Photography has always been an important part of what we do here at Travel the Mitten, as we feel that visual media helps better tell the story of Michigan’s lighthouse, waterfalls, roadside attractions, and historic sites. Last year was our first year of sharing our 100 favorite photos from the year and this post will continue that for 2021. It was another great year for us as we had the chance to visit many new places and return to some of our old favorites. As phone camera technology continues to get better, it has been easier to capture every moment we experience while traveling this great state. The Nikon D7000 still goes on longer trips with Jon but this year’s top photos ended up being closer to a 50/50 split between camera and phone shots. Our 100 Favorite Michigan Photos of 2021 are a great representation of what we want to share with our reader and we hope you enjoy this gallery!
You’ll notice that a lot of these photos focus on lighthouses, waterfalls, wildlife, historic sites, and events. A May vacation through the Upper Peninsula gave Jon a chance to play tour guide for some friends and provided some great photo opportunities in Copper Harbor, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and the Marquette area. A Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruise out of Mackinaw City in June took us to two lighthouse we hadn’t visited before and led to some great shots of White Shoal Lighthouse and more. Visits to parks, trails, and farms let us take the time to focus on plants and fungi, while urban exploration led to some great shots of the outside and inside of historic churches and other buildings. We already have plenty of Michigan travel planned for 2022, and we can’t wait to get more great shots to share with you! Thanks for following along with us these past seven years!
Gerald R. Ford Sculpture at Awakon Park in Onaway, June
Miners Beach at Picture Rocks National Lakeshore, May
Lobdell & Emery Train Sculpture at Awakon Park in Onaway, June
Liefde Farms Sunflowers, July
Mini Mac Replica Bridge in St. Louis, July
World’s Largest Steering Wheel at Awakon Park in Onaway, June
Ruffed Grouse at Bond Falls Scenic Site, May
Freighter Lee A. Tregurtha at the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, July
Cut River roadside park on US-2, October
Reany Falls in Marquette, May
View from the tower at the Cheboygan River Range Light, June
Warren Woods State Park, July
World of Winter art exhibit in Grand Rapids, February
Heading to the Rose Garden at Dow Gardens in Midland, July
Sunset at Hoffmaster State Park, July
Pine Island Drive Bridge near Rockford, April
Frog at Dow Gardens in Midland, July
Dead River Falls in Marquette, May
A winter walk through Paris Park in Kentwood, January
Bell’s Brewery Two Hearted Ale at the Two Hearted River, May
Interior of the Basilica of Sainte Anne de Detroit, July
McCourtie Park’s cement wooden bridges, March
Mackinac Bridge replica at the US-127 rest area near Clare, May
Cheboygan Crib Light, June
View from the Crisp Point Lighthouse tower, May
ArtPrize 2021 entry “Seprentina the Dragon” by Jennifer Dunahee, September
Lower Tahquamenon Falls, October
Alden Dow home and studio at Dow Gardens in Midland, July
Mason County Quilt Barn Trail, March
ArtPrize entry “Tin Man” by Bill Secunda, September
Coca Cola Holiday Caravan at Meijer Cascade, November
1930s Eastmanville Farm Barn (Ottawa County Parks), March
Grays Reef Light in Lake Michigan, June
Heerengracht freighter heading into the Soo Locks, October
Meridian-Baseline State Park, March
Slate River Falls near Skanee, May
Spotted Towhee at Wege Foundation Natural Area in Lowell, May
Zoorassic Park exhibit at Binder Park Zoo, September
Butterfly at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, August
McCourtie Park in Somerset Center, March
Haven Falls in Copper Harbor, May
Jon taking some photos at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, October
Zoorassic Park exhibit at Binder Park Zoo, September
Cheboygan Crib Light Tower View, June
Warren Woods State Park, July
Paris Park Eiffel Tower replica, August
W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary in Augusta, September
Big Spring Kitch-iti-kipi, May
Fall kayak trip on the Flat River in Lowell, October
Freighter McKee Sons in long-term layup at Muskegon, May
Fall Color at Monocle Lake, October
Five Shores Brewing in Beulah, April
Celebrating Muskegon sculpture at Pere Marquette Beach, May
Abraham Lincoln Sculpture at Awakon Park in Onaway, June
Sunflower at Liefde Farms, July
Swan at W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, September
Brimley State Park beach, May
Duck at the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary in Augusta, September
Saint Peter Cathedral in Marquette, May
World of Winter art exhibit in Grand Rapids, February
Midland County Courthouse, July
Wege Foundation Natural Area in Lowell, May
Kayaking in Copper Harbor, May
Freighter Menominee at Port Huron, July
Saint Peter Cathedral in Marquette, May
Chimney Ruins of Camp Raco (CCC/POW), October
Upper Hand Brewery’s Pack Light beer at Seney Wildlife Refuge, October
Battle of Brownstown Memorial, Gibraltar
Ludington Waterfront Sculpture Park/Mason County Sculpture Trail, March