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hello stranger midwest adventure

  • 25 Things to do Sleeping Bear Dunes (by an outdoor guide!)

    March 3, 2025

    the best hiking, overlooks, beaches, places to eat, kayak, and more in the Sleeping Bear Dunes

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  • 27 Bucket-List Michigan Hiking Trails (with maps!)

    April 19, 2024

    Searching for Michigan’s best hiking trails? Here are the 26 best hiking trails in Michigan for views, waterfalls, and swimming!

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  • 9 Best Michigan Road Trips for Outdoor Adventure

    January 14, 2024

    looking for the best road trips in michigan? check out this article for all the best road trip ideas in michigan!

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  • Best Photo Locations near Traverse City

    September 21, 2021

    Looking for the best photo locations near Traverse City, Michigan? From sand dunes to wild rivers, here are the best photography locations near Traverse City, Michigan.

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  • Fall Color on a backroad near Traverse City, in Northern Michigan

    7 Beautiful Fall Hiking Ideas in Northern Michigan

    September 3, 2021

    For the best fall hiking trails in northern michigan, hard hikes, easy hikes, and fall color, read on!

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  • A loon on a small quiet lake near Traverse City, Michigan

    7 Beautiful Places to Kayak in Traverse City, MI

    September 1, 2021

    Looking for the best kayaking near Traverse City? Read this article for the best places to kayak near Traverse City, Michigan

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  • Image of a rocky shore on Lake Superior with loons in the water. In the backgrounders is Split Rock Lighthouse on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior.

    15 Most Beautiful Great Lakes Destinations

    July 23, 2021

    Looking for the most beautiful Great Lakes travel destinations? Read this article for the 15 best summer vacation spots in the Great Lakes Region!

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  • Beachscape and sand dunes with crystal clear water at the Dune Climb Hike in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore near Traverse City

    11 Best Easy Day Hikes near Traverse City

    July 15, 2021

    Looking for the best day hikes near Traverse City? Read this article for the best hiking trails for families and hikers!

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  • A Kayaker in front of the Rock Harbor Light on Isle Royale; Hidden Gems of the Northern Great Lakes

    Top Seven Great Lakes Hidden Gems

    April 14, 2021

    Looking for Great Lakes Hidden Gems? Come explore waterfalls, sea caves and Lake Superior Islands. These seven incredible spots belong on your bucket list.

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  • Sweeping views from Empire Bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    11 Best Hiking Trails in the Sleeping Bear Dunes

    February 18, 2021

    best hiking trails in the sleeping bear dunes for beaches, views, and more

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maddymarq

guide & writer exploring the midwest🏕
📍Wisconsin Northwoods & Lake Superior
inquiries: hello@madelinemarquardt.com
↓ FREE trail guides ↓
Lake Superior in the winter❄️🌈🌊safety note⬇️ Kaya Lake Superior in the winter❄️🌈🌊safety note⬇️Kayaking on Lake Superior in any season is recommended only in sea kayaks by paddlers with practiced deep water self rescues and safety gear. When in doubt, book a guided tour. In the winter, as you might imagine, hazards compound! Everyone pictured here works or has worked locally as a guide and has extensive knowledge of Lake Superior weather patterns, rescue practice in cold water, and is wearing a drysuit. There are no available guided winter tours in this area at present due to the hazards involved in winter kayaking, and the rare conditions that make this paddle possible in the winter. (It’s currently locked in with ice and in-paddleable; ice is not safe to hike on here at present so these caves can only be viewed from the hiking trail above.)
Weekend in Lutsen, MN❄️♥️🥾 With @explorenborgen Weekend in Lutsen, MN❄️♥️🥾 With @explorenborgen :)
Night snowshoeing & campfires this weekend 🔥❄️ jus Night snowshoeing & campfires this weekend 🔥❄️ just wrapped up the very first women’s knit, ski, and winter camp weekend and despite kinks including learning that pancakes do NOT cook evenly when the air temperature is single digits, it was so much fun! As always, such a great group of women, and thanks so much to everyone who came out :)1- snowshoeing in the dark 2- s’mores3- headlamps and so so much snow❄️4- early morning coffee 5- group pic at @mt.ashwabay 6- obligatory ski photo7- first time XC skiers!!! Looking pretty good!!8- campfire :)9- fresh snow10- a dry, off-grid cabin in the woods 👀11- fresh tracks12- sleepover!13- project time :)14- flurriesThis was one of the first trips I’ve designed and fully executed and led start to finish — usually I’ve borrowed other templates, itineraries, and learned from other guides in the past — and I’m honestly feeling really proud of how it turned out, especially given the added challenges of winter. Anyways feeling really proud and really grateful for such a cool group of ladies and for @lostcreekadventures giving me the space to try something like this!Stay tuned for upcoming trip updates & and ladies who came out just leave a comment so I can find your IG and I’ll tag you!!
Minnesota strong♥️❄️ Recommended listen: Governor Minnesota strong♥️❄️Recommended listen: Governor Tim Walz’s address last night. Click on the audio and head to the original post to listen or head to @mngovernor Recommended follow: @dguttenfelder documenting from Minneapolis for the @nytimes For resources: @startribune has put together resources to help families and businesses in need in the Twin Cities ( @planetwithsara has set you an easy way to get DM’d the list in her most recent post! Another recommended follow)
A winter hike, a cozy cabin 🌊🥾❄️ Spent some time A winter hike, a cozy cabin 🌊🥾❄️ Spent some time up north with @explorenborgen playing in the snow and enjoying some cozy cabin time at @lutsen_seavillas [hosted].Sound of crashing waves, some trail beer-cheese fondue, fog and frost, heavy wool sweaters, a wood-burning stove, pancakes — doesn’t get much better than this :)Photos 4, 5 & 9 📸- @explorenborgen
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© 2025 Madeline Marquardt