Lots of folk look over seed catalogs in the
chilly months of February and March to dream about warmer days that
will be spent planting and weeding in their gardens.
Other locals - our flock of snowbirds in the Southwest or in Florida -
use these months to start calculating when the last snows might fly
here so they can wing (or drive) their way home. Figuring last snow by
mid-May is usually a safe bet, by the way. Although who knows, there
still might be some shoveling to do.
For me, this is a great time to dust off the photo albums (or shake off
the electronic photo keeper) to remember past trips around Lake
Superior and to plan my lake region travel for the upcoming year.
Will I get the chance to dine in some of my favorite restaurants near
the shores in Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota? Will I find
some new places to shop for trinkets, explore in yet-to-visit museums
or (a trip pleaser for me), will I get to pose by some supersized
version of an everyday item or animal like the huge goose - geese
actually - in Wawa, Ontario, or the giant Stormy Kromer Cap in
Ironwood, Michigan, the two-story Muskie in Hayward, Wisconsin, the
humongus apple near Bayfield or, at that mecca of big garish stuff - Da
Yoopers Tourist Trap in Ishpeming, Michigan, try out the supersized
pump, shotgun, chainsaw and other notable biggies?
Viewing photos of past journeys whets our traveling appetites for our
next trips. That’s why the winners of our 15th annual Lake Superior
Photo Contest in this issue are so exciting. You’ll discover plenty of
places that you want to see again or for the first time. Best of all,
you also get to see the enjoyment of the people - and often the dogs,
it seems from the number of those images - who visited the lakeshores.
This year we had so many great entries that we’ve sprinkled them
throughout the magazine in different departments. (Consider finding all
of them something of a treasure hunt!)
Another article in this issue that will seed your trip planning is in
our Travel & Events section, where we are beginning introductions
to towns around Lake Superior. Managing Editor Bob Berg takes us to
Washburn, Wisconsin, to meet a few local folk and discover cool places
to stop, to shop and to eat.
Of course, traveling or living around the lake, the people who you meet
aren’t the only ones making a big impression. We have the stories of
three area residents whose encounters with local wildlife left them
with great tales to pull out mid-winter and some lingering thoughts to
ponder by the evening fire.
Some summer trip plans being made this time of year don’t involve
tourist travel. Lake Superior researchers don’t take the summer off.
That’s when the waters are flowing and so are the studies. You can read
a bit about what they might be doing this year (and what they’ve done
in the past) in our special State of the Lake focus - Lake Superior:
Freshwater Research Capital of the World.
The more I think about it, the more I think we shouldn’t wait until the
snow goes for the big trips.
No use missing the many snowmobiling, snowboarding, snowshoeing,
skiing, ice climbing and northern light watching or snowflake-catching
opportunities to encourage. And there’s plenty of time before the last
snow falls to get in a sojourn here Up North, where winter likes to
hang out with the locals.
Big things await on that next Big Lake adventure. And don’t forget the
camera!
Konne LeMay, editor
Address e-mail to
kon@lakesuperior.com
