Lions, Tigers & Ribeye Oh My! Michigan’s UP Has It All—Even Bridges

What do lions, tigers, ribeye steaks, and towering bridges have in common?
Apparently… the wild and wonderful backroads of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

In this video, I roll out with the truck camper into the Michigan woods and stumble into some unforgettable moments — from a hidden zoo filled with roaring big cats, to the crackle of a campfire-smoked tomahawk ribeye, and an epic drone fly under of the Cut River Bridge, one of the tallest and most scenic spans in the state.

This trip had everything —
Wildlife, woodsmoke, and wow — all within 45 minutes of the Mackinac Bridge.

🚐 What You’ll See:
A ridiculously perfect steak grilled over campfire coals

Lions, tigers & bears (oh my!) at a roadside zoo

Stunning drone shots of the Cut River Bridge

Remote camping right along the Lake Michigan shoreline

Some of the most underrated scenery in the Upper Peninsula

📍 Filmed Near:
Garlyn Zoo, Naubinway, MI
Cut River Bridge
Northern Lake Michigan shoreline
Just east of the Mackinac Bridge

📍 Video Timeline / Chapters
00:00 – Intro
01:01 – Building the Fire Pit & Starting the Fire
01:59 – Prepping the Tomahawk Ribeye
02:44 – Ribeye Over the Campfire 🔥
04:54 – The Ribeye Is Done! 🥩
07:33 – Scenic Drone Flyover of Camp
08:25 – Exploring Garlyn Zoo
12:52 – King of Beasts (Lion Close-Up) 🦁
15:29 – Cut River Bridge Overview
19:20 – Drone Footage of Cut River Bridge 🌉
20:58 – Trail to Lake Michigan
22:14 – Walking the Cut River Trail
26:50 – Closing Thoughts


🧢 MERCH & GEAR ►
Want to check out the gear we're using? Here are some Amazon links — I earn a small commission if you buy through them (at no extra cost to you)!

Sawyer Products Premium Permethrin Insect Repellent for Clothing, Gear & Tents
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BLUETTI AC200L
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BLUETTI Charger 1 DC to DC Charger
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Rotary Transfer Switch Manual Changeover Switch
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OGO Composting Toilet
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OGO Coco Coir Composting Material
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Omnia Oven Kit
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Coletti Boulder Camping Press
An American Press
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Silky KATANABOY Professional 650mm Folding Saw XL Teeth (710-65)
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📷 Shot with:
DJI Mini 4 Pro
Canon / GoPro

All from the comfort of my trusty truck camper

If you're into campfire food, off-grid camping, and a little unexpected wilderness fun, this is your kind of trip.
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