Category: Ludington

Badger Heading West


The Badger ferry boat and this lighthouse are probably the two greatest factors for the city of Ludington Michigan. The Badger aside, the Ludington lighthouse on the Breakwater is probably the shining star of that City. Nearly a quarter of a mile out into Lake Michigan it has to be the number one tourist attraction in that area. Countless people have walked out to the lighthouse even during high waves. We have many pictures of this building on our website thanks in large part to Darlene Reynolds who also writes here. She has taken great time and effort to provide you the best pictures of this area. Mike Reynolds has also provided great pictures of this area including the Manistee National Forest. They are both now in retirement in Arizona but I know Mike’s heart is still lodged in Michigan. I know Darlene prefers the Arizona warmth. They both had a chance this summer to return to Michigan for 2 weeks. Big Bass Lake and Beyond were favored with many new pictures. This lighthouse was the centerpiece of the Reynolds Family attentions. And I have to admit mine too.

The Badger in High Seas


I have personally taken the badger to Wisconsin several times. But I have never taken it in weather such as this. I wonder how high seas affect the performance of the badger? Can customers feel the difference? And what about storms in the middle of Lake Michigan? Maybe someone has experiences such as these? Let us know by way of a comment.

Miles of Dunes


One thing I enjoy about the Ludington area is that on one side of M-116 there is Lake Michigan with miles of swimming beach and on the other side there are miles of sand dunes to explore. My friend Ben and I enjoy hiking the dunes at least once a week in the summer time. Hikes in the fall are even better as the sand doesn’t tend to be as hot. I always take a compass with me because it would be quite easy to get lost in this area.

There are literally hundeds of dunes along M-116 on the east side and there are dips and turns that are fun to explore. These days there are also some bears that one might run into so be careful out there.

Ben likes to get photographs off the big dunes and then paste them all over his den. I like to put them on here instead for all to enjoy. At Ben’s place he and his dog Porky are the only ones to enjoy his dune experiences. Ben actually owns a dune buggy and he uses it on the dunes farther north.

Some day soon I plan to go to Silver Lake, Michigan, with him and use that o’le buggy of his and see what that’s like. I will have my insurance updated by then too just in case. In Michigan one never runs out of dune country to explore.

US 10 and Ferry Boats


I’ve always liked US 10 in Michigan, especially the part from just outside Baldwin all the way into Ludington. That stretch of highway takes you through the Manistee National Forest and all its beauty to almost Lake Michigan. Along the way it takes a southward turn toward the ferry boats in Ludington as our picture above shows.

The ferry boat harbor and the boats themselves have put Ludington on the map. One only has to view how many photographs either show the ferry boats themselves or Ludington Harbor with its famous lighthouse at the end of that harbor. Even on our website, how many of our photographs on Ludington have been on these areas?

Even on the beaches of Ludington, ferry boats come and go in full view of the swimmers. Throughout Ludington one can hear the horns of the boats as they come and go. And US 10 is a part of that agenda as it swings just past that famous ferry boat port.

Ever Desolate Michigan 116


In summer this stretch of M-116 is busting with activity be it campers on their way to the Hamlin Dam Park (Ludington State Park) or with swimmers wanting their own section of Lake Michigan beach to call their own for a day. Yet today, this same seven mile stretch of roadway is ever so desolate.

The winds off Lake Michigan are nearly unbearable and to venture over that one dune to the shores of Lake Michigan are nothing that I would desire for today. Instead the comfort of my warm car are more than enough for me. After all spring is just a month away and then this area will become alive again.

I rolled down my window for a moment only to capture the breeze at full force which quickly stirred me back to the reality of the moment. I did manage to stop my car and for a brief moment I walked to the top of that dune. The frozen tundra of Lake Michigan was immediately taken in and then open water farther out. Soon it would be all open water again and then a few months later summer would come and I would be taking dips in that very water and maybe even at this location. Yes, I hope very soon!

Driving Toward Lake Michigan


I’ve always liked to call these venues into the Lake Michigan area “Anticipation Drive” as they are my lead-in’s to either jogging, kayaking (once), or swimming.  I don’t think I’ll ever repeat my kayaking experience here as I prefer the calmer waters of the Pere Marquette River.

Even though I live near Scottville, I spend a lot of my time in Ludington even in the winter as I take the polar plunge every year just as Darlene checks my sanity for so doing.

Darlene likes to take pictures of Lake Michigan especially in stormy weather.  I like to jog on the shoreline at those times.  I’m always impressed with the sheer ferocity of Lake Michigan and the high waves in storms. I’m vert respectful as well as I have seen many fools venture out onto the breakwater in high waves. 

The sad times are when I drive away from the lake heading home to Scottvlle.  Someday maybe I’ll own a house right on the lake.  Yes, someday!

A New Badger


It’s almost time for the Badger Ferry Boat to begin crossing Lake Michigan again with cars a plenty however it won’t be this particular Badger. This Badger only crosses streets and avenues. It is used in parades and for special promotions.

One has to wonder about the name for this Michigan ferry boat. Badger? That sounds like something from Wisconsin? Maybe a new ferry boat could be named Wolverine or an existing boat renamed that? That has more of a Michigan feel to it. Now I don’t want to appear to be “badgering” the ferry boat industry with this sort of thing, but Badger, like it or not, does not represent Michigan well.

You know, even The Spartan would make a difference!

Can You Smell Summer In The Air?


My whiffer was a bit off this year as it got the scent of summer in MARCH! And not only the scent but a string of 80 degree days which is almost unheard of in Michigan in March. Yet to any sane Michigander, their nose tells them that even with a warm March, April may well bring a few days below freezing and it did!

There were several hard freeze days in Michigan in April and those could well cost Michigan farmers their cherry crop. In our topsy-turvy winter matched the rest of the country as I heard tell that even Hawaii had a snowfall this year.

Some days this past winter it was warmer in Montana than Florida. Some around my community were getting out their shorts. Not me because I know what Michigan weather can be like. In fact, my summer clothes don’t come out here until mid-May.

To be true to my title, though, summer as whiffed in March of this year and then that same nose felt the chill of April. What will be in store for it come May?

Crazy Day for a Walk


This guy must be on suicide watch. Can you imagine taking a walk with that kind of wave action? The Ludington Break water is nearly underwater! I wonder what he’s doing out there? Maybe he’s making out his last will and testament? Or maybe he just got lost in thought and now he doesn’t know what to do? One thing he might think about is heading back to land pronto. He had better hope that he is waterproof. Maybe We should all check the local paper tomorrow?

Michigan Highway 116




M-116 begins in Ludington at the intersection of William Street and Ludington Avenue. It is at this intersection where US 10 turns southward and heads to the Ludington-Manitowoc ferry docks. From here, M-116 continues westward along Ludington Avenue for about one-half mile before turning north on Lakeshore Drive. The road continues as North Lakeshore Drive until passing the Lincoln Hills Golf Club where it curves westward towards the lakeshore as it approaches the park. The route runs along the coast of Lake Michigan for the remainder of its route, through sand dunes, until reaching its northern terminus at the entrance to Ludington State Park.

Ludington State Park is bound to the west by Lake Michigan, the north by sand dunes and to the east by Hamlin Lake. As such, M-116 provides the only road access to the park from the south. The park encompasses 5,300 acres  and is home to several types of ecosystems such as forests and sand dunes as well as Lake Michigan, Big Sable River and Hamlin Lake.  M-116 was first designated on June 28, 1928, from the north city limit of Ludington north to the Sable River, but not all of it was built and open to traffic. It was extended southerly on July 15, 1931, into the city of Ludington to US 10. There was a new alignment closer to the lakeshore opened on March 14, 1933. Later that year on July12,, the original, unbuilt routing was cancelled. The northern end was extended on October 31, 1935, to encompass the Big Sable River bridge opened in 1934.

In all, M-116 encodmpasses 7.1 miles with the largest section along the prestine beaches of Lake Michigan.  Parking spaces are designated for having your own private beach at several junction points along the highway.