The Redneck Riviera

It’s the sunrise side, it’s the Lake Huron side, it’s vacation land in the Thumb, also known as the Redneck Riviera! No, this is not derogatory at all, we embrace our Bud Light and flannel! We are proud to be down to earth with a little cabin on the bay, bonfires on the beach, camping and tubing, brats and burgers, sand in our toes and s’mores all around. It is believed that the moniker Redneck Rivera came from the laid back atmosphere of the Caseville area. Many of the vacationers are blue-collar workers who have created a much different vibe than can be found on the West side of our great state.  

 
 

The M-25 Drive - Bayport the First Stop

Want to see what I’m talking about? Trust me you will love how relaxed and casual a summer trip to the Thumb can be. Try taking the M-25 drive and you will be hooked! M-25 travels from Port Huron to Bay City and there are many sights along the way. In this journey we focus on the route from Caro to Caseville.

 
 

 

Take M-24 (Lapeer Road) north through Caro. You will drive through much farmland and a small farming town called Sebawaing. Things start to get really interesting as you reach Bayport, home of the fish sandwich festival. The Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival is the largest single eating event in Michigan's Upper Thumb. Bay Port Fish Sandwiches are an original creation which began in 1978. The popular weekend event is packed full of activities for family fun and continues to grow each year.

 

Wildfowel Bay near Bay Port

 

 

 

Your drive will take you along Wildfowl Bay with glimpses of the great Lake Huron along the way. As you approach Caseville you begin to see the traps of tourism at its Thumb Michigan best. Beautiful vacation homes, cabins, cottages and trailers. T-shirt shops, souvenir stands, greasy spoons, putt-putt golf and ice cream shops as well. If you are of a mind don’t miss the bars that still smell of beer and smokes and where a game of pool is still a quarter.

 

Caseville Marina

 

The pride of summer in Caseville and one of the big highlights of the Redneck Riviera is the Cheeseburger in Caseville festival. Cheeseburger is a festival in tribute to Jimmy Buffet, and different types of cheeseburgers. The festival takes place in the final weeks of August, celebrating the final weeks of summer vacation. Cheeseburger is amazing to see, what started as a three-day weekend has turned into a 10-day festival that includes laser light shows on the beach, concerts, fireworks, and, the highlight of the festival, The Parade of Tropical Fools.  The parade is held on the first Wednesday night of the festival and is the biggest attraction that the festival has to offer. The parade can last up to two hours and attracts more than 50,000 people every year. Cheeseburger has won several Michigan Fun Awards and is the only festival in Michigan to place in the top five in every category of the Michigan Fun Awards. It probably goes without saying that the partying during Cheeseburger is legendary.

 

 

So, you have lots of choices. A walk on the beach, a bike ride along the bay, camping, fishing, tubing, sailing, kayaking, shopping, a good meal, a cocktail or two, a swim, or just a drive along the Lake Huron shoreline; the Redneck Riviera has so much to offer! Most of all, you will love how laid back we are, it’s a whole different world here in the Thumb!

 

 



Spring Will Finally Be Sprung, Think Gardening in the Thumb!

Our one-day taste of sunshine and temps above freezing got me thinking about one of my favorite Thumb hobbies, gardening. Travel in my neighborhood and the home without a garden plot is the exception. By late August, people have tables out in their front yards with veggies to be had for free, the excess fruits of their labor. Some gardens are huge acres of manicured tilled land and some are small plots with a few rows of plants. It wasn’t long after I moved here that I wanted to try my hand at vegetable gardening.

Tomato Plants in My Garden

I am no professional, but I learned that trial by error is part of the fun. Each year I try to grow new things and it’s so rewarding to sow those little plants in early June and then watch them grow all summer and finally eat the fresh veggies. We don’t have a large area of cleared land so we planted our garden in raised beds. This is a great way to grow things if you don’t have a large backyard, you will be amazed at how easy it is to build the beds and how much you can grow in them. Here is a short video so you can get the idea of raised beds.

 

 

 

I have a friend who made the process even easier, she used old tractor tires for her raised beds. I have had great success with many things I have planted, cucumbers and tomatoes have done well and are very easy. If you don’t have room for a raised bed you can even plant these in a container and place it on a deck or patio. I have also done well with squash, potatoes and peppers. Pumpkins were a struggle as they need lots of room. The list of veggies to plant is almost endless, I stick with our favorites.

Some people are what I would call professional gardeners; they start seedlings in the winter, they test their soil, till the land, compost, etc. and that’s cool. But, I am much more casual. We rent a small mantis tiller in the spring and add some manure to the soil. Then, one of my favorite parts, shopping for the plants. Oh, what fun it is to choose all the baby veggies each year. Wojo's Greenhouse in Ortonville is great, a huge selection with beautiful plants. But, if you are on a budget, Walmart, Home Depot, even your local grocery can be a source. But, do remember to look for healthy plants that look cared for; many times the old adage you get what you pay for is very true with garden plants.

 

 

Garden Beds at Planting Time

 

Although I am so anxious to plant as soon as I have my new baby veggies at home I have learned from experience for most plants it is best to wait until after Memorial Day. Before that the soil is much too cold for tender plants and the risk of frost is still there. Planting is very easy, if I have ever have any question about how to plant a specific veggie I just look for video on the internet. Then, it’s true therapy for me to venture out to the garden each morning and check the progress of the plants. Watering, weeding, fertilizing, checking for pests; it’s not a chore but so relaxing.

 

Wow! Look how my babies have grown!

By late July the cucumbers are usually the first veggies to be ready. The freshness and the taste directly from garden to table is unbelievable. Then it’s tomatoe time, fresh salsa is the best! Like most other gardeners I am usually looking for friends and family to take some of the extras, we always plant too much. But, sharing is also part of the fun. No matter what and how much you plant, how serious you are, what works or doesn’t work, the most important thing to remember is to not be intimidated, have fun with it!

 

 If I can do it, you can too!