Blog - Adventure Publications

More than 130 Michigan Waterfalls for You to Visit

Posted on April 20, 2018

In his book Waterfalls of Michigan, professional photographer and waterfall chaser Greg Kretovic guides you to more than 130 waterfalls in the Great Lakes State. The vast majority of waterfalls in Michigan are found in the Upper Peninsula—there’s only one waterfall in the Lower Peninsula—and Greg provides you with everything you need to know to visit more than 130 of them. For each waterfall, the author includes driving directions, where to park, details about each waterfall’s height and the best time to visit, not to mention step-by-step instructions from the trailhead and what to look for on the way. Best of all are Greg’s amazing photographs, which will inspire you, whether you’re an armchair explorer or planning on visiting each and every falls in the book. To help you get the most out of your travels, Greg provides a curated look at Michigan’s waterfalls by organizing the book into three main sections: The...

Ahmeek, Home to the Last Manned Lighthouse on the Great Lakes

Posted on April 18, 2018

in Travel

by Liliane Opsomer

In her book Little Michigan, Kathryn Houghton takes a nostalgic look at Michigan’s smallest towns; today, she takes us to Ahmeek, home to the last manned lighthouse on the Great Lakes. Advances in technology can come with the benefits of added convenience and decreased cost, but they can also cause once-common ways of life to all but disappear. For the Great Lakes, lighthouse keeping is one occupation that has disappeared. Ahmeek is home to the last manned lighthouse that was built on the lakes. Built in 1917, the Sand Hills Lighthouse, like lighthouses almost everywhere, fell victim to electrification and automation. The Coast Guard bought and automated the lighthouse in 1939, but after World War II, the lighthouse was abandoned—until Bill Frabotta bought it. He and his wife, Mary, restored and renovated the property and opened a bed-and-breakfast inn at the lighthouse, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. History of Ahmeek Like many towns in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula,...

Waterfalls of Michigan: A Guide to the Most Beautiful

Posted on April 13, 2018

in Nature, Travel

by Liliane Opsomer

Waterfalls create a feeling of serenity, a sense of restrained power. Their grandeur takes our breath away. Their gentle sounds complement periods of meditation. Nearly 200 waterfalls decorate the scenery across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, from the Munising area’s impressive Miners Falls and Wagner Falls to the most famous falls in the state: Tahquamenon Falls. This comprehensive guidebook covers more than 100 of the most beautiful and majestic among them. Organized geographically and ranked by beauty, Waterfalls of Michigan makes it simple to find the best waterfalls, as well as the ones nearest you. This informative guidebook by Greg Kretovic features all the information you need, including directions, distance, hike difficulty, and more. Professional photographs of every waterfall are paired with important details, including height, photography tips, and the best time of year to visit each one. A curated look at the locales, including not-to-miss sights and activities on-site, as well as things to do in...

A Visit to Sandstone Falls, West Virginia

Posted on April 11, 2018

in Nature, Travel

by Liliane Opsomer

Randall Sanger, author of Waterfalls of Virginia & West Virginia, takes us to Sandstone Falls, one of his favorite waterfalls in West Virginia. Sandstone Falls is one of my favorite waterfalls in West Virginia. It is easily accessed by an elaborate ¼-mile-long boardwalk and bridge system. The first bridge is a small one that crosses a man-made channel that once diverted water for a gristmill used by local farmers. The boardwalk leads to an overlook of the lower section of falls, which has about a 10-foot drop. To the left of the boardwalk you’ll notice the Island Loop Trail, which leads you through the Appalachian Riverside Flat Rock Plant Community—a unique botanical ecosystem in West Virginia. The second bridge crosses a wide natural channel that offers nice views of the lower section of falls in the distance. The boardwalk ends at an overlook with views of a 20–25 foot section of...

Adventure Publications Spring Giveaway

Posted on April 6, 2018

in Giveaway

by Liliane Opsomer

Spring is finally here, and we’re celebrating the season with a giveaway of our Birds of the Heartland and Birds of the Northwoods notecards. A total of 10 lucky winners will receive a set of 12 notecards (3 each of 4 designs with envelopes). Read on and enter our spring giveaway at the end of this post! Over the past 24 years, Adventure Publications has become the premier publisher of regional, nature, and outdoors books. We offer hundreds of titles, the kind you want to read. We love keeping you updated with all things nature and travel. Sign up for monthly updates from Adventure Publications, and check out our blog for the latest in outdoor nature news, as well as features by our award-winning authors. Enjoy some of our favorite features now! Exotic Adventures Await at The Wilds in Ohio Cathy Seckman, author of Ohio Day Trips by Theme, takes us on a trip to The Wilds. Here are...

Little Michigan: 100 Towns Around 600

Posted on April 6, 2018

in Tiny Towns, Travel

by Liliane Opsomer

Little Michigan, by Kathryn Houghton, is for anyone who grew up in a small town and for everyone who takes pride in being called a Michigander. It’s one book, and it’s 100 towns to love. They’re Michigan’s smallest towns, and they have great stories. Experience the charm of 100 small towns with populations under 600. Meet the friendly people who call these places home. The book also includes a memorial list of veterans who died in war. Each entry in the book presents full-color photographs, fun facts, and details about what makes the community unique. It’s almost as if you’re walking down Main Street, waving hello to the folks who know what it means to help their neighbors. The featured locations range from quaint to historic, and they wonderfully represent Michigan’s rich history and culture. About the author: Born and raised in mid-Michigan, Kathryn Houghton has spent most of her life in the Mitten...

Waterfalls of Virginia & West Virginia

Posted on April 4, 2018

in Nature, Travel

by Liliane Opsomer

Waterfalls create a feeling of serenity, a sense of restrained power. Their grandeur takes our breath away. Their gentle sounds complement periods of meditation. Well over 500 waterfalls decorate the scenery across Virginia and West Virginia, from Dark Hollow Falls in Shenandoah National Park to the Falls of Hills Creek in the Monongahela National Forest. This revised and updated guidebook covers more than 100 of the most beautiful and impressive among them. Organized geographically and ranked by beauty, Waterfalls of Virginia and West Virginia makes it simple to find the best waterfalls in each state, as well as the ones nearest you. This informative guidebook by Randall Sanger features all the information you need, including directions, distance, hike difficulty, and more. Professional photographs of every waterfall are paired with important details, including height, photography tips, and the best time of year to visit. A curated look at the locales, including not-to-miss sights and...

Exotic Adventure Awaits at The Wilds in Ohio

Posted on March 30, 2018

in Nature

by Liliane Opsomer

Cathy Seckman, author of Ohio Day Trips by Theme, takes us on a trip to The Wilds. Here are her suggestions for a fun-filled day. Exotic adventure is just over the horizon in the wilds of Ohio. Make that The Wilds, a nonprofit safari park and conservation center outside Cumberland. Hands-on educational programs, demonstrations of conservation science, and adventure tours are all available in this 14-square-mile park. The area was surface mined from the 1940s through the 1970s, when reclamation began. Today the Wilds is affiliated with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and it assists efforts to save endangered species worldwide. Twenty-nine species are represented among the 500 animals on open ranges at this conservation center, including Bactrian camels, ostriches, cheetahs, takins, and oryx. Horseback and bus tours are available, as are a variety of camps and group events. Imagine your visit. The sun sinks over a ridgeline in the distance as you amble on...