Bear Lake Nature Pathway: Welcome to beaver country!

Posted on November 30th, 2018

Out See Go
By Chris Engle, contributor There’s a lot to love about Big Bear Lake near Vienna Corners in eastern Otsego County. The beach is sandy and wide. Perch fishing from a boat is some of the best around. Just up the road, Big Bear Trading Post routinely has 8 flavors of soft-serve ice cream on…

Gaylord – The Inside Scoop

Posted on November 2nd, 2018

By Christy Walcott By now you think you’ve got this whole Gaylord thing down – the trails are exhilarating, each season is its own masterpiece and the friendly folks dress up in Swiss garb for one week each summer. While you may be a Gaylord expert at this point, we thought we’d tantalize t…

Top 5 Gaylord Souvenirs

Posted on October 26th, 2018

By Christy Walcott We all know memories are the greatest souvenir from any vacation. But what about the nifty gifties you surprise someone back home with? Or the special little embellishments you add to your home as a reminder of the place miles away but now near and dear to your heart?&n…

The second of three largemouth bass, caught on consecutive casts. Photo by Chris Engle

Fishing & exploring Waters’ overlooked camping hotspot

Posted on October 12th, 2018

Out See Go
By Chris Engle, contributor Otsego County’s southernmost state campground overlooks a small body of water seen by thousands of people every day but visited by almost no one. Lake Marjory is a juxtaposition of northwoods cabin life and the hub-bub of interstate travel, and floatin…

A German Shephard looks down the trail at Dead Man's Hill in the fall.

Top 5 Scenic Fall Vistas in the Gaylord Area

Posted on September 29th, 2018

By Christy Walcott As autumn approaches each year, you can’t help but feel excited when you see the first leaves melding from their usual green state to varying shades of red, orange and gold. It’s those peek-a-boo moments through the lush greenery and the sudden crisp air filling your lu…

Beating the banks for bushy tails

Posted on September 20th, 2018

Out See Go
By Chris Engle, contributor An acorn’s toss across the county line sits Shupac Lake, the northernmost state-forest campground in Crawford County and the place where we took one final summer camping trip for some hunting, fishing and paddling. For most of the campers there with boa…

Sending the kids to wander

Posted on August 31st, 2018

Out See Go
By Chris Engle, contributor “She may be growing up in Hawaii, but she’s got Michigan blood,” Chelsea laughed as we watched our 4-year-old niece charge through the hardwoods. The daughter of my brother and his wife, Konoha found herself in the middle of a sprawling oak f…

Live Here, Play Here

Posted on August 20th, 2018

By Christy Walcott Gaylord is my hometown and while I do enjoy venturing out and seeing what other communities have to offer, it goes without saying that my heart is always at home. I make it a priority to take some time off during our perfect northern Michigan summers, but instead of venturing n…

A fine fishing and swimming hole on the Upper Manistee River.

Trading trout for blueberries in Deward Area

Posted on July 20th, 2018

Out See Go
By Chris Engle, contributor The plan was simple: catch one or two brook trout for lunch. We had the stove, we had the frying pan, the butter, the salt and pepper. We had the appetite. Paige was all excited for her first shore lunch, but the fish apparently were not. Nestled in the southwest corn…

Sleeping dog floating in a raft down the river

Waggin’ Tails and Happy Trails

Posted on July 10th, 2018

The Otsego Resort welcomes your four-legged friends Ready to have a pawesome adventure with your four-legged friend? Pack your bags and head to Gaylord to enjoy the dog days of summer! Where to Rest Your Paws: Campgrounds are always a great place to stay with your furry friends, but if y…