Welcome to Visit Kalkaska .com

A visitors guide to Kalkaska's places of interest.

Home    Guides    Trails    Kayaking & Canoeing    Sustainable Living    Camping

Hotels       Restaurants    Shopping    Art & Museums      About This Site

A word about the site

This is an unofficial guide to the things to see and do in Kalkaska County (and nearby places).  It is also a work-in-process, and a personal pet-project.

No guarantee regarding the accuracy of the information is made.  Anyone wishing add or correct any information on this site is encouraged to contact the author with your request.  It is the sincere desire of the author that this site be up to date and accurate.

From the author

Hi, my name is Robert Barnard, I was born in Kalkaska but have lived in other parts of the country.  It wasn't until the late 70's that I came to realize the beauty of this region.

At that time, my family moved to Phoenix Arizona and I took a Trailways bus (alone, at the age of 15) back to summer with my sister and her family.  The Arizona desert has its own beauty.  There are areas you can walk and look for miles and see no other person; it's like being in a small boat miles from shore in solitude.  But that summer the Michigan forests and fields were lush and green; I couldn't turn away from the window, how incredibly green. What a stark contrast; Arizona desert to Michigan.

I watched as the forests (in Missouri, Indiana and Southern Michigan ) with their heavy undergrowth changed to the type we have here; forests without the vines, saplings, and undergrowth.  These forests draw people to wander them.  Places where you can see considerable distances under a hardwood canopy.

Since that time I've kayaked the Pacific Ocean among dolphin, sea lion, and shark.  Kayaked inner waterways in the Pacific Northwest, and a mountain lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  I've hiked trails in California, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Colorado, (and of course) Arizona. Of all the places I've been and the wonder I feel when I visit them, Northern Michigan is where I am at home.

It is my hope you find this website to be helpful as you endeavor to enjoy our environment here in Kalkaska.  If you have anything to share, and/or would like to see it on this site please feel free to contact me.

Best Regards,

Rob Barnard

© Copyright Robert Barnard 2006
Contact Robert
Web services provided by Blu Skie Computer & Business Services