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Tag Archives: Traverse City

Lazing Around Leland on the Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan

14 May 201918 September 2024

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During our family vacation trip to Grand Traverse Bay, I set out on an adventure to explore the Leelanau peninsula, even if I had to go at it alone.  I was intrigued by the thought of visiting an authentic fishing village, so I took a day to stroll Leland’s historic district of Fishtown in search of a seaside restaurant to spend the afternoon.

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The early morning fog had settled over the harbor and an eerie atmosphere surrounded the shops and restaurants of Leland.  Although they had not yet opened, I window shopped this charming village, while following along the wooden boardwalk admiring the interesting boutiques and boats.

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The wooden shanties built along the Leland River reminded me of an old Western town on a waterfront.  Once home to Native Americans who fished and hunted near Lake Michigan, Leland became a profitable fishing district when European settlers made Fishtown their home in the mid 1800s.  In addition to the number of inns, shops and restaurants in the area, longtime business, Carlson’s Fishery has been selling some of the best smoked fish in the state since 1906.   One could spend at least a couple of hours exploring the wineries, galleries and attractions before hopping the ferry to nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.

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Diversions is one of the older establishments that has been here over 40 years.  With prime location on the docks, this hat shop also sells t-shirts, gifts, clothing, jewelry and sweatshirts.

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A popular fishing town with over five generations of fishermen, Fishtown provides charters that will take visitors out to Lake Michigan for the day.  The Fish Hook and Reelin’ Leland Fishing Charters are available for a half day or full day of fishing.

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For exploring Sleeping Bear Dune’s Manitou Islands, Leland is the starting point to hop aboard the Manitou Island Transit making daily trips from mid-June through Labor Day.  They also host shoreline cruises which take place in the evening, providing a great way to explore the Leelanau Peninsula coastline from a different point of view.

There are quite a few activities and attractions to visit in Leland and Fishtown.  These towns host several events throughout the year, including the popular Leland Wine and Food Festival in June.

I found the Leelanau Peninsula a beautiful escape from the touristy areas near Traverse City and enjoyed the opportunity to explore some of the most picturesque coastline that Michigan has to offer.

Have you visited Leland and Fishtown?  Do you have a favorite place to visit on the Leelanau Peninsula?  I would love to hear from you if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Many thanks for reading about my morning in Leland and Fishtown!  Wishing you many Happy Travels!!

What to See and What to Do:

Leland and Fishtown are perfect coastal towns for exploring on foot.

Where to Stay:

Leland Lodge
565 Pearl Street
Leland, MI  49654
Telephone: 231 256 9848

On my first visit we rented a house in Traverse City, but I loved Leland so much that I planned a second long weekend trip and stayed at The Leland Lodge, which was absolutely spectacular!

Where to Eat:

The Riverside Inn
302 East River Street
Leland, MI  49654
Telephone:  231 256 9971

On a separate trip from my family vacation, David and I were excited to find a riverside view to have dinner and booked a reservation at the Riverside Inn.  There were several unique options, so I started out with the Octopus Carpaccio, while David selected the Socca.  Socca is a popular dish in Nice, France that includes chickpea flour crisps topped with caramelized onion, blistered tomatoes, arugula and fresh thyme.  It was finished with a creme fraiche and saba (a grape must reduction which was popular in ancient Rome.)

We decided on the Sea Bass which was served over heirloom tomato barley orzoto, lemon beurre blanc, and salsa verde and the Diver Scallops which were seared and served over sauteed spinach with crispy bacon lardons, shallot coconut cream and crispy fried shallots.

We celebrated with a glass of Prosecco and agreed on a bottle of Pinot Blanc from local wine producer, Verterra Winery.

What to Eat: 

  • The Coney Dog from Detroit, Jackson or Flint.
  • Vernor’s Ginger Ale
  • Founded in the Upper Peninsula, the pasty is a pastry pocket with fruit filling
  • Mackinac Island Fudge
  • Apples
  • Cherries
  • Detroit Style Pizza shaped in a rectangle and baked until the edges are crispy.
  • Better Made Chips from Detroit
  • Germack Pistachios 
  • Walleye Fish from the Great Lakes
  • Faygo beverages

What to Read: 

  • Leelanau Trek: One Shoreline/Two Visions, by Ken Scott and Kaye Krapohl
  • Painting the Magic of Sleeping Bear Country, by Hank Feeley
  • Edward Beebes’ Historic Leelanau Photographs, by Jack Hobey

Photo Guide to the Leelanau Peninsula and Surrounding Area: 

  • Empire Bluffs Trail, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
  • Pyramid Point, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
  • M22 road signs
  • Lake Michigan Lighthouses
  • Lake Michigan Sunsets
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Treating Ourselves in Traverse City

23 April 201921 September 2024

Traverse City’s charm is in its shops, restaurants and scenic shoreline.  We picked up the local publication, “Northern Express” for the most recent events and up-to-date information.  With so many options, we decided first to eat lunch and Grand Traverse Pie Company was our unanimous vote.

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Michigan is known for its cherries, so it would only make sense to stop by the Grand Traverse Pie Company for a slice of cherry pie.  We were surprised to find over 50 flavors of pie in addition to a few other dessert options.

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GT Pie Company’s menu was extensive to include dishes from breakfast to dinner.  With a so many great options, we each placed our orders for soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts.  Among the eight of us, we decided on the Grand Traverse Chicken Salad, Cherrywood BLT, Chicken Focaccia and Lighthouse Turkey Cheddar Sandwich. The meals were fresh and delicious served with either coleslaw or blueberry applesauce.

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Leaving room for dessert, we decided to order their signature Cherry Pie (perfect….not too sweet and not too tart), Blueberry Pie (with a crumble on top), ABC Pie (apple, blueberry and cherry) and Peanut Butter Cups.

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Our meals and dessert were amazing so we found ourselves stopping by a couple more times during our vacation, even if it was only to pick up a pie or two.

Another great reason to add Grand Traverse Pie Company to your list of restaurants to visit is that they partner with local farmers for the fruit that goes into their delicious pies.  They are also involved in several projects that give back to their community, which makes them pretty amazing. Check out their website to learn more about the charities they sponsor.

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Another company that supports local farmers is Cherry Republic.  This great store perfectly represents Michigan’s designation as the Cherry Capital of the US.  With its humble beginnings to its claim of being the “most exclusive retailer of cherry food creations”, Cherry Republic was a mandatory stop on our tour of downtown Traverse City.

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But to be honest, what we couldn’t resist were all of the samples that were available throughout the store .  From cherry salsa to cherry chews, cherry wine and cherry sodas, we were in cherry heaven.  We left with quite a few souvenirs and gifts to take back home.

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The staff were extremely helpful with any questions and suggestions on what to purchase.  We left with several products and enjoyed lunch at their wonderful café.  I loaded up on the salsa and cider, perfect gifts for friends and family back home.  Of course we had to make a second stop because we ran out of chips and cherry salsa midway through the week.

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Cherry Republic is a wonderful success story with its start as a t-shirt business in 1989.  Branching out to four locations in Michigan, the store sells over 200 types of cherry products.  You can read more about the company on their website and revel in their accomplishments, which includes a flourishing catalog and online business as well.  Visit their website to place an order or request a catalog.

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According to its website, most of Cherry Republic’s produce comes from its own backyard, the Leelanau peninsula.  And if that wasn’t enough, the company has established programs that have given back over $600,000 to charitable causes in northern Michigan.

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After having lunch at Grand Traverse Pie Company and trying samples at Cherry Republic, we needed some time to walk off the calories.  It was such a beautiful day and there were several shops that we found interesting.   Downtown Grand Traverse is such a quaint, friendly town and we stopped by the Visitor’s Center for a map and suggestions on what to see while we were here.

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One of my favorite places to visit was Nest.  Described as a home interiors and furnishings boutique, we enjoyed all of the designs and merchandise on display.   The décor is said to be “Up North Chic” and “Modern Cottage” and I loved all of the unique home goods and decorations.

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Not only are the products fabulous, but the building in itself is artistic and appealing.  The original brick walls display the fabulous artwork and the refurbished 1800’s tin ceiling was absolutely stunning.

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What we love about Nest is that they have an online store. With so many great products, this is the perfect way to shop from home and search for updated items for your home.  Just visit their website.

Michigan’s Traverse City is a great way to see the local flavors of Michigan as well as to taste them.  If you have already visited this beautiful part of Michigan and want to bring back some of those fabulous memories, shop the online stores of Grand Traverse Pie Company, Cherry Republic and Nest.  You can also check out “Traverse City in a Box” for additional selections as well.

If you have visited Traverse City or Grand Traverse, Michigan, what were some of your most memorable moments?   Did you try some of the state’s local offerings?  I would love to hear what you would suggest the next time we visit Michigan if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my adventures in Traverse City, Michigan and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Grand Traverse Pie Company
525 West Front STreet
Traverse City, MI 49684
Telephone: 231 922 7437

Cherry Republic
154 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
Telephone: 231 932 9205

Nest of Grand Traverse
218 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
Telephone: 231 946 0232

Where to Eat:

amical
929 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
Telephone: 231 941 8888

It was time for lunch and I wanted something light to tie me over for dinner. The French Onion soup with Jumbo Lump Crab Meat was a perfect combination. The crabcakes were served with a sweet chili aioli sauce which had a little heat so I needed a nice local Pinot Grigio from Good Harbor Winery in Leland, Michigan.

What to Eat: 

  • Bell’s Oberon beer
  • Blueberries
  • Boston Cooler – ginger ale and vanilla ice cream float
  • Cherries
  • Chipati – salad made of lettuce, mushrooms, cheese and peppers stuffed in a pita
  • Cider and Doughnuts
  • Cudhigi – spicy Italian sandwich
  • Deep Dish Pizza
  • Detroit Street Brick – aged goat’s milk cheese and green peppercorns
  • Double Baked Rye Bread
  • Faygo Pop
  • Hot Fudge Cream Puffs
  • Mackinac Island Fudge
  • Packzi (pronounced Punch-key) – Polish donut stuffed with jam
  • Pasty – hand made pies filled with meat
  • Whitefish

What to Read: 

  • Blameless; A Novel, by Lisa Reardon
  • Two, Two Lily-White Boys, by Geoffrey Clark

Photo Guide to Traverse City: 

  • Bijou by the Bay movie theater
  • Cherries
  • Cherry Bowl Drive In
  • Gallagher’s Farm Market Produce and Barn
  • Glen Haven Beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
  • Grand Traverse Lighthouse
  • Grand Traverse Pie Company
  • Lads Winery
  • North Bar Lake at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
  • Tall Ships along the Lake
  • Vineyards of Black Star Farms

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Entering Grand Traverse Pie Company

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Peanut Butter Cup Dessert, Grand Traverse Pie Company

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One of the many delicious pies we ordered from Grand Traverse Pie Company!  Is that the state of Michigan in the center? 

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Fun With Kids in Traverse City, Michigan

16 April 201921 September 2024

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Traverse City, Michigan is a wonderful place to vacation with family.  There is an abundance of kid-friendly activities and the weather is perfect during the summer months.

I picked up Traverse City’s Top 10 Adventures pamphlet to review the attractions that we could plan with a two-year old.  Although most of the activities revolved around water sports, we found an adventure park where we could play putt-putt called Pirate’s Cove.  Arrgh!

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Pirate’s Cove Adventure Park provides so many fun, family-oriented options for children and adults of all ages.  In addition to miniature golf, the park also has a ropes course, zipline, go carts and a water coaster.

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We paid our admission fee, picked up our clubs and headed to hole number 1. It was so much fun watching my nephew play for the first time.  He was so excited when he would hit the ball and then run ahead of us to tee off at the next hole.   It was such a great way to spend our afternoon and Nolan enjoyed the pirate scenes and waterfall.

Pirate’s Cove Adventure Park opened in Traverse City in 1983 and have over 20 locations throughout Michigan, Florida and South Dakota.  I was impressed with their Putting for Patriots Program which raises money to assist wounded military members and their families.  The annual fund raising event takes place each May and more information can be found on their website at www.PiratesCove.com.

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After working up an appetite on the golf course, we checked out Moomers Homemade Ice Cream.  Moomers is a family owned shop conveniently located on a dairy farm.  The shop first opened in 1998 and now serves over 160 flavors.  It was recently voted as “Best Ice Cream Shop in America” by Good Morning America.

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From cones to sundaes to milkshakes and wedding cakes, Moomers offers a wide selection of ice cream products.  We ordered strawberry ice cream with sprinkles and hot fudge sundaes.

Moomers also provides tours of their ice cream facility over the summer months.  For a small fee, there is an Ice Cream Store Tour or the Dairy Farm Tour to learn more about how their ice cream is made.

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Across the street from downtown Traverse City is a harbor with boat slips and a pier. It was a beautiful day and the weather was going to be perfect for our trip to the beach.

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Before finding a place on the sand, we noticed a small waterscape within walking distance from the beach.  It was so precious to watch my nephew play in the water. He was enjoying every minute of it.

The waterscape was named after long time governor, William G. Millikan who was interested in conserving the natural resources of the area.   The water park is one of a few proposed enhancements that are planned for the Bayfront development of Clinch Park.  Opened between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend, the revitalization is an effort to attract more young families to the downtown area.

What are some of the activities that you look for when planning a kid-friendly vacation?  Can you recommend other kid-friendly things to do in Traverse City?  I would love to hear about them if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Many thanks for reading about kid-friendly things to do in the Traverse City area.  Wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do: 

Pirate’s Cove Adventure Park
1710 U.S. 31
Traverse City, MI 49686
Telephone:  231 938 9599

  • Admission Fee:  The Original Course and Blackbeard’s Challenge are $9.50 for adults for children ages 4 – 12 are $8.50.  Kids 3 and under play for free.  Check the website for token prices which are used for the attractions such as go-carts, ropes course, bumper carts and kiddie go carts.
  • Hours:  Seasonal, so check out the company’s website for the most up to date information
  • Amenities:  Adventure golf, ropes challenge course, go-carts, bumper cars, and game room.
  • Length of Visit:  1 – 3 hours, depending on the activities purchased

Moomer’s
7263 N. Long Lake Road
Traverse City, MI  49685
Telephone:  231 941 4122

  • Hours:  Daily from 11AM to 9PM through December 24;  check the website for the most up-to-date hours
  • Length of Visit:  1 hour

William G. Millikan Waterscape
Downtown Harbor
Traverse City, MI

Where to Stay:

Bayshore Resort
833 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI  49686
Telephone:  231 935 4400

Where to Eat:

Grand Traverse Pie Company
525 West Front Street
Traverse City, MI  49684
Telephone:  231 922 7437

We had eaten here several times during our stay in Traverse City and each of the meals I selected were amazing.  I enjoyed the Reuben Sandwich as well as the Manitou made of Michigan turkey, bacon, ham, Swiss cheese, tomato and pesto mayonnaise served on whole wheat.  The sandwiches are served with a side and pickle.

What to Eat: 

  • The Coney Dog from Detroit, Jackson or Flint.
  • Vernor’s Ginger Ale
  • Founded in the Upper Peninsula, the pasty is a pastry pocket with fruit filling
  • Mackinac Island Fudge
  • Apples
  • Cherries
  • Detroit Style Pizza shaped in a rectangle and baked until the edges are crispy.
  • Better Made Chips from Detroit
  • Germack Pistachios 
  • Walleye Fish from the Great Lakes
  • Faygo beverages

What to Read: 

  • Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
  • The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
  • Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
  • Eight Mile High by Jim Ray Daniels
  • The Dollmaker by Harriette Arnow
  • The Glass Highway by Loren D. Estleman

Photo Guide for Traverse City: 

  • Black Star Farm Vineyards
  • Glen Haven Beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park
  • Grand Traverse Pie Company pies
  • Grand Traverse Lighthouse
  • North Bar Lake at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park
  • Tall Ships along the coast
  • The vineyards at 2 Lads Winery
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Wining Down in Old Mission, Michigan

9 April 201921 September 2024

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Did you know that Michigan is not only known for its production of cherries, but also its wine?   I took the day to explore the Old Mission region of Michigan to visit their wineries and started my afternoon at Black Star Farms.

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Black Star Farms has three tasting rooms located near Traverse City and two wine processing facilities.  I browsed through the charming gift shop to wait for a space at the tasting bar in search of a wine to bring back home.

  • Sparkling Fruit Wine: Black Star Farms Hard Apple Cherry Cider:  Bubbly with crisp apple & cherry;  $12 per bottle
  • Fruit and Sweet Wine: 2013 Arcturos Late Harvest Riesling, Rich apricot, pear and honeysuckle notes   $17.50 per bottle
  • Sweet Red Wine: Artisan – Fruit driven with very soft tannins; $13.50 per bottle
  • Dessert Wine: Sirius Raspberry Dessert Wine – excellent!!!  $27.50 per bottle
  • Dry White Wine: 2013 Arcturos Pinot Noir Rose: Bright & fresh berry fruit notes; $13.50 per bottle
  • Dry Red Wine: 2012 Arcturos Pinot Noir, peppery; bright berry nose delicately touched with spicy oak; $25.00
  • 2012 Vintners Select: Rich dark fruit flavors and a hint of cocoa and spice $25.00
  • 2012 Arcturos Cabernet Franc: Raspberry & blackberry with herbal spicy oaks $28.50 per bottle

Recommended:  Red House Red – fruit driven with layered flavors and hints of oak;  $14.50 per bottle

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A Premium Flight included 5 wines from the regular list, 1 from the Reserve List and a complimentary wine glass.  There were quite a few wine selections from which to choose.  A Reserve Tasting included 2 selections of their more expensive wines for $5.  For $5, Black Star Farms offered a sample of their dessert wine.   I decided on trying their Ice Wine Sample Tasting for $5, which included the 2013 A Capella Ice Wine. The grapes for this wine were frozen on the vine and then picked and immediately pressed.  This process results in an extremely concentrated dessert wine exploding with the flavors of ripe fruit, exotic flowers and subtle spices.  It could be purchased for $92.50 per bottle.

Before continuing on to my next winery, I realized it would be best if I ordered something to eat at Black Star Farms’  Hearth  & Vine Cafe and decided on the Arugula Pizza.  While I would have preferred to have ordered the Cured Meats and Aged Cheese Board, the serving size would have been more than enough food for at least two guests.

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Driving further north on the Old Mission Wine Trail, I found another highly recommended winery, the Chateau Chantal.  Charming wine barrels posed at the entrance and fabulous views of the vineyard from the tasting room added to the experience of tasting some of the best wines Michigan has to offer.

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I was greeted by the Sommelier (pronounced So-Mo-Yare), who recommended a few wines after learning that I love the dry reds and fruity locals.   For only $3 I had the option to choose five wines or for the same price I could have opted for the pre-designed flight.  The wines I chose included:  Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Franc, Naughty Apple Michigan Hard Cider (new), Cherry Wine, Last Harvest Riesling and Nice Red.

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At the time of my tasting, there were twenty-four wines as well as six brandies and dessert wines.  My first choice was the Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Franc 2012 retailing at $26 per bottle. It was described as “rich with red berry flavors and is robust but not aggressive”.  My next selection was a new product listed as a semi dry wine, the Naughty Apple Michigan Hard Cider.  It was created from Michigan Golden Delicious and Gala apples.  It was such a light tasting wine and not as dry as I had expected.  I bought a bottle to enjoy that evening which cost me only $12.

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Wine Sample number three was Cherry Wine, which was appropriate as Michigan is the Cherry Capitol of the Nation.  I had to buy a bottle of this to enjoy at a later date, especially for hanging out by the pool on a hot day.  This wine was another great buy for only $10.  The winery suggests having this wine with pork, chicken, beef, salads and sunny days.

Before ending my tasting with the Nice Red, I selected the Late Harvest Riesling ($16).  I was drawn to this wine by the description it was given…it is “sweet, but it has something a lot of sweet wines don’t have – acidity to give it backbone and structure. The nose is lively lime, honeysuckle & Gala apples. The palate is light-bodied but the fruit & acidity are lively & the sugar & alcohol give a little viscosity to it”.  They suggest drinking this wine with spicy Asian dishes and fruited desserts.

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My last wine was the Nice Red ($10), which was served chilled.  It is a “fruity, semi-sweet wine made from a blend of the first red grapes.” It was an excellent selection to round out my tasting and I learned that it could be served with most any type of food…I had to buy a bottle.   Three fabulous wines for just a little over $30.

I was sad to leave Chateau Chantal, but I had made plans for lunch. Just as customary with most wineries, the venue can be rented out for special occasions and events.  In addition there is a bed and breakfast on the grounds, perfect for a long weekend stay.

What do you think of the wineries in Michigan? I would love to hear your recommendations or to hear about your experience at Black Star Farms or Chateau Chantal.  Please leave a message below in the comments section. Many thanks for reading about my visit to some of the amazing wineries in Michigan and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Black Star Farms
360 McKinley Road
Traverse City, MI  49686
Telephone:  231 944 1270

Hours of operation are seasonal, so check out the website to confirm when the winery is open.

Visit the Heart and Vine cafe for simple meals which are absolutely delicious!

Chateau Chantal
15900 Rue de Vin
Traverse City, MI  49686
Telephone:   231 223 4110

Hours of operation are seasonal, visit the website to confirm when the winery is open.

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The Vineyard at Black Star Farms

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The Wine Press at Chateau Chantal

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Holland, Michigan: True to its Dutch Heritage

30 April 201615 September 2024

As my family continues to grow, our vacations are typically based on two factors:  driving distance to our destination and space for all of the kiddos.   If we can find a beach (lake or ocean) and a list of fun attractions, that is also a plus.  After coming up with several ideas and narrowing our search, we all agreed to spend our summer vacation near Traverse City, Michigan with an overnight stop in Holland.

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I had recently visited Holland during a visit to the city’s annual Tulip Time Festival and recommended it as the overnight stop for our trip.  I was impressed with the local attractions, restaurants and shopping opportunities as well as its absolute charm.

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Our first stop in Holland was the city’s state park.  After strolling the beautiful coastline and watching the locals fish from the pier, we headed downtown for an early dinner.  We could not have asked for better weather with sunny skies and a cool breeze.

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The fish were biting and we saw a young boy taking his catch to the end of the dock to drop it into a bucket. Lake Michigan is full of fish including bass, trout, catfish, perch, walleye, bass as well as salmon.

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On the way back from the pier, we took a closer look at the beautiful red lighthouse on the opposite side of the channel.  We learned that the locals call it “Big Red” , but its official name is the Holland Harbor Light.  It plays an important role for guiding the boats through the channel between Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa.

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Strolling along the beach, we worked up an appetite and decided it was time to find a restaurant that could accommodate all of us.  The trip into Holland did not take but a few minutes and we were able to find parking on 8th street, the main shopping and restaurant district of town.

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We decided on Crust 54 where we ordered pizza and pasta.  The place was packed, but we were able to find seating for our group of six.   We stepped up to the counter to order and they brought our food to us when it was ready.  The Chicago Special pizza with Italian sausage, mushrooms, green peppers and onions was abundantly cheesy and delicious.

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The sun was beginning to set and we had a little time to shop before reaching the hotel.  Holland is typical small town America and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.   It has won several awards and was ranked by the well-being index as the second healthiest/happiest town in the United States.  CNN ranked it as one of the top five places to retire in 2006.

Have you vacationed in Holland or live here? I would love to hear your suggestions for where to eat and shop if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my family vacation stay in Holland!  Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Holland State Park
2215 Ottawa Beach Road
Holland, MI 49424
Telephone:  616 399 9390

Holland Harbor Light
2215 Ottawa Beach Road
Holland, MI  49424
Telephone:  616 399 9390

Where to Stay: 

Baert Baron Mansion
120 S. Church Street
Zeeland, MI 49464
Telephone: 616 748 1953

Where to Eat: 

Crust 54 – Downtown Holland
54 E. 8th Street
Holland, MI  49423
Telephone:  616 394 3002

Where to Drink: 

  • Bam! Brewing
  • Big Lake Brewing
  • Brewery 4TWO4
  • Coppercraft Distillery
  • Great Lakes Winery Brewery Distillery
  • Hopland Brewstillery
  • New Holland Brewing Company
  • Our Brewing Companies
  • Warner Vineyards

What to Read:

  • Holland, the Tulip Town, by Randall P. Vande Water
  • Boats Made in Holland: A Michigan Tradition, by Geoffrey D. Reynolds
  • Holland, Michigan: From Dutch Colony to Dynamic City, by Robert P. Swierenga

Photo Guide for Tulip Time and Holland: 

  • The Fields of Tulips throughout the city
  • DeZwaan Windmill at Windmill Island Gardens
  • Sunset on Lake Michigan
  • Polder Molen Windmill at Nelis’ Dutch Village
  • Dutch Dancers
  • Nelis’ Dutch Village:  landscaped gardens, canals, carousel, brick walkways, gardens of tulips, petting farm, Carillon Bell Tower, The East Gate, Dutch houses
  • Windmill Island Gardens, merry-go-round, carousel, dutch dancers

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

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A Young Boy and his Fish

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About Me!

I have had a passion to travel for as long as I can remember and landed my dream job at the age of 19 on a cruise ship. The Suite Life of Travel is about those experiences as well as my future endeavor to explore this amazing world!

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