Welcome to Our Blog
We encourage you to discover the things about Newaygo County that will bring you back and make you want to share your experiences with others. There is something for every-one to do no matter what the season. Sometimes it’s a bald eagle flying in the blue sky overhead, a ride on the bike path in the fresh crisp air, a hidden treasure in an antique store, or a dinner so delicious you would order it again tomorrow. Come back and bring your friends.
Learning to Love Running on a Ga-zillion Newaygo County Trails
The trees are heavy with the afternoon’s rain. Sagging evergreen branches hang over me; drip, drip, dripping onto the leafy floor. The sky is wrapped with clouds; dark blues and greys seeming to hold the sky closer to the Earth. The path is damp, rain...
Freedom Fest
When I grew up, it was a seemingly simple affair. We were a small family, myself an only child, and our extended family didn’t visit often. During the cold-weather holidays, we would always venture their way, with some dish wrapped tightly in towels and hot...
Guiso What?
Guiso What? The joy of cooking – over a fire! Campers, holiday-makers, hostesses and hosts: what is your favorite table to sit around? Is it one that you decorate during the holidays with special napkins, plates, crystal or glass? Is it the one you congregate on...
Power Paddle
On Saturday morning at 10am, under sheets of rain, they sat waiting for the gunshot. The solo canoeists (known as C1), steadied their boats in the chop. The shot rang out, barely audible over the wind and rain meeting the lake; the racers plunged their...
A Tale of Shaky Legs
“I don’t like it,” Ron says, smiling. I’m holding the board as close to the dock as I can, trying to steady it while he steps on. “I don’t like it,” he says again as I push it gently away, and hand him the paddle. (He’s still smiling, mind you). His legs...
How About a Walk on The Edge?
The Edge is a hiking and biking trail that runs along the Muskegon River on roads from Hardy Dam to Croton Dam. It's a slightly downhill stretch, so if you are running expect to have a fantastic pace per mile. I participated in a race a few years ago that started at...
Take a Walk – Art Gems in Fremont
When the weather and schedule permits, I walk to pick up my children from school. This gives us a chance to talk about their day without having to navigate after school traffic and attitudes. If we drive home, the ride is filled with complaints about car-sickness and...
A Branstrom Park Afternoon
With the sun shining brightly and spring in the air, one Sunday afternoon was the perfect day to hit the trails. I headed for Branstrom Park, in Fremont, to take a tour around the hiking trails there. The trails double as the Fremont Cross Country course, and the fun...
Birds of Newaygo County
In Newaygo County we’re lucky to have a plethora of birds to see and hear while exploring the trails and natural outdoor spaces throughout the region. It is true that many birds don’t stay in Michigan during the winter-yet even then we have many bird species. One...
Michigan-Made Syrup
Tapping and Boiling: A (Mostly!) Spring Guide to Michigan-Made Syrup The Tap I’ll never be one to complain about the coming of spring. Every year I look forward to the snow being replaced by morning frost, warming throughout the day. I look forward to the budding of...
Success at Dam to Dam 2018
by Carmen Faulkner At sunrise, the serious contenders went out. They walked or snowshoed or rode snowmobiles. Some carried ice shanties, others stuck true to what I would consider to be the ‘old school, torturous’ tradition of sitting on buckets in the wind and cold....
Acquiring and Operating Snowmobiles
By Samantha Breza There are no places to rent a snowmobile at in Newaygo County at this time. Snowmobilers have to own a snowmobile already or purchase one at David Allen Racing Motorsports on Maple Island Road. Winter clothes and goggles can be purchased at Dunham...
Dam to Dam Ice Fishing Tournament
by Carmen Faulkner All right everyone, the winter thaw is over! The few days of warm weather and the reminders from green grass poking up from under the usual January snow was wonderful, but wintery conditions have made their way back into the forecast for the...
A Beginner’s Guide to Snowshoeing Apparel
By Samantha Breza What supplies are needed on a snowshoeing trip depends on where the snowshoer is going and how long they’re going to be there. Snowshoers hiking on mountain trails during the winter need hydration systems, avalanche transceivers, signaling mirrors,...
A Beginner’s Guide to Snowshoes and How to Use Them
By Samantha Breza Want to do something new this winter? Try snowshoeing! Snowshoeing is an easy sport to get into. The equipment is relatively cheap, snowshoers don’t have to register the equipment, or pay annual fees for it. Snowshoers don’t need to take classes or...
Rookie Deer Hunting in Newyago County
By: Nick Smith As a new Newaygo County Resident, I was very excited to find a place to hunt this deer season. Over the past year, I have heard many successful hunting stories from people I have met, and seen some nice size deer while traveling from place to place. ...
Are You Two Dam Tuff?
Are you Two Dam Tuff? It's a question that gets asked the first Saturday in October each and every year in Newaygo County. For those "in the know", The Croton and Hardy Dams are separated by about 6 miles as the crow flies, and are spectacular tourist draws in...
Superb Fishing in Newaygo County
Newaygo County teems with an abundance of water for the experienced or casual fisherman. Thousands of acres of dam-supported backwaters, large and small beautiful lakes, and even hidden ponds provide plenty of opportunity for anglers to enjoy still-water fishing....
Indoor and Outdoor Art
Indoor and Outdoor Art Every season provides a chance to enjoy all those things we love about living in Newaygo County. The beauty of seeing the “best sunset ever” every night of the summer, the sound of loons echoing over the lake, feeling your kayak glide along...
A Magical Outdoor Wonderland
The forests and rivers of Newaygo County are a magical outdoor wonderland where nature is on display year-round. The dense Huron Manistee National Forest, the rivers, lakes and streams -- all spring fed, produce some of the most amazing trout, steelhead, and salmon...
