Goodale's Bakery in Grayling

It's off the beaten path, but the Gooddale Bakery is not hard to find if you use your nose to smell it out! A fixture in Grayling for as long as we can remember, here's where you go for outstanding breakfast pastries and delicious bread and coffee. We are hooked on the fry cakes and the cinnamon bread, but others scream for the Bavarian cream long johns or the cinnamon biscuits with caramel icing--to die for!

Lake Margrethe State Forest Campground

Are you seeking serenity, wilderness, solitude and nature? Then head out to Lake Margrethe State Forest Campground just west of Grayling. As in all state parks, you only need your recreation passport which is a sticker that goes on your license plate and costs a mere $10 annually. There are more than 100 of these state campgrounds which have vault toilets, but no modern hook-ups nor showers. The natural setting is a huge draw.  Picnic tables and campfire rings are located at each of the 37 sites in Lake Margrethe. You can't beat the privacy, spaciousness and the view. Fifty percent of these sites are reservable.  50% are available first-come-first serve.

Lake Margrethe in Grayling

Natural beauty abounds in Michigan especially with its huge presence of water.  Here on Lake Margrethe in Grayling, we enjoyed scenic vistas, sandbar swimming, the foliage with its hints of the coming fall and taking in all the homes and cabins around the lake as we cruised around in our rented pontoon. With almost 2000 acres, the lake never seems crowded and with depths to 65 feet, fishermen here enjoy catching perch, bass, pike and walleye. The wife of the lumber baron Rasmus Hanson (1846-1927) was Margrethe. Rasmus also generously donated the land for the military training facility we know as Camp Grayling at the far end of the lake.

Grayling's Buck Pole at Skip's Sports Shop

This may seem kind of geeky, queasy or gruesome to some people, but it is the heart of Michigan. Hunters proudly display their catch on the buck pole at Skip's Sports Shop in Grayling in mid November, the beginning of deer hunting season. Skip's has been doing this for over 50 years and Camp Grayling Conservation Club offers prizes for the youngest hunter, the first buck of the day, the largest, etc. Hats off to the hunters and here's to some good venison eating. Thanks for the photo, Linda Black, Grayling resident.

Hartwick Pines in Grayling

Michigan has a wonderful state park system. One of our favorites is Hartwick Pines up in Grayling with its majestic stand of awesome virgin pines that are way over a hundred years old. With almost 10,000 acres, it is the largest state park in the lower peninsula. Yes, they have camping even in the winter and you can cook over a campfire outside. Their cross country trails are marvelous.

Fly Fishing on the Manistee

Originating north of Grayling, the serene Manistee eventually leads into Lake Michigan. It's a great river for fly fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and tubing. Suzie and I have been hosted by our gracious friend Linda. Visits here mean good friends, great nature, wonderful cottage living. This is the scene we caught in the morning sipping our coffee from the deck. Catch and release is this noble fisherman's policy. We can hear the babbling brook right now... It doesn't get any better than this.......