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Cherry Republic President Bob Sutherland's love of environmental causes is well documented. On the board of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, he is a vocal supporter of renewable energy, and he has spoken out passionately about his love for the Great Lakes and his determination to shut down the Line 5 Pipeline running beneath the Straits of Mackinac. So you might not be surprised to hear that many Cherry Republic employees share that same passion. Two of those employees -- Laura ...

Nature's Way From The South Manitou Island LighthouseBy Jonathan SchechterThe landscape that is now Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is rightfully described as a masterpiece of ice, wind and water. It came into existence some 13,000 years ago as the last great glacier retreated leaving behind a raw landscape that gave birth to our Great Lakes and the rugged moraines along the western shore of northwest Lower Michigan. And then as winds howled, and waves crashed against the shores for hundr ...

Tackle the Sleeping Bear Dunes ‘Dune Climb’ What’s better than climbing up a golden sand dune? Running back down, of course! Serious hikers can choose to make the 3+ hour trek to Lake Michigan. Just be sure to bring water and sandals … that sand gets hot!   Kayak, canoe or tube the Crystal River A leisurely float or paddle down the lovely Crystal River in Glen Arbor is the epitome of summertime relaxation. Let your fingers skim the cool, clear water between lily pads, watch for Great Blue ...

It snowed eight inches again last night. Here we are, halfway through April and Northern Michigan is back to winter wonderland for the second time in 10 days. We’ve had these little windows of spring that allowed us a hike on the beach last weekend. It was a mix of beautiful sandy beach to stretch out on (in our coats) and yet, just 100 yards down the beach four foot ice mounds to climb on. Here are some photos of the family and I enjoying a beach of perfect balance between winter and spring. ...

        It has been a few years since our winter has been cold enough to produce abundant Lake Michigan ice.  We saw it a few days ago while hiking Pyramid Point.  I knew we would be on a beach soon to explore all the beautiful blue and winter whiteness.   There was so much variety -- from bright blue puddles like this... .... to dense pack ice that has filled Sleeping Bear Bay and half the Manitou Passage... ... to a frozen beach with big chunks of sandy ice ...

First Stop: Grass Lake Nature Preserve I took my family to the other side of Grand Traverse Bay — to Torch Lake, Bellaire and the farms, trails, woods and wetlands of Antrim County. It took some time to persuade the boys that this switch in Leaf Day activities would be worth it. “Usually, we go exploring nature in Sleeping Bear Dunes Park for the whole day,” reasoned Colebrook. “There’s no time wasted sitting in a car.”  “It is a change,” I agreed. “You don’t have to go — you can stay in sc ...

Cherry Ambassadors around the Republic took full advantage of Leaf Day 2017. From baking with family and friends, to fishing in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, to driving a semi to Kansas City for our first holiday gift show of 2017. Here are some of our favorite stories... Fishing the Pere Marquette River JP, our I.T. hero, spent his Leaf Day on a day-long guided fishing float trip down the Pere Marquette River with Steve Galbraith and world renowned fishing guide Steve Cornetet.  It was a beauti ...

Fall is one of the shortest yet most spectacular seasons of the year in Northern Michigan. And if steamy summer days stretch on through September and biting winds start blowing ahead of schedule in early November, you might just blink and miss this glorious time of year! All the more reason to be purposeful about squeezing in autumn activities while you can. To help you stay ahead of these fleeting fall days, we've compiled a list of some of our favorite autumn adventures. Pick one or two, or ...

Northern Michigan's fall foliage is legendary, and Leelanau county might be the crowning jewel. While most visitors experience the soft summer hues of Caribbean blue waters, sparkling beige sands, and lush green forests, when summer ends and temps drop Autumn is ready to move in. Across the county, the foliage covering the rolling sandy landscape is slowly painted soft hues of gold, scarlet, purple, and orange, eventually giving way to an explosive peak of magical scenic transformation in mid ...

This September has truly become an extension of summer.  I am thankful that the boys haven’t had any homework, so the moment they are out of school we’ve been able to do all the million things a person can do under the sun in Northern Michigan.  Colebrook and Hawthorn caught the biggest fish they’ve ever had on a line.  They built beach structures and slept on the beach under the stars.  They’ve snorkeled and tubed and learn to water ski.  But again, these photos can express the fun far better t ...

The Coho came into the Crystal River recently.  Colebrook and Hawthorn have been driving by the fishermen on their way to school each day, which really put them in a fishing frenzy this past weekend.  On Friday night, we shopped in TC for spawn bags, hooks, and heavy duty line, and when the boys woke up Saturday morning they had one goal-- catch a big Coho, King or Chinook Salmon.   [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="5874,5875"] As you can see from the photo’s, both boys had success. ...

Great Lakes, Bad Lines... Discover the story of two Michigan adventurers and their 500-mile, fossil-free journey across the Upper Peninsula along the route of Line 5 – a 63-year-old pipeline – that threatens our inland waters and Great Lakes. Every day nearly 23 million gallons of oil flow through Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline located on the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac just west of the Mackinac Bridge. The film is brought to you by Patagonia, Founders, Moosejaw, and Cherry Republic. Below ...

Above is a favorite angle of the Crystal River at the Dunns Farm Rd culvert. Here is a second view of the Dunns Farm culvert looking straight up the Crystal River.  If you have never paddled the Crystal in the winter, this mild winter would be a great year to do it. Can you see the duck in flight at the far side of the Crystal.  If the river freezes over, the ducks all head to Lake Michigan. The plows were out in mass.  We had a two hour school delay, which is almost as ...

  The Re-Arbor Glen Arbor Fundraising Campaign has raised $45,000.  Thank you to all who have contributed to this important effort.  From the moment the storm cleared, we’ve been hard at work clearing, rebuilding and fundraising.  What have we accomplished in the three months since the storm?  Here is a short photo blog update: We have to begin with the Glen Lake Community Reform Church’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors volunteer effort.  They have cleaned up 27 yards and put in 500 volunteer ...

What should citizens do on Leaf Day? Dress up? Give gifts? Hide Baskets? Make a big dinner? Those are all too much work. How about do nothing. How about a purposeless day? A day to just reflect on the beauty of nature? Leaf Day was created by Cherry Republic to celebrate the amazing colors of fall, and to take a day to reflect or enjoy the outdoors in the last of our good weather.  We are all so busy all summer and into fall that we don’t often find time to just enjoy the outdoors.  Leaf Day w ...