The British Are Coming (Back): Josh and Jase Return to Michigan for Summer
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The magic of the Great Lakes has attracted two of the most famous influencers from across the pond. Josh and Jase, along with millions of social media followers, explored Michigan this winter. Now they’ve confirmed a return trip is coming in summer 2026. That’s largely due to the unwavering support of people like you (and us) who love Michigan’s many personalities.
“Michigan, we’ll see y’all in the summer!” – Josh & Jase
Who Are Josh & Jase?
Josh Cauldwell-Clarke and Jason Riley (aka Jase) are two of the most endearing Brits you’ll ever see in your scroll. They’re buddies from Nottingham, England. The 30-somethings explore American culture with a refreshing curiosity that makes you want to invite them over for dinner.
Between all their social media accounts, the duo has racked up more than 5.7 million fans.
Josh & Jase: Part 2: Summer in Michigan Announcement
Jase made a surprise appearance (did you hear the internet break at the news?) at the 2026 Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
He followed up with a post on Facebook saying, in part, ” We are going to be coming back to Michigan in the summer so Jase wanted to connect with as many people as possible to make sure we have the best trip this summer.”
Josh and Jase famously visited Michigan for three weeks in the winter, dealing with some of the most brutal winter conditions the Mitten State can throw at a tourist.
“The lakes are great – the weather is ridiculous,” Jase said to the crowd of tourism leaders, adding, “We want to do all the cool things that we didn’t get the chance to do.”
Josh is back in England with a new baby girl, so he wasn’t there for the big announcement on April 8, but he did share a message congratulating the Pure Michigan campaign on 20 years of promoting tourism in the state.
Josh & Jase: Part 1 Michigan Winter
Josh and Jase started their exploration of Michigan on January 10 in South Haven, Michigan. After a hearty Midwestern breakfast, they took in a view of the Great Lakes for the first time.
Upon seeing Lake Michigan from South Haven’s shores. “Look at the size of these waves,” Josh bellowed. “There is no way you are telling me THAT is a lake. That is the Pacific Ocean, mate.”
View this post on InstagramFrom there, they went to Saugatuck, or “Saw-gay-tuk” as they called it before many Michiganders corrected the pronunciation in the comments. As their travels expanded, they found the communities overwhelming them with invitations to come meet the locals. The Brits experienced their first college basketball game at Hope College in Holland.
Their next stops were Grand Rapids and Traverse City. Their excitement level went up as the temperatures went down. At every stop, they asked, “What is there to do here? Let us know in the comments,” generally followed by something like “It’s very cold, this is ridiculous!”
Despite the Brits being from a place in England that rarely gets below 41° F in the winter, they braved winter activities in Michigan like sledding, snowmobiling, and skiing with exuberance generally reserved for kids on Christmas morning.
Millions joined in the virtual adventure by watching Josh and Jase eat and play their way through the state. Their trip almost came to an end on January 18 when Josh suffered an injury and ended up being rushed to the hospital.
By January 21, Josh and Jase were back on the road, heading to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. If followers weren’t already in love with the duo, watching them cross the Mackinac Bridge made it official.
They arrived just in time for the January 24 blizzard in Pictured Rocks. They were amazed at the snowfall potential in “Kuh-wee-naw.” While normally mispronouncing the names of Michigan towns and regions will make us roll our eyes, like social followers, we loved them even more for trying so hard. JanetteMSU commented: “My favorite part of this journey has been your pronunciation of Michigan towns and landmarks.”
Sounds like Josh & Jase should check out this guide! How Do You Say That?! 30 Michigan Towns Outsiders Always Mispronounce – and Why You Should Visit Anyway
In Cooper Bay Harbor, they experienced the amazement we all do at the Michigan sunset.
Their trip took an unexpected winter turn when they were invited to a VIP experience at Mackinac Island. Josh and Jase experienced snowmobiling for the first time with the same excitement they tried the famous fudge.
From the car-free island to Motor City, Josh and Jase were given a special welcome at Ford Field.
“Who would’ve thought we would have our name at Ford Field? I don’t think we’ve ever had a welcome like that before,” they said on Instagram. “Thank you, Michigan; thank you, Detroit. Incredible.”
Josh and Jase’s visit to Michigan came to an end on January 30 with more VIP treatment at the airport.
Every step of the way, their fans helped them find the best places to visit, while also questioning the decision to visit in winter. There were many calls to come back in summer, when Michigan shines under clearer skies and warmer weather.
Turns out, they were listening.
When Are Josh & Jase Coming Back to Michigan?
We know the trip to Michigan will come in the summer of 2026; the exact dates are still being ironed out. Jase will explore Arkansas solo in April, but the first return of the besties to the United States will be across Michigan this summer.
Jase said he’s looking forward to visiting Pictured Rock again. If you followed their winter journey, you’ll remember the Pictured Rocks visit came during a brutal winter storm, which they weathered with the same charm they tackled everything else.
“Guys, we messed up. We came to Pictured Rocks but we can’t see anything,” they lamented through blizzard conditions on January 24.
Let’s Help Josh & Jase Plan the Perfect Michigan Summer Trip
While the two have so much Michigan support, they are still begging for help planning their Michigan summer itinerary. That’s where the Awesome Mitten tribe can help.
Where do you think Josh and Jase should go this summer to experience a quintessential Michigan summer? We know they want to try surfing the Great Lakes and get another (clearer) view of Pictured Rocks. What else is a must-see in a Michigan summer?
You can follow Josh and Jase on the social media platform of your choice:
We also want to give you access to their individual accounts, as well as supporting the behind-the-scenes guys who help make the Josh and Jase magic happen.
Share your Michigan must-sees you think Josh and Jase should cover this summer in the comments below!