The 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Adventures

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Grass River Natural Area

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

While up north last week, I toured the 
Grass River Natural Area 
near Bellaire, Michigan.

Grass River connects Clam Lake to Lake Bellaire in the chain of lakes that also includes Torch  and Elk Lakes. 




This conservation area has a nature center with many exhibits about the area:


Display of bird nests

Display of SKULLS!

Microscopes to examine specimens up close

 Grass River Natural Area protects almost 1,500 acres. 80% of that is wetland habitat (mostly cedar swamp). 250 acres are upland forest with pine, maple, elm, spruce and fir.
I hiked the boardwalk and trails there with Haley Breniser, the Executive Director of the center.


Haley Breniser, executive director, on the boardwalk

We walked half of the 7 miles of trails through the preserve.

Wood frog on the boardwalk


Mushroom



A family enjoys the area by racing leaves on the river



Resting


 Grass River Natural Area protects a vital part of the Great Lakes watershed. These wetlands are vital to cleansing water as it moves through the chain of lakes. 
The center here offers events, classes, and even summer camp opportunities. 
Learn more HERE.


Sunday, August 23, 2015

Van Buren Reads!

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

A county in Michigan has chosen my first book, 
A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach
as their "One County, One Book" selection!




I'm honored! 
This is the second time a county has chosen one of my books to read together.

To cap off this community read, I will give my Lake Michigan presentation at the Lawrence Conference Center [located at 490 South Paw Paw Street in Lawrence, Michigan] at 7pm on Tuesday, October 6.





Sunday, August 16, 2015

Tales from the Book Tour

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

August has been a fun month on my book tour.
I met with a book club in Dowagiac, Michigan at this historic church:


Sacred Heart of Mary historical church


Then I gave my Great Lakes Walk presentation at the library in Fowlerville, Michigan.


The library had a "LittleFreeLibrary" outside!

The "turn off your cell phone" moment


I am now booking speaking engagements for 
2016.
I give dynamic presentations of each of my three Great Lakes Adventures
[Lake Michigan, all five Great Lakes, and the Islands of the Great Lakes].
Many venues have booked me for return engagements to give another talk.

Email me at LakeTrek@gmail.com to inquire about me speaking to your group or in your community.



Sunday, August 2, 2015

The Book Tour UP NORTH

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

One of my favorite corners of Michigan is the area around Traverse City. You'll find the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore nearby along with picturesque lake towns like Northport, Glen Arbor, Empire, Leland, and Petoskey.

Petoskey (home of McLean & Eakin Booksellers)

How lovely, then, to combine and family reunion with my book tour here in late July.


My niece and nephew (Alison and Julian) on the Empire Bluff Trail


Speaking engagement in Alden



Book signing at Horizon Books in Traverse City


Some serious gaming at the lake house


Great indie bookstore in Northport