Shalee Wanders started as a Michigan travel blog. I was a young girl attending Lansing Community College with dreams of traveling the world one day. Those dreams began on the shore of the Great Lakes. Thank you for being here, and I hope these blogs inspire your next Michigan escape. ☀️
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Hidden Gem Destinations in the Midwest You Need to Visit
Hidden Gem Destinations in the Midwest You Need to Visit May 17, 2025 When most people think of travel destinations, the Midwest doesn’t always top the list-but that’s exactly what makes it so special. Scattered between the cornfields and Great Lakes are some of the country’s most underrated adventures. If you’re craving road trip vibes,…
The Best Beaches in Michigan
The Best Beaches in Michigan March 28, 2025 Michigan was where I first fell in love with exploring. My parents often took us on road trips and camping adventures along the Great Lakes when I was a child. In my late teens and early twenties, almost all of my travels and adventures were dedicated to…
The Best Town to Visit on Lake Huron: A Weekend in Alpena
The Best Town to Visit on Lake Huron: A Weekend in Alpena October 21st, 2024 For those who tell me, “West Coast is the best coast,” I like the banter rebuttal, “You might think that, but the East Coast is the peaceful coast.” On a weekend when hoards of beachgoers are fighting for parking spots…
The 13 Best Breweries in Michigan
The 13 Best Breweries in Michigan Updated: February 11, 2025 I’ve been waiting years to make this post. And before you ask – no this isn’t some general, randomly picked list. I’ve spent the past decade testing and trying breweries around Michigan. Over the years, I’ve made note of the best breweries in Michigan, and…
Best Places to Visit in Michigan
Travel With Me! Discover trips to Yellowstone, Iceland, Patagonia, and Thailand in 2024 & 2025. Explore here Best Places to Visit in Michigan March 18, 2024 Growing up in Michigan, I always knew there was something special about the state, but I never knew just how special until I left. Each time I come ‘home’…
Eight Best Weekend Trips from Detroit
Travel With Me! Discover trips to Iceland, Patagonia, and Thailand in 2024 & 2025. Explore here Eight Best Weekend Trips from Detroit March 22, 2023 Eight Best Weekend Trips from Detroit Growing up in Michigan, there was no better feeling than packing the car and heading north for the weekend. Although I didn’t grow up…
10 Best Things to Do in The Les Cheneaux Islands
10 Best Things to Do in The Les Cheneaux Islands September 1, 2022 Fhe The Les Cheneaux Islands are a short 30-minute drive from the Mackinac Bridge. When you drive past on m134, you might blink and mistake the quiet intersection for a simple stop to fill up on gas on your way to Drummond…
Best Beaches in Michigan (2023)
The Seven Best Beaches in Michigan: (2023) April 1, 2022 Best Beaches in Michigan in 2023: 1. Sand Dunes Beach Sand Dunes Beach is in plain sight, overlooked by nearly every vehicle whizzing by on US 2 in the Upper Peninsula. Only about 20 miles or so west of the bridge, this beach actually…
Are Airline Credit Cards Worth It? United Airline Miles vs. American Airlines Miles
Travel With Me! Discover trips to New Zealand, Maldives, Europe and More in 2025 & 2026. Explore here Are Airline Credit Cards Worth It? United Airline Miles vs. American Airlines Miles Updated: February 13th, 2024 Are Airlines Credit Cards Worth it? Besides my first flight to Australia (before I knew what I was doing), I’ve…
Where to See Fall Colors in Michigan
Where to See Fall Colors in Michigan September 12th, 2021 Where to See Fall Colors in Michigan (2023) Michigan is one of the best places in the world for fall colors. Even though I no longer reside full-time in The Great Lakes State anymore, I always attempt to make a return for the fall season.…
Everything to Know Before Visiting the Secret Island of Beaver Island, Michigan
Everything to Know Before Visiting the Secret Island of Beaver Island, Michigan August 24, 2021 Some of my earliest memories are of jumping into an old 1960s rusted out baby blue on the back roads of a place called Beaver Island. We’d spend our days biking the dirt roads two miles to the only town…
Top Things to Do in Michigan in 2021: Michigan Bucket List
Top Things to Do in Michigan in 2021: Michigan Bucket List April 6, 2021 Well, since 2020 was a major bust, we all have some extra adventuring to make up for the last 365+ days. If you’re like me, you’re not planning to let time go. Instead, you’re stocking up your summer with twice as…
The Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Michigan
The Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Michigan Updated: March 21, 2023 Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Michigan I’ve watched Michigan sunsets in nearly every corner of the state. I’ve also watched sunsets from many different corners of the world. Sure, orange and pink wisps over glacial lagoons and moody deep red…
The Most Overrated Places in The United States (And Where to Go Instead)
The Most Overrated Places in The United States (And Where to Go Instead) May 21, 2020 1. Gatlinburg, Tennessee Although beautifully situated in the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg is everything a mountain vacation shouldn’t be. There, I said it. What visitors expect is a quiet cabin in the woods. However, often they get what looks more…
The Six Most Instagrammable Places in Michigan
The Six Most Instagrammable Places in Michigan March 4, 2020 1. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore It’s not hard to see that Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore tops the list as Michigan’s most instagrammable place. From the towering cliffs, natural arches, crystal-clear waters, waterfalls, and endless adventures, it’s the epitome of an Instagram hot-spot. During temperate summer…
This Small Midwest Community Hides Some Of The Country’s Best Hidden Adventures
This Small Midwest Community Holds Some Of The Country’s Best Hidden Adventures October 21, 2019 There’s something about a place that feels like home the moment you arrive. Less than four hours after landing in Ironwood, Michigan, I’m standing in the middle of a black and red plaid street, surrounded by over three-hundred individuals (and…
Four Road Trip Routes in Michigan You Need to Take This Summer
Four Road Trips You Need to Take in Michigan This Summer The entire population of Michigan is emerging from their winter habitats, eyes squinting beneath a forgotten sun. Unlike the newly released season of Game of Thrones, winter is not here. Or at least they hope. With the final snowbanks fading, the crumpled bucket lists…
Four Romantic Getaways in Michigan for Every Kind of Couple
Four Romantic Getaways in Michigan For Every Kind of Couple From sipping wine on the shores of Lake Michigan to candlelit dinners overlooking the Detroit skyline, there is an abundance of romantic getaway options right here in Michigan. You can forget about jetting off to Paris, they don’t have white-sand beaches anyway. Whether looking to…
This blog started on the shores of the Great Lakes. I was 20 years old attending Lansing Community College, completely lost, depressed, and struggling to find light in the world. I had always dreamed of traveling, but I knew two people who had ever left the United States. I started this travel blog in 2014, built on more of a dream than actual experience. I had only left North America once and spent most of my time traveling around Michigan and sleeping in my car, often rolling quarters to afford gas. I wouldn't travel far even if I could, as my mother was an addict who consumed most of my time and energy. I was terrified to leave, thinking the moment I left was the moment she would overdose. Sometimes, after a long day, I would drive the 1.5 hours to Lake Michigan to do nothing more than stare at the sunset and sob uncontrollably. I had so many dreams, all of which seemed unattainable. But I found beauty around Michigan, and I soon began writing about all the reasons this state is my favorite place in the world. 20-year-old Shalee would never believe where this little blog would take her, but she'll never forget her home. The place that inspired her to find beauty no matter where she went.
Thank you for being here.
Shalee Wanders, LLC 2024