Feeding Bear Cubs at Oswald’s Bear Ranch, Michigan

27 May 202022 September 2024

Stretching out under the warmth of the sun on a bed of grass and branches, a big beautiful bundle of fur seemed content to take his afternoon nap. I approached slowly, one careful step at a time, not to wake nor startle the beast as I noticed his large paws and pads outstretched over his head. Oh, so close I was to this adorable creature that I wanted so much to pet him….luckily for me, I was protected by a fence between myself and the platform. With a perfect view, I felt safe and secure in the confines of the Oswald’s Bear Ranch habitat.

Located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Oswald’s is a bear-only sanctuary set on 200 acres of land about nine miles northwest of Newbury. With four habitats, there is plenty of space for the 41 bears in this free-roaming environment. The bears are content and happy within their fenced-in territory and hardly notice all of the humans watching them frolic about. The perfect way to enjoy the bears is from the wooden, elevated platforms providing a barrier free, bird’s eye view.

The bear complex is the largest in the United States. Dean and Jewel Oswald opened the ranch in 1997, but have been rescuing bears as far back as 1984. Dean, a former firefighter and policeman wanted to establish a way to provide shelter to bears that would not have otherwise survived in the wild.

Oswald’s Bear Ranch is a walk-through sanctuary, providing trolley service for the elderly and large groups. Daily feedings take place at 4 PM where visitors can watch these beastly beauties enjoy their afternoon meal.

Waiting in line, I was giddy with anticipation to have my photo taken while feeding a baby black bear cub. With a little strawberry jam on a paint brush, I would have the opportunity to watch one of the young cubs, Kendra, snack while I stroked her thick furry coat and examined her huge paws.

The ranch takes in rescued cubs each year. The Oswalds post videos of their new additions to show their first steps and capture their early days roaming around in the safety of their house. It is fun to watch the video clips, especially during feeding time. The four new cubs that arrived this year will soon be ready to join the other bears outside in their own special habitat equipped with a waterfall.

Oswald’s Bear Ranch is one of the top ten family friendly attractions in the Upper Peninsula and is a great educational experience where people can learn about black bears and their environment. They are open the Friday before Memorial Day weekend through October 1^st. Summer hours are from 9:30 AM until 5 PM each day. After Labor Day, the ranch closes at 4 PM. Admission is $20 per vehicle or $10 for a single traveler, cash only. Active military are free. An additional fee is required for visitors who want to feed the bear cubs.

For visitors interested in providing an additional donation, The Bear Club is an opportunity to help Oswald’s Bear Ranch continue their mission to rescue black bears throughout the United States. With a small contribution of only $10, donors can receive a book titled, “Black Bear Tales and Native American Legends”.

I have such a great respect for Dean and Jewel Oswald and was thankful for the opportunity to talk with Dean about his ranch and his furry family. Without a doubt, Oswald Bear Ranch is his passion and he lights up when he talks about his rescue efforts, the expansion of his bear family and the latest news about the baby cubs that have just arrived this year.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Oswald’s Bear Ranch? Did you feed one of the cubs? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my exciting trip to Oswald’s Bear Ranch and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Oswald’s Bear Ranch
13814 Co. Rd 407
Newberry, MI 49868
Phone: 906 293 3147

Where to Stay:

Quality Inn & Suites
13954 M-28
Newberry, MI 49868
Phone: 906 293 3218

Where to Eat:

Wolf Inn Grill and Spirits
18568 Co. Rd 407
Newberry, MI 49868
Phone: 906 658 3355

I stopped at this nearby restaurant for just a small meal until dinner, so I ordered the appetizer size of nachos. Their servings are huge! I could not eat even half of them, but they were absolutely delicious.

What to Eat:

The Coney Dog from Detroit, Jackson or Flint.
Vernor’s Ginger Ale
Founded in the Upper Peninsula, the pasty is a pastry pocket with fruit filling
Mackinac Island Fudge
Apples
Cherries
Detroit Style Pizza shaped in a rectangle and baked until the edges are crispy.
Better Made Chips from Detroit
Germack Pistachios
Walleye Fish from the Great Lakes
Faygo beverages

What to Read:

Y is for Yooper, by Scott Reddinger
U.P., by R. A. Reikki
Mystery on Mackinac Island, by Anna W. Hale
The Remarkable Tale of Captain Kidd and the Astor Fortune, by Eugene Thor Petersen
A Transplanted Yooper, by Tina Lonski

Photo Guide to Mackinac Island:

A View of Mackinac Bridge from Mackinaw City
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Tahquamenon Falls, Paradise
Art Scene in Grand Rapids
Holland’s Dutch Heritage

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Going Back Somewhere in Time on Mackinac Island, Michigan

26 January 201631 August 2024

It was a gorgeous Michigan day when we decided to make the trek towards the Upper Peninsula. As we approached the island from the south, we could see the Mackinac Island Bridge in the distance. A massive suspension bridge measuring over 26,000 feet connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan and traverses Lake Huron, one of the Great Lakes. The residents of Michigan call it the “Big Mac” bridge and they refer to themselves as U-P’ers, living in the Upper Peninsula. Those living south of (or “under”) the bridge are lovingly referred to as trolls.

I had first heard of Mackinac Island, Michigan when I rented the movie “Somewhere in Time”. The production starred Christopher Reeve and was filmed on the island in the late-1970’s. When I began telling my friends that I was going to spend a week-long family vacation in Michigan, my friends highly recommended spending a day on the island.

We paid the toll to reach the upper peninsula side of the bridge and caught a ferry over to the island.

The bridge is somewhat reminiscent of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

The light breeze off of the lake felt great as we patiently awaited the ferry. From Mackinaw City Harbor, we boarded the Shepler’s Ferry shortly after our arrival to the pier and took the 45 minute boat ride to the island.

The ferry ride was incredibly relaxing and smooth as sea gulls flew above us and the winds began to pick up half way through the journey. In the far distance The Grand Hotel dominated the horizon and was the first structure visible along the coast.

Mackinac Island has been a popular resort town since the early 19^th century. With a quaint downtown full of shops, we arrived at the dock and disembarked, ready to explore the island.

We strolled through the downtown area prior to visiting the Grand Hotel. Admiring the yachts and sailboats in the harbor, we visited charming boutiques, restaurants and a large number of fudge shops.

We could not help but notice that there was a fudge shop on every corner, a fact for which Mackinac Island is known. According to one of the local “fudgies”, some of the shop owners have been making their famous fudge for over a century.

We had several options for getting around the island to include walking, horse and buggies as well as biking. No cars are permitted on the island, so this added to Mackinac’s charm and simplicity.

Among the historical buildings on Mackinac Island was St. Anne’s Church. Locals had congregated here since 1695, but this building, completed as we saw it today, was built in 1874.

Flower boxes adorned the windows of shops as we made our way to the Grand Hotel. We could not have asked for a more beautiful day to explore the island.

We passed a few horse and carriages that transported visitors to the Grand Hotel. We continued along the path that led us to the resort, passing beautiful estates and mansions that rest along the roadway.

The approach towards the hotel was breathtaking. Sitting atop the hill, the stately resort, with its Victorian architecture, commands attention. Built in the late 19^th century, it has been a luxury vacation spot for celebrities, politicians and visitors from all over the world. Because we were not guests of the hotel, we were required to pay a $5 charge to visit.

The hotel is known for its grand porch lined with rocking chairs that are strategically placed to enjoy the scenery. We took a few moments to enjoy the scenic view from the rockers before making our way back to the harbor to catch the ferry.

We retraced our steps into town with one final view of the Grand Hotel’s horse and carriage. With our ferry tickets in hand, we couldn’t decide if we should make another fudge stop and after taking a vote, the ran to Murdick’s Fudge for a last minute treat.

From the harbor to the downtown, the fudge shops to the Grand Hotel, the self-guided tour of Mackinac Island would end up being one of the highlights of our vacation. Even on holiday it can be a rare occurrence to experience a place that maintains its charming atmosphere. And it was for this reason, that on Mackinac Island, we too most certainly felt that we experienced a moment “Somewhere in Time”.

Have you visited Mackinac Island? Did you stay overnight or visit for the day? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my day on Mackinac Island and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Mackinac Island Carriage Tours
7278 Main Street
Mackinac Island, MI 49757
Telephone: 906 847 3307

This is the original carriage tour on the island! The tour takes close to 2 hours with six stops!

Where to Stay:

The Grand Hotel
286 Grand Avenue
Mackinac Island, MI 49757
Telephone: 800 334 7263

Where to Eat:

Bistro on the Green
One Lakeshore Drive
Mackinac Island, MI 49757
Telephone: 906 847 3312

We chose this location to enjoy the scenic view of the putting course. I started with the crispy calamari, that was perfectly breaded and served with Mission Point’s signature marinara sauce. I also ordered the grilled kabob, which was served with rice and tzatziki sauce with the perfect amount of garlic.

Murdick’s Fudge
7363 Main Street
Mackinac Island, MI 49757
Telephone: 906-847-3530

Mackinac Island is famous for its fudge and Murdick’s Fudge has been around since 1887!

What to Eat:

The Coney Dog from Detroit, Jackson or Flint.
Vernor’s Ginger Ale
Founded in the Upper Peninsula, the pasty is a pastry pocket with fruit filling
Mackinac Island Fudge
Apples
Cherries
Detroit Style Pizza shaped in a rectangle and baked until the edges are crispy.
Better Made Chips from Detroit
Germack Pistachios
Walleye Fish from the Great Lakes
Faygo beverages

What to Read:

The Legend of Mackinac Island, by Kathy-jo Wargin
Somewhere on Mackinac, by Jeff Adams
Mystery on Mackinac Island, by Anna W. Hale
The Remarkable Tale of Captain Kidd and the Astor Fortune, by Eugene Thor Petersen
Mackinac Passage: The Boathouse Mystery, by Robert A. Lytle

Photo Guide to Mackinac Island:

A View of Mackinac Bridge from Mackinaw City
The Grand Hotel as you approach the island
The charming shops on Main Street
Arch Rock on the island

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Travel Plans for 2016

5 January 201622 July 2024

2016 is going to be another great year for travel. With close to 20 trips already planned and more in the works, I am excited that I will be venturing out into the world and experiencing fun, local trips across the state of Ohio.

With a Caribbean Cruise coming up, I will be working with tour operators and agents to maximize our time in each port. I am most excited about this opportunity as I will be leading some tours throughout the Caribbean over the summer and fall months of this year.

The Harbor of St. Thomas

Some of the islands I will be visiting include: Antigua/Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados (Bridgetown, West Side, St. James Parish Church, Malibu Rum Tour and Beach), Bermuda, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St. Lucia (Part 1 and Part 2), St. Maarten, and St. Thomas.

Snorkeling with Stingrays

I will also be making visits to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

Sunset in Key West

Booked Travel in the US & Canada includes: Key West, Tampa, and St. Augustine; Yosemite and the Pacific Coast Highway, Yellowstone and Glacier National Park (maybe); the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Booked Travel Elsewhere includes: London and Paris

I was hoping to hit Machu Picchu this year, but that did not work out with my current schedule, only because I want to hike the trail which would require a guide and a permit.

Local Travel includes: Exploring the neighborhoods and restaurants of Cincinnati (Hamilton and Butler Counties) as well as Covington, Kentucky, the Erie Islands and Cleveland.

Have you already booked your vacation for 2016 or made travel plans? I would love to hear about your adventures for this year, so please leave a message in the comments section below. Wishing you many Happy Travels!

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information