(231) 873-2817 629 N. 18th Ave., Mears, MI 49436 www.macwoodsdunerides.com The first thing we wanted to do was get a lay of the “sand,” as it were, so we headed over to Mac Wood’s Dune Rides. This is a great way to see some of the coolest dunes this side of the moon. The Wood family’s been doing these rides …
Detroit Soup
www.detroitsoup.com In a lot of places, $5 will get you a bowl of soup and a salad. Not a bad deal. But at Detroit Soup, it gets you involved in your neighborhood and your city. Detroit Soup is a monthly gathering that raises money to fund community-oriented projects. It’s kind of like a fun and funky dinner party where you …
Alley Project, The
(313) 598-2050 9233 Avis, Detroit, MI 48209 www.youngnation.us Food isn’t the only thing that brings people together. There’s also culture, community and art. Eric Howard is the founding father of Southwest Detroit’s Alley Project, a living, breathing outdoor art environment that’s smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood. He grew up in this neighborhood, saw a need and started …
El Barzon
(313) 894-2070 3710 Junction, Detroit, MI 48210 www.elbarzonrestaurante.com With foods from all different cultures in Southwest Detroit, we couldn’t decide where to go for lunch. The crew wanted Italian, but I wanted Mexican. So we settled on both at El Barzon. You heard right; one restaurant serving delectable dishes from two continents. It’s all the handy work of Norberto Garita, …
Café Con Leche
(313) 554-1744 4200 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit, MI 48209 www.cafeconlechedetroit.com If you’re looking for a welcoming place where you can rub elbows with the people of Southwest Detroit that’s also a real melting pot of coffee, I think we found your new hangout. Café con Leche is the place where hip Southwest Detroiters come to relax, dream, think and share …
Mystery Spot
(906) 643-8322 150 Martin Lake Rd., St. Ignace, MI 49781 www.mysteryspotstignace.com Our last stop in St. Ignace was the famous and mysterious Mystery Spot. It’s one of Michigan’s biggest and strangest tourist attractions. I went in twice that day and haven’t been the same since. It’s great family fun that your kids will talk about all the way home. What …
Castle Rock
(906) 643-8268 N2690 Castle Rock Rd., St. Ignace, MI 49781 www.castlerockmi.com There aren’t too many places in this world where you can get a million dollar view for a buck, but just north of downtown St. Ignace, we found one. It’s called Castle Rock, and it’s a local landmark that you can actually climb to the top. It’s good exercise, …
Manley’s Famous Smoked Fish
(906) 643-8930 810 N. State St., Saint Ignace, MI 49781 What do you get when you cross a Green Bay Packers museum with smoked fish? No, it’s not a trick question, it’s called Manley’s Famous Smoked Fish, and it’s where everyone goes in these parts for the best smoked fish around. Even Detroit Lions fans! Manley’s is an authentic little …
Java Joe’s
(906) 643-5282 959 N. State St., Saint Ignace, MI 49781 www.javajoescafe.com If there’s anything about St. Ignace you want to know, the place to go is Java Joe’s. Java Joe’s is a tuned-in, turned-on, psychedelic little café with great coffee and excellent food, and it’s run by two of the most interesting and energized people you’ll ever meet. Joe and …
Sleeping Bear Dunes
(231) 326-5134 9922 W. Front St., Empire, MI 49630 www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm Now as I mentioned earlier, this area is home to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and after we slept like bears at the homestead, we headed to one of the best under the radar hikes in the area, Pyramid Point. Even though it’s a short, fun and easy hike, …





