11 miles west of Munising, this beach features a vast sandy shoreline that is a popular swimming destination. There’s ample room for parking, rustic bathroom facilities, picnic tables and a beach volleyball net. The AuTrain Beach is also where the warmer water of the AuTrain River flows into Lake Superior, making the river a popular swimming spot if Superior is too cold for beachgoers.

A trip to AuTrain isn’t complete with a trip down the AuTrain River. Northwoods Resort rents canoes and kayaks at an affordable price and provides a convenient shuttle service so your car is waiting at your destination point. All they have to do is leave the canoe and/or kayak at the spot reserved for Northwoods Resort and head on to your next adventure. Go from “bridge to bridge” or continue onward to Lake Superior.  Pack a lunch and enjoy some time at the place the locals call “High Banks” for a picnic and swim. Whether you want to spend an afternoon or make a day of it, the AuTrain River is the perfect choice for fun. Stop by Explore Munising Visitor Center (Central U.P. Tourist Info. Center) located next to Hardees for maps of the AuTrain River and tons of other information to help you plan your time visiting the area.

So the next time you’re planning a beach day on Lake Superior, give the AuTrain Beach a try! Visit the Explore Munising website to learn about the other great beaches in the Munising area!

»Driving Directions to AuTrain Beach

Beautiful AuTrain Beach, located 11 miles west of Munising

The AuTrain River flows into Lake Superior at the AuTrain Beach.

Canoe & kayak rentals available at the Northwoods Resort

Canoeing the AuTrain River is a must-do!