I seek out Michigan blog and website content by individual writers, photographers, and artists who like to share their Michigan experiences. I want to compare stories and get a deep topic understanding that goes beyond the surface and keyword-stuffed content of Buzzfeed-like posts. Honestly, I like to compare my stuff with theirs.

While a couple of these sites are large and established, they are independent and don’t have a large organization behind them that can offer funding and resources. So you know it’s a labor of love. Finding these sites among the clutter of the Internet search engines was tough. So once I found a place I liked, it made to a list. I hope you will find these useful, and if you have a suggestion for a site, drop me a note.

The Lakeshore Guardian

The Lakeshore Guardian is a Michigan website that is supporting a published monthly newspaper. The site has been around since 1999. It covers Huron, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Tuscola Counties. It’s chock full of great stories and covers many historical events of the region in great detail. Its a self described researcher’s dream due to the number of historical posts.

Best Unique Feature: Since the site is supporting a hardcopy newspaper, its in an issue format. The site lacks a menu system that you can find and browse similar content. Which is kind of frustrating. However, the site has a good search capability and a category selector on the home page of the site is a great way to find themed content and stories.

j’adore Detroit

j’adore Detroit – This team of four writers covers Detroit. What’s the best restaurant? Where should we try this weekend? J’adore Detroit evolved out of the desire to be a resource for people who were moving back to the city (or who’d been here their whole lives) and didn’t know where to go or what to do.

Best Unique Feature: The Detroit “List” – Very handy. Top places to see, eat, and do in any social situation. Unique and a great resource to check out for those who don’t frequent downtown Detroit much.

Life in Michigan

Life in Michigan – Brenda and Chuck are two writers covering the Michigan music and craft beer scene with colorful reviews and lively photos. The site shares travel adventures hoping to inspire you to visit.

Best Unique Feature: The sites Michigan History Category has some amazing posts that cover historical events with great photography.

The Awesome Mitten

Awesome Mitten – The site is one of the larger blogs with at least nine writers and contributors. The Awesome Mitten covers a wide range of Michigan hotspots, communities, businesses, and people.

Best Unique Feature: The site’s Michigan Culture Category covers some unique topics and articles about being a Michigander. “It’s a Michigan Thing”

A Dangerous Business Travel Blog

A Dangerous Business Travel Blog – Amanda’s one-woman travel blog seeks out the “Millennial and Gen X audience who live “normal” lifestyles (with careers and mortgages), but who want to see the world and maximize their vacation time.” While Amanda is from Ohio, she ventures and writes about Michigan enough to appear on my radar.

Best Feature of this Site: The 10-Day Adventure Project. A bunch of self-guided trip itinerary’s that offers places to see in destinations all over the world. A great resource for those looking to check out travel from Africa to just about anywhere.

Enjoy Michigan Playground

Enjoy Michigan Playground – While not a Southeast Michigan site, I admire the format that this blog is taking. Two brothers raised in the U.P. now claim the entire state as a home we have dedicated their lives to explore. Michigan has world-class features and quaint quiet moments that deserve to be shared. The site sports some of the best video and photography for an independent blog.

Best Unique Feature: Their Michigan video pages are quite impressive. In fact, their home page hero shot is dominated by video stories which many say is the future trend on blogging.

Lost in Michigan

Lost In Michigan – I’ve been following Mike Sonnenberg’s work for years. This writer and photographer have taken some of the most unique and seldom traveled roads and trails to offer Michigan stories one picture at a time.

Best Unique Feature: Mike’s take on Michigan Historical Markers is perfect. There are lots of sites take a quick shot of a faded Michigan Historical Marker and call it a day. Lost in Michigan takes the time to get great shots of what the story is about and what’s behind it. Love it.

Traveling Michigan

Traveling Michigan – This couple outlines there travels around the Great Lake state. With descriptions and details for just about every major town and city in Michigan.

Best Unique Feature – Click on their Bucket List tab for the most interesting and unique restaurant, spooky places and some of the more interesting places to see in Michigan

Blogging Resources for Michigan Themed Blogs

Michigan Road Trip on M-25: Riding A Ribbon Around the Thumb – A favorite Michigan road trip for motorcyclists is the Michigan State Highway M-25. It’s a 147-mile scenic two-lane trunk line running from Port Huron to Bay City Michigan. Bikers like the drive as it offers many places to turn off for a rest, find a biker friendly place to eat, or take a bit of shelter during a storm.
3 Accessibility Testing Tools Small Websites Should Be Using – Web Accessibility testing tools is currently a hot topic for business and eCommerce sites. If you’re selling a product or service, no matter how small, your website should be set up to accommodate potential customers who have special needs or disabilities.
Tour Michigan’s Thumb to Getaway – If you’re looking for a Michigan tour to totally getaway we can help. This 15-minute video is a great review of some of the highlights of Michigan’s Thumb. With 150 miles of shoreline, the contrast between the rocky, rugged Lake Huron side is to the sugar sand and calm waters of Saginaw Bay. The Thumb region is a great area to explore.
Viking Cruise Lines to Cruise the Great Lakes in 2022 – Viking’s announced their arrival to the Great Lakes with a fresh new ship starting in 2022. Viking joins other high-end Great Lakes cruise lines who are currently trekking along the shorelines of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, as well as the Canadian province of Ontario. The cruise line opened the itineraries in January for booking as part of a preview of new Viking Expeditions.