If you’re looking to take a trip to the Great Lakes anytime soon, be sure to bring your smartphone with you. The myBeachCast App us and the Swim Guide App are taking the great lakes by storm and are essential for mapping real-time beach information from your smartphone.

MyBeachCast App

Providing hourly updates from beach databases across several states, including Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, this unique app provide you with hourly information about your favorite Great Lakes beach. From weather conditions and five-day forecast to wave height from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this GPS enabled app gives you everything you need to know within a 20-50 mile radius of where you are.

Benefits of the Great Lakes App
• Compatible with Android and iPhone
• Mobile friendly website
• Information available online
• Puts information at your finger tips

Limitations Great Lakes App
• Producers are still working out the kinks in the programming

Comments
According to Christine Manninen, communications and web programming director at the Great Lake Commission, “Beach managers are very excited since this is a great way to get information out to people. . .[it is a way of] protecting human health.”

Swim Guide App

Despite its gorgeous views and beaches, not all the areas in the Great Lakes are safe to swim. If you’re looking for a beach near Lake Ontario, then the Swim Guide App may be just what you need to find the safest beaches for your next watery adventure.

Maintained and produced by The Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, this amazing little app collects and organizes information into a massive database, providing consumers with information gathered by local health authorities.

Benefits of Swim Guide App:
• Uses simple color-coded notifications
• Let’s consumers know when it’s safe to swim
• Contains original descriptions and photographs of 1,000 different beaches
• Contains to Twitter, Facebook, email, and SMS text messaging
• Donates money to wide variety of water organizations to protect your favorite beach

Limitations of Swim Guide App:
• App focuses primarily on Lake Ontario (though more lakes will be added soon)
• Not enough funding for the app
• App doesn’t officially launch until June
• Designed for iPhone

Comments:
According to Krystyn Tully, Vice-president of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, “The app will cover all all of the Great Lakes both in Canada and the U.S. Those beaches are currently hidden because we’re still proofreading everything. In the next couple of weeks it will cover all the Great Lakes and the website will be up and running.”

Conclusion

Although you won’t want to drop your favorite smartphone overboard while fishing on the Great Lakes, these amazing little apps can provide you with all the information you need to have a safe and enjoyable vacation on at the most popular beaches in the country. The greatest part about both of these apps is that both MyBeachCast and Swim Guide are currently free for consumers, meaning you don’t have to spend the extra money on an app you don’t like.

Can’t use either of these apps because your iPhone is still locked? Fortunately for you, you can unlock iphone 4 for less than $20. 1,000 of people have used iPhoneLox to unlock their iPhones and iPads, and it’s one of the best jailbreak software available. With this simple program, you can use any sim card worldwide, making it easier for you to make the most out of your new phone.
Don’t wait until you hit the beach to find out how essential these programs are. Check them out today and get the insider’s info you need to have a good time.

Whether you’re in the area looking for a souvenir, or simply love the Great Lakes, you can show off your pride with a Great Lakes Sticker. Roughly 3”x5”, this bright blue sticker is cut in the shape of the five great bodies of freshwater: Ontario, Erie, Huron Michigan, and Superior. Perfect for your car, window, or wall décor, this neat little sticker can let the world know of your love and affection for the Great Lakes.

Origin

The Great Lakes Proud Sticker was originally designed by Austin Holsinger of Michigan. Along with a small team of friends and experts, Austin came up with the idea to show his pride about the Great Lakes. Holsinger grew up in Wolverine and now lives part time in Traverse City and throughout his life he has made it his goal to be socially and environmentally responsible.

In the Petoskeynews, Austin reported, “I love Michigan, and it’s where I wanted to be. I wanted a product where people can display their pride for the Great Lakes.”

Details

Stickers are currently selling for $5 each (tax and shipping not included) and are only available online, though discounts are available. Great Lakes Proud is a non-profit business, and every sticker purchased goes toward supporting the Great Lakes.

The great best part about these stickers is that you can use your imagination to place the great lakes in any environment you want – letting natural colors fill the empty space around the Great Lake shapes. So far, stickers have been seen on cars, bicycles laptops, water bottles, and even Smartphones and iPads. If the stickers continue to be successful, Austin and his name may even produce additional Great Lakes Proud products such as T-shirts and coffee mugs.

“Our plan is to do as much as we can to give back (support) other Great Lake organizations,” Austin explained.

You can check out the Great Lakes Proud Facebook page here to show additional support.

If you’re looking for something hot ‘n’ spicy to warm you up this October, then you might be interested in the Great Lakes annual Chili cook off. After 16 successful years of food and fun, Plymouth’s popular chili cook-off features tasty chili, exciting games, and upbeat music from 11 a.m. to 5 pm and funds will go toward aiding local charities.

How it Started

With the help of her husband, Annette Horn started the competition as a way to share their love of food and friends. “When we moved to Plymouth, we always thought downtown Plymouth would be a fabulous location for a chili cook-off,” Horn said. Now, many years and chili recipes later, this annual event draws almost 15,000 visitors each year, gaining in popularity with every bite.

The situation is considered to be a win-win for both locals and tourists. Businesses flourish with the increased business brought in for the annual chili cook off, and tourists get to enjoy the fabulous recipes and family-friendly environment.

About the Cook Off

Great Lakes Annual Chili cook off has more to offer than a mean recipe for a burnt mouth. This year, the chili cook off has a grand prize of $1,000, bringing in cooks from across the country to show off their cooking prowess.

“When we moved to Plymouth, we always thought downtown Plymouth would be a fabulous location for a chili cook-off,” Horn said.
Additionally, winners will advance to the world championships next fall.

The chili cook-off will be divided into three categories: red chili, chili verde, and salsa. Each category will be judged individually, and cooks must abide by competition rules fi they hope to advance in the competition.

A restaurant chili challenge will also be held, featuring 15 local restuarants in a best judge category and a people’s choice.

The Great Lakes Annual Chili Cook-Off serves as a fundraiser for 2 local charities: the Penrickton Center for Blind Children and Habitat for Humanity Western Wayne County. Participants can donate a dollar for a sample of chili or a $4 per bowl.

With their beautiful beaches and charming locals, the Great Lakes are excellent tourist locations.

However, there is one unwanted tourist that has recently invaded the great lake ecosystem: the zebra mussel.

Quick Facts about the Zebra Mussel

• Small, freshwater mussel originally native to Russia
• About the size of a fingernail but can grow up to 2 in. in length
• Notable striped patterns on shells
• Are filter feeders
• Can live up to 4 or 5 years
• May produce 30,000 to 1 million eggs a year
• They can live up to 3 or 4 days out of the water if needed

Why Zebra Mussels are Bad for the Lakes

These mollusks compete with native mussels, devouring available food and reducing grounds for local fish. Like a horde of locusts, Zebra mussels attach themselves to native mussels by the thousands, making it impossible for native mussels to function and reproduce.

Zebra Mussels are algae feeders, filtering the water of microorganisms necessary for other native fish to survive. Although this gives the water a “cleaner” appearance, in all actuality, Zebra Mussels leave a surprising amount of detritus behind.

Additional Concerns

Zebra Mussels come in such high numbers that they can even clog and block major pipes to utility and manufacturing industries, causing an estimated $5 billion dollars in damage over the next decade.

Zebra mussels are an especially large nuisance when they wash up on shore, their sharp shells can cut unsuspecting tourist’s feet and resulting in the need for water shoes.

What can we do to help?

In order to control these tiny invaders, it is absolutely critical to observe their behavior and biology. The USGS (United States Geological Survey) has made it their focus to document Zebra Mussel behavior.

Methods used to control Zebra Mussel population near power plants are as follows:
• Manual removal (high pressure wash)
• Electrical current
• Acoustical vibration
• Filters and Screens
• Toxic and non-toxic coatings such as copper and silicone
• Ultraviolet light

Meanwhile, please don’t take it upon yourself to reduce mussel population by catching Zebra Mussel to use as bait, food, or pets.