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Hey travel friends,

Wow, you sure can tell it’s peak summer travel season here in Michigan. Whether you’re enjoying a full week of summer vacation or you’re savvy enough to grab a few extra days of playing outside before school starts, you’re likely bumping into the same thing the rest of us are: Packed tourist towns, traffic jams, and sometimes longer-than-normal waits at restaurants. That’s why I’m asking you for a favor. If you’re hitting the road this month, pack a couple extra things: Your patience, and a little extra grace for others.

Because when grownups have toddler tantrums at vacation destinations, it’s never pretty. Case in point: Social media had a field day last month when an ill-behaved Short’s Brewing customer decided he’d waited too long for his food. He berated the hard-working wait staff – and flipped a nearby diner’s plate to the floor in his eruption – and it was all caught on camera. After this man’s 15 minutes of shame, Short’s played it classy. They invited him to sit down and talk over a beer. Apologies were made. There was a call for calm. All with patience and grace.

Working in hospitality takes skills that must be respected. If you’re fortunate enough to be vacationing or eating at a resturant, speak politely. Say thank you. Tip well. When my kids were small, Christmas shopping included a “Secret Santa” restaurant ritual. We’d get our shopping done, then go to dinner as a treat. Holidays can be hamster wheels for restaurant staff. The kids would practice their manners on the bedraggled wait staff, then gleefully stuff lots of extra cash in with the tip. We’d leave quickly before the surprise was noticed. These days, I delight in doing this on my own when I travel. Who says Santa doesn’t dine out in August?

Happy travels,

Tanda

Why every day is National Lighthouse Day here

Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Big Sable Point Light pictured at sunset

Our amazing array of lighthouses are part of our Michigan DNA. We have nearly 130 of them edging both of our peninsulas and standing sentry on our islands - more than any other place in the U.S.

National Lighthouse Day fell on Wednesday, Aug. 7 this year. But in Michigan, every day can be a celebration of these life-saving landmarks. And many continue to be vacation stops.

“Michigan ranks no. 1 nationally with more than 120 lighthouses along our 3,288 miles of Great Lakes coastline,” said Kelly Wolgamott, interim vice president of Travel Michigan. “National Lighthouse Day provides an opportunity to honor the vital role these historic beacons have played in our state’s rich maritime culture and to celebrate our Great Lakes lighthouses as a source of inspiration to visit Michigan during all four seasons.”

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Arboretum on Lake Michigan bluff has a lot to see

Justine Lofton | MLive.com

The Michigan Champion giant sequoia tree stands about 116 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter at Lake Bluff Farms in Manistee Township. It's one of three giant sequoias on the property, which is open to the public from dawn until dusk daily.

An arboretum planted about 75 years ago on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan continues to thrive with more than 80 species, including impressive giant sequoias and a dawn redwood.

One of the biggest draws to Lake Bluff Farms, near Manistee, is its Michigan Champion giant sequoia tree. Standing at 116 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter, it’s one of three on the property that were all planted as 8-inch seedlings in 1948 by the Gray family.

Difficult to capture in photo or video, the giant sequoias must be seen to be believed.

Summer's greatest meteor shower peaks soon

NASA/JPL

A time-lapse image of the Perseid meteor shower

One of the most talked-about astronomical events each year, the Perseid meteor shower, peaks this weekend! Make sure to head somewhere away from city lights, bring blankets, and look up. Under ideal conditions, up to 90 meteors per hour can be seen.

On the mornings of the 11th and 12th, the meteor shower will be at its peak, giving sky watchers incredible views of shooting stars. The moon will set around midnight each of those days, so the best time to watch will be from around midnight to sunrise. Meteors can be seen in any direction in the sky, so sky watchers should look toward whichever direction is darkest.

Right now, the forecast looks promising. No major storm systems will be passing through over the weekend, leading to good chances for at least partly clear skies.

Other top stories

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• Inn at Michigan winery beats Napa Valley for top wine country stay in US
  
  
• Belle Isle Nature Center highlights Detroit’s urban wildlife
  
  
• New mountain bike trails flow through forest nature preserve near Harbor Springs
  
  
• Eerie ghost pipe plants found at Sleeping Bear are a sign of a healthy forest

A note from Tanda:

We love to hear from our travel friends. Have a story tip for us? A suggestion for a new destination to check out? Feel free to send us the details. You can email me at tgmiter@mlive.com

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