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hello stranger midwest adventure
  • Ultimate Michigan Bucket List (By an Outdoor Guide!)

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  • Image of a campsite in the porcupine mountains with a cup of coffee in front of a stunning overlook

    Ultimate 7-Day Upper Peninsula Road Trip (budget guide!)

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  • Top 10 Midwest Road Trip Ideas (By an Outdoor Guide!)

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  • Balancing Rock on Stockton Island as seen from a kayak

    How to Kayak the Apostle Islands Sea Caves (by a kayak guide!)

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  • kayaker explores the sea caves of sand island in the apostle islands national lakeshore, a four hour drive from Minneapolis

    29 Best Things to do in Bayfield, WI

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  • 29 Best Things to do in the Pictured Rocks, Michigan

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  • image of hiking at Overlook Nine in the Sleeping Bear Dunes

    Ultimate 7-Day Great Lakes Road Trip (by an outdoor guide!)

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  • image of waterfall Gorge Falls in the upper peninsla near Ironwood, Michigan

    27 Best Things To Do Upper Peninsula, MI (by an outdoor guide!)

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  • A woman stands beneath a Copperas Falls in a sandstone cave in Kentucky near the Red River Gorge

    12 Best Hiking Trails & Views in the Red River Gorge

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  • Best Things to do Porcupine Mountains, Michigan (by an outdoor guide!)

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Newer Posts 1 2 3 4 5 … 8 Older Posts

hello stranger // about me

Hi there, and welcome to Hello Stranger. My name is Maddy, and I'm the voice behind the blog. I'm a writer, paddler, photographer, traveller, and freelance editor. I'm committed to exploring the beautiful American Midwest to prove that you can find real adventure anywhere! Toss your email below to keep up with the adventure!

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maddymarq

guide & writer exploring the midwest🏕
📍Northwoods & Lake Superior
inquiries: hello@madelinemarquardt.com
↓ FREE trail guides ↓

One year on Lake Superior❄️🏕️🌈 Come say hi @maddy One year on Lake Superior❄️🏕️🌈Come say hi @maddymarq for more Great Lakes spam!
Some of my finest work, truly🏕️🥾🫡 #puremichigan Some of my finest work, truly🏕️🥾🫡 #puremichigan
Winter kayaking on Lake Superior❄️🌊💫 I haven’t go Winter kayaking on Lake Superior❄️🌊💫I haven’t gotten out on the water as much this winter as the last few years but we’ve still got at least a month of winter left up here :)Safety note:Winter kayaking on Lake Superior should only be done while wearing a drysuit and with local knowledge of weather and ice patterns and paddlers proficient deep water self rescue in conditions. Not a beginner activity (I don’t guide tours in the winter, but @itssuchaniceday up on the Canadian North Shore does when conditions allow and they’re cool folks!)[Note on the expired boat tags! Photos taken from winter ‘21-‘24, mostly in Wisconsin where I live so no, my boat is no longer registered in Minnesota (I moved in ‘23, which is why the boat sticker still says 23). I’m a huge square and definitely register my watercraft appropriately and stay up to date on necessary certifications]
Once upon a Lake Superior February💫❄️ 1- a wintry Once upon a Lake Superior February💫❄️1- a wintry slot canyon 2- winter sea kayaking (drysuit, sea kayak, deep water self rescue experience are a must!)3- fox in the woods 4- an icy hike5- @saunacamps (admittedly not on lake superior but it slipped in!)6- icy line7- another slot8- evening light 9- sunrise 10- ice11- sunset 12- snowstorm13- more ice 14- breaking waves ♥️
4 days on the Trans-Catalina Trail🥾🌈🏕️⬇️ - 38.5 m 4 days on the Trans-Catalina Trail🥾🌈🏕️⬇️- 38.5 mile challenging thru-hike- ferry required to get there- campsite reservations/permits open the first of the year - bison! endemic species! cetaceans! oh my!- not a great beginner backpacking trip, but a good beginner thru-hike- options to grab lunch along the way and resupply, easy to keep pack weight low- on one of California’s Channel Islands Tag your hiking buddy mines @explorenborgen :) come say hi @maddymarq for fun little outdoorsy tips from your favorite unhinged outdoor guide!
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