Beaver Island, MI is a magical place. At least off season it is. I imagine the town of St. James can get crowded on summer weekends. But mid-May the island is serene. Walks on the beach are solitary affairs. Drives around the island stir up clouds of gravel road dust with only an occasional wave of greeting to another passing car.

One can arrive by plane but I recommend the ferry from Charlevoix, MI. A relaxing two hours on the water puts one in the right state of mind to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the island.

Even the turkeys are in no hurry.

And I think this deer was more startled to see a human than I was to see the deer so close.

For such a small island, it is amazingly ecologically diverse. Each turn or short distance displays a new range of flora. Mid-May everything was budding and each day I could watch the trees fill out more. In fall it must be a spectacular show of colors.

Beaver Island I'll be back.