Full disclosure: I wrote this post so that I would have a permanent reminder of four fun filled days with three dear friends, because quite frankly, my memory just ain’t what it used to be. But anyone thinking about visiting Traverse City might enjoy duplicating parts of the itinerary that Sally had so thoughtfully put together for us.
Jeannie, Laurie, Sally and I met during various Global Volunteer Projects over the past 11 years. That’s one of the best parts about volunteering— you make some amazing friendships. This was the first time that all four of us were together, (although we have had various combos of three), so our main objective was to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
Sally lives in Traverse City’s historical district, within walking distance of downtown’s restaurants and shops. The homes are charming, (all shapes and sizes) and the gardens are breathtaking. Even if we had only hung out on Sally’s front porch, sipping coffee (then progressing to wine) that would have been quite enough to make our trip super special.
Our first evening started with before dinner drinks at the Beacon Lounge atop the Park Place Hotel. At 10 stories, I think it is the highest vantage point in the entire downtown area, providing a spectacular view of Lake Michigan.
On our way to the bar, we encountered some local color – this Colonel Sanders look alike, standing outside the local bookstore, hawking his many literary works. This was the first time any of us had seen an author OUTSIDE a bookstore, which convinced us we should just “walk on by” as that old Dionne Warwick song suggested.
Our dinner was at Amical. I don’t remember what I had–I just recall every one of us being quite happy with our choices. Had we been millennials, we would have whipped out our phones and given the restaurant five stars on Yelp.
The rest of our time together was spent taking advantage of only some of the many area delights. We started with the “Magic Shuttle Bus” which transported us to four area vineyards. Jonathan, our driver/ guide was every bit as colorful as his wardrobe and as magical as the bus.
Hawthorne Winery, Bowers Harbor, Chateau Chantal and Benovo were the wineries we visited, in that order.
Jonathan told us that Hawthorn Winery’s high altitude forces the grapes’ roots to grow deep, something that is supposed to produce excellent red wines, so of course I ordered a flight of reds.
Hawthorn’s pours were, to me, very generous. Unlike California’s wineries, Michigan’s do not provide spit buckets, so the expectation is that you will finish your entire glass(es). With three more wineries to go, it didn’t take long for smart gals like us to figure out we needed to start pacing ourselves.
We also determined that if Hawthorne had the area’s best red wines, we might want to stick to the whites, and if the amount poured was typical of the area, we should only go for a glass, instead of a flight—which we did.
Although the weather was uncooperative, our spirits were not dampened by the mist and rain drops. It just provided us with the perfect opportunity to catch the Barbie movie at the nearby theater. General consensus—it was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. We all loved the movie.
That evening, we cruised across Lake Michigan, enjoying “sea shanties” performed by this group. We had all hoped to be able to see the stars, away from city lights, but the skies were uncharacteristically cloudy. That didn’t stop us from having a wonderful time. And of course, the fact that we could buy adult beverages while cruising absolutely added to the enjoyment.
We couldn’t leave the area without visiting the famous dunes at Sleeping Bear National Park. One would think that this sign at the top of the very steep incline would dissuade everyone from venturing down to the water’s edge. One would be oh, so very wrong.
It was difficult to capture the steepness of the slope in one photo, but if you look closely, you can see those on the upward route were bent over, using their hands (and sometimes knees) to make it back. Even watching others struggle to get back didn’t stop those intent on traveling to the bottom.
But please don’t think that we lacked the spirit of adventure. We just chose a somewhat tamer way to enjoy the area’s offerings. Here’s visual proof.
Undoubtedly you are wondering what in the world we are doing. Well, we are kissing the moose. Why, you ask? When we did, a bell was rung in our honor, and the entire restaurant cheered. We also were entitled to buy this tee shirt. Hard to believe, but we both resisted that impulse purchase, contenting ourselves with a photo of us doing the deed. And yes, we DID have to climb on a stepladder to reach Bullwinkle’s snout.
My next adventure will be a visit to the countries that once were a part of the former Yugoslavia. I hope you’ll come along. Although I don’t anticipate kissing any dead animals on THAT trip, I’ll try to find some equally compelling activities for your reading pleasure.
Destination NOW 