Reviewing Fun Facts about the Great Lakes

 

Lake Michigan Lighthouse- Point Betsie

The Great Lakes are a series of 5 freshwater lakes found in the north central United States.  In this post I will share some fun facts about each of the lakes and I will also share some photos of lighthouses that I have taken while visiting the Great Lakes.  Did you know that there are over 200 lighthouses that are currently active along the over 11,000 miles of coastline?  Each lighthouse is unique, and my husband and I spent several years exploring these lighthouses and photographing all that we could reach by car.

Lake Michigan

The lighthouse above is Two Harbors lighthouse and is found on the shores of Lake Michigan in Minnesota.  This lighthouse is currently an active lighthouse that is also serves as a bed and breakfast inn.  We were fortunate to be able to stay there two nights and I was able to get up and take this photo at sunrise.

Here are a few fun facts about Lake Michigan.

• Lake Michigan is the third largest of the Great Lakes.
• Along the shores of Lake Michigan you will find the largest freshwater sand dunes in the world.
• In the 19th century, Lake Michigan had a pirate problem and the booty they were seeking was timber.
• The first recorded "Big Great Lakes disaster" happened on Lake Michigan when a steamer carrying 600peole collided with a schooner delivering timber.  450 people died.

Lake Ontario

Fort Niagra lighthouse is found along the shores of Lake Ontario in New York.  It is close to Niagra Falls. 

Here are some fun facts about Lake Ontario.

• Lake Ontario is the smallest of the Great Lakes in surface area.
• The province Ontario was named after the lake.
• Babe Ruth hit his first major league home run in Toronto, and it landed in Lake Ontario where it is still believed to be today.
• A lake on Saturn's moon is named after Lake Ontario.

Lake Superior

The above is Big Bay lighthouse which sits on the shores of Lake Superior in northern Michigan.  This lighthouse houses a bed and breakfast that my husband and I stayed in for two days.  I enjoyed having plenty of time to photograph the lighthouse from various settings.  This photo is one that I had printed on canvas, and it sits on our mantle.

Here are some fun facts on Lake Superior.

• It is the largest of the lakes and in fact all of the other Great Lakes could fit inside of it with room to spare.
• It is estimated that there are 100 million lake trout in Lake Superior.
• Lake Superior contains 3 quadrillion gallons of water.
• Lake Superior is actually not a lake at all, rather it is an inland sea.

Lake Erie

Marblehead lighthouse is found on the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio.  We stayed near there on night and I was able to get up early and photograph it in the early morning light.

Here are some fun facts about Lake Erie.

• There is said to be a monster in this lake.  It is 30-40 feet long and was first seen in 1793.  It is named Bessie.
• During the war of 1812 a naval battle called the Battle of Lake Erie was won by the US over the British, forcing the British to abandon Detroit.
• Lake Erie is the fourth largest in surface area.
• Lake Erie is surrounded by more industry than any of the other Great Lakes.

Lake Huron

Tawas Point lighthouse is found on the shores of Lake Huron in eastern Michigan.  I found it to be a very picturesque setting.

Here are some fun facts about Lake Huron.

• If it were not for the Straits of Mackinac, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan might be considered to be one lake.
• Goederich Mine is the largest salt mine in the world and part of it runs under Lake Erie.
• Lake Huron is second largest of the Great Lakes and is the fifth largest lake in the world.

Lighthouse Reviews

The links below are reviews of lighthouses that I visited on the Great Lakes.

• Reviewing Lighthouses in Erie Pennsylvania (reviewthisreviews.com)
• You Too can be a Lighthouse Keeper (reviewthisreviews.com)
• Photographic Review of Buffalo New York Lighthouse (reviewthisreviews.com)
• Review of Small Town Fun in Conneaut Ohio (reviewthisreviews.com)

Footnote

Facts for this article were gathered online at targetwalleye.com/things-you-probably-never-knew-about-the-great-lakes

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Tennessee Travel: Natchez Trace State Park Review

There is much to explore in the Natchez Trace State Park, which is located off Interstate 40 (I-40) between Memphis and Nashville, TN. 

It is a wonderful place for a day trip for hiking or exploring jeep trails, but it would also be an awesome vacation destination.  With several lodging options, you get to choose what best suits your personal needs. Frankly, our most recent visit left me longing for a camper so we could easily spend the night.  

Not only does the park offer RV camping facilities, they have cabin rental, a lodge with hotel rooms & dining, or you can pitch a tent.  Each style has designated areas for a more enjoyable stay for all.  Plus, there are playground areas, swimming, paddle boat, boat and canoe rental, picnicking areas, an equestrian facility, a firing range, and an archery range.  

Since the park is spread out over 10,000 areas within a 48,000 acre forest, none of it seems to be sitting "on top of the other".  I do recommend stopping at the visitor's center when you enter the park to get a map.  Wandering aimlessly is fun, but if you have limited time, you might prefer to know where each facility, trail, picnic area, etc. is located.  It is also where you can view the wildlife in rehab.

Day Trip in Natchez Trace State Park

We set out for the jeep trails, which we did explore, but ended up having to get out and walk some too.  It was such a beautiful spring day!  It would have been a shame to spend the entire time riding instead of walking.  Needless to say, the sunlight and fresh air "pulled" me from the jeep seat to walk around the lake and across the bridge.

That is what I love most about Natchez Trace State Park.  It is so much natural beauty in one place. Even the man-built cabins are nestled so beautifully within the trees that they don't distract from the peace and tranquility that permeates the park.

As we strolled through the beach area created for swimming, we encountered a search team with dogs in training. Of course, they all loved Merlin, but he questioned why those dogs needed training for what comes naturally to him. 

From there, we ventured to the bridge that crosses the lake and provides a spectacular view of the surroundings.

Back to the jeep for another fun ride through the woods. While my husband enjoyed navigating the dirt trails designed for jeeps, I thrilled at being able to take photos of lots of spring blooming trees and wildflowers.  The last time we were at Natchez Trace State Park, I concentrated on photographing birds, but this time, it was the flowers that fascinated me.

As the sun started to set, we unwillingly sought out the highway home. Oh, how I wish we had that camper! I could only imagine the sunrise in this beautiful place.

 

A Few of the Bird Photos I Took On Our Last Visit to Natchez Trace State Park

 Points of Interest in Natchez Trace State Park

No Matter the Length of Stay or Accommodations,
We All Need the Convenience Store!

 

Group Lodge has 4 or 5 cottages, a bunkhouse, and
a Group Meeting Building with Kitchen

Pin Oak Lodge Offers Motel Style Rooms, a Restaurant
& Family Recreation Activities

 

Accommodations for a Special Event

If you are planning a special event, you might want to consider the  Cub Lake Recreation Lodge, a very reasonably priced venue, which will accommodate up to 200 people.  The lodge is a large, beautiful room for just the actual event. Those who wish to stay overnight could make arrangements for one of the other facilities mentioned above.

Travel Tennessee with Me

Previously Reviewed Tennessee Travel Destinations

 Fall Hollow Waterfall on the Natchez Trace Parkway The Memphis Zoo Review Pictorial Tour of the Memphis Botanic Gardens Teton Trek at the Memphis Zoo Review

 See More Travel Reviews & Recommendations On
Review This Travel!

 

Tennessee Travel: Natchez Trace State Park Review  written by:

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Visit Missouri-Klondike Park St. Charles County

Klondike Park Meeting Facility

On a recent beautiful June afternoon,  my friend and I ventured out into Missouri Wine Country.  After a wonderful lunch at a winery overlooking the Missouri River Valley, we stopped at Klondike park for a bit of hiking and photography.

Location of Park

Klondike park is located in St. Charles county just 14 miles south of the 40/94 interchange.  It is a wonderful location with over 250 acres nestled in the middle of Missouri Wine Country.

Boat Ramp

As we left the winery we took the first exit we saw for the park and found that this exit really just led to the boat ramp with access to the Missouri river and not into the park itself.  We decided to get out for a few minutes to photograph the river from this vantage point.

There is a power plant in this area and from the boat ramp we got a good view of the power plant across the river.

We had really wanted the main entrance to the park so we got back in the car and went down hwy 94 for about 1/4 of a mile and we came to the main entrance.

Features of Klondike Park

The park has a modern meeting facility (pictured at the beginning of this page) that is perfect for both family and business meetings.

One of the key features of the park is the beautiful bluffs overlooking the Missouri River valley.  There is a paved path that you can hike to the top of the bluffs for some scenic views of the area.

Hiking and Biking Trails

There are more than 4 miles of natural and paved trails for hiking and biking.  The trail pictured above is one that we took to go down to the river.  It was an unpaved path that went down a rather steep hill before it crossed the Katy Trail and eventually ended up at the river.

Katy Trail

The Katy Trail is a 237 mile hiking and biking trail that goes across most of Missouri.  Over half of the trail follows the path that explorers Lewis and Clark took along the Missouri River.

Camping at Klondike Park

If you are looking for a place to stay, Klondike park offers camping facilities including, 6 rustic cabins, 43 campsites, restrooms and showers.

Other facilities include:

• Picnic shelters
• Playgrounds for children
• Large lake that is fully stocked

Unique Birding/Wildlife Area

We found there were numerous opportunities to take photographs.  There were many fields with wildflowers and birds.

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Visit Missouri-Explore St. Louis Review of Fall Photography in Forest Park

Fall is my favorite season of the year.  I love to photograph the beautiful colors of the season. On this page I will review Forest Park in St. Louis through my Fall photography.

When will Fall Colors Peak

It is always difficult to predict when colors will be at their peak and this year was no different.  All October I waited and watched for the colors to change.  Oh there were glimpses of color here and there but not the outstanding colors that you think of when Autumn arrives.  I read that you don't get the really good colors until after the first hard freeze.  Well last week we got temperatures down in the 20's several nights so I knew it was time.  On November 1st I headed to Forest Park with my husband and some friends and was delighted with the amazing display of colors.  The day was clear and crisp and great for capturing the beauty of Fall.

A Favorite Venue for Fall Photography

Forest Park in St. Louis is a venue I have written about before, it is one of my favorite places to visit.  Here is a link to more information on Forest Park from one of my previous posts. Forest Park and Jewel Box.  In this post I will highlight fall colors around the History Museum, the Art Museum and the Bandstand area by the Muny.

Art Hill and the Art Museum

Our first stop in Forest Park was at the base of Art Hill.  This hill extends down from the Art Museum and in the winter it is a favorite place for kids of all ages to sleigh ride down the hill.  On this beautiful fall day it was the perfect place to capture a photo of the Art Museum and the bright red trees that were on either side.

This photo was taken when the sun was high in the sky so the glare takes out the details of the building.  We decided to head to the History Museum and continue my photography later in the day when the sun was lower in the sky.  Here are two photos taken a couple of hours later.  The first is a statue of St.  Louis which overlooks Art Hill and the scene of the 1904 World's Fair.

I took the next photo from the parking lot of the Art Museum, looking down on Art Hill.

Muny Area

The next area that I photographed is the area in front of St. Louis's outdoor theatre, commonly called The Muny.  This area has a bandstand on a little island.  The bandstand was built in 1924 to replace the original wood bandstand built in 1876.  This used to be a popular place for musical entertainment in the summer months.  The trees surrounding the water were a brilliant red color and I was able to capture some beautiful photos. 

History Museum

My original purpose to go to Forest Park was to take in the display of Pulitzer Prize winning photographs that were on display at the History Museum.  This was a wonderful display and we spent a couple of hours enjoying the photos.  We had planned to go on a Wednesday but had to cancel.  I am so glad we changed it to Friday because first of all Wednesday was a very rainy day and secondly Friday was the perfect day to photograph the changing fall landscape.  The photos below are of the museum and one of my cousins leaving the History Museum.

The Camera I used for this Outing

One of my favorite camera's is my Sony A6300 mirrorless camera.  I wrote about it in the following post. Sony a6300.  I used a wide angle zoom lems with 16mm to 50 mm. 

   
                                                     

Zazzle Card from my Photos

 

Bandstand Forest Park
by mbgphoto

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Review of New Wheel at St. Louis Union Station

The Wheel at St. Louis Union Station was opened on September 30th, 2019 to help celebrate the 125th anniversary of Union Station.

Facts about the Wheel

• 200 foot high observation wheel
• 42 fully enclosed and climate controlled gondolas that each seat 6 adults
• 3-4 rotations high above the St. Louis skyline during the 15 minute ride
• The wheel is  now open from 10 am to 10 pm till October 31st when the hours will be changed to noon to 10 pm for the rest of 2019

My Experience on the Wheel

When my granddaughters visited in mid October, I decided to take them to Union Station to ride on the new "Wheel" that had just opened in late September.  In the photo above you see my friend DeAnn, my sister Julie and my granddaughters Ella and Rachel waiting for their turn on the wheel.

I had seen on the news that there could be rather long waits to ride the wheel, but the day we went we were able to walk right up, buy our tickets and ride the wheel when it stopped for the next rotation.  It was a rather chilly day but the gondolas on the wheel are all climate controlled so it was nice and warm.  There were five of us in our gondola and we had plenty of room to be comfortable and even move around a bit so I could get photos from all angles.

I am sometimes a little leery of heights but this  did not bother me at all.  I felt very secure in the enclosed gondola and thoroughly enjoyed the views of the city.  It was a cloudy day so I'm sure you would see more on a clearer day but I still thought it was fantastic.  I would like to go back at nighttime and take photos of the city lights from up on the "Wheel".

Views from the Wheel

This is the view looking east.  Directly in front you see the Enterprise Center where the Blues play.  Farther in the background you get a glimpse of the Gateway Arch. Also if you look close on the far right side of the photo you see the red brick of Busch Stadium where the Cardinals play.

This view is to the north/east.  Here you see the tops of the old train depot  and the red roof of the top of Union Station.

This view is looking to the south.

Information about St. Louis Union Station

St. Louis Union Station was first open to the public on September 1, 1894.  At one time it was the biggest and busiest train terminal in the country.  It is on the registry as a National Historic Landmark.  Today it is being renovated as a family entertainment complex.

Inside of Union Station you will find the St. Louis Union Station Hotel.  A beautiful hotel that serves guests from out of town along with many meetings, weddings and other celebrations of St. Louis residents.

The Grand Hall is a wonderful meeting place for people.  It is beautiful and the architecture is truly amazing. After our ride aboard the "Wheel"  we visited the Grand Hall and as we stopped to rest at one of their many comfortable seating areas the lights dimmed, we heard a sound of a train coming, and then a fantastic 15 minute 3D light show began.  We weren't expecting it so we were pleasantly surprised.  Beautiful music played and the ceiling was transformed with an different light scenes.  The photos below show two of the scenes.

More to do at St. Louis Union Station

There are several places to eat in the complex and we chose to stop at the new Soda Fountain Restaurant which also opened on September 30th.  It features "Freak Shakes, Boozy Shakes and Remedies".  We were however a bit cold to try the shakes so we enjoyed their delicious cheeseburgers and fries.  They also have a gift shop and a candy counter with lots of barrels and bins of old fashioned candies.

The outdoor area at Union Station also includes a carousel, a mini golf course and in the evenings a fire and light show with dancing lights, water and fire.

A big coming attraction for Union Station will be the 120,000 square foot St. Louis Acquarium.  It was under  construction while we were there but should be open by the end of 2019.  

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Review of Historic Stonington Lighthouse and Museum

Stonington Connecticut is a delightful small town built around Stonington harbor.  We visited there on a beautiful July afternoon and parked in the lot along the harbor.  I then walked back up the hill to photograph the historic stone lighthouse.

History of Stonington Lighthouse

Stonington lighthouse was built in 1840.  It is a wonderfully preserved example of a mid-19th century lighthouse. The tower sits on a hill just up from the harbor and is 35 feet tall.  It was used for navigation until 1889, when it was replaced by another navigational aid out in the harbor.  The lighthouse is now used as a museum that explores the life and history of Stonington's seafaring people.  

Visiting the Inside of the Lighthouse

The museum is open seasonally and when you tour the museum you may also climb the 29 steps up the tower.  I climbed the steps and enjoyed taking photos in the museum and around the lighthouse grounds.

The brochure I was given when touring the lighthouse states that the seaside village of Stonington has been the " home to farmers, and fishermen, sailors and sea captains, explorers and entrepreneurs for more than 360 years."

Walking the Lighthouse Grounds- Views from the Back

Zazzle Products from my Photos

Historic Stonington Lighthouse Tote Bag
by lighthouseenthusiast

Historic Stonington Lighthouse Notebook
by lighthouseenthusiast

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