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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5 Adventures in Every Midwest State
5 ADVENTURES IN EVERY MIDWEST STATE 12 states officially claim the Midwest as home. Although we may not have towering mountains or vast oceans, we are spoiled with lush forests, freshwater and unpopulated blissful hikes. So set the remotes down and challenge yourself to try something new, celebrate the outdoors and rediscover the kick-ass…
5 Weekend Adventures Outside Michigan
Michigan is great. We’ve established it. But sometimes it’s needed to get out and go exploring beyond the boundaries. We all know how busy life can be, and the thought of a reality-escaping adventure can seem far from possible. Well, let’s say you only have a weekend available. No problem…no problem at all. There are…
A Date Luging in Muskegon!
A DATE IN MUSKEGON: LUGING! You’ll be seeing me in the next Olympics. (not really…) Buttttttt….my boyfriend Josh and I recently got to experience what it’s like to luge! You know, that sport they race down an icy track on a sled going so fast it kind of makes you sick to watch. Yup!…
Winter Activities in Michigan: 9 Great Weekend Adventures
Winter Activities in Michigan: 9 Great Weekend Adventures January 25, 2020 Top Winter Activities in Michigan If I had a dollar for every complaint I’ve heard about Michigan winter… When it comes down to it, we only enjoy the season as much as we allow ourselves to. Truth be told, I used to be…
Budget Weekend Getaway: Michigan’s Thumb
BUDGET WEEKEND GETAWAY: MICHIGAN’S THUMB I’ve lived in Michigan my entire life. How many times do you think I’ve been to Michigan’s thumb before September? If you guessed none you’re correct and I’m ashamed. I’m not sure why I had never made my way there. Maybe because every time I thought of getting away…
The Michigan Bucket List
The Michigan Bucket List November 15, 2014 THE ORIGINAL MICHIGAN BUCKET LIST | AS Shared Over 200,000 Times on Facebook Thank you for supporting! Michigan is perhaps the most underrated state in the United States. For those that live here, we know how special it is. I’m just going to get straight to the…
Ice Caves in Michigan: Where to See Them & How to Get There
Ice Caves in Michigan: Where to See Them & How to Get There Updated: January 30, 2022 The harsh winters in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula create some of the most spectacular natural ice caves in the United States. There are two main ice caves in Michigan: Eben Ice Caves Grand Island Ice Caves Eben Ice…
Michigan: 7 Affordable Summer Adventures
MICHIGAN: 7 AFFORDABLE SUMMER ADVENTURES Dwindling snow and warm temperatures mean one thing here in the Midwest: SUMMER. The trees are beginning to blossom, I can take a walk without the possibility of frostbite and I woke up to the whimsical sound of birds chirping at dawn. People are slowly beginning to move…
Ice Caves- A Polar Vortex Road Trip
ICE CAVES: A POLAR VORTEX ROAD TRIP While a majority of people in the northern United States are hunkered down in their cozy homes to escape the chilling winter, I decided to take a different approach. With over 90% of the Great Lakes frozen and the tales of awesome ice caves, it was time…
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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.
