Flat with a lot of trees is how one person from outside the Great Lakes region described to me what she thought my home state of Michigan must be like. While it's true we may not have the Grand Canyon or the Sierra Mountains, those of us who have grown up in states surrounding the Great Lakes know what beauty there is around us, sometimes right out in the open and sometimes in hidden byways, parks, cities, and small towns.

We are lucky enough to have this beauty accessible within a relatively short distance. No matter where we are in the region, there is bound to be a place to get away where we can renew our senses if even for just an afternoon trip.

As the editor for the Great Lakes site, I look forward to sharing my love of this area in my articles that will range in topics from travel, history, people, culture, and regional food. Of course, no website that covers the Great Lakes would be complete without tales of the history of the lakes themselves, both natural and nautical. I'm excited to learn and grow right along with my readers as I share these stories with you.

Signing up for the Great Lakes newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the articles I will be posting weekly. To sign up for the newsletter just enter your email in one of the boxes marked Free Newsletter to the right of your screen or at the bottom of any of the articles. You can rest assured knowing that your email is safe and will never be sold to anyone or given out. Your privacy is important to us here at BellaOnline.

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While Michigan does have a great deal of coastal area on the Great Lakes, I won't limit my articles to my home state. As the site grows, I will be adding articles of interest to the entire area. No matter which of the states in the region you hail from, pull up a chair; you'll find a friendly place by the lake here.