You either “get” Petoskey Stones…or you don’t.

I mean that literally & figuratively.

Some people have an eye for them & every stroll down the beach simply serves them up. Others spend frustrating hours examining every stone, only to come away with empty pockets & tired eyes.

So how do you go about finding Petoskey Stones? Here are some tried & true guidelines collected from some veteran “Stone Hunters” of all ages:

*  It’s All About the Process –  being out in the fresh air, moving, & soaking up the sun are as critical to the hunt as finding the stone. You gotta enjoy it all!

*Location, Location, Location – beaches are the obvious places to look, but be willing to consider alternatives. In 1999 the largest Petoskey Stone unearthed to date was found in Sleeping Bear National Park…in the woods. That means almost any walk up north holds possibility. If that’s the case, then you may as well choose someplace beautiful to wander.

* Snick-Snacks – My young hunter friends especially, swear that it’s all about the snacks.  What you take to sustain you through the long hunting hours is critical. The top 3 suggestions include: Red Licorice (light-weight, sweet, & not messy, Tootsie Roll Pops (same reasoning), Anything Chocolate (but only if you are going near water….sticky fingers). I have it on good authority that salty snacks can only be carried if you take into account the fact that you’re going to get thirsty.

*“Stoned Eyes” – My sources tell me that this is the single most important skill to acquire. You simply have to get over the fact that you simply can’t look at EVERY stone. So you have to be able to kind of glaze over. As near as I can figure, you do this by opening your eyes wide & pretending innocence… like when you were five & your mom wanted to know where the cookies went. Just remember to blink now & then or your eyes completely dry out!

*Practice Makes Perfect – this is a controversial piece of advice. Many believe that only hours of hard work produce results while others argue for Beginners Luck. Whichever you believe, its time to stop reading & get out there & start looking. Whether you hit the nearest beach or return to that magical favorite spot, its time to go.

By the way, this coming weekend, May 25th, is the 8th Annual Antrim County Petoskey Stone Festival near Eastport at Barnes Park, so if you can’t find your own stone, just grab your wallet & go between 10:00 & 4:00.

OK…did you really believe I would reveal my super secret Petoskey Stone finding spot??? Dream on.

Me…I’m off to find my Petoskey Stone hunting outfit & do some serious stoning!