(989) 738-7720 8569 Lake St., Port Austin, MI 48467 www.lakestreetmanor.com If bed and breakfasts are the way you like to stay, try the Lake Street Manor. The rooms are very nice and the backyard has a great place to sit, relax and reflect. The location rocks, as does the owner.
Village at Grand Traverse Commons
(231) 941-1900 1200 W. 11th St., Traverse City, MI 49684 www.thevillagetc.com Where we went next blew my mind. It’s another great story that totally reminds me why I live in Michigan. It’s called the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, and it’s now a beautiful village community that offers everything you need for a great way of life. It’s become an …
Cherry Festival
(231) 947-4230 250 E. Front St., Ste. 301, Traverse City, MI 49684 www.visit.cherryfestival.org Next we jumped in the car and headed across town to an event I just had to go to. It had been ‘on’ my radar for years, but for some reason, I’d just never made it there. The National Cherry Festival in Traverse City attracts over half …
Grand Traverse Distillery
(231) 947-8635 781 Industrial Circle, Traverse City, MI 49686 www.grandtraversedistillery.com Did you know that one of the top six rated vodkas in the world is made in Traverse City? I’ll drink to that (responsibly of course). In a totally unassuming location just south of town is a little place called Grand Traverse Distillery, and they’re making heads turn around the …
Dinosaur Gardens
(989) 471-5477 11160 U.S. 23, Ossineke, MI 49766 www.dinosaurgardensllc.com It’s called Dinosaur Gardens, it’s just south of Alpena and it’s an absolute trip… back in time. The park is a walking tour that lets you see what dinosaurs must have looked like as they roamed the earth millions of years ago. It’s set in a forest, so as you walk …
Court Yard Ristorante
(989) 356-9511 2024 U.S. 23, Alpena, MI 49707 www.courtyardristorante.com Chris and Lora Bauer-Carlson own the Court Yard, and their love for good friends and great gourmet food makes this place a must stop. The experience we had was warm and friendly, the food we ate was off the hook and the owner Chris was so cool, so casual and such …
Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary
(989) 356-8805 500 W. Fletcher, Alpena, MI 49707 www.thunderbay.noaa.gov Another thing I didn’t know about Alpena was that they do tons of shipwreck research there. At the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a place called the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, and they have everything there to educate you on Michigan’s incredible maritime history. Alpena has become an international …
John A. Lau Saloon
(989) 354-6898 414 N. 2nd Ave., Alpena, MI 49707 www.johnalausaloon.com The John A. Lau Saloon is right in downtown Alpena, and for years they’ve been serving up great meals, cold beverages and I guess some pretty good ghost stories. The original saloon was built back in 1893 and during prohibition became a “candy store” (hmm…). Today it’s a very cool, …
Lakenenland
(906) 249-1132 108 Timber Lane, Marquette, MI, 49855 www.lakenenland.com As we drove out of Marquette that day, we stumbled onto something the likes of which we’d never seen before. It’s called Lakenenland, and it’s just east of Marquette on M-28. This is a whimsical and wonderfully bizarre place that’s great for the entire family. From the small to the very …
Bike Furniture Design
(906) 361-2483 P.O. Box 11, Marquette, MI 49855 www.bikefurniture.com In the afternoon we met up with Andy Gregg from Bike Furniture Design, a U.P. bike enthusiast who makes very artistic and very functional furniture out of used bicycle parts. At first I didn’t know what to expect, but when I saw his stuff I was impressed and amazed. This isn’t …