Lighthouses of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands

Lake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes and is home to 78 lighthouses! Three states border Lake Superior; Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Canada also borders the lake to the North.

The Great Lakes fascinate me! I have seen 3 out of five, and plan on seeing the last 2 someday soon! Lake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes and is the World’s largest freshwater lake by surface area. The southern shore is known as the “Graveyard of the Great Lakes”. There have been more shipwrecks in the Whitefish Point area than in any other area in Lake Superior. You may want to visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum

FUN FACT: The Ojibwe name for the lake is Gichigami or Gitchigumee which means “Great Sea”.

Wisconsin Lighthouses

The state of Wisconsin has 48 lighthouses. Two-thirds of them are located along the shores of Lake Michigan. For this post, I am concentrating on the 8 lighthouses of the Apostle Islands(Lake Superior), which are located off of Bayfield, Wisconsin.

The Apostle Islands

The Bayfield Peninsula is the northernmost region of mainland Wisconsin and it’s off this point where you will find the Apostle Islands on Lake, Superior. The Apostle Islands are a group of 22 islands, all of the islands, except Madeline Island, are part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. It is believed that the islands were named by a French Historian after the 12 Apostles of the Bible. We don’t know whether he could not count well, or that he only counted the 12 largest islands.

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Things to do in Vinton VA

History of Vinton, VA

In 1797 the Gish Family moved into the area and established a gristmill on Glade Creek. The area was known as Gish’s Mill. When the railroad expanded into the Roanoke Valley, Gish’s Mill became a stop for the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Ohio Railroad. In the late 1870s, the Gish family led a movement to establish a town around the train depot site. In 1884 this area was incorporated as the town of Vinton.

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Things to see in Roanoke VA

2 Comments / Travel / Cathy

The city of Roanoke, Virginia, is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the southwestern part of the state. For us, it’s become one of our favorite getaways! Roanoke is only about a 2 1/2 hour drive from our home in North Carolina. What is there to see In Roanoke VA?

Besides the beautiful location, you will find great entertainment, restaurants, and outdoor recreation! It’s also known for the Roanoke Star which is located on Mill Mountain.

After taking the drive to the top of Mill Mountain, you will have a breathtaking view of the city below.

FUN FACT: The word Roanoke came from the Indian word “Rawrenrock” a name for the shell beads worn by the Indians and used for trading.

History of Roanoke, Virginia

The city is also known as the “Capital of the Blue Ridge” and a crossroads for the railroad. The city began in the 1740s. Mark Evans and Tasker Tosh came from Pennsylvania to stake a claim on land near the salt licks. For generations, the salt licks and marshes were gathering places for buffalo, elk, and deer. It’s also where many Native Americans hunted. The first village in the Roanoke Valley was started here in 1834 and was named Gainsborough. The town was also known as Big Lick named after the salt licks in the area.

Roanoke County was formed in 1838 with a county population of about 5,000. The town of Salem and the community of Vinton soon grew and were connected to Big Lick by a narrow brick road.

The railroad came to the valley in 1852 but missed Big Lick, so the town center was moved closer to the tracks and was renamed Roanoke for the river and county. The original town became Old Lick.

The Magic City

Why was Roanoke Called the Magic City? Employees were needed to maintain the coal trains going to and from Norfolk, so the railroad built the Roanoke Shops. They provided good pay and steady employment for skilled workers which attracted many people to Roanoke. The city got the name Magic City because it was the fastest-growing urban area in the South from 1880 to 1890.

Things to see in Roanoke

Mill Mountain Park
Mill Mountain Zoo
Roanoke Star(Mill Mountain Star)
The Blue Ridge Parkway
Roanoke County Explore Park
Virginia Museum of Transportation
Taubman Museum of Art
Downtown Roanoke

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Clearwater Florida to Tarpon Springs Florida

Things to do in Clearwater

Clearwater is west of Tampa and is known for its beautiful gulf coast beaches. Clearwater beach is located on a barrier island and has been voted the #1 Beach in the US for several years. With a wide variety of restaurants, you will find whatever you are craving!

You will find several miles of white sand beaches, warm gulf waters, and beautiful sunsets!

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