Northwest Michigan

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jpa66

Jan as in "Jan and Dean"
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The wife and I are thinking about gin up to Northwest Michigan for 2 or 3 days in September. I've never been there, and she's only been there once, so we're both open to suggestions for things to do, places to stay, etc.

Cool small towns, pretty scenery, and wineries are on the list. Also biking and hiking.

Thanks,
Jan
 
Try Ludington, and then you can drive up the coast to Charlevoix and Petoskey. Ludington is home to Reed Gallery, a very nice photo gallery with lots of their nature prints for sale. Ryan Spencer Reed, a skilled documentary photographer, also lives there. Charlevoix has a great, peaceful harbor and lots to do around town.
 
I gather by NW Michigan you mean the NW lower Peninsula and not the U.P.

As for the NW lower, Leelanau County, immediately northwest of Traverse City, is wine country as is the Old Mission Peninsula. The Peninsula would be my choice for a few day stay, a pretty area with a lot of cherry orchards, vineyards and some nice vistas of the east and west bay. A lot of nice little restaurants and a number of wineries you can visit too.

About 50 mils west of Traverse City is the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore with its outstanding sand dunes and great views of Lake Michigan.

As jaredangle mentioned, Charlevoix is nice little town as is Petoskey further north. If you do Petoskey, be sure to drive through Bayview, which is a large area of 1880's-vintage Victorian homes. Also drive M-119 (called the "tunnel of trees") north out Harbor Springs for some outstanding scenery and great views of lake Michigan. Wilderness State park, at the very tip of the NW lower peninsula, is the largest State Park in the lower peninsula and very rustic.

It's a nice area which is why I live here, I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay.

Jim B.
 
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If you like decent beer, don't forget that Short's Brewing, Right Brain, and North Peak are up there as well. These are hidden treasures that (to my knowledge) don't get shipped out of state. So you might as well visit them while you're here.

Great suggestions, otherwise.
 
Mackinaw said:
I gather by NW Michigan you mean the NW lower Peninsula and not the U.P.

As for the NW lower, Leelanau County, immediately northwest of Traverse City, is wine country as is the Old Mission Peninsula. The Peninsula would be my choice for a few day stay, a pretty area with a lot of cherry orchards, vineyards and some nice vistas of the east and west bay. A lot of nice little restaurants and a number of wineries you can visit too.

About 50 mils west of Traverse City is the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore with its outstanding sand dunes and great views of Lake Michigan.

As jaredangle mentioned, Charlevoix is nice little town as is Petoskey further north. If you do Petoskey, be sure to drive through Bayview, which is a large area of 1880's-vintage Victorian homes. Also drive M-119 (called the "tunnel of trees") north out Harbor Springs for some outstanding scenery and great views of lake Michigan. Wilderness State park, at the very tip of the NW lower peninsula, is the largest State Park in the lower peninsula and very rustic.

It's a nice area which is why I live here, I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay.

Jim B.
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Yes, that's where we'd like to go, as we'll be driving from Chicago. Would either Charlevoix or Petosky be a good place to stay, then? We're looking for a nice B&B.


hipsterdufus said:
If you like decent beer, don't forget that Short's Brewing, Right Brain, and North Peak are up there as well. These are hidden treasures that (to my knowledge) don't get shipped out of state. So you might as well visit them while you're here.

Great suggestions, otherwise.
Click to expand...

Yes! Definitely like good beer, and always open to trying some new brew.
 
Around Bellaire, try Short's (+1), LuLu's, the Dockside at or around sunset or anytime really (on the mouth of the Clam River on Torch Lake).

Jim B. really nailed the upper northwest must-sees, I think.
 
jpa66 said:
Yes, that's where we'd like to go, as we'll be driving from Chicago. Would either Charlevoix or Petosky be a good place to stay, then? We're looking for a nice B&B.




Yes! Definitely like good beer, and always open to trying some new brew.
Click to expand...


My wife and I really enjoyed Bellaire B&B when we stayed there a few years ago. Fantastic breakfast!
 
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