Exploring Michigan and learning its stories is one of my favorite things. Here, you’ll find adventure recommendations, science education resources, and (hopefully) some good stories, too.
Even if you can’t make it to Michigan yourself, I hope these posts remind you that there’s wonder to be found near you, too.
The Legend of the Singing Sand | Bete Grise, Michigan
In northern Michigan, on the Keweenaw Peninsula, there's a legend about a singing beach. I went to see if it's true — and along the way, learned why some sand is so squeaky in the first place.
Meet the Toxic Sand Vacuum | The Dredge in Torch Lake, Michigan
100 years ago, people started sucking toxic sand out of a lake in Michigan. They weren't trying to clean up the environment, but they WERE on a quest to find copper — and it went shockingly well. Here's how they pulled it off, and the rusty legacy they left behind.
The Story of the Upper Peninsula’s Bacon Rock
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, ancient microbes and weathered mountains come together to make rock that looks suspiciously like bacon. Here’s how it happened.
How a Magma Sea Made Upper Peninsula Waterfalls
Long ago, millions of years of lava, some glaciers, and huge shifts in the Earth's crust all teamed up to create three beautiful waterfalls in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. One spring afternoon, I set out to visit them and learn their stories.
A Lighthouse Built on Old Lava | Eagle Harbor, Michigan
In Eagle Harbor, Michigan, there’s an old lighthouse built on lava from a billion years ago. From the geology to the history, here’s how it all got there.
A Playground of Billion-Year-Old Boulders & Ancient Life | Ann Arbor, Michigan
Hidden in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a playground of ancient rocks and fossilized life. It’s open, it’s free, and it’s called Fox Science Preserve.