Pleasant Peninsula with O.W. Root

O.W. is sick, which is typical for this time of year, as it is for most adults with small children. Kids just can’t help it and the whole family feels it. But that’s the price of family and it’s actually a beautiful annual tradition you literally share with each other. Plus, have you ever been to the Graveyard of the Solstice in Kaleva? There’s a unique practice there that O.W. was privileged to o...

It's been extremely cold recently Up North. Yes, that does tend to happen about this time every year. But O.W. asks if we've ever stopped to think how much we take for granted that these frigid temperatures don't kill us? Plus, you need a phone. Not an iPhone, but one that plugs into the wall and has a cord. We need more of a connection when we talk to each other and fewer computers. Those old han...

O.W. reflects on winter not as something to conquer, but something to manage with intention. He suggests that small acts—shoveling paths, leaving the lights up, tending to neglected spaces—can make the cold months bearable. Plus, “every girl’s crazy for a sharp dressed man,” isn’t just a quote from a ZZ Top song, it’s the truth. If you’re looking to impress, then you have to dress for it. What do...

It’s been weeks since the sun peaked through the clouds. It won’t be over 20 degrees for a fortnight and the massive piles of snow at the end of the driveway has hardened, making it impossible to put the trash can in the right place. Yes, winter can be depressing, but O.W. reveals there’s a solution. Lean Into it. Plus, it’s a controversial opinion. Kwame Kilpatrick, the former mayor of Detroit, w...

If you live where it snows in the winter, you know this person. He’s the guy who always says that every snowstorm is definitely going to be a blizzard. For those who’ve been around the block, you know it’s all hype, but what about the winter newbies who don’t know any better? Plus, O.W. loves the geese, and he’ll show you why. Discover more at Michigan Enjoyer Follow O.W. Root on X: @necktiesalvag...

Does November get overlooked in the autumn shuffle? The leaves have already fallen, and Halloween is long gone, so what’s left? Once again, O.W. finds the nuance in this often overlooked month. Plus, remember going to Pizza Hut as a kid? The red plastic cups, the lamps, the Book-It Program, it was all so glorious. So where did all those old school dining rooms go? O.W. found one of the last remain...

There’s no getting around it. Your dog is making a mess and you’re probably not cleaning it up. Kudos if you do, but the dog poop is piling up because so many others aren’t as decent. It doesn’t have to be this way. Plus, join O.W. on a journey to Hemingway’s Two Hearted River in Luce County. It’s not an easy place to get to, but it’s definitely worth the trip. Discover more at Michigan Enjoyer Fo...

For O.W., the first snow of the season doesn’t just bring beautiful scenes of white wilderness. That first dusting or storm has coincided with new life at the Root household, and it just happened again! Plus, he’s one of the most prolific kid’s authors in the world, and his spooky headquarters is located just off the highway in Northern Michigan. O.W. takes us inside Chillermania and gets insights...

O.W. pits noisy leaf blowers against the soulful scrape of rakes, celebrating autumn’s quieter rhythm and human-nature bond. He then unveils a 1970’s eastern U.P. UFO cult, where Warren Gates crafted a barn-born saucer to flee apocalypse via Lake Huron’s mothership. O.W. ties it all to Michigan’s remote wilds, where isolation sometimes sparks strange beliefs. Discover more at Michigan Enjoyer Foll...

O.W. Root takes a fall road trip through northern Michigan’s “Tunnel of Trees,” fueled by cider, color, and a touch of melancholy. Then it’s south to Mount Pleasant, where he asks: how “Indian” is a town with a casino, a university, and a Starbucks on reservation land? The answer lies in the quiet corners—the Ziibiwing Center, an old Ojibwe mission, and a cemetery where the past rests amid crops a...

O.W. shares what he believes is one of society’s greatest failures: the ability to wear an appropriate, stylish jacket. He has some fail-safe recommendations to get you through to winter coat season. Plus, have you noticed Trunk Or Treat on the ascent while Trick Or Treat gets smaller every year? Is it just a harmless new trend, or a harbinger of something bigger in the American way of life? Disco...

Have you noticed Halloween decorations going from spooky and scary about 20 years ago, to gory and downright terrifying nowadays? Corpses hanging from trees, pour souls being disemboweled on your neighbor’s front yard. Why has our PG holiday suddenly become rated R, and why are people so touchy when you bring it up? Plus, the ghost towns of the U.P. No, not the spooky kind, but the ruins of times...

O.W. reflects on Bruce Catton’s Waiting for the Morning Train and how plunging into Michigan’s cold lakes feels timeless. While technology constantly changes, the dilemma of charging in or wading slowly remains universal. Plus, an exploration into how the lumberjack has shifted from rugged worker to modern competitor, where skill and spectacle meet. These contests, like the ones held by the Jack P...

What’s the smell of autumn? If you live up north, you know that spring has a distinct aroma, but what about fall? It has a lot to do with the falling leaves. Plus, would you rather live in a giant mansion surrounded by concrete and traffic or a trailer with a spectacular view of the lake? Both are options in our wonderful state, but which one speaks to your soul? Discover more at Michigan Enjoyer...

What is an Indian summer anyway? O.W. gives the definitive answer, plus the key to enjoying every minute of it at the beach. Plus, have you ever heard of “gleaning?” It’s a tradition rooted in the Old Testament, but still very much alive today through the volunteer work of food gatherers, working with farmers to feed the hungry. And the best part, you can get in on the joy of serving and have fun...

With all of the darkness in the world (and especially social media), we can all use some time to unplug from it all. O.W. shares his thoughts on turning down the noise and turning up your senses to what may seem mundane, but can actually be fascinating. And have you been to a place that just looks too much like a postcard? Harbor Springs is kind of like that. Discover more at Michigan Enjoyer Foll...

Can you tell what time of the year it is in a photo just by looking at the sky? O.W. says if that season is fall, he’d believe you. Autumn has a distinct look, and the dead giveaway are its fluffy, white clouds. Plus, looking for an alternative that is the absolute hell of I-94 to Chicago? Perhaps you should consider taking the water route. There’s a ferry that’ll let you skip the highway in style...

If you’ve ever wondered where you can get the best experience and value for your golfing dollar, it’s probably out in the sticks. The more rural the course is, the more peaceful and patient it can be. And is your fruit jam made by holy men? No? Then you’re missing out. O.W. takes you to the place where the monks make jam, and much more. Discover more at Michigan Enjoyer Follow O.W. Root on X: @nec...

Have you ever tried explaining the Great Lakes to someone who’s never seen them before? Sometimes they can’t comprehend how massive they actually are unless they actually make it to the shore. Plus, the legend of the Singing Sands of Bete Grise. Its ancient origins tell a tale of sorrow, and today the beach remains mysterious and unspoiled for curious visitors. Discover more at Michigan Enjoyer Fo...

O.W. makes a compelling case as to why September, not January is a more natural beginning to the year. It’s when everything begins again, making these last two weeks in August the end of the cycle. Plus, what kind of person takes a six hour ferry ride from Houghton to one of the most isolated places on Earth? O.W. finds out as he chats with passengers on their way to Isle Royale. Discover more at...

O.W. makes it official - Canada’s failure to control its wildfires is an attack on our Summer, a season that is already unacceptably short in Michigan. They are a first world country, so perhaps they should act like it and mobilize some firefighters, eh! Plus, if you’re looking for the best sandwich in Harbor Springs, don’t go to a fancy restaurant, head to the liquor store. It’s a unique eatery r...

It was O.W.’s very first trip to the county that’s known for having the state’s worst pavement. And after replacing four tires and paying a hefty bill, he soon found out the stories weren’t exaggerated. Why can’t we, as Michiganders, get a hold of this quagmire we call our roads? Plus, looking for the best fish and chips in the state? Possibly the Midwest? O.W. has a recommendation you shouldn’t p...

O.W. doesn’t get down to southern Michigan that often, but when he does, he notices the hell out of the different landscapes when he’s driving. The severe lack of pine trees stands out most of all. Plus, hitting the beach above the bridge. Yes, Yooper beaches are a thing and they’re spectacular, if you don’t mind the ad hoc parking situation. Discover more at Michigan Enjoyer Follow O.W. Root on X...

What’s the secret to a great beach experience? Not saving it for once a year. O.W. explains how to enjoy the beach all summer, by preparing your mind and snack bag. Plus, welcome to High Island, one of the deserted places that dot Northern Lake Michigan. As he relives his tour, he shares the fascinating history of the settlement, and why no one lives there anymore. Discover more at Michigan Enjoye...

O.W. takes us to Beaver Island, where if you arrive too late into the evening, your options for a meal aren’t just limited, they’re none-existent. But that lack of modern convenience is what makes it special, and appealing only to the tough. Plus, a can’t miss guide for anyone visiting the U.P.. You probably won’t die if you don’t take his travel advice, but you may wish you had after you see what...