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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Jessica Esemplare
It’s impossible to ignore the symbolism of the Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus in Farmington Hills, Michigan: Barbed wire encircles the building and parts of it are painted in the blue and gray stripes of concentration camp uniforms. Inside, with the help of timelines, memorials and hands-on displays and exhibits, the museum details the history of Jewish life, culture, beliefs and holidays, along with the rise of Nazism and the defining moment Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass) in...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Amy Bizzarri Bocchetta
Paying homage to the heritage of the Native American Pokagon Band through its unique interior decor, the Four Winds Casino Resort is conveniently located on a beautiful landscape just off of I-94 in New Buffalo, Michigan. Offering 130,000 square feet of gaming space, a 165-room hotel, five restaurants, entertainment, bars and retail — this casino resort has it all. Each room in the suite hotel includes such luxuries as granite counter tops, leather wrapped headboards, 14-inch deep pillow-top mattre...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Human figures sculpted out of Saran Wrap perched on the railings of a downtown office building. A video installation that recreated the dream world of children. A sculpture built with ladders that sat in the center of a downtown plaza, while another — this one crafted out of shovels — adorned a nearby office building. These artworks were just four of the 1,262 pieces on display at 159 venues in 2009 for the first annual ArtPrize contest. Ranging from traditional oil paintings to those artistically arrang...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Kimberlee Murray
Ubiquitous rainbow-colored canopies adorn the Rainbow™ residential play systems that are common in many Michigan backyards. These “swing-sets-on-steroids” keep kids entertained for hours. But what’s a family to do when winter sets in and the snow-covered play set sits unoccupied in the backyard? Head over to the Kids Gotta Play retail showroom in New Hudson, Michigan. This mega-store is home to award-winning residential play equipment where kids can continue to play where summer left off. During da...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Colleen Kennedy
We’ve all seen the “Pure Michigan” advertisements for golf courses, orchards, casinos and shorelines, but don’t think that just because The Buffalo Ranch in Hanover, Michigan, hasn’t been featured in one it’s not worth the drive. In fact, it is one of the state’s best-kept secrets for adventure seekers. Located about an hour west of Ann Arbor, The Buffalo Ranch offers buffalo adventures and horseback riding year-round on a 240-acre spread. Its 40 buffalo roam peacefully over 80 fenced-in acres of the pro...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Sherri Telenko
An American Flag proudly hangs on the wall of the Chelsea Teddy Bear Company and Toy Museum in Chelsea, Michigan. But this one’s different — it’s made from hundreds of red, white and blue teddy bears and won the company a world record in 2006 for the largest teddy bear mosaic. Nearby, several glass cases are filled with rare antique toys. But that’s not what catches your attention first. A seven-foot stuffed grizzly greets you at the door, and thousands of cute furry eyes stare from rows of shelving: Mot...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Amber Matheson
The cherry trees lie dormant during the winter months that bring piles of snow and frigid temperatures to Traverse City, Michigan . The tourists are gone from northern Michigan’s “Cherry Capital,” and this hilly region sweeping around Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay is silent, breathtakingly beautiful — and cold. In short, it’s the perfect time to throw a party. Winter Wow!fest , formerly known as the Cherry Capital Winter Wonderfest, fills the streets of downtown TC with bundled-up revelers. Ice scul...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Serious baristas from throughout North America and as far away as Europe make their way to the Midwest Barista School each year to learn the fine art of making quality coffee. In fact, would-be cafe professionals have converged upon this Holland, Michigan , location to learn not only how to make a good cup of joe, but also how to make a profit from it. And now, the school has opened its doors to amateurs. For individuals who simply want to brew cafe-quality coffee drinks in their own homes, the school o...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Ed Condran
A variety of indigenous wildlife and majestic waterfalls make Michigan’s Upper Peninsula a jewel of the state. The area is home to the 200-foot-wide Tahquamenon Falls, which is one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River, boasting a vertical drop of 50 feet. There are more than 300 other waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula, but only about half of them are accessible by foot. Before venturing out into the 3.8-million-acre national forest, be sure to stop at the Western Upper Peninsula ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Sherri Telenko
Detroit has a team in every major league, including baseball, so it’s fitting the Motor City would celebrate the turn of the 21st century by building an impressive baseball stadium for The Detroit Tigers — Comerica Park. True to the “Big D” style, this isn’t a little-league park by a long shot. Comerica Park is done right, and midway energy emanates from behind the bleachers. In the evenings the action might be in the on-site bars before the game, but Sundays are all about families. Tickets start at $5,...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Becky Linhardt
“We now have 30 black bears,” says Dean Oswald, owner of Oswald’s Bear Ranch in Newberry, Michigan . “But it’s the cubs that get the most attention, since we allow our visitors supervised visits in the cubs’ cage and they can take photos. Families love the interaction with the young bears.” The cubs are so cute, big balls of thick black fur with inquisitive eyes and lots of playful curiosity. “All of the bears may have the wild still in them, but you can handle a cub while still small, maybe 80 pounds, ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Since 1950, visitors have headed to the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan , to see exotic animals at play. But these days, there are more than monkeys climbing among the zoo’s canopy of trees. The four-story-tall Sky Trail Ropes Course structure has two climbing levels built within a frame — a massive jungle gym of ropes and wooden beams. Safety lines and carabiners attach to body harnesses so visitors can crawl or leap — however daring they may be — between levels without fear of falling. Challen...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Emily Tennyson
Lines snake around the small brick building in the college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan . Is it a University of Michigan pre-game football party? Nope, it’s Zingerman’s Deli , a temple for the taste buds. Even Oprah has lauded Zingerman’s sandwiches on national television. One taste of the Lisa C’s Boisterous Brisket sandwich — hand-pulled beef brisket in Zingerman’s own barbecue sauce — and she said, “Oooh that’s good. Lord have mercy.” Known for locally sourced, “traditionally made foods with full flav...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Northern Michigan’s Les Cheneaux Islands have drawn boating enthusiasts for centuries — but never before have boaters been able to build their own craft as part of the experience. The Great Lakes Boat Building School aims to change that. Organized primarily as a vocational school in 2005, this Cedarville, Michigan, destination offers one-week and 10-day summer workshops that allow hobbyists to custom build their own boats. Most workshop participants hail from the Midwest, but the school has had particip...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Jennifer Rogers
It’s all about finding the perfect hill — snowfall is a must, of course, and elevation only increases the excitement. The right spot is key, too, and finding a partner to give you that starting shove is essential. Anyone who grew up in a place where “cold front” was a fact of life knows that sledding is so much more than a pastime — it’s an art. For a sled-riding excursion that your children will never forget, pack up the toboggan and head to the snow-covered sand dunes at Warren Dunes State Park . Locat...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Emily Tennyson
Swoosh! Swoosh! It’s 15 degrees outside, but don’t be surprised if you work up a sweat. Cross-country skiing is exhilarating, and the snowy sylvan glade at Nub’s Nob Ski Resort in Harbor Springs, Michigan , is almost like a fairy tale. The meticulously groomed paths curve away from the busy downhill slopes, and in a matter of minutes, you’re transported into the woods. The northwest corner of Michigan is home to shopping, restaurants and an array of outdoor sports. But unlike the region’s bigger ski dest...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Amy Bizzarri Bocchetta
A warm fall day spent in southwestern Michigan is the setting of Indian summer dreams, when the forests and orchards are painted with a golden palette of yellows, oranges and reds. Taste the season by stopping at one of the plentiful area orchards for a pick-your-own adventure. Springhope Farm , in Galien, Michigan , is one of the loveliest little farms in the region, where you can set out into the wide orchards and pick a bushel or two of your favorite, in-season apple varieties. Nearby Three Oaks is a ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Jane Ammeson
Many of us have meandered along a wine trail or two; now, the Michigan Brewer’s Guild has applied that same concept to the state’s burgeoning microbrewery industry. Ranked sixth in the country for total number of breweries, Michigan prides itself on handcrafted beers that range from the palest of ales to the most robust stouts. To discover the best, take a romantic drive along the Central Michigan Microbrewery Trail as it winds through the state’s heartland, an area of rolling hills, historic towns, lush...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Becky Linhardt
The land can appear to be very far away when you’re paddling on the wide expanse of Little Traverse Bay, Michigan . Even safely seated within a Native American jiimaan — a large, wooden canoe — the bay can be an adventure when the winds blow in from Lake Michigan. Travelers to north central Michigan can board a jiimaan during the Festival on the Bay, Aug. 14–16, at the waterfront in Petoskey. The free excursions are sponsored by the Odawa Institute of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. (The...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Lori B. Murray
Can’t afford to cruise the Caribbean? Then gather the family for a similar experience on a four-hour steamship cruise across Lake Michigan. The 410-foot S.S. Badger has been transporting passengers and vehicles over the 60 miles of water between Ludington, Michigan , and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, since 1952. With the ability to carry 620 passengers and 180 automobiles, this is the largest car ferry on the Great Lakes — and a popular tradition for many. Although about half of the passengers ride the ferry to...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Susan R. Pollack
You don’t have to be a high roller to enjoy a weekend getaway in downtown Detroit’s liveliest neighborhood. The new Greektown Casino-Hotel opened its doors in mid-February and has been buzzing since, thanks to affordable rates, glitzy decor and a sizzling urban vibe. A 30-story tower of gleaming blue glass, the long-awaited hotel wows guests with an airy, multi-story lobby, dramatic purple and gold furnishings andhand-blown glass chandelier. Four hundred contemporary rooms, including 29 suites, fea...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Half a dozen first-time surfers grab their boards from the back of a VW bus and make their way toward the beach. Ryan Gerard, owner of Third Coast Surf Shop in New Buffalo, Michigan , takes them through their paces on the sand. He positions their bodies face-down on the boards, shows them how to paddle their arms, demonstrates a smooth leap into a squat — and finally demonstrates how to stand up, with knees bent and arms out for balance. Once the surfers have finished their land-based instruction,...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Susan R. Pollack
Golfers likely will spot deer, elk, wild turkeys and perhaps even a fox on a getaway to a northern Michigan region known as the Gaylord Golf Mecca . They’ll also see birdies and eagles — though not necessarily on their scorecards. Boasting 21 golf courses, including championship designs by Tom Fazio, Tom Doak, Jerry Matthews and Robert Trent Jones Sr., the Gaylord area offers summer and fall golf on par with Hilton Head Island and Myrtle Beach. Against a scenic backdrop of gentle hills and blue lakes, g...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
When spring arrives, Shepler’s Ferries take to the lake, their telltale plumes of water shooting skyward like rooster tails. These ferries are best known for transporting visitors to Mackinac Island, but Shepler’s offers another way to enjoy the Straits of Mackinac — on historic lighthouse cruises. The Mackinaw City, Michigan , company offers both three- and four-hour journeys from its mainland dock. Westbound cruises travel directly under the Mackinac Bridge for a unique perspective of the Midwest’s fa...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
“Stand by to tack!” Suddenly crew members are scrambling over the tall ship Manitou to shift the sails and change the course. Now you’re angling into the wind, seeing yet another slice of Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay , its waves as deep blue as lapis lazuli. It may be more than a century since the original tall-masted cargo ships sailed the Great Lakes, but that spirit has been reborn in the Manitou . Built in 1983 for modern passengers, she has the graceful lines and brilliant sails of a traditional t...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Marie Catanese
Once used as an equestrian facility, Black Star Farms on Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula is much more than an award-winning winery. The property is a 160-acre agricultural destination complete with an on-site creamery, a summertime farmer’s market and an eight-room, plantation-style B&B tucked away amongst the vineyards and pastures. A bottle of the winery’s house red comes with your room. Wake up to a gourmet breakfast including just-laid eggs, fresh fruit, juices, homemade baked goods and granola, t...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Gerald Bartell
Vacationers can’t help but warm to a waterfront resort where every room has a view of the marina. Include in-room massages, nearby sightseeing and sleek interiors inspired by Scandinavian and modern design, and travelers start daydreaming of a way to turn their weekend near the water into a permanent escape. Thankfully, the Marina Grand Resort , on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan in New Buffalo, Michigan, offers the opportunity to do just that. The destination is known as a condo hotel: a spot t...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek
When you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, — especially when the ’em is Mother Nature. So, when the snow flies, you might as well put your best foot forward: Bundle up and get ready for an unconventional hike during a Snowshoe Walk in Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore . One of the state’s prettiest winter wonderlands, the park hosts hikes for amateur trekkers every Saturday in January and February. Sessions last about two hours and include free snowshoe rental, instruction on snowshoeing basics ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
When Turtle Creek Casino in Williamsburg, Michigan , opened its doors this summer following a $116 million renovation, guests were shocked. Where was the North Woods decor? And what’s that growing on the roof? That was precisely the reaction casino owners hoped for. Set just outside Traverse City, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians’ new Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel rejected the customary, northern lodge decor, opting instead for multicolored lighting effects, a 30-foot indoor waterf...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Each year on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, satiated diners abandon the turkey leftovers and overcrowded shopping malls and head to northern Michigan for a day of wine and macaroni and cheese. Yes, macaroni and cheese. But this is a dish your grandma wouldn’t recognize, and neither will you. The seven vintners of Traverse City’s Old Mission Peninsula — Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Brys Estate, Peninsula Cellars, Black Star Farms and Two Lads — invite the publ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Jennifer Rogers
The beauty and wonder of the night sky doesn’t diminish with age, making a visit to the Abrams Planetarium in East Lansing, Michigan, the perfect family outing. As the autumn nights grow cool and crisp, the stars shine brightly for your viewing pleasure. Since 1963, the planetarium has fascinated visitors with an interest in the skies. Located on the beautiful campus of Michigan State University, this outreach unit of the Department of Physics and Astronomy serves as a space-science education resource, ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Jennifer Rogers
If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure, check out the scenic, snowy trails of Boyne Highlands. The Dog Sled Rides on Boyne Mountain in northwest Michigan are a popular attraction each winter, and the experience is sure to be a treat for those who crave excitement. Visitors are treated to rides with true Iditarod sled dogs, thanks to a partnership between Boyne Highlands and Nature’s Kennel. The dogs race though the picturesque mountain trails with a professional driver at the reins. Sled drivers sha...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Kathy Witt
Prepare for adventure: The Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio , has added a new dimension of fun that sends kids (parents and grandparents, too) on a quest through the halls of the hotel, seeking treasure and talking to fairies with the ultimate goal of slaying a dragon. MagiQuest is where Renaissance-style fantasy meets modern-day technology — and all is played out in hallways themed (and decorated) as Enchanted Woods, Piney Path and Tangled Wood. With the help of a magic wand (actually a high-tech instru...
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Issue: Bonus Online Content Summer 2008
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
From the first time that I heard the old Ojibway legend, I knew that I wanted to visit Michigan’s Manitou Islands. The story goes like this: A Wisconsin forest fire drove a mother bear to swim across Lake Michigan for refuge, her twin cubs in tow. Once she reached northern Michigan, the mother bear sat atop a bluff to wait for her cubs — but they never arrived. The cubs became North and South Manitou Islands. Today, the mother bear still awaits their arrival, holding vigil on the sand of the Sleeping Be...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
John Paul Jones never sailed Lake Michigan, but he’s likely to be spotted there this summer, leading young sailors in sword-fighting exercises and securing the lake against enemy ships. A Revolutionary War-era naval hero, John Paul Jones is best known for his battles aboard theBonhomme Richard and the cry, “I have not yet begun to fight!” Captain Jim Schneider of the Michigan Maritime Museum recreates the naval captain for 3- through 12-year-olds all summer long aboard theFriends Good Will, a reproducti...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): John Tidyman
The joy of a stay at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan , begins with the view from the ferry. Lumbering across the Mackinac Straits, Grand slowly comes into view: Perched high on a hill, the sprawling white structure shines like a beacon. As soon as guests step off the ferry, the magic of the island drapes lightly over their shoulders. A getaway here is a step back in time. The Grand was built in 1887, and its charms have been embellished and burnished over the years. This premier resort has prov...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Gerald Bartell
When “Street Angel,” starring Janet Gaynor, lit up the screen at the opening of Detroit’s Fox Theatre in 1928, the audience must have felt like they’d been magically transported from Woodward Avenue and into some loftier realm. After all, they’d entered through an opulent, six-story lobby, its floor covered by the largest wool rug ever made in America. Encircling the space were vibrant red pillars, each bearing the figure of an Arabic god; that figure tied in neatly with the decor of the auditori...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Chalk it up to the ingenuity of water-loving thrill seekers: Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be another heart-pounding, fun way to enjoy the Great Lakes, along comes kiteboarding. Like surfers with large kites harnessed to them, kiteboarders hop aboard small boards and let the wind skim them along the water’s surface. The board serves as the kiteboarder’s steering mechanism; the colorful kite provides the power. Just find the time and patience it takes to master those elements in the shift...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Jennifer Haliburton
You’re a risk taker, so you’re more than willing to take a chance at the gaming tables. However, when it comes to a casino’s lodging, nightlife or the quality of its restaurants, no one wants to take a gamble. Thankfully, the new $800 million MGM Grand Detroit spared no expense in creating a lush playground for travelers, providing plenty of both risk and reward. The MGM’s 18-story hotel tower looms large on Motown’s horizon, offering a striking introduction to the 400 meticulously designed guest rooms ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Tracy Teo
Many visitors come to Mount Pleasant, Michigan , for the area’s well-manicured championship golf courses. After playing a few rounds, however, some are convinced they would do better in a game of chance than a game of skill. That’s when they head to Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort , the largest land-based casino in the Midwest. Guests are greeted by more than 4,400 slot machines, 38 blackjack tables and high-stakes bingo, not to mention a vibe of excitement from all the players hoping to court lady luck...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Tracy Teo
Chocolate has been considered an aphrodisiac for centuries. So, what better way for a couple to spend a romantic getaway than steeped in the sweet stuff? A confection-infused menu and cozy accommodations lure chocoholics to Cocoa Cottage Bed & Breakfast in Whitehall, Michigan : a 1912, arts-and-crafts-style bungalow where owners Larry Robertson and Lisa Tallarico treat chocolate as if it were one of the major food groups — from preparing breakfasts that include a moist chocolate zucchini bread and M...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Tracy Teo
The shops in Benzie County, Michigan, offer an alternative to ho-hum presents and futile shopping trips. First, base yourself on the Lake Michigan beachfront with a room at the newly renovated Betsie Bay Inn in Frankfort, a painted lady with posh rooms (the St. Andrews Lodge suite includes cathedral ceilings, a log stove and a Swedish sauna). Then, get ready to fulfill all of your holiday buying needs. Those family members in need of a classy home accent will apprecia...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Tracy Teo
Of course, you love your relatives. But is the idea of spending yet another Thanksgiving waking in the wee hours to roast a turkey, or attempting to turn your house into a hotel for 15 out-of-town family members, just a bit overwhelming? Consider, instead, a stress-free soiree at Crystal Mountain Resort's Thanksgiving "Reconnect Weekend." Kick back and relax November 22–25, as the Thompsonville, Michigan , resort's staff does all the cooking (and the dirty dishes). On Thursday, those feeling guilty abou...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Susan R. Pollack
Why visit a dude ranch all the way out West when you can slip away to western Michigan and play cowboy at the venerable Double JJ Ranch & Golf Resort ? Just don a bandana, chaps or 10-gallon hat and head to Rothbury , about 10 minutes north of Muskegon, where the family-friendly spot offers something for city slickers of all ages. Saddle up for Wild West-style activities that range from trail rides, rodeos, barbecues and country line dancing to swimming and championship-caliber golf. Not surprisingl...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Bob Beasley
In 2006, Detroi t was at the center of the sports universe with the hometown Tigers in the World Series and Ford Field serving as the host site of Super Bowl XL. But even without those big-ticket events, the Motor City offers plenty of reasons for you to roll into town this spring and summer. In the heart of Detroit, you'll find Greektown, a downtown district that always seems to offer a festival-like atmosphere. Filled with a nice variety of restaurants and pubs, it's safe to say you'll have no problem...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
It's generally accepted that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so maybe it shouldn't be surprising to see overflow crowds at Detroit's Breakfast House & Grill on an early Sunday morning. Still, weekends in Detroit used to be pretty quiet, save for evening sporting events. But the Breakfast House is just one of many new restaurants popping up all over Detroit's downtown. And the new eateries are doing more than filling once-empty retail space. They're also serving up some creative cuis...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Kelly Aiglon
The tiny town of Three Oaks, Michigan , located about 10 miles east of the southwest Michigan lakeshore near the Indiana border, is nestled in the middle of farmland. Yet it's packed with everything you'd find in a cultured big city, including a host of important art galleries and chichi boutiques. Spend a day shopping its many independently owned stores (note that some are open weekends only and during the months of May through December only). At Studio b. Gallery, a large and sun-dappled space, you'll...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Michael Patrick Shiels
In Michigan , a state that boasts counties, cities and neighborhoods with Irish names such as Clare, Wexford, Corktown and Roscommon, you can be virtually transported to one of the Emerald Isle's wild-and-woolly, sea-smashed golf courses. Just as the sun drops over the edge of the moody Atlantic in the Gaelic-speaking regions of western Ireland, the golden glow of a Lake Michigan sunset sets the sheer, rocky precipices and sandy dunes alight each evening. In the tradition of Eire'...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Traverse City is the perfect spot to enjoy a culinary getaway. Set in the pinky finger of Michigan's mitten-shaped Lower Peninsula, this area has long been home to some of the state's most fertile orchards. Peaches, apricots, pears and apples are commonly grown in northwestern Michigan, and the region produces more cherries than anyplace else in the nation. In recent decades, Traverse City has also become one of Michigan's most prolific, quality wine-producing areas. So it came as no surprise when Trave...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Susan R. Pollack
Wally Bronner's Christmas clock ticks off the days until Dec. 25 at his legendary superstore in Frankenmuth. But truth be told, every day is Christmas at the world's largest Christmas store in "Michigan's Little Bavaria," located 85 miles northwest of Detroit. Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, open 361 days a year, is the size of two football fields and offers a world tour of stockings, nutcrackers, lights and more, from aloha-shirted Santas and snowmen in sombreros to blown-glass zebras. The mind-bogglin...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Indoor waterparks have taken the Midwest by storm. In a region known for its volatile weather, there are few weekend getaways that better guarantee a family's vacation fun than an indoor park, where the air and water temperatures always hover around a balmy 85 degrees, whatever Mother Nature cooks up outside. Michigan's newest waterpark, Splash Universe , opened its doors in late March, offering families a fresh getaway in the Wolverine State. The waterpark features 25,000 square feet of play space. Two...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
West Michigan has long been known by its residents as wine country. The state's southwestern corner is home to mainstays Tabor Hill and St. Julian. And Traverse City is generally considered to have been the state's premier wine producer for at least a decade. Now, half a dozen vintners are taking a stab at producing wines in Michigan's southeastern corner . Appropriately dubbed the Pioneer Wine Trail , the region forms a rough triangle from Dundee in the south to Ann Arbor and Lansing in the north and w...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2002
Author(s): Susan R. Pollack
Sometime during the long, dark night, participants will wonder what the heck they're doing pulling an all-nighter in a canoe on the Au Sable River across northeast Michigan . But mostly they'll focus on paddling in a grueling, 120-mile marathon canoe race marking its 60th anniversary July 28–29. "You feel good, bad and numb about three different times and then, after a while, you just get in a routine and keep going," says Lynne Witte, 53, a Michigan teacher and veteran of 27 Weyerhaeuser Au...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Detroit has drawn automobile and sports fans to its downtown for decades, promising the fun of hot cars and a great game. But the Motor City is also an ideal destination for a romantic getaway. The Marriott Renaissance Center is the best base from which to explore the city; ask for a riverside room on the 10th floor or above and you’ll enjoy Detroit’s finest views, too. Stroll Detroit’s RiverWalk from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle. There’s great shopping at Wintergarden, the Renaissance Ce...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Ellen Clark
Cherries are Michigan’s favorite fruit, and rightly so: The state produces nearly three-quarters of the nation’s crop. To experience cherry mania at its fullest, nothing beats Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor , where cherry products go way beyond the traditional. In a complex of three log cabins, cherries are celebrated with creativity and humor. At the restaurant, you can wolf down goodies such as beef sandwiches smothered in cherry barbecue sauce, cherry chili and cherry strudel. Buy a boomchunka cookie ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Kelly Aiglon
While Detroit may inspire images of factories (Fords are made in nearby Dearborn, after all), it’s just as much a fine-arts destination, showcasing everything from Motown music to Pewabic pottery. Witness the making of a music phenomenon at the Motown Historical Museum (2648 W. Grand Blvd., 313/875-2264). The museum salutes the all-important record label — and traces its tumultuous history – with photos, memorabilia and artwork. You’ll see the original Studio A, where formative Motown tracks were record...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Gerald Bartell
Tourists see the elephant. Mystery writers see the elephant’s tail. Like the detectives they create, mystery writers have keen eyes. They see what others miss, delighting in the overlooked clue. And that’s why mystery writers and the tales they spin may be the best guides to consult when you travel: They’ll direct you to neighborhoods, restaurants and bars their characters haunt, places where you’ll feel like an insider. Regional mysteries, in particular, may be more useful than the latest publi...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Attractions/Museums Binder Park Zoo 7400 Division Dr., Battle Creek, 269/979-1351, www.binderparkzoo.org . An African adventure awaits! Discover spectacular views of wild animals from elevated boardwalks and hand-feed a giraffe in Wild Africa! Open April 26–October 8, 2006. Visitor Information Kewadin Casinos Hotel & Convention Center 2186 Shunk Rd., Sault Ste. Marie, 800/KEWADIN, www.kewadin.com . Kewadin Casinos offers top-notch entertainment along with outdoor fun in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Kelly Aiglon
Lansing – home to Michigan State Univer-sity (MSU) – is the quintessential college town. Spend time in Spartan territory, then follow the fun off-campus, where sports and science diversions wait. MSU has entertainment options to suit the myriad tastes of its more than 45,000 students – not to mention the numerous travelers who swing through town. The Kresge Art Museum (Auditorium and Physics Roads, 517/355-7631) houses more than 7,000 artworks, including medieval illuminations and a mobile by Alex...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Detroiters love their sports. Football, basketball, baseball, hockey – the Motor City hosts them all. But it’s worth noting that this city is also home to some fun offbeat sports – some you’ve probably never even heard of. Feather Bowling: Café Cadieux A cross between bowling and closest to the pin – only it’s a feather. Enjoy this Belgian pastime with a traditional meal of steamed mussels and beer – you won’t find it anywhere else in the country. 4300 Cadieux Rd., Detroit • 313...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Kelly Aiglon
What’s to love about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula? Water. And lots of it. It’s no wonder: The region is sandwiched between two majestic lakes, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. For a fun, H20-themed excursion, look no further than Marquette Country. Before you journey lake-ward, check out the area’s nearly one dozen inland waterfalls. Most picturesque is Black River Falls, where water cascades over a steep, rocky outcrop in the midst of the Black River, about eight miles southwest of the city of Is...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Author(s): Ellen Clark
Clip-clopping horse hooves, rifle and cannon firings, the sweet smell of fudge and nary a car in sight – not exactly what one expects on a 21st-century vacation. But on an island in Lake Michigan, in the northern part of the state, this is just what vacationers experience. To get around Mackinac Island, you have three choices – horse, bicycle or by foot – since cars have been banned here since the 1930s. et, despite (or perhaps because of) the lack of motorized transportation, vacationers by the h...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2006
Michigan is in full bloom, with a tremendous menu of things to see and do all over the state. This summer, plan a trip to Michigan to explore our two peninsulas and four Great Lakes. Join us for a road trip along our 3,200 miles of lakeshore to unspoiled beaches and authentic beach towns. Enjoy fun and romance by staying at a luxurious resort or cozy bed and breakfast. Escape on one of 10,000 inland lakes to fish, canoe, kayak or sail. Sip wine at one of our award-winning wineries or spend a relax...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Kelly Aiglon
The next time you’re in Motor City, check in on the arts — both culinary and visual. Then, swing by Ann Arbor for a taste of the same. The Detroit Institute of Arts (5200 Woodward Ave., 313/833-7900), houses art dating from pre-history to the 21st century in a glorious Beaux-Arts building. Catch its 2005 blockbuster exhibition, "Camille Claudel and Rodin: Fateful Encounter," which explores the sculptors’ work and love affair with 130 pieces, from Oct. 9–Feb. 5. Take I-94 West about 45 minutes to reach A...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Kathryn Lemmon
Dog-sledders have found a happy home in Michigan , where sledding for recreation and competition is a fast-growing sport. Novices can enjoy a quick ride, while those interested in serious mushing can stick around for a lesson or a weekend spent with a team of dogs in the chilly wilderness. Beginners can find the right package at Buck Sporting Lodge & Triple Creek Kennels in Munising. From a two-hour trip to a five-day guided journey, these sled-dog trips are tailored to groups as small as two and as...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Attractions/Museums Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland 25 Christmas Lane, Frankenmuth, 800/ALL-YEAR, 989/652-9931, www.bronners.com . Experience the world’s largest Christmas store, located in Frankenmuth, Michigan’s Little Bavaria. Bronner’s features more than 50,000 trims and gifts within 1.7 football fields of sales room.Bayshore Resort Kewadin Casino & Convention Center 2186 Shunk Rd., Sault Ste. Marie, 800/KEWADIN. Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth 730 S. Main St., Frankenmuth, 800/863-7999, www.zehnd...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Kelly Aiglon
Michigan’s 200-year maritime history comes alive in the Alpena area, where divers explore shipwreck sites and age-old lighthouses, proving that boating was – and still is – big business. Get an overview of the life aquatic at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve (145 Water St., 989/356-8805). The 448-square-mile site safeguards 100 shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay area, located in northwest Lake Huron. Exhibits here illustrate just how these ships went down. Feel like hit...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Kelly Aiglon
Northwest Michigan is known for its winding back roads, picturesque peninsulas and wineries. But it also boasts many museums, which – be you a history buff or art lover – are not to be missed. Start your trip at Petoskey’s Little Traverse History Museum (100 Depot Ct., 231/347-2620), where, unbeknownst to many, there exists a rare collection of Ernest Hemingway memorabilia (the author spent 18 summers in the area as a youth). Stay the night in town at Stafford’s Bay View Inn (2011 Woodland Ave.,...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Ron Rollins
The locals in Grand Rapids like to show you where in Michigan they are by holding out a right hand and pointing to that fleshy part of the lower palm, just to the left of the lifeline. Indeed, folks along the state’s "West Coast," which also includes the towns of Muskegon, Holland and Grand Haven, like to make the point that they’re not as far away as you might think.Diversions in Grand Rapids make for a lively weekend trip. The biggest, and possibly most surprising, place to visit is the Frederik M...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Miriam Carey
I love hotels. I’ve loved them since my parents took my siblings and me to the Dearborn Inn in Michigan when we were little. As my mother tells it now, the Dearborn was a manageable drive from our Cleveland home, the price was right and there was plenty to do in the area. But with its air conditioning, maids walking quietly through the halls in their crisp uniforms, the pool, meals morning, noon and night in the hotel restaurant, I really felt like a guest in a palace. To me, checking into a hotel was s...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Kelly Aiglon
Southwest Michigan is a region rife with sunny beaches. But, with a host of wineries and holiday festivals, there’s plenty to do in fall and winter – long after folks have packed up their sunscreen. In Baroda, taste an award-winning Apple Demi Sec, a wine made with a blend of 40 varieties of apples, in a turn-of-the-century bank barn at Round Barn Winery (10983 Hills Rd., 800/716-9463). Round Barn houses a bed and breakfast, plus a brandy distillery and brewery, which can be toured by appointment. V...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Author(s): Kelly Aiglon
If you’re visiting Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (or "U.P.," as locals say) in wintertime, you’re probably after one thing: snow – and lots of it. Take advantage of the fluffy white stuff with a weekend of outdoor activity. ABR Trails (E5299 W. Pioneer Rd., 906/932-3502) in Ironwood weave across 600 acres of rugged and smooth cross-country skiing terrain. Daily passes are offered, as are boot, ski, pole and even snowshoe rentals. After a day on the trails, stay the night on site at the Hilltop Hous...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2005
Michigan is known for its lush, green springs and summers, colorful fall seasons, and beautiful and serene winters so glorious its residents are hesitant to vacation anywhere else. From the Great Lakes to the northern wilderness and vibrant city life, Michigan has much to offer. As summer gives way to fall, enjoy the fresh air while sipping a cup of warm apple cider or biting into a luscious Michigan apple. Autumn is a great time to visit one of the many apple orchards or the more than 40 wineries in Mi...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2005
Author(s): Kelly Aiglon
Talk about a bright spot: The Grosse Point Lighthouse along the shore of Lake Michigan just north of Chicago is the only National Historic Landmark lighthouse on the Great Lakes. The imposing yellow-brick structure was built as a navigational marker for the port of Chicago in 1873, a time when the flow of ships entering and leaving the area was more than 12,000 annually. Today, although not fully operational, the lighthouse continues to cast a warm glow over the water. Want a view from the top? Mount th...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2005
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
The views would be reason enough to visit Old Mission Peninsula . A narrow finger of land jutting north of Traverse City, Michigan , the peninsula is embraced on both sides by arms of Grand Traverse Bay. On a sunny summer day, the deep blues of Lake Michigan meld with the deep blues of the sky, and only the clouds differentiate one from the other (unless the whitecaps fool you). Old Mission's hilly, fertile soil, tempered by Great Lakes breezes and nourished with heavy winter snows, was once the domain ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2005
Author(s): Kimberlee Roth
Spend a summer day at Hidden Lake Gardens in the small Michigan town of Tipton , and you'll experience as many natural wonders as its fairy-tale name suggests. The 755-acre botanical garden, arboretum and conservatory have been owned and maintained by Michigan State University since 1945, when a local businessman donated much of the property. Today more than 10 miles of natural and paved pathways wind through woodlands and meadows, up to a shady hillside hosta garden, around a serene lake and to a bloom...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2005
Author(s): Kelly Aiglon
Traverse City & Beyond It’s easy to become accustomed to a slower, more relaxed way of life in northwest Michigan, especially in and around Petoskey, where leisurely walking tours through a historic downtown and a few rounds of golf are favorite pastimes. Get your bearings at the Petoskey-Harbor Springs-Boyne Country Convention and Visitors Bureau (401 E. Mitchell St., Petoskey, 800/845-2828). Here, you can pick up a free, self-guided walking tour map, which directs you on a stroll past a rooming hous...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2004
Author(s): Miriam Carey
The phone rings and it's one of LongWeekends' contributing writers, Amy Eckert. "I'm going on a trip," she announces with just the slightest hint of challenge in her voice, "and I'm not taking a notebook." I pay lip service to her gentle threat, knowing that when the busman takes a holiday, he's still itching to drive. For this issue of LongWeekends, Amy explored the charming small towns of her home state of Michigan for her piece "Main Street Charms" (page 78) and drove to Pittsburgh to rediscover the ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2004
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
If You Go ... Holland, 800/506-1299, www.holland.org Hope College, Holland, Mich., 616/395-7000 New Holland Brewing Co., 66 East 8th St., Holland, Mich., 616/355-6422 Via Maria Trattoria, 13 West 7th St., Holland, Mich., 616/494-6309 Alpenrose, 4 E. 8th St., Holland, Mich., 616/393-2111. Butch's, 44 East 8th St., Holland, Mich., 616/396-8227 Till Midnight Bakery, 210 College Ave., Holland, Mich., 616/393-6844 Bay City, 888/BAY-TOWN, www.tourbaycitymi.org St. Laurent Brothers, 1101 North Water St., Bay C...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2004
Author(s): Nadine Ekrek
If You Go ... Hexagon House, 760 Sixth St., Pentwater, Mich., 231/869-4102. www.hexagonhouse.com . Rates: $100-$200 per night. Call for special fall rates. Durand Wine Co., 161 S. Hancock St., Pentwater, Mich., 231/869-5520. Oldewick Post, 134 S. Hancock St., Pentwater, Mich., 231/869-4322. Gardener's Folly, 119 S. Hancock St., Pentwater, Mich., 231/869-7773. Gull Landing, 438 S. Hancock St., Pentwater, Mich., 231/869-4215. Sandy Korners Adventure Tours, 1762 N. 24th Ave., Mears (Silver Lake), Mich., 23...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2004
Author(s): Ellen Clark
If You Go ... Travel Michigan, 888/784-7328. travel.michigan.org Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce, 231/547-2101. www.charlevoix.org . Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce, 231/448-2505. www.beaverisland.org . Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites, 111 Pine River Ln., Charlevoix, Mich., 800/552-0025, 231/547-9955. www.weathervane-chx.com . Stafford's Weathervane Restaurant, 106 Pine River Lake, Charlevoix, Mich., 231/547-4311. www.staffords.com . Kilwin's Chocolates and Ice Cream, 233 Bridge St., Charlevo...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2004
Author(s): Miriam Carey
On a cold, sunny day in February, a tourism professional stopped by the office for lunch. He looked a bit frazzled, and proceeded to tell us how he had packed up his family for a week's vacation at one of the country's biggest amusement parks down south, only to be faced with a host of inconveniences. The final insult: "Only four people said 'thank you' to us the whole trip," he explained. Lucky for him he was lunching with the staff of LongWeekends. By the end of the meal, we had convinced him to join ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2004
Author(s): Kelly Aiglon
If You Go ... Journey To Freedom Tour, departs from the Morris Lawrence Building at Washtenaw Community College, 4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor, 734/971-0420. Tours on June 5 & 12, July 10 & 17, Aug. 7 & 14. Tickets $30/person. The Artful Lodger, 1547 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, 734/769-0653. Rates: $89-$129. Windmill Island, Lincoln Ave. at 7th St., Holland, 616/355-1030. Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. (April, May, July, Aug.); Mon.- Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 11:30...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2004
Author(s): Larry Tritten
The town of Grand Haven, Michigan , is located on the shores of both the Grand River and Lake Michigan, west of Grand Rapids. With an old-fashioned boardwalk and a downtown nestled against the shore, this is an easy town for walkers. The boardwalk leads to fishing charter boats, food and shops at Chinook Pier . Keep walking and you'll find marinas harboring plenty of charter fishing boats, and finally the town's vintage lighthouse. Or stray into the wooded trails along sand dunes, where you might enjoy ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2004
Author(s): Jane Louise Boursaw
For Old Mission maps, contact Traverse City Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, 231/947-3134, www.mytraversecity.com . Old Mission General Store, 18250 Mission Rd., Traverse City, 231/223-4310. Grey Hare Inn Vineyard Bed & Breakfast, 1994 Carroll Rd., Traverse City, 231/947-2214. Rates: $125-$195. Old Mission Inn, 18599 Mission Rd., Traverse City, 231/223-7770, www.oldmissioninn.com . Rates: $80-$95; suites $125-$175; cabin $275. Chateau Grand Traverse, 12239 Center Rd., Traverse City, 231/223-7355, www.cg...
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Issue: March 2004
Author(s): Jane Louise Boursaw
Small, red and unassuming, the humble cherry grabs the spotlight every July at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan . More than half a million people flock to the shores of West Grand Traverse Bay for the annual eight-day festival, scheduled for July 5–12, 2004. The celebration includes more than 150 family-oriented events (most are free), including three parades, an air show, midway rides, sporting events, band competitions, a classic car and truck show, and the crowning of the Natio...
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Issue: March 2004
Author(s): Kitty Cayo
From May to October, more than 100,000 travelers board the S.S. Badger in Ludington, Michigan , to sail to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on a rig that stretches 1.5 times the length of a football field. While some passengers hop the Lake Michigan Carferry to avoid navigating congested highways (depending on your final destination you may even shave driving miles off your trip), others buy tickets purely for the experience. Powered by coal and cruising at 14 knots, it takes four hours for the 410-foot vessel to ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2002
Author(s): Mike Verespej
Need a blue-sky day to erase the post-holiday, midwinter blahs? Well, for five weeks each winter, there's a dazzling array of ice and snow sculpting festivals in Michigan that will enchant and amaze you. Remarkable sculptures in the past have included Mt. Rushmore, fire-breathing flying dragons and fully riggeed sailing ships. Head to Plymouth, Frankenmuth, Bay Harbor, Houghton, Mackinaw City, Grayling, Novi, Port Huron, Brighton, Grand Rapids , or any of the dozens of other towns that host ice-sculptin...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2002
Author(s): Laura Faye Taxel
There's fun to be found in other people's obsessions. This region has some unique museums housing unusual and fascinating collections where you can take a trip down memory lane, learn a little history and indulge your curiosity. Spend some time in the slammer at the Old Jail Museum . Built in 1882, the two-tier turntable cellblock is the last operating rotary lockup in the nation. 225 North Washington St., Crawfordsville, Ind., 765/362-5222. Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum is 5,500 square feet of c...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2002
Author(s): Kimberlee Roth
During Prohibition, Chicago mobsters often traveled the scenic Lake Michigan shoreline through Indiana into Michigan. One of their regular stops was Saugatuck, a small lakeside resort town 140 miles from the Windy City. Part of their route was re-created in the recently released "Road to Perdition," starring Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. Cast and crew took over the little town in the summer of 2001 to film lakeshore scenes at a Depression-era motel they fictitiously dubbed the Starr Auto Court. The Starr —...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2002
Author(s): Nadine Ekrek
Ann Arbor is well known as the home of the University of Michigan. But few outside this erudite college town are aware of its rich literary history. The Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is changing all that by promoting “Words, Words, Words: A Literary Tour of Washtenaw County,” a driving tour that reveals, among other highlights, where some of the greats of 20th-century American literature lived, studied and produced seminal works. So grab some wheels and a good driving map, and spend a ...
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