The Hernando DeSoto Bridge is a bridge on US 41 that goes over the Manatee River between Palmetto…read moreand Bradenton, Florida. As you go over the bridge, you get a beautiful view of the Manatee River. The Desoto Bridge is 40 feet (12 m) tall and carries four lanes. It is one of two bridges connecting Bradenton and Palmetto. The DeSoto Bridge opened in 1957It has a length of 2,334.4 ft and a width of 62 ft. with 33 spans The bridge crosses the Manatee River at a 40 mile stretch. The river is a 36-mile-long river and runs through Manatee County, Florida. There are alligators in the Manatee River (which surprised me for some reason). Wildlife in and around the river includes alligators, herons, manatees, dolphins, and fish such as bass, bluegill, catfish, and gar. Bull sharks are even found occasionally in the brackish water near its low-lying outlet! The river starts in the northeastern corner of Manatee County and flows into the Gulf of Mexico at the southern edge of Tampa Bay. The DeSoto Bridge gets highly congested at rush hour. The county has looked at a new bridge with elevated lanes but it would be 10+ years in the future and there is opposition from people nearby. They will have to fix the problem somehow. Widening the current bridge would be great but difficult because a temporary replacement would have to be readied before work on the original bridge could begin. The Hernando DeSoto Bridge is an essential river crossing from Palmetto and the north to Bradenton but also an important landmark here in Manatee County.

We arrived near sunset, after close. No Tour completed, as such. We did, however, experience a…read morefantastic sunset & walkabout. There is a large viewing deck that can be accessed with a short walk & a some stairs. If you're there when the sun sets, stick around for another half hour to see the REAL show. (We moved on right at sunset, to catch it from a different spot we'd planned.) Expect to encounter friendly locals who happily share info on the area & tips for best views. This stop is one you could spend a bit of time at & definitely charge the phone or bring a camera. You will have, in addition to the light house, great lake views with sandy shores & beach grass, plus amazing rock beach on the other side of the lighthouse. The trail isn't too difficult, tho stairs aren't the best. Be sure to check out the displays & signage swallowed by the trees. It's absolutely lovely.

Our tourguide Susan was amazing! She knew so much history about the lighthouse and the surrounding…read morearea. It's fun to learn and to hear the stories. They do an evening paranormal tour as well as daytime tours. The views of Lake Superior are amazing. Great time for history nerds and ghost hunters!

What a diamond in the rough! I thought this would be a small museum but you should probably allot…read moreyourself 2 hours to get through the very interesting artifact segment, interactive exhibit, and outdoor nature paths (that teach you a little about the native peoples and lands!). Not only does this place teach you about the industry but it also gives you a sense of the local area and the history behind it all. The museum is free but does accept donations with a box up front so if you enjoy yourself as much as I did, five dollars, as suggested, is certainly worth it. The lady at the shop was very nice and it's a thoughtful and well-maintained museum and an overall very casual experience that immerses you in the human history of the UP. Definitely recommended!

This is a wonderful museum. It's small. But it's well done for its size, and the exhibits are…read moreinteresting. The museum is located adjacent to a rail trail. There's opportunity to let your kids run around a bit, and there's an overlook-style view along the trail that's interesting. Figure an hour to visit and see everything and read the display signs, and kids will rush through a lot faster.

Loved the museum and the seemingly unlimited amount of interactive exhibits! In fact, we were so…read moreengrossed that we lost track of time and had a very friendly ranger let us know they had actually closed. The staff of rangers are awesome and the whole experience was top tier!

This is a sneaky cool NPS site. Good interpretative content. Cool artifacts to see. Very well…read moredone junior ranger program. Located off the beaten path, so you have to work to get there, but worth a visit.

I love looking into history & this is a great spot to get a glimpse of the areas industry…read more A nice stop to grab some shots & get a look (from a distance) at this inactive ore dock. Note: you cannot access the dock directly

Too bad we can't to the docks along side of this no longer used Ore Dock…read more Looks so cool. I saw a rendering of this at an art gallery in Brighton before knowing what it really was. It's nice to see it in person.

This was the worse customer service I have ever received. Been over a year and a 1/2 and still the…read moreheadstone for my grandparents is not completed. Cashed the check and never completed the job. Been giving excuses for the last year... too wet, too muddy, too cold, too busy etc etc. We have contacted an attorney and will be going to small claims court soon. I would NOT recommend this place for any work.

Being as the hubby isn't 5ft tall, I'd venture to say, rather confidentially, that the scale is…read moreskewed. Still a pretty cool stop that really hits home on just how deep the snow gets, especially if it's reading short!

As usual...I am a sucker for little roadside attractions. Lol, I'm always good for a photo of…read moreunique stops, landmarks and attractions. So...here I was passing through the small town of Mohawk in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I had just completed my journey to Isle Royale National Park from the the Copper Harbor area 23 miles north of this Snow Gauge Meter. At first you may wonder what exactly is this Snow Gauge Meter? Why is it even relevant??? Well...as you drive Highway 41 to and from Copper Harbor...it sits right on the road and stands out. In fact, this Snow Gauge Meter/Stick/Thermometer is part of Snow Gauge Park. I didn't even know that until I arrived. Unfortunately I didn't have time to explore within the park...but a giant thermometer situated along the side of a one lane highway definitely stood out! What makes this Snow Gauge Stick famous (at least for the remote part of the upper peninsula) is that back in the winter of 1978 - 79, this area of northern Michigan received the most snowfall ever for a place east of the Rocky Mountains recorded at 390 inches. So I guess this Mohawk, Michigan town was quite proud of the record fact and they constructed this Snow Gauge to be a monumental landmark! The meter is over 32 feet tall which is equivalent to the record set of 390 inches. And...according to what I read, it is an active snow gauge tabulating snowfalls every winter. Another interesting fact...I visited this past summer in 2021...and they have a mark indicating that last year in 2020, Mohawk only received 15 feet of snow which bordered on the record low ever for the area. I guess goes to show maybe with the warming of the planet/climate change or call it whatever you will...it certainly does not snow in this present day like it used to back in olden times. Anyhow...I found this Snow Gauge Meter to be a fun, interesting and unique attraction for this remote area within what's known as the UP (upper peninsula) of Michigan. I spent 10 minutes here hanging out, though the park does look accessible for maybe having a picnic, barbecuing or possibly camping out. And...right next to this Snow Gauge is a small bench you can sit down on for a photo and provides some history/information about the record snowfall of 390 inches. If you happen to be visiting Copper Harbor and heading out to Isle Royal National Park...you will pass by this Snow Gauge Meter and I feel it's a worthwhile pullover for a picture or two.