I had a goal to travel around the lower loop of Lake Michigan, one of the great lakes, stopping at coastal towns and cities, and dunes parks along the way and photographing the lake shoreline, beaches, breakwaters and dunes. Why? I wondered if one lake and lake shoreline would look differently as it stretched along a coast.
Well, it’s a large loop of a lake–22,390 square miles long, bordering four states. My coastal, aquatic travel adventure occurred over the year, 2012. As I visited the shore at the many towns and parks, I began to appreciate the vastness, wilderness and changing beauty of the lake and parks. I learned anew about the coastal culture and mix of towns from working class, upscale, big city, tourist harbor town, and growing communities.
I’m glad I took this journey to various destinations along one beautiful great lake–Lake Michigan. Here is the photo essay of the journey, the Lake Michigan Series.
Along the Shore of Lake Michigan
More posts and pictures on other bloggers’ goals at: Sunday Post: Goals
Earlier posts and pictures about parks and towns I visited on my year-long trip around the lower loop of Lake Michigan starting on the east coast:
Indiana Dunes National and State Parks
Grosse Point Park, Evanston, Illinois
Google Map of Journey
Canoe Communications 
Great photos! Have you ever gone further north along the shore? Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Kewaunee, Door Counties offer some nice scenery, as well!
Yes, I’ve been further north–but not last year. I’d like to head back to northern Wisconsin this year to see some of the towns you mentioned and Land of Lakes. 🙂
I would like to head up to northwest WI and further north along the shore of Lake Superior – haven’t been up that way yet. Farthest I have ever gone is Houghton on the Keweenaw Peninsula. It is no great wonder that the U.P. and northern WI used to be a playground for wealthy and powerful folks that wanted some privacy – the beauty of that area is not as widely known as it should be…but I am kind of glad for that 🙂
It’s nice because it’s not as crowded, and the beaches are pristine, great mountain trails for hiking…love it.
Having grown up in Michigan, lived in Chicago and Indiana I loved your tour. Was like a visit to the past. Thanks
Amazing photos. I am glad you reached your goal.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Thank you so much for the tour, cc! Beautiful shots!
Great photography Canoe Communications,
wish you the best for 2013 my friend 🙂
I’m glad you took the journey too, I’m especially glad you shared it.
Awesome and absolutely kind of you to share it. Been there once but I was probably still too young to remember…and those days there weren’t digital cameras for me to snap photos. A pity, indeed. I shall have to take a trip down again after seeing this!!
beautiful images and thank you for taking us along with you through them
I used to live in Winthrop Harbor (just north of Zion). While we turned on the air conditioning during the middle of the summer days, most evenings we could turn it off because of the cool winds that came in from the lake.
Loved your photos and the memories they brought back.
Nanc
Ahh, Lake Michigan air conditioning. 🙂
It really does cool off at night. Of course, then you hear the powerboats whining instead!
I love the variety of content you create. I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! http://versatilebloggeraward.wordpress.com/about/!
Congratulations and thank you for the nomination.
Some beautiful shots here. I wonder how long it would take to walk around the shore? No, I suspect a boat would be better.
This year the last part of a connecting bike and hike trail is being completed, in Whiting. When it’s done people should be able to hike or bike around the entire, or almost entire, shoreline of Lake Michigan. I think it would take a few weeks to hike, boating is faster. There is a lot to see.
It would be a dream to combine the two.
that is a great idea
Pretty impressive journey… works with Monday challenge. 🙂
Beautiful photos! and I loved you coupled the use of maps, with the photo gallery… and text… a complete tour for all of us! 😮
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My gosh- these photos are absolutely beautiful!! Cannot wait to read more!
What a beautiful journey =0)
more posts on it this year..glad you liked it 🙂