• At Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, you are about to embark on the mostintense dune climb of your life.
    Photo by Ellie Knaus
  • CultureMap contributor Ellie Knaus takes a breather.
  • The view from the bottom of the dunes.
    Photo by Ellie Knaus
  • Northern Michigan has pockets of breathless beauty.
    Photo by Ellie Knaus

Destinations

Hello gorgeous: Northern Michigan may be the most beautiful place in America

  • My stepfather, attorney Chip Babcock, left in photo, celebrated with Oprah
  • Oprah's last new show is today at 4 p.m.

Letter from LA

On TV and in a Texas courthouse, Oprah taught life lessons I'll never forget

  • The CDC believes if you're ready for a Zombie Apocalypse, you're ready for anyemergency
  • Some reading material to take with you
  • Avoid men with vacant stares

Letter from LA

Why worry about the Rapture? The Zombie Apocalypse is on my mind

  • A still from T-Mobile's Royal Wedding Dance video
  • The funny clip took me back to my time spent studying at the University of St.Andrews, where, for one semester, Prince William and Kate Middleton were myschoolmates.
    Photo by Ellie Knaus
  • I arranged my class schedule in order to have four-day weekends.

Happy Dayz

T-Mobile royal wedding parody evokes memories of my Saint Andrews schoolmatesKate Middleton & Prince William

  • Natalie Taylor and son, Kai Taylor
    Photo by Brett Mountain
  • Josh and Natalie Taylor
  • Natalie with her newborn, Kai Taylor

Letter from LA

Signs of Life: Widowed with a child at 25, my sister-in-law survived throughstrong family ties