Matt Heffner

Maine, Michigan, Ohio

#AwesomeMitten cultivates a love for and engagement with the places, products, and people unique to the great state of Michigan. #MittenLove #MIAwesomeList

Articles

5 Magical Lavender Fields Across Michigan

6 days ago | awesomemitten.com | Matt Heffner

With over 2,000 plants and 2 acres of wildflowers, meadows, and trails, lavender lovers will be in heaven on this Southeast Michigan farm. Visitors can pick their own lavender, take farm tours, have colorful photo sessions, go on a dinner date, or enjoy the vibrant colors around them.
ðŸš— A Bridge to the Past: 5 Storybook Crossings in Michigan

1 week ago | awesomemitten.com | Matt Heffner

5 Beautiful Covered Bridges in Michigan You Have to VisitRead moreThe covered bridge is on the North Country Trail and is for pedestrians only. While the bridge is small, itâ€™s attractive and offers great views from the shuttered side openings. Read moreThe covered bridge is on the North Country Trail and is for pedestrians only. While the bridge is small, itâ€™s attractive and offers great views from the shuttered side openings.
đźŚŠ The M-22 Drive Is Pure Michiganâ€”These Towns Prove It

1 week ago | awesomemitten.com | Matt Heffner

Manistee is the starting point of the M-22 highway and is an ideal place to begin your road trip along the scenic drive. Located in the southwest corner of Manistee County and near the shores of Lake Michigan, the quintessential Up North town of Manistee has plenty to see and do.
Here’s What Not to Miss

1 week ago | awesomemitten.com | Matt Heffner

Don’t Miss Exploring the Pickle Barrel House MuseumNo trip to the Upper Peninsula is complete without a stop at a roadside attraction. The Pickle Barrel House Museum is perhaps the most interesting and iconic roadside attraction in the region.
🚤 Why Michigan's Thumbcoast Is a Family Vacation Win

1 week ago | awesomemitten.com | Matt Heffner

Resting along 3 miles of Lake Huron’s shores of sandy beaches and sand dunes in the upper Thumb of Michigan, Port Crescent State Park is one of the top places to go in the Thumbcoast for a nature lover looking for hiking trails and biking trails. It has a 2.3-mile Day-Use Trail, 0.75-mile Dunes Nature Trail, and 2.5-mile Organization Area Trail.
🏖️ A Lake Huron Road Trip You’ll Want to Repeat Every Summer

1 week ago | awesomemitten.com | Matt Heffner

Start Your M-25 Road Trip From Port HuronPort Huron is the Great Lakes’ maritime capital, featuring the Great Lakes Maritime Center and the Huron Lightship. The charming downtown district has plenty to discover as well, such as unique art galleries, eateries, and shops.
The Quirky Roadside Wonder of Michigan's Upper Peninsula

1 week ago | awesomemitten.com | Matt Heffner

Located just off M-28, tucked between the towering trees and the wild edges of Lake Superior, sits a place that defies every expectation of what an art park should be. It’s not sleek. It’s not polished. And it’s definitely not quiet. But that’s exactly the point. Welcome to Lakenenland Sculpture Park, where scrap metal meets imagination and art feels more like an invitation than an exhibit.
Michigan's Most Charming Covered Bridges

1 week ago | awesomemitten.com | Matt Heffner

5 Beautiful Covered Bridges in Michigan You Have to VisitRead moreThe covered bridge is on the North Country Trail and is for pedestrians only. While the bridge is small, it’s attractive and offers great views from the shuttered side openings. Read moreThe covered bridge is on the North Country Trail and is for pedestrians only. While the bridge is small, it’s attractive and offers great views from the shuttered side openings.
The Lavender Farm Road Trip You Didn’t Know You Needed

1 week ago | awesomemitten.com | Matt Heffner

With over 2,000 plants and 2 acres of wildflowers, meadows, and trails, lavender lovers will be in heaven on this Southeast Michigan farm. Visitors can pick their own lavender, take farm tours, have colorful photo sessions, go on a dinner date, or enjoy the vibrant colors around them.
Discover Michigan's US-12 Heritage Trail

1 week ago | awesomemitten.com | Matt Heffner

Buchanan, Sturgis, & ColdwaterFurther to the east, Great Lakes Chocolate & Coffee (now Five Lakes Coffee) in Sturgis and North Woods Coffee Company (now Everfresh Cafe) in Coldwater provided additional iced coffees, my preferred summertime beverage. I’d stop at all these again, each having food and snack options as well.

Journalists covering the same region

Tyler Driesenga

Sports Reporter and Multimedia Journalist at WLNS-TV (Lansing, MI)

Tyler Driesenga primarily covers news in the Midwestern region of Michigan, United States, including areas around Lansing and surrounding suburbs.

Steven Bohner

Senior Digital Content Producer, 13 ON YOUR SIDE at WZZM-TV (Grand Rapids, MI)

Steven Bohner primarily covers news in Michigan, United States, focusing on areas like Lansing, Grand Rapids, and surrounding regions.

Leslie Veliz

News Writer at Explore.com

Leslie Veliz primarily covers news in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, including areas around Seattle, Washington, and surrounding regions.