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Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Yahoo
Mariners Trail in Manitowoc County is the region's Most Treasured View, reader poll finds
LAKE MICHIGAN/LAKE WINNEBAGO REGION – Readers have spoken. If you're looking for the Most Treasured View in the region, look no further than the more than 5-mile paved Mariners Trail that runs along Lake Michigan between Manitowoc and Two Rivers. The trail was the top vote-getter in USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin's recent Most Treasured View poll, which listed 14 scenic locations across Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Winnebago counties. See the full list and poll results: Here are 14 of the Most Treasured Views across Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Oshkosh & Winnebago counties In addition to scenic views of Lake Michigan, Mariners Trail also offers landscaped flower gardens, sculptures, telescopes, picnic areas, lighthouses, natural flora, bridges, beach access and more. The trail is maintained by the non-profit Friends of Mariners Trail. Find more about the trail at Mariners Trail can be accessed at various points along Memorial Drive between Manitowoc and Two Rivers. Access points include waysides on Memorial Drive, the Manitowoc Marina at the southern end and Lighthouse Inn in Two Rivers at the northern end. Parking is available at both ends of the trail and at waysides. The trail can also be accessed from Lincoln Park via a new connecting trail system. The trail is free to use. Restrooms are available just north of the Manitowoc Marina, at the Woodland Drive wayside near the midpoint of the trail and at several restaurants. The northern end of the trail in Two Rivers connects with the Rawley Point Trail, which takes users through Two Rivers and into Point Beach State Forest. This 7-mile section uses city streets, limestone surfaces and a 5-mile section through the state forest. At the southern end of the trail, people can continue on a paved path along Lake Michigan, across the Manitowoc River on the Eighth Street bridge, and then follow the trail along the south side of the river, past the car ferry dock for the S.S. Badger Lake Michigan car ferry, and into a residential area. Read more: SS Badger Lake Michigan car ferry to launch shoreline cruises, overnight crossings & mini cruises Mariners Trail now connects to a newly created Bayshore Drive Trail System in Manitowoc, which leads to the city's Lincoln Park Zoo. The Bayshore Drive Trail System includes public paved trails, lighting, a future kayak launch, areas for fishing, benches and a new bridge that connects the trail to the zoo. Also along Mariners Trail is West of the Lake Gardens, 6 acres of backyard gardens on Lake Michigan on the estate of John and Ruth West and the West Foundation featuring a rose garden, Japanese, sunken and formal gardens, with more than 900 feet of herbaceous borders with colorful annuals. The gardens are at 915 Memorial Drive in Manitowoc and admission is free. Read more: Ruth West: How a Manitowoc woman turned 6 acres of quack grass into a renown garden The most notable sculpture along Mariners Trail is the 'Spirit of the Rivers' bronze monument created by internationally renowned artist and Manitowoc native R.T. 'Skip' Wallen. The monument depicts an Indigenous man carrying a canoe, a woman and an elder, symbolizing the area's native inhabitants. The monument can be accessed at the rest stop at 4815 Memorial Drive. Read more: USA TODAY readers ranked a Sheboygan County lake and beach among the best in the country Other top vote-getters in our Most Treasured View poll included the following: Sheboygan's Lake Michigan lakeshore; Devils River waterfall at Devils River Campground, 16612 County R, Maribel; Lakeside Park, 555 N. Park Ave., Fond du Lac; Kohler-Andrae State Park sand dunes and cord walk, 1020 Beach Park Lane, Sheboygan; Point Beach State Forest, 9400 County O, Two Rivers; and Parnell Tower, W7876 County U, Plymouth. Contact Brandon Reid at breid@ This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Mariners Trail in Manitowoc, Two Rivers is region's Most Treasured View
Wales Online
05-07-2025
- Wales Online
Easy coastal walk leads to a lighthouse with a haunting secret
Easy coastal walk leads to a lighthouse with a haunting secret You can walk to a spooky Welsh lighthouse on a Wales Coast Path circular route that starts and ends near a pub You can walk to a spooky Welsh lighthouse on a Wales Coast Path circular route (Image:) Stretching over 1,680 miles, the rugged Welsh coast is home to countless lighthouses, each with its own story. Some still shine their light for sailors, while others stand abandoned, their weathered facades adding to Wales' hauntingly beautiful maritime legacy. You can walk to a spooky Welsh lighthouse on a Wales Coast Path circular route that starts and ends near a pub (my favourite kind of walk). On this coastal trek, you'll have plenty of bird-spotting opportunities at the RSPB bird hide, estuary views, and industrial landmarks in one of Wales' oldest - the Point of Ayr Lighthouse. Known locally as Talacre Lighthouse, this reputedly haunted lighthouse appears marooned on its own island off the Flintshire coast when viewed on Google Maps. The map is deceptive, though, as the 60-foot structure is surprisingly accessible at low tide, when the waters recede, clearing a footpath to the historic tower. Built in 1776, this Grade II listed lighthouse guided ships entering the Dee estuary for over a century before its closure in 1883. When Chester was a thriving port long before Liverpool stole the spotlight, navigation relied on lights at Whitford Garn in Flintshire and Hillbre Island on the Wirral, funded by the Earl of Chester. Article continues below However, the tragic loss of two Dublin-bound vessels in 1776 sparked calls for better coastal lighting, paving the way for the construction of Point of Ayr. Talacre Lighthouse otherwise known as Point of Ayr Lighthouse on the Dee Estuary (Image: North Wales Daily Post ) Designed by Henry Turner, the lighthouse was ingeniously built on sand, supported by screw piles drilled deep below the surface. The sturdy tower featured three floors and even a coal store tucked away in its basement. Originally, the lighthouse displayed two lights. The main light, perched 63 feet high, cast its beam towards Llandudno while a lower light guided vessels navigating the River Dee. Together, they made the lighthouse a vital guardian of the craggy North Wales coast. You can walk to the lighthouse along the coast path, starting near the dog-friendly Lighthouse Inn. According to Gruff Owen, Wales Coast Path Officer, this route is a "family-friendly walk that's great for buggies and somewhere where the kids can explore and get close to nature." It's relatively easy to follow, too. At the end of Station Road, go up onto the embankment. Take the path to the right, which is clearly signed with orange way markers 'Point of Ayr Circular'. The path is straight and wide, with a gravel surface to start. It also has information panels, picnic benches, and sculptures. Continue following the markers, pass the bird hide, and enjoy the views of the estuary and the haunted lighthouse. You can complete the loop or extend your walk along the coast path, and even walk down to Point of Ayr Lighthouse to see if you can spot a spectre. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here A haunting secret Point of Ayr Lighthouse was sold to private ownership in 1922 and is currently owned by the nearby holiday park. While long deserted by keepers, it remains a commanding figure overlooking the Irish Sea and has a haunting secret. According to Go North Wales, the historic lighthouse holds a chilling reputation as one of the most haunted places in North Wales. Visitors and locals have reported eerie sightings of a figure resembling a keeper standing atop the lighthouse. Some mediums and paranormal professionals also claim to have made contact with a lingering spirit of a man tormented by heartbreak, while others describe the presence of someone who succumbed to a fever, a fate said to have befallen the lighthouse's former keeper, Raymond. One woman who saw the ghostly figure told BBC Wales: "My husband and I were on Talacre beach a couple of years ago and saw a lighthouse keeper at the top of the lighthouse, in front of the glass dome. "He was wearing an old-fashioned dark worsted lighthouse keeper's coat and hat. The lighthouse was locked and chained." She added, "My husband and I can't see how anyone could get there unless they were dropped by helicopter and we would have heard that." Some mediums and paranormal professionals also claim to have made contact with a lingering spirit of a man tormented by heartbreak (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live ) Tribute to the ghost The ghostly legend surrounding Point of Ayr Lighthouse is so strong that its owners sought permission to install a sculpture inspired by tales of a spectral figure in an old-fashioned keeper's coat, often seen near the lighthouse. Created by Talacre-based artist Angela Smith, the 7-foot sculpture The Keeper was installed on the lighthouse balcony in 2010 as a tribute to the tales of the ghostly figure seen there. Crafted from about 120 separate stainless steel pieces, the sculpture is more than just a silhouette of a man; it's a celebration of the sea. Each piece is inspired by coastal elements, including starfish, dolphins, and ripples in the sand, reflecting the lighthouse's deep connection to its maritime surroundings. The result is a stunning, shimmering figure that adds an extra layer of intrigue to this iconic landmark. Lighthouse owner James McAllister, who bought the lighthouse along with two acres of the beach in 1983, wanted the statue to honour the ghost rumoured to be haunting Point of Ayr. He said, 'There have always been sightings of a ghost on the balcony here. 'No one is sure who he is, but people say they see him wearing a sailor's cap and uniform. I wanted a sculpture to represent him.' These days, Point of Ayr Lighthouse remains a fascinating spot for a coastal walk and a bit of mystery. At low tide, you can wander right up to the old tower, take in the sweeping views of Talacre Beach, and see The Keeper sculpture standing watch on the balcony. Article continues below It's worth visiting whether you're here for the history, the eerie ghost stories, or just a chance to plod along the coast. And who knows, you might even spot the famous ghost yourself.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In New London, German consul calls U.S. policy a turning point for Europe.
New London — The German consul for New England said Tuesday after a New London Rotary Club speech that Europe is at a massive turning point" regarding its relationship to the United States. The comments by Sonja Kriebich, a longtime German diplomat, came as President Donald Trump institutes tariffs against select countries and pulls back from the United States' three-year-long support of Ukraine in its war against Russia. "It's a moment for Europe to assert itself," she said during an interview following a Rotary Partners for Peace luncheon at the Lighthouse Inn. "If Europe manages to seize this moment and will gain strength from it, something good will come from it." Kriebich said despite some concerns in Europe that the NATO alliance could be at risk as Trump appears to be embracing Russia and other totalitarian countries, Germany still sees NATO as having a central role in the security of Europe, the United States and Canada. "Germany over the last years, significantly increased its defense spending," she said during her Rotary speech. "We are now comfortably really close to reaching the 2 percent (of GDP) target for NATO (on defense spending). ... This increase of defense spending also immediately benefits the U.S. We've purchased more than $26 billion of military equipment from the U.S. defense industry." Kriebich said many Germans once believed that they could nudge Russia toward democracy and a more friendly posture by strengthening trading and business ties. But recent events, especially the Russian attack on Ukraine, have dissuaded most of the political parties from this view, she said, as Europe now views Russia as a real threat to its security. "This war at our doorstep heavily impacts our security," Kriebich said during her speech. "If you do not get to a fair and lasting peace that safeguards the key interests of Ukraine, we will not be safe in Europe. So this would only encourage Russia to do a next step." She added that any peace deal worked out over the war must recognize Ukraine's independence and sovereignty. "All European states are determined to do more for their own security," she added. "Ukraine can rely on Germany and on Europe." Kriebich added that the current uncertainty over U.S. support for Ukraine as well as Europe comes at a difficult time in Germany as a recent election put a more conservative government in charge that will take some time to form. At the same time, a far-right party in Germany has begun to gain strength, she added, though it is not powerful enough yet to be included in a coalition government. In response to a question about the purported lack of free speech in Germany, Kriebich explained that Germany, because of its past experience with Nazism, has banned certain things it considers hate speech, such as Holocaust denial. "I know that for Americans this sounds like a limitation to free speech, but we simply have a different definition of free speech," she said. "In Germany, hate speech is being punishable and it will also be prosecuted. So if you are being harassed on social media, for example, you can ask that to be addressed." "Shock and awe" Eric Fleury, a professor of government and international relations at Connecticut College who focuses on foreign policy, said Tuesday that Trump's lurch to the right internationally coincides with his rapid shock and awe strategy on the domestic front through the government consolidation spearheaded by DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk. "The idea is to hit the ground running, move fast and break things," Fleury said in a phone interview. The problem, from Fleury's point of view, is that there appears to be no grand strategy on the international front, and many of the changes appear to be a lot of theater with very little follow through unless concessions can be extracted. "The only thing that really matters is the image of being a so-called strongman, Fleury said. The strategy includes inflating the amount of aid the United States has given to Ukraine while downplaying the support Europe has shown, according to many Trump opponents. According to Trump consistently has cited figures for U.S. military aid that is about double the amount Congress has allocated (some of which has not yet been spent). Meanwhile, European statistic show that those countries have contributed more than double what Trump has been citing, and has committed many billions more to Ukraine while the United States now is balking at more aid. Despite the conflicts with longtime U.S. allies, Fleury said he doubts Trump will actually pull out of NATO. Instead, the president wants to get credit for extracting concessions from allies, he said, even as many of them had been moving in that direction anyway.
