“Fiddy”
Story Behind the Name
Our good buddy Gary Galusky relocated to Suttons Bay a few years ago… so when he heard we were coming up to film, he was insistent that we stay with him. He was also insistent that we eat with him, drink with him, play Hendrix SUPER LOUD and pay him to stay with him. He charged us a whopping FIFTY cents to stay with him, hence the show name FIDDY.
Leelanau Peninsula
If your idea of living right is being in a place surrounded by beautiful blue water, rolling hills, giant sand dunes, inviting vineyards and great places to eat then you already know that the Leelanau Peninsula is pure Michigan heaven. The natural beauty of this place and its warm friendly people will keep you coming back until, well, you just might decide to never leave. And the more you explore it, the more you’ll explore it.
On our way up and onto the Leelanau Peninsula, we made a quick stop in Beulah. This beautiful little town is a great laid-back place to stop, shop, relax or even spend your next family vacation! And the best part is, it sits right on the eastern shore of one of Michigan’s most beautiful bodies of water: Crystal Lake. The lake stretches almost as far as the eye can see, all the way to the shores of Lake Michigan. And if you love scenic drives, try the drive around Crystal Lake. It just might cure what ails ya.
But, to be honest, there was another very important reason why we just had to stop in Beulah. The Cherry Hut!
Once we were full and happy, we drove up M-22 to another one of my favorite places in Michigan: The Village of Empire (great name for a tiny town!).
It’s a walkable little village with cute shops and a great personality and one of the best family-friendly beaches you’ll find anywhere. It’s actually where my kids learned to swim. On one side you’ve got the warm and shallow waters of South Bar Lake, and on the other side, the beautiful white sand beach and incredible views of Lake Michigan. It’s a classic vacation destination.
Another thing a lot of people don’t know is that Empire also has its own tunnel of trees. Just drive south out of town on Lake Street, and you come across an absolutely beautiful canopy-covered road. It’s a short drive, and well worth taking. Oh, and speaking of cool things you’ll find in Empire… who likes chocolate?
Next we headed over and up the bay side of the peninsula to the beautiful northern Michigan town of Suttons Bay. If you’re looking for a creative community with great art galleries, good food and a certain level of sophistication, you’ve come to the right place. Suttons Bay’s got just enough hubbub to make you feel alive and just the right amount of, “Hey, I’m on vacation” to help you relax. Whether you live or play here, you picked the right spot.
After tons of great food and fascinating stories, we finished an incredible evening with Guillaume at La Becasse, and with a collective sigh of contentment, it suddenly hit us: we always feature exceptional people, places and things on UTR, but this time, it was just different. On the Leelanau Peninsula, we really made a personal connection with everyone we encountered. I think that says a lot about the people who call Michigan’s beautiful Leelanau Peninsula home.
Yep… still one of my favorite places!