“Behind the Mitten” is Michigan’s premiere travel radio show and Podcast, and since 2015 it has published more than 500 episodes. It is co-hosted by veteran journalist John Gonzalez and longtime chef & beer expert Amy Sherman. The show has been recognized by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters as Best in Category.

This week we travel to Port Huron - a.k.a. Michigan's Thumbcoast and the Blue Water Area - to talk about popular summer events, as well as a new distillery.

Thanks to Caleb Gordon of affiliate station WPHM for helping us set up guests. We recorded the show at the Home, Sport & Garden Show at the Blue Water Convention Center.

Season 5, Episode 13:

• Andrew Kercher, Community Engagement Manager for Port Huron Museums, talks about the Carnegie Center, Thomas Edison Depot, Huron Lightship, and Fort Gratiot Light Station. Learn more about these destinations as well as how to spend the night at the lighthouse at phmuseum.org.
• Chris Troy and Mike Deising of Hot-Wheels Weekend in nearby Marysville run down all the fun car enthusiasts and families will have Aug. 25-26 at Marysville Gazebo Park. The weekend includes classic cars, live music and even an appearance of Tom Wopat and the General Lee car of "Dukes of Hazaard" TV fame. Learn more about the events and bands at marysvillehotwheelsweekend.com.
• The husband and wife of Denise and Dave Brooks get us excited for the Blue Water Sandfest, which is Aug. 4-6 at the Fort Gratiot Light Station. They tell about the tons of sand that is brought in for artists to created sculptures as high as 15-feet tall. Learn more at bluewatersandfest.com.
• And John Fitzgerald, co-founder of Renaissance Man "RenMan" Distillery, talks about a revolutionary process to age whiskey, which they will showcase when the distillery opens May 8 at Downtown Port Huron's new Wrigley Center. Learn more at renmandistilling.com.

This show aired April 1-2, 2023.

BTM airs on radio stations across the state, and you can always find us as a podcast on your favorite streaming service.

Affiliates:

*8 a.m. Saturdays on WBRN - 1460 AM and 107.7 FM in Big Rapids

*8 a.m. Saturdays on Kalamazoo Talk Radio 1360 WKMI

*8 a.m. Saturdays on WILS-1320 AM in Lansing

*10 a.m. Saturdays 95.3 WBCK-FM in Battle Creek

*10 a.m. Saturdays on News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM in Benton Harbor

*4 p.m. Saturdays on WIOS "The Bay's Best!" - 1480 AM & 106.9 FM in Tawas / East Tawas

*7 a.m. Sundays on the following Black Diamond Broadcasting stations:

-WCFX - CFX Today's Hits (95.3) in Mt. Pleasant
-WGFN - Classic Rock The Bear (98.1 & 95.3) in Traverse City
-WMRX - Sunny 97.7 in Midland
-WUPS - The Classic Hits Station (98.5) in Houghton Lake
-WWMK - 1063 MAC FM in Cheboygan

*Noon Sundays on News, Talk and Sports - 1380-AM WPHM in Port Huron

*1 p.m. Sundays on WSGW-AM (790) and FM (100.5) in Saginaw

*6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM (1300) and FM (106.9) in Grand Rapids

Follow John and Amy on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten or
Twitter at @BehindTheMitten and Instagram at @BehindTheMitten_.