Welcome to the Thumb!
I know the snow is deep now, but
think about a day when you might want to take a drive and see unique sites
in your home state. Michigan has the well-known peninsulas - Lower and Upper – but there’s another one.
It’s the peninsula that sticks out into Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay, Michigan’s
great Thumb Area. It truly is a travel destination rich in natural scenic
beauty, strong cultural heritage and plenty of year-round activities. When you
visit the Thumb Area, you’ll find more than 150 miles of shoreline, 2,100 miles
of rivers and streams, 51,000 acres of public recreation land, 49,000 acres of
state game/wildlife areas and plenty of hometown festivals and events all year
round!
I would love to share all of the sights and sounds of the Thumb. We have lighthouses, orchards and cider mills, wineries, antique shopping, museums, golf, parks, camping, farmers markets and more. This week I will focus on four of the most unique sites to give you a taste of what is in store for you when you travel to the Thumb!
Sanilac Petroglyphs State Park in Cass City
Visit this 240 acre historical site and find the Sanilac Petroglyphs,
Michigan’s only known prehistoric rock carvings attributed to Native American
workmanship in the Lower Peninsula. The carvings are etched into a sandstone
outcrop and are a fascinating mystery, they give a glimpse into the lives of
early Native American artists.
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| Sample of the Petroglyphs
Thumb Octagon Barn
Take a
step back in time when you visit the Thumb Octagon Barn and Agricultural Museum
located just outside of Gagetown in the heart of Michigan’s great Thumb Area.
Built in 1923 by a local businessman, James L. Purdy, the Thumb Octagon Barn is
a true epitome of agricultural life. Registered as a Michigan Historical Site,
the Thumb Octagon Barn provides visitors with a glimpse into the livelihood of
a Michigan Thumb farmer in the early 1900’s. The landmark sits on a 26 acre
complex that includes the barn which stands 70 feet tall and occupies 8,718
square feet. The attraction also includes a “Craftsman” style house, a
powerhouse building, one room schoolhouse, saw mill, covered bridge, blacksmith
shop and more.
Wind Farms in Elkton and Ubly
Areas
You can find over 615 wind
turbines in the Thumb where the wind is strongest and
most consistent. Seeing the enormous structures can
turn a scenic drive into a jaw-dropping experience. Along Bay City-Forestville Road
near the border of Huron and Sanilac counties, swaths of turbines churn away as
dairy cows graze and sugar beets grow.
As you drive closer you can notice their size — as tall
as 410 feet. You can hear their hum and see their slow-moving blades, each half
a football field long. Visit Thumb Wind.com for a Michigan Wind Farm Map.
Your trip to the Thumb must include a shoreline drive to
see the magnificent lighthouses that dot the Lake Huron shoreline and the
sunrise side. Port Sanilac, Harbor Beach, Port Hope and Port Austin are the
towns to explore if you are a lighthouse fanatic. Check out this video for a small taste.
These fun destinations are just a sample of what’s in
store for you when you visit the Thumb of Michigan, we look forward to welcoming
you to our neck of the woods!
Thank you to these sources:
ThumbWind.com, Freep.com, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Thumb Area Tourism Council, Inc. |
A lot of fun stuff to do in Michigan!
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