Michigan BLUE | Fall 2025

Meet Pamela

This edition features the story of Pamela, a homeowner who found her home in a lowmaintenance condo at Macatawa Legends. Less than a decade ago, Pamela built a custom home, picking everything out from scratch. This time around, she was looking for a more relaxing experience, where she wouldn’t have to make every decision on the interior of her home.

With the help of Eastbrook Homes, she was able to find a Move-In Ready home that matched her design taste, designed by Eastbrook’s skilled interior design team.

Are you ready to begin your Home Building Journey?

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I’m not only thankful for my new condo, but I’m thankful for creating new memories.” - Pamela

Three years after her husband passed away, Pamela was ready for a new chapter. And moving to a new home near the lakeshore seemed like a good first step. Yet, the existing houses on the market just didn’t feel quite right.

Then, her realtor pointed her toward a new build in Macatawa Legends, an Eastbrook Homes community in Holland. As soon as she walked into a Move-In Ready home that was under construction, she fell in love.

“I knew right away that’s what I wanted,” Pamela said. “I wanted some natural light, an open floor plan, a sunroom and sun deck. It had everything.”

When she decided to downsize into the 2-bedroom Macatawa Legends condo, the paint colors were already chosen. Same for everything else, from the countertops and backsplash to the cabinets and lighting fixtures. Pamela was totally fine with that because it was so beautiful. All she had to do was wait and watch as her new home came together.

“I was much more relaxed (than the last time I built a home), having everything picked out,” Kamstra said. “It was a fun process. Often, I would come here to walk through to see the changes that were happening.”

That’s how it works with a Move-In Ready home by Eastbrook. With Pamela’s home, Eastbrook’s designers had preselected an interior palette that matched her taste and style and took away the stress of having to make any of those decisions.

“I’m a person that doesn’t fear changing direction when inspiration hits,” Pamela said. “I just feel like I jumped in with both feet. The doors were opened, and I kind of felt led here.”

If you’re interested in learning more about building or buying new with Eastbrook Homes, our team is here to help. Reach out today with your questions and dreams, and we’ll help turn them into a reality.

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The air may be crisp, but Alpena, Michigan is a warm and friendly port in all seasons. Autumn is the perfect time to unwind, explore, and enjoy the quiet of nature. Whether you’re wandering the shoreline, fishing, or just hunting for a delicious apple cider donut, you can reconnect— with the wild, with the water, and with wonder here.

5

Great Things to Do in the Alpena Area

1 Hike and bike more than 100 miles of forested trails. Paddle crystalclear lakes and scenic rivers.

2 Hunt for 400-million-year-old Devonian Period fossils.

3 Dive into history among shipwrecks in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

4 Visit 7 scenic and historic lighthouses on Lake Huron.

5 Let meteor showers light up your night. Three official Dark Sky preserves—Negwegon State Park, Thompson’s Harbor State Park, and Rockport State Recreation Area offer breathtaking views of the cosmos.

Surround yourself in

fall wonder

Experience the charm of South Haven on Lake Michigan this fall. Where the crisp air, colorful leaves, and carefree vibes create the perfect setting for an unforgettable getaway. Unwind at one of our numerous apple orchards, or revel in vibrant autumn hues while hiking or biking along trails, exploring untouched nature preserves, or riding scenic horseback paths.

Outdoor bliss is here.

FEATURES

Jeanine Matlow

Reflections on how the fall season introduces itself to those who love one of north-central Michigan’s most popular regions. By Bill Semion

Swoyer

On the Cover Little Sable Point Lighthouse in Mears, south of Pentwater. See Photo Essay beginning on page 54.

Photo by Jeffrey Dobbs, michigan.photography.

New Presque Isle Lighthouse, Presque Isle Township (Alpena), is a winning destination in our Best of Blue awards.

SUMMER ADVENTURE STARTS HERE.

THE

EXPLORE CHANGE.

As the landscape transforms with the season, Ludington’s unspoiled natural beauty offers the quintessential “Up North” experience—

As the landscape transforms with the season, Ludington’s unspoiled natural beauty offers the quintessential “Up North” experience— without the long drive.

Pure Ludington blends unmatched outdoor recreation with the charm of a welcoming small town. From scenic trails and fall color tours to craft beer festivals and cozy stays, there’s no shortage of ways to savor the

Pure Ludington blends unmatched outdoor recreation with the charm of a welcoming small town. From scenic trails and fall color tours to craft beer festivals and cozy stays, there’s no shortage of ways to savor the season. season.

Take advantage of fall lodging specials, including 50% off your second night

LUDINGTON

If your idea of the perfect vacation is sugar-sand beaches, cle waters along 28 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, outdoor adventures, climbing to the top of historic lighthouses, or exp a charming downtown, Ludington is your destination for Pure Michigan fun. Ludington's unspoiled natural resources offers a quintessential “Up North” experience all within easy reach loca the intersection of U.S. 31 and U.S. 10. Now is the time to get go. Start planning your Summer adventures now at:

Take advantage of fall lodging specials, including 50% off second night—now’s —now’s the perfect time to get up and go. the perfect time to get up and go.

.COM

LUDINGTON

WATERWAYS

18 Sky, Sand & Surf

Spectacular seaplane flights capture the amazing fall colors of the U.P.’s Keweenaw Peninsula. By Mark Spezia

20 Field Guide

Grand Rapids’ Front Avenue gets new murals, a Michigan crafted campaign takes off, and it’s easier to find state park information and more at the state’s updated DNR website.

By Ron Garbinski

22 Get Outdoors

Visitors often feel like they’re time-traveling when hiking the Ledges Trail along the Grand River in Grand Ledge, and trekkers enjoy the hidden paths and Rapid River beauty at Seven Bridges Natural Area. By Ellen Creager and Giuseppa Nadrowski

26 Headwaters

A writer reflects on her visit to author Ernest Hemingway’s family cottage. By Julie Bonner Williams

DESIGN CURRENTS

32 Studio Visit

Optimism wends its way through ArtPrize artist Emily Wells’ paintings. By Megan Swoyer

36 The Elements

Take a break and enjoy coffee-inspired drinks, colors, and accessories. By Jamie Fabbri

38 Design Stars

Woods and Water: Living the dream on Bass Lake. By Khristi S. Zimmeth

42 Designer’s Notebook

A grand transformation at the Grand Hotel, calling TulipTime poster artists, TC’s Delamar opens a café, and scents to remind you of Michigan’s seasons are now available. By Megan Swoyer

ANCHORS AWEIGH

80 Tasting Room

Northern Michigan’s wine country showcases a bit of magic at harvest time.

By Amy S. Eckert

82 Dining Out

You’re in for more than a meal when you reserve a table at The Continental at Ford House. By Megan Swoyer

84 Book It

Downtown Saugatuck’s charming Wickwood Inn is awash in finery around every corner. By Megan Swoyer

86 Discoveries

Boyne City offers visitors a vibrant small town to explore. By Dianna Stampfler IN EVERY ISSUE

12 Reflections Keep Your Windows Open. By Megan Swoyer

88 Postcard

This photographer’s favorite autumn splash zone sparkles within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Text and photo by Konnie Spenceley

Keep WindowsYour Open

II’ve entered a lot of wildlife sightings into my tiny, 3- by 2-inch nature journal this year at our northern Michigan cottage. I can read the dates and times we’ve spotted eagles, snapping turtles, muskrats, bass, heron (both the great blue and the green), and belted kingfishers. As I flipped through the pages recently, I happily paused at sketches and notes my sons had made of animals they’d seen many, many years ago. Now and then a loon would be entered: “Heard but not seen.” It dawned on me that there have been no signs of loons in several years. Maybe we just weren’t in the right place at the right time.

Black with white spots that appear as brilliant stars in a dark sky, loons are mysterious and mystical. You often hear them and don’t see them; their calls are so loud that they can be at the far end of a lake and you think they’re right next to you.

perfect backdrop when you’re trying to focus. The loud cry of the loon also pierced the air on that afternoon, yet the sound filtered to me unknowingly. When I finally realized what I was hearing, I jumped up from the table and flew out the door to see my husband pointing to the lake. “I called and texted you a million times,” he said, admitting he had heard the loon but didn’t see it.

A week or so later, around 5:30 a.m., the loon returned! The pre-dawn light cast a slight glow on the lake, and through the mist came the song. Our windows were open and as I heard the call, I thought I was dreaming. When I sensed I wasn’t, I hurried out of bed, grabbed my camera, and tip-toed through dewy grass to our dock. The calls were steady and seemed to be regular. I quickly noticed a white-speckled, red-eyed beauty gliding slowly north. He was alone, but perhaps was communicating with another loon. That sound! It’s like nothing else — an evocative, loud wail that hits several high-low notes. I soaked it up and watched him for a while, snapping a ton of photos of this handsome subject.

I’ve been following the loon activity at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in the Upper Peninsula and I’m amazed at the returning loons and offspring the staff there documents. As of this past spring, banded loons ABJ and Fe, both nearly 40 years old and the world’s oldest known common loons — much of that time spent as a couple, even though loons aren’t known to mate for life — are no longer a pair. They separated in 2022, after a 25-year partnership, and have since paired with new mates. While they returned to Seney in 2025, they’re in different territories. Fascinating!

Beyond their shadowy appeal, loons, a threatened species in Michigan, have carried significant symbolism over time. Native Americans are said to believe the loon’s distinctive vocalization (they have four calls) and solitary nature in the wilderness evoke feelings of serenity and inspire the awakening of hopes, dreams, and wishes.

Just a few weeks ago, when I was painting at my cottage, I could hear song sparrows, chickadees, and crows; birdsong makes for a

I hoped to see him again the next morning. No such luck. The following day I was up early, to catch photos of birds such as yellow-throated warblers and vireos. But I couldn’t get the loon off my mind, so I opened an app on my phone to listen to the loon’s various sounds, and I started to hear somewhat of a chortle that definitely wasn’t on my phone! I scurried toward the noise to catch a glimpse of the loon, but I could only hear it.

One afternoon, I became acquainted with a woman who I discovered lives near me on the lake. “Have you been enjoying the recent sounds of the loon(s)?” I asked her. “The loons? No. I don’t open my windows, so I don’t hear anything,” she said. “I put air conditioning in a while back; I don’t want to hear neighbors at campfires.”

I thought it was terribly sad that she’ll never be lulled awake or to sleep by Michigan’s magical bird, whose haunting cry symbolizes the wildness of the north.

As fall approaches, loons are fattening up, molting, and preparing for their migration. Maybe I’ll see my loon taking off for warmer climates. If I do, I’ll be sure to document his exit in our nature journal.

Publisher: Jason Hosko

EDITORIAL

Editor: Megan Swoyer

Travel Editor: Ron Garbinski

Copy Editor: Anne Berry Daugherty

Contributors: Ellen Creager, Jeffrey and Jess Dobbs, Amy S. Eckert, Jamie Fabbri, Jeffrey Johnson, Jeanine Matlow, Giuseppa Nadrowski, Bill Semion, Konnie Spenceley, Mark Spezia, Dianna Stampfler, Julie Bonner Williams, Khristi S. Zimmeth

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Michigan Blue magazine is published quarterly by Hour Media. Publishing office: 5750 New King Dr., Suite 100 Troy, MI 48098. Telephone 616-459-4545; fax 616-459-4800. General email: info@hour-media.com

Copyright ©2025 by Hour Media. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Michigan Blue magazine,1965 E. Avis Dr., Madison Heights, MI 48071. Subscription rates: one year $14.95, two years $24.95, three years $34.95, U.S. only. Single issue and newsstand $5.95 (by mail $8.95). To subscribe or to order back issues, please contact Circulation at 866-660-6247. Advertising rates and specifications at mibluemag.com or by request. Michigan Blue magazine is not responsible for unsolicited contributions.

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VILLAGE HEIGHTS AT BAY HARBOR

Perched atop Bay Harbor’s highest point, Village Heights o ers 25 exclusive luxury condos with panoramic views of Lake Michigan and Little Traverse Bay. Every residence is crafted for seamless indoor-outdoor living, featuring expansive oor plans, high-end nishes, and private balconies or rooftop patios.

RESERVE NOW STARTING AT $1,999,000

3 Bedrooms | 4.5 Baths

2,336 SQ FT

Private Garage + GEM Car Parking

EV-Ready | Optional Elevator Access

Situated at Bay Harbor’s highest elevation, enjoy panoramic views over Lake Michigan

Building legacies from Frankfort to Harbor Springs

WATERWAYS

Seven Bridges Natural Area — a 314-acre preserve — features peaceful paths along the Rapid River.

Read more about this family-friendly sanctuary, and where to enjoy breakfast nearby, inside this section.

MICHIGAN BLUE FALL

Pure Magic

BY Mark Spezia

Spectacular seaplane flights capture the amazing fall colors of the U.P.’s Keweenaw Peninsula

From the unspoiled, remote Alaskan wilderness to the vast waterways, lush wetlands, and picturesque coastal areas of South Florida, seaplane pilot David Stawinski has soaked in hundreds of miles of nature’s splendor from his favorite vantage point.

The Michigan native’s current flying gig, however, has left him especially awestruck.

After returning to his home state last year, Stawinski began piloting Isle Royale Seaplanes’ flights to one of the least-visited national parks (Isle Royale) in the Lower 48 states as well as aerial fall color tours of the Keweenaw Peninsula, which have become

wildly popular since their inception in 2022.

“Once I started flying the fall color tours, I was immediately struck by what a unique way the flights offer to take in the amazing colors of the area,” Stawinski says. “I can’t encourage people enough to experience one of these flights, because you see colors from such a different, broader perspective than leaf-peeping on a drive or hike.”

The experience has been as thrilling for Stawinski as it is for the passengers he takes up in the company’s signature de Havilland Beaver float plane.

“Personally, it’s been awesome becoming more familiar with the area’s natural beauty

and other landmarks during fall,” says Stawinski, who grew up in the Macomb County suburb of Fraser. “I had never really seen anything like it as a pilot before, and I’m grateful my connections in the seaplane industry brought me back to Michigan for this opportunity.”

Flights depart from Torch Lake at the company’s new headquarters in Hubbell, which opened last year. The 6-acre site includes hangar and office space, docks, a boat ramp, staff housing, expanded customer parking, and a covered outdoor customer waiting area.

Passengers are given a safety briefing and

emergency situation instructions, and fitted for life jackets prior to boarding.

As the plane’s pontoons skim the water before taking flight, the 30-minute tour commences with views of Torch Lake and Lake Linden before quickly giving way to sightings of the Lake Superior shoreline and Gratiot Lake, among other eye-catching natural features in the sea of yellow, red, orange, and evergreen below.

Then, flights head toward Eagle Harbor for breathtaking glimpses of Brockway Mountain, the Mount Bohemia ski resort, Copper Harbor, and other noteworthy bodies of water such as Lac La Belle, Lake Bailey, Lake Medora, and the Medora River. The outline of Isle Royale and even the Porcupine Mountains are visible on some days.

Upon reaching Eagle Harbor in the Upper Peninsula, the flightpath turns south over the Eagle River, and passengers can see the towering rocky formations along Cliff Drive near Mohawk, the Sand Hills Lighthouse, and the former Calumet Air Force Station, and take in views of the Portage Canal before heading back across the middle of the Keweenaw Peninsula past Dollar Bay, then returning to Torch Lake.

“I quickly learned how much people love these flights; it’s very obvious soon after we take off,” Stawinski says. “My first year was a good mix of first timers and people who come back nearly every year. There was also a nice mix of locals and visitors to the area, so I heard a variety of feedback and impressions of the trip.”

While Stawinski and fellow pilots follow roughly the same route on every tour, the views they experience are constantly changing, as colors reach their peak and different weather patterns roll in and out of the area. Fog patterns above Lake Superior’s waters are sometimes seen, too.

“No two days are exactly the same, and that’s why we even see some people more than once in a single season,” Stawinski notes. “They really enjoy seeing how things have changed since their previous flight. It’s also been fun for me to have people really familiar with the area pointing out things that I might not be familiar with, and I’ve learned a lot from interacting with passengers before and after flights.”

Stawinski explains that Isle Royale Seaplanes’ early 1950s-style de Havilland Beaver is ideal for aerial tours of this kind, and flying aboard one is actually a rare experience for people living in the Midwest.

He became well-acquainted with the plane and similar aircraft while working as a line

passengers.

Opposite page: The Keweenaw Peninsula’s panoramic fall colors

pilot for Juneau-based Alaska Seaplanes from 2019 through early 2024, transporting passengers and all manner of goods to remote towns not accessible by road.

In addition to the pilot, each plane accommodates up to six passengers. One gets to occupy the seat next to the pilot.

“It’s a classic bush plane and there aren’t many flying in the Lower 48, so it’s great our company is still utilizing this unique aircraft,” says Stawinski, who earned an aviation degree and flight instructor certification from Western Michigan University.

“They’re slow-flying planes, which allows passengers to take everything in, and the big windows are great for visibility. Just taking off from and landing on water is a different aspect not many first-time tour-takers have experienced.”

Stawinski heads south during the winter months and pilots charter flights to and from Marco Island, Fla., aboard a Cessna 206 Amphibious float plane for another division of the company.

Isle Royale Seaplanes’ color flights began after pilots started receiving a significant number of inquiries from both area residents and passengers taking the company’s flights to Isle Royale about the possibility of instituting tours after Isle Royale service concluded for the season.

Pilots relayed the suggestion to company owner Jon Rector, who was receptive and started working out the logistics of

expanding his services. Once launched, the flights opened to rave reviews and nearly 150 spots quickly sold out after they first were announced in late summer of 2022.

Count Visit Keweenaw public relations/ events coordinator Jesse Wiederhold among those who are thankful the company began offering a new way to experience autumn in the region.

“For me, flying with Isle Royale Seaplanes was an unforgettable adventure, offering a rare, bird’s-eye perspective of the Keweenaw’s rugged shoreline and spine, inland forests, and the vast blue of Lake Superior,” he recalls. “It’s the perfect way to watch fall color creep across the forests below. The scenery is absolutely stunning, and the experience of seeing it all from the sky is pure magic.”

This year’s Isle Royale Seaplanes fall color flights are scheduled for Sept. 24-Oct. 14 (there will be no flights Sept. 29-30 and Oct. 6-7). The cost is $120 per person, based on a two-person minimum, and reservations are required.

If you can’t make it this year, book early for next fall!

Plan It!

Isle Royale Seaplanes isleroyaleseaplanes.com

Right: Fall color views at the Isle Royale Seaplanes facility on Torch Lake, as seen from one of the float planes prior to takeoff, impress

dazzle when viewed from high above in a seaplane.

Exploring Michigan: Tips, trends, and tidbits

Field Guide

A Dash of Color: As part of this past summer’s Pleasant Peninsula Mural Festival in downtown Grand Rapids, 21 local and national artists created 21 murals depicting Michigan’s threatened and endangered species along Front Avenue. The completed outdoor gallery (a few murals are shown here) includes some of the state’s rarest species, including the piping plover, Michigan monkey flower, and Karner blue butterfly. Pleasant Peninsula is a nonprofit that promotes conservation, biodiversity, and environmental education through public art. The festival paired muralists with conservation experts and educators from across the state, to help them learn more about the plants and animals they painted. “A festival celebrating these species brings visibility to their conservation needs and invites us all to connect with nature in a fun and exciting way,” says Jennifer Kleitch, Michigan DNR endangered species specialist. pleasantpeninsula.org

Pour Another Round: Michigan’s craft beverage industry recently added an extra kick to its promotional activities. A new Michigan Crafted campaign, developed by the Michigan Craft Beverage Council and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, was introduced earlier this year and includes advertising, special events, and social media designed to build a solid foundation with Michigan audiences. The campaign will extend into 2026 to reach audiences across the United States. Participating Michigan businesses will display branded merchandise and materials to build consumer awareness and support for the program. Those locations will serve as on-the-ground ambassadors to connect consumers to Michigan’s world-class, locally made beer, wine, mead, cider, and spirits. The efforts are expected to build momentum toward November’s Craft Beverage Month celebrations. michigancraftbeverage.com

Find It Faster: Searching for information about Michigan state parks and recreation areas, campgrounds, state forest campgrounds, or nonmotorized trails has improved with a more-user friendly update of the Michigan DNR’s RecSearch website. The revamped design, built on the State of Michigan’s unified brand web platform, features a responsive experience across all devices with location-based searches and more powerful filters focused on activities, amenities, overnight options, interests, locations, keywords, and more. “Consider it your new must-have tool for getting out there to explore and enjoy Michigan’s stunning landscapes and hidden gems,” says Ami Van Antwerp, of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. michigan.gov/ research — Compiled by Ron Garbinski

Have news that pertains to Michigan’s natural resources, travel, or exploration? Send a note to MSwoyer@Hour-Media.com.

Ancient Wonders

Visitors often feel like they’re time-traveling to the Paleozoic Era when hiking the Ledges Trail along the Grand River

Just southwest of Lansing, the Ledges Trail evokes a touch of otherworldly wonder.

Visitors hiking a woodsy path on the edge of the Grand River pass striated rocky cliffs where rare lichens, strange mosses, and unusual, scaly green liverwort plants cover rock surfaces. Tangled trees overhang the trail, which links two parks (Fitzgerald and Oak) in Grand Ledge. The trail is a rare place in the Lower Pen-

BY Ellen Creager

insula where you can see exposed bedrock. “This is a different picture of what life was like millions of years ago,” says Dr. Stephen Mattox, professor of geology at Grand Valley State University in Allendale.

The striped layers of rock tell the story of the Pennsylvanian period of the Paleozoic Era, when Michigan was a sultry soup of beaches, lagoons, seas, towering mosses, and ferns. As time passed, rocks formed in strata, like a multilayer cake.

At 300 million years old, the Ledges are baby bedrock compared to the bedrock found in the Upper Peninsula. But they’re easy to get to and easy to see.

For centuries, humans have been drawn to the Ledges. Native American tribes traveled here yearly. Spiritualists built a summer camp for seances. A century ago, settlers quarried coal, and a clay tile factory was big business. Early 20th century tourists even flocked here by train to stay at a local resort and take steamboat rides.

Today it is quiet, yet still beguiling. Grand Ledge, 11 miles west of Lansing, hides the famous trail well. It’s located just beyond the neat homes and tidy downtown, but out of sight. You’ll need a map or a tip to find the trail, but walkers, hikers, rock-climbers, kayakers, geologists, and locals know the way.

You might wonder why there aren’t more

Here and opposite page, top: Striated rocky cliffs along the Grand River highlight the Ledges Trail, which links two parks in Grand Ledge.

bedrock outcroppings like the Ledges in southern Michigan. According to Mattox, most of the Lower Peninsula is covered by an opaque layer of jumbled glacial drift. Only time, chance, and water have exposed the interesting rocks here.

In contrast, the Upper Peninsula is truly ancient. The cliffs at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising and the tilting boulders of the Keweenaw Peninsula are up to 1 billion years old. A gneiss rock found near the tiny town of Watersmeet in the western U.P. recently was dated at 3.6 billion years. It’s the oldest known rock in the United States.

But none of those amazing places is as convenient for a day trip as Grand Ledge. I walked the trail both ways, and here’s what I discovered:

• The dirt trail is for moderate hikers. Parts are clear and wide, and parts are narrow and covered with roots. The trail rises and falls, so hiking shoes are a must. Bring water. Go on a dry day. Keep a close eye on young children.

• Start at Grand Ledge’s Fitzgerald Park, which has multiple trails, picnic areas, parking, and restrooms.

• The trail isn’t well-marked, so before you arrive and park, download a map from the Eaton County website (2020-Fitzgerald-Park-trails-brochure-PDF). You should know that one aspect of the map is wrong because the steep stairs to get you from the park down to the trail have collapsed. Instead, walk just a minute over to the River Bottom Trail. It’s a wide, well-maintained downhill path leading to a tiny bridge. Cross that and you’re on the trail.

• From the Fitzgerald Park side, you can see the rocks up close and touch them. They’re full of crevices and ledges, hidey holes, and odd shapes. Geologists have found fossils of ferns, and indicators of ancient fish in Grand Ledge. A sign warns visitors against carving their names into the rocks — sadly, to no avail.

• After walking for a few minutes, look across the Grand River and you’ll see Oak Park on the opposite shore. The cliffs on that side of the river rise 70 feet high, making it a popular place for rock-climbers. Casual visitors can also access Oak Park and stand at the foot of the rocks.

• As you walk down the Ledges Trail on the Fitzgerald Park side, notice the moss, lichen, and liverworts, all living off the rock. See sparkles in the layers of sandstone, from the ancient quartz sand. The black stripes may be coal, from the swampy compression of ancient plants.

• The trail gets narrow, so watch your step. After slightly more than a mile you’ll reach Island Park, a slim island in the middle of the placid Grand River. The river winds

through Michigan from Jackson to Lansing and Grand Rapids, on the way to Grand Haven and Lake Michigan, but it’s particularly pretty in Grand Ledge.

• You also can walk the Ledges Trail in reverse, entering near Island Park; look for the blue picnic table at the trailhead and park in the lot near the Masonic Temple.

• If you end up near Island Park, you’re in downtown Grand Ledge. Walk up the street for lunch at the Cancun Mexican Grill before heading back up the trail.

When you get home, read up on liverworts and bedrock. Who knew?

PLAN IT!

Eaton County Parks eatoncounty.org

Right: The dirt trail is for moderate hikers; it rises and falls and becomes narrow in places, so don’t forget your hiking shoes.

The beauty of the Rapid River and its enchanting surroundings, including an historic stone wall, inspires both contemplation and play.

Trek a Land Conservancy Gem

Enjoy the serenity, hidden paths, and the Rapid River beauty at Seven Bridges Natural Area, north of Kalkaska

Growing up, I spent many summers at my grandfather’s Christmas tree farm in South Boardman, a small town in Kalkaska County. It’s an area that’s not only special to me, but also to my husband and two children — so much so that we spend as much of our free time as possible exploring the area’s many scenic treasures.

On the search for a nearby, familyfriendly hike, we recently discovered Seven Bridges Natural Area — a 314-acre preserve in Rapid River Township north of Kalkaska that features a mix of upland habitat, mesic northern forest, cedar swamps, rustic wooden bridges (only four remain now), peaceful paths, and about a mile of the gorgeous Rapid River.

The hike seemed perfect. It wasn’t far off U.S. 131; it was easy enough for our growing kids (now 13 and 11), and exactly the adventure we were looking to take after a hearty breakfast at the locally adored diner, Moose & Stella’s Café.

Protected and maintained by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC), Seven Bridges was purchased by the State of Michigan in 1998. Its story began in 1882, when four German brothers — Jacob, Julius, William, and Carl Ricker — built a sawmill on the site.

Eventually the mill was passed down to their great-nephew, Gordon Peschke, and his siblings. Peschke and his wife, Cecilia, deeply cared for the land and, realizing its beauty and value, encouraged the public to use it (they even kept a guestbook for visitors to sign). It became a beloved spot where locals and visitors alike enjoyed fishing, hiking, and picnicking.

Here and above right:

PHOTOS BY

Giuseppa Nadrowski

By the mid 1980s, there was pressure from Peschke’s siblings to sell the land. In 1989, after a failed attempt to find a conservation group to purchase it, the land was sold to a development partnership that planned to split the property into 10-acre luxury parcels. Then, thanks to a valiant, multiyear effort by the GTRLC, the State was convinced to purchase the property — with the stipulation that it would continue to care for the site.

This visionary undertaking has allowed future generations to marvel at the park’s beauty, all while protecting the local forestry and wildlife — and even the area’s water quality.

“The braided stream that works its way through the various wetlands really allows the water to slow down and take its time, which allows pollution and nutrients to get filtered out before it moves on downstream and eventually makes its way into Lake Michigan,” says Chris Garrock, director of stewardship at the GTRLC. “Once they visit, I think most people realize the tragedy that would (come from) developing a place like that.”

Jamie Creason, the owner and innkeeper of the Applesauce Inn in Bellaire, says Seven Bridges is a destination she recommends to all her guests. Creason and her

husband, Gary Juliano, a landscape painter, frequent the park often. This past summer, Juliano began taking fellow artists to the park for a plein air painting experience. “We enjoy the quiet that it offers, the little hidden secret trails, and, of course, the beauty of the Rapid River,” Creason says.

Fine art travel and nature photographer Julie Chapa agrees: “I grew up in Fife Lake, not far from this park, and was surprised to only recently discover it,” she says. While Chapa now lives in Texas, she often visits the area. “It’s just a short walk to reach the streams and rapids, where a boardwalk and a couple of benches invite you to pause and take it all in. What I love most is the immersive experience — the soothing sounds of flowing tributaries, the fresh scent of cedar and hemlock, and the feeling of being completely enveloped by the forest.”

Upon entering the preserve, hikers will see the first of four bridges. Beneath, a cascading waterfall captivates, as a does an historic stone wall — a remnant of bygone logging days. It’s a painterly scene that seems torn from the pages of a storybook. “If only the old stone wall could tell its story,” Creason says.

Not far ahead, there’s a second bridge with a tranquil brook below, where the

water filters through mosses and stones. As my youngest said, “It’s as clear as day! You can see all the way to the bottom!” Nature lovers can continue on to the remaining bridges, traverse the many offshoot trails (generally suitable for most ages), revel in the park’s unfiltered beauty (it’s especially enchanting in autumn, as the freshly fallen leaves seem to dance among the landscape), and discover the preserve’s many other treasures. My children look forward to visiting a particular tree every time we hike there; its branches have grown in such a way that a natural seat was created, offering a perfect perch for resting.

The trail, only about a mile in length, loops back into the woods through a serene pasture. “I think it’s a really accessible spot to do a shorter hike that’s not strenuous,” says Garrock, who mentions the park is also a popular place for trout fishing.

“Northern Michigan can be summed up by this preserve,” Creason proclaims. Adds Chapa: “It feels like stepping into a nature documentary. This park is truly a photographer’s dream.”

PLAN IT!

Seven Bridges Natural Area gtrlc.org (search under Get Outside)

Top: The fresh scent of cedar and hemlock permeates the air in and around Seven Bridges.

Right: A peaceful, clear brook passes beneath a fallen tree, filtering mosses and stones as it makes its way through the forest.

The Windemere Caper

BY Julie Bonner Williams

As I closed in on the prize I sought to pocket and carry home, I reasoned that even if I got caught, only one person had any right to admonish me: Ernest Hemingway. Well, his doppelganger nephew, Ernest Hemingway Mainland, anyway.

A writer reflects on her exciting visit to author Ernest Hemingway’s family cottage

Ernest Mainland seemed reflective, his attention elsewhere as our group of 12 wandered the sacred literary grounds of Windemere, the Hemingway family’s northern Michigan cottage. Post-sip, his eyes scanned Walloon Lake. He reminisced about his uncle’s Michigan summers, and recalled how the author’s mother would row across the lake daily to set up her easel and paint.

“Grace Hall Hemingway gave birth to six children, but she didn’t raise six children,” Hemingway’s nephew shared.

As he spoke, I hovered over my quarry. Now! I told myself, about to make my move.

“Is that your Jeep?” a bearded guy in Teva sandals motioned toward what was, indeed, my Jeep.

“Yeah, that’s mine.”

Sipping from a red plastic party cup,

Both pages: Since he was a young boy until about the age of 22, Ernest Hemingway spent many summers at his family cottage, Windemere, on Walloon Lake. Hardwood trees and pines are scattered across the property and yielded a nice keepsake for Blue’s essay writer.

elbow at me. She was maybe 90 pounds. Were I to spin and drop, I’d take us both down.

“Aren’t you sweet,” I said, taking her arm. I walked in half-steps to keep pace with her tiny canvas Keds. She went ahead up the first step, and I craned my neck. I could still see my treasure. I would get to it somehow.

Mainland disappeared into the kitchen and cracked an ice cube tray, then walked to the fireplace in the main room.

“Please don’t take any pictures inside. You can take as many as you want outside, but we’ve had trouble with people trying to break in here,” he said.

Rotten thieves, I thought.

“This is where Ernest and Hadley spent their honeymoon night, right here on the floor in front of this fireplace,” he said. “And over here is where every Hemingway child was measured each summer,” he noted, pointing out a closet door frame.

I found the name “Ernest” in faded script.

“Over this way ... ” The rest of the group followed our host toward a bedroom. Then it happened.

“WAH-CHOOOOO!” I sneezed. It startled me more than anyone. “CHOO!” came the next note in my symphony. Just as quickly, inspiration hit!

My cacophonous sneezing paused the tour, as everyone turned to see the culprit who had interrupted an anecdote on Ernest Hemingway’s post-World War I respite.

“Excuse me! It’s just — it must be my allergies,” I babbled. “I’m gonna step outside for some fresh air.”

Out the screen door I went. A quick jog across the grass, a glance over my shoulder, and the prize was in my pocket.

In my garden this morning, as I write on my laptop, I have a red party cup filled with iced tea at the ready. I often think about that day on the shores of Walloon Lake and how I snuck away with an acorn that had fallen from a tree I was certain had witnessed the childhood antics of Hemingway, as well as perhaps his grief over the rejection letter from his first love after WWI. I always write here, feeling watched over by Ernest Hemingway, the Ernest Hemingway, in the shadow of what will one day surely be a mighty oak tree grown from a stolen acorn.

“I love your license plate frame — ‘I’d Rather be Writing’ — that’s cool,” he smiled.

“Oh, thanks. I couldn’t resist it.”

He nodded and sauntered away.

Mainland shook the ice in his empty cup and looked toward the door to Windemere.

“Let’s go inside,” he said.

If I hang back from the rest, I can grab it, then catch up…

“Are you all right?” asked a white-haired woman in a tan cardigan.

“Oh, I’m fine,” I smiled. “I just got dizzy for a minute. Must’ve turned too fast or something. I’m OK now. Thank you for asking.”

“Here, take my arm,” she pointed her

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MICHIGAN BLUE FALL

BY Megan Swoyer

Positive Outlook

Optimism wends its way through ArtPrize artist

When artist Emily Wells was 8 years old, she landed her first commissioned work of art.

“I would go around to classmates and say, ‘I’ll draw a cat for you for 10 cents; you just have to tell me if you want the eyes open or shut,’ ” Wells says with a laugh. The Grand Rapids-based artist, who grew up in Spring Lake near Grand Haven, says it was inevitable that she was going to be an artist.

Emily Wells’ paintings

The feline business morphed, of course, into other interests — like cars. Wells’ first official painting commission came her way when she was 18; the subject was a 1969 Camaro. “I really liked classic cars; I was in that scene for a good while,” she says.

Today, the full-time artist and mother of four children, ages 9, 5, 3, and 1, says she tries to paint daily in her home studio “when the kids are napping or when I have a sitter.”

On any given day, you might find her creating scenes from Mackinac Island, the

Both pages, clockwise from left: Come autumn, Norton Shores, along Lake Michigan in Muskegon County, takes on a variety of gold and red hues and is captured beautifully by Emily Wells. Birch trees are one of Wells’ favorite subjects and, although she used to avoid painting woodland scenes, she now embraces them. The artist, Emily Wells, at work on Mackinac Island, painting its breathtaking lilacs.

Coast Guard Festival, the Grand Haven and South Haven lighthouses, and tulips, among other scenes — each depicted with assertive, bold strokes and vivid colors.

Describing her style, Wells says there’s a general theme of optimism that runs through her paintings.

“I like to catch fleeting moments and they’re generally happy, but there’s actually a layer of depth to that,” Wells says. “Life is short and I’m not going to sit around and brood, even though I experienced a lot of grief when I was a young kid.”

Her medium of choice is oil, although that wasn’t always the case. “I used to paint with acrylics, and then another artist told me I had to try oil. When I finally did, I felt like the paints were speaking my native language (by the way, she loves languages, and studied French, Norwegian, German, and Spanish). It felt so natural.”

Wells, who gravitates toward favorite shades like light yellow and turquoise (many are the Charvin brand), snaps a lot of reference photos when on nature walks with her kids. “I get inspired by their enthusiasm. Each of them keeps my childlike wonder alive.”

Some of her most well-known works are a nod to the nautical world. On many of

those pieces she’s used some Debra Huse/ Da Vinci Paint. “Debra (a California-based artist) has three colors that I’m so drawn to,” she shares, explaining that the shades are great for nautical subjects. The three colors Wells loves are Signal Flag Red, which can be a faded red; Anchor Green, which looks like the algae you’d see on old boats; and Marine Violet, which evokes the Great Lakes.

Besides being inspired daily by the Great Lakes State and her water-rich environs, Wells’ heritage includes maritime enthusiasts. One of her grandfathers, in fact, was a Great Lakes scuba diver. “He had some wonderful finds from back when you could treasure hunt,” she recalls. Her other grandfather was in the Coast Guard, stationed in Traverse City (he met Wells’ grandmother when she was part of the Cherry Queen court). The artist says her passion for lighthouses led her to do volunteer work at Little Sable Point in Mears (Oceana County) and Crisp Point in the Upper Peninsula’s Newberry.

Wells admits that, as an artist, she doesn’t often run into a challenge, but she recalls a time when she would steer clear of painting woods and forest scenes. “It was a daunting subject for me, but I told myself, You just have to dive in and swim,

and it will eventually start looking good.” The artist also admits that she’s crazy about full compositions that make you feel like you’re in the painting. “I love a vintage look that’s busy, messy, haphazard, vibrant, and full.” A self-described “history nerd,” Wells notes her fascination with the past inspired her to begin to paint landscapes — and she’s also compelled, she says, to capture outdoor dining scenes.

Wells recently was a top 20 poster artist for the Holland Tulip Festival (her tulip painting sold, incidentally), and as this article was being written, she was putting the finishing touches on an ArtPrize entry. (ArtPrize is an international art competition and cultural festival held annually in Grand Rapids; this year it runs Sept. 18-Oct. 4.) She was selected for an art project she created that features 13 30- by 40-inch paintings depicting different Grand

Rapids-area neighborhoods.

“I started researching the neighborhoods last fall and (visiting) a variety of areas, wondering how I could best capture the feeling of each. It was an emotional project for me,” Wells says. She added an interactive element to this new body of work, which includes postcards that say, “Hello neighbor, who are you?”

“You check off ‘who you are’ based on your neighborhood, and then drop (the postcard) in a mailbox, as if you’re walking through each neighborhood via the large paintings,” the artist explains. She admits a project of this size is a huge financial risk, as it requires inordinate amounts of time to complete. During ArtPrize her work will be on display at the Courtyard Marriot Hotel.

Top: Wells painted this Grand Rapids neighborhood as part of her 2025 ArtPrize installment.

Left: The artist says she stopped painting lighthouses for a while because she was beginning to be known as a “lighthouse painter,” but she has happily returned to creating subjects that she loves, including the two lights on Grand Haven’s South Pier.

Wells is grateful for her support system, which is much needed if you’re going to be a full-time artist, she says. “I have that in my husband (Thomas Wells, of Grand Rapids’ centennial fruit farm Wells Orchards). He doesn’t fan the flames but he doesn’t stifle them, either.”

Regarding her passion for lighthouses, Wells says she stopped painting them for a while because she started to be known as the “lady with the lighthouse paintings.” But then, she happily went back to expressing her love for Michigan’s waterfront guardians. And whether her works sell or not is of no concern to her. “Why would we, as artists, waste time painting things that other people like?” she asks.

More Information

Emily Wells participates in a variety of art fairs. Her prints also can be found at Baxter’s Somewhere in Time Gallery & Gifts, on Mackinac Island. Her original art can be found at PaLatte Coffee & Art, Grand Rapids. Prints and originals are available at SilverFire Gallery & Gifts and Gallery Uptown, both in Grand Haven. Website: emilywellsfineart.com. Instagram: emilywellsfineart.

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MAPLE MOON RECIPE (Large mug: 16 oz.)

Co ee

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DESIGN STARS

BY Khristi S. Zimmeth

PHOTOS BY Todd Ruthven

Living the dream on Bass Lake

Woods and Water

Like many Michiganders, Deb and Todd Ruthven grew up heading north on weekends. “We both came up a lot when we were younger,” Deb explains of their frequent trips upstate. “Todd camped at Interlochen and I liked to ski at Crystal Mountain.”

Like even more Michiganders, the then-Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor-based couple dreamed of a place on the water to call their own, and often checked out available properties on their weekend visits. Their dream became a reality in July of 2021, when they came across an empty lot with 230 feet of frontage on Bass Lake, about 10 minutes from Traverse City.

To the couple’s delight, the 2-acre lot was edged by wetlands and included lake views. It was “very beautiful, very secluded,” Deb recalls. “It had a U.P. kind of feel, with lots of pine trees but not a lot of houses — a very woodsy vibe.”

The Ruthvens initially thought they’d match that vibe with an equally woodsy log cabin, but they changed their minds after staying at some hygge-style shortstay rentals near Lake Leelanau. Based on the Scandinavian tradition that emphasizes coziness, comfort, and relaxed living, hygge also embraces simplicity, soft textures, natural materials, and a minimalist approach.

That choice of style led them to builder Gary Mott of G. Mott Builders in Traverse City, a local craftsman who’s

Above: Based on a Scandinavian style, the homeowners opted for a 37-foot vaulted ceiling in the great room and a floating staircase.

Right: Enveloped by Mother Nature, this guest bedroom, with its large windows, makes you feel as if you’re sleeping outdoors.

Opposite page: Bass Lake near Traverse City is embraced by glorious fall colors; homeowners Deb and Todd Ruthven never tire of them. Their dream home’s exterior features Shou Sugi Ban — an ancient Japanese process of charring wood that lends a striking, textured appearance that’s perfect in the home’s rustic surroundings.

“known for his ability to blend modern design with the natural environment,” Todd shares. Mott had worked on many of the projects the couple admired in the area, and together they designed a strikingly simple, approximately 2,000-square-foot home with three bedrooms and two baths. Rooted in Scandinavian style and the surrounding landscape, the house also includes custom touches such as a 37-foot vaulted ceiling in the great room/kitchen, a floating staircase, three levels including loft space for guests, and cement floors with radiant heat.

Clad in steel corrugated siding and cedar trim with accents of Shou Sugi Ban — an ancient Japanese technique of charring wood that lends a striking, textured appearance — the exterior fits seamlessly into the surrounding woods. Popular on the West Coast, it doesn’t need maintenance and is both flame- and bug-resistant, Todd says. “Gary created it all with a blowtorch,” he remembers with a laugh.

“He was out there in 90-degree weather; he went way beyond the normal.”

Inside, the material can also be found on the living room fireplace.

The built-in table/kitchen island, meanwhile, is made of black walnut slabs the couple chose at Live Edge Detroit; they also worked with friend and interior designer Jill Arcure to achieve their overall goal of a cozy yet open concept, with lots of windows.

“The house blends into its environment,” Deb says. “It really feels like it belongs here.”

The couple moved into the home in October of 2023. Favorite activities include boating, paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking, and fishing. Fall is color-watching season, while in the winter the couple enjoys snowshoeing and Todd spends time ice-fishing or restoring his old car collection. With Traverse City just 10 minutes away, Deb can head to town for coffee or Pilates classes, and the couple likes to indulge in the area’s wineries, restaurants, and cultural events whenever the mood strikes or if they need a dose of city living.

Otherwise, they mostly enjoy the life they had long dreamed of. Now retired, they look forward to welcoming friends and family, including their two grown children and recently-born first grandchild. Todd jokes that it’s time to install Murphy beds on the third floor, which is currently used for yoga and is where you’ll find the couple’s home office.

“Life up here is more than we expected,” Todd reports. Although they miss their downstate friends, they don’t miss their downstate life, he says. “Waking up every morning to the sounds and smells of the lake and trees always makes us smile. We feel truly blessed.”

Top and above:

The hygge-style primary bathroom has clean lines and a neutral color palette. The builtin table/kitchen island is made of black walnut slabs the homeowners chose at Live Edge Detroit.

Notebook

Tips, trends, and tidbits for home and away

by Megan Swoyer

 Delamar Traverse City Opens Java Spot

Maison, a new all-day café, has opened in Traverse City’s Delamar hotel. The former bistro space is now a warm, inviting hub that blends northern Michigan hospitality with European café culture. Maison serves up fresh pastries from The Mill in Glen Arbor and smallbatch coffee by Panther Coffee. It also offers a rotating menu of artisan sandwiches and seasonal fare. delamar.com

 Create a Tulip Poster

The deadline for the 2026 Holland Tulip Time Festival’s First Bloem poster competition is Oct. 3-4. The contest is open to artists in Ottawa, Allegan, Kent, Muskegon, and Kalamazoo counties, who can submit up to three original, unframed pieces measuring 16 inches by 20 inches. Submissions should be dropped off at the Tulip Time Offices, 42 W. 8th St., Holland, with the submission form. The 2025 winner was Andrew Snyder, who created a watercolor/pencil piece titled “Blooms on Parade” (photo above). tuliptime.com

 Grand Transformation

Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel has completed significant renovations to the Parlor, iconic Main Dining Room, and Audubon Bar, which debuted as a new concept called Baroque (right) this past summer. So far, the new looks are getting rave reviews, especially from those who feared the changes would disrupt the historic vibe of the venerated hotel. The transformation was spearheaded by Dorothy Draper & Co., the firm that has led the hotel’s color aesthetic since 1976. The changes are part of a five-year restoration project to preserve the hotel. Refreshed patterns and new colors — including Huron Sunrise — adorn the parlor. “That color is much like the shade of our geraniums when they first start to bloom and it’s also the beautiful sunrise hue on the Lake Huron side that you see from here,” hotel president David Jurcak told me on a recent tour. And never fear, the geranium motif continues to be alive and well, thanks to new carpet across the entire Parlor level. So much eye candy! Of note: Look for the hotel to fashion its own geranium breed in the near future, Jurcak shares. grandhotel.com

Have news about design or décor? Send a note to MSwoyer@Hour-Media.com.

 Making Scents of Michigan

Inspired by Michigan’s Freshwater Coastline, Pure Michigan and The Aroma Labs have teamed up to capture the essence of the state through four custom fragrances — one for every season, and each rooted in the sights, smells, and spirit of Michigan’s most beloved moments. The new products are part of a “slow travel” initiative, says Kelly Wolgamott, vice president of Pure Michigan. “Our sense of smell has a unique ability to transport us in time and space. These fragrances are designed to enable people to revisit a favorite vacation memory, anticipate an upcoming season, or experience a moment of the relaxation they feel in Michigan.”

Available to the public as a linen, room, and body spray, the fall fragrance is as refreshing as a crisp autumn day beneath cerulean blue

skies. “It’s an autumn mix that can transport you to a fall day set off by radiant reds and yellows, while the sun shines warmly on faces and fallen leaves crunch underfoot,” Wolgamott says. Look for Fresh (summer) and Harvest (fall) in stores now. First Snow and Awakening are in the works for winter and spring. The fragrances are available in select shops in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Chicago. thearomalabs. com/pure-michigan

616 914-2580 Serving West Michigan since 2010 Platinum Graber Dealer Why is LMCU is Michigan’s #1 mortgage lender?* It’s simple: we simplify the homebuying process — and make it more affordable. Let our expert loan officers do the heavy lifting, with personalized service, down payment options as low as 0–3%,** and industry-low closing costs. Connect with a loan officer near you at LMCU.org/Mortgage or call (844) 754-6280.

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Curated Window Treatments & Bedding

We thoughtfully orchestrate every detail, transforming your home with curated, bespoke window coverings that bring warmth, elegance, and effortless luxury to every space. Call to learn more.

*Marketrac, July 2025. **For well-qualified borrowers. The interest on the portion of the loan that exceeds the value of the dwelling is not tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor. LMCU NMLS #442967.

Our first-ever readers’ favorites poll takes us to all corners of the Great Lakes State, showcasing everything from top festivals to popular lighthouses and who builds the prettiest cottages. Here, the results of our online survey reveal your picks! Congratulations to the winners!

Michigan Blue readers chose Harbor Springs as the best boating town in the state. And fall is a splendid time to cruise its waters.

Best

VACATION TOWN

Southeast Detroit

Southwest Saugatuck/Douglas

North Harbor Springs

Upper Peninsula Mackinac Island

WINERY

Southeast Pentamere Winery, Tecumseh

Southwest Modales, Fennville

North Chateau Chantal, Traverse City

Upper Peninsula Mackinaw Trail Winery & Brewery, Manistique

“A favorite thing to do in the summer is find a seat at Jazz at Sunset at Chateau Chantal (in Traverse City). On Thursdays you can sip some of Michigan’s best wine while tapping to the tunes of world-class jazz musicians.”

— Mike Kent, public relations manager, Traverse City Tourism

LIGHTHOUSE

Southeast Fort Gratiot, Port Huron

Southwest Big Red, Holland

North

Old and New Presque Isle Lighthouses, Presque Isle Township (Alpena)

Upper Peninsula Crisp Point, Newberry

The New Presque Isle Light, in Presque Isle Township on Lake Huron, has the tallest lighthouse tower on the Great Lakes accessible by the public.

The first vineyard at Chateau Chantal was planted in 1986. Today, the destination grows several grape varieties that visitors can sample.

Don’t miss the Tulip Time festival, which will color Holland in an assortment of astounding shades May 1-10, 2026.

FESTIVAL

Southeast Detroit Jazz Festival, Detroit

Southwest Tulip Time, Holland

North Venetian Fest, Charlevoix

Upper Peninsula Lilac Festival, Mackinac Island

INLAND LAKE FOR FISHING

Southeast Lake St. Clair, Macomb County

Southwest Gull Lake, Kalamazoo and Barry counties

North Torch Lake, Antrim and Kalkaska counties

Upper Peninsula Lake Gogebic, Gogebic and Ontonagon counties

GOLF COURSE WITH A WATER VIEW

Southeast Shepherd’s Hollow, Clarkston

Southwest Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor

North Arcadia Bluffs, Arcadia

Upper Peninsula Manitou Passage Golf Club, Cedar

BIKE TRAIL

Southeast Bridge to Bay Trail, Port Huron

Southwest Van Buren Trail State Park, South Haven

North North Central State Trail, Gaylord to Mackinaw City

Upper Peninsula Iron Ore Heritage Trail, Iron County and beyond

ART GALLERY

Statewide

J. Petter Galleries, Saugatuck

BOATING RACE/ REGATTA

Statewide

Bayview Mackinac Race

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

TOWN

Statewide

Traverse City

“Everything is top-notch at Arcadia Blu s in Arcadia, starting with the clubhouse. The course is built on a beautiful piece of property. Several holes o er great views of Lake Michigan.”

— Greg Labadie, avid golfer and owner, Midwest Cabinet & Counter, Madison Heights

Cyclists love the Iron Ore Heritage Trail’s Marquette section, which o ers great Lake Superior views.

Mark your calendars for the Bayview Mackinac Race, which will take place July 18, 2026.

Arcadia Blu s o ers world-class golf courses along with a range of accommodations and a dining menu with wonderful options.

BOATING TOWN

Statewide Harbor Springs

SUNSET LOCATION

Statewide Oval Beach, Saugatuck

SWIMMING BEACH

Statewide Oval Beach, Saugatuck

DOG-FRIENDLY BEACH

Statewide Zoll Street Beach, Harbor Springs

MARINA/YACHT CLUB

Statewide Macatawa Bay Yacht Club, Macatawa

BEACHTOWN BAR

Statewide The Deck, Muskegon

“There’s nothing like a Lake Michigan sunset seen from Oval Beach (in Saugatuck). It’s like being on the ocean but the sunsets are better, as every one is unique and magical with the seasons. Throughout the years, I’ve photographed and framed them.”

—

Kevin Serba, interior designer, Birmingham, and Saugatuck cottage owner

Oval Beach, in Saugatuck, was named one of Trip Advisor’s “Best of the Best U.S. Beaches” for 2025.

Enjoy a

or just

“It’s best to go to the Mackinaw Bakery in Mackinaw City early in the day because they sell out of a lot of their yummy baked goods early — but they also make great breakfast sandwiches and have teas and co ee. Everyone must make it a point to go when in the area.”

— Karla Wolfe,

business analyst/artist and Carp Lake resident

DISTILLERY

Statewide Grand Traverse Distillery, Traverse City

ALLERGY-FRIENDLY EATERY

Statewide Alcona Brew Haus, Harrisville

BAKERY

Statewide Mackinaw Bakery, Mackinaw City

Left:

delicious barbecue

drinks with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan at The Deck in Muskegon.

“Zoll Street Beach, right on Lake Michigan in Harbor Springs, tucked along the Harbor Springs lakeshore, is the only dog-friendly beach in the area. It’s got an incredibly friendly vibe and it’s a great place to meet other dogs and dog owners. Dogs are welcome to roam and swim off-leash but it’s not a fenced-in area, so I recommend that owners only let their dogs off-leash if they’re confident in their dog’s reliable response to name recall/voice commands. There are convenient amenities for pet parents at the beach — a grassy picnic area with tables, a rinse-off water spigot, and waste stations to keep the beach clean.”

— Sarah Wiese, marketing and communications director, Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, and Petoskey resident

BUILDER

Southeast

Moceri Companies, Auburn Hills

Southwest

Mike Schaap Builders, Holland

North Cottage Company of Harbor Springs, Harbor Springs

Upper Peninsula

Ray Halberg Construction, St. Ignace

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Southeast Zaremba & Co., Pontiac

Southwest

Creative Landscaping & Design, St. Joseph

North

Silvia & Sons, Harbor Springs

Upper Peninsula

Jack Barnwell Design, Mackinac Island and beyond

Left: Dog-friendly Zoll Street Beach, in Harbor Springs on Lake Michigan, is tucked along the Harbor Springs lakeshore. Here, Harbor Point Peninsula typically provides protection from strong winds.

Right: This Harbor Springs cottage great room and porch overlooking Lake Michigan exemplifies Cottage Company of Harbor Springs’ keen eye for top-notch design.

“We’ve worked with Cottage Company on three of our cottages in Harbor Springs. Each one needed to be extensively remodeled. Working with the team on all projects has been nothing short of exceptional; their professionalism and commitment to excellence are truly commendable. They always have professional attitudes and manage to have fun while working on the projects.”

— Lisa and Marty S., cottage owners, Harbor Springs

“I’ve been going to the Pink Pony on Mackinac Island for 36 years. I love to sip a drink while enjoying the great views of the water and listening to live music. The Pony is always casual, vibrant, and fun!”

— Patti Witte, artist/avid traveler and Northville resident

Above and left: The Pink Pony, located in the Chippewa Hotel on Mackinac Island, is a huge draw for diners, overnight guests, and those who just want to stop in for a drink and a great Straits of Mackinac view. A favorite concoction is the delicious Yachter’s Painkiller, which blends rum, cream of coconut, orange juice, pineapple juice, and a dash of nutmeg.

Opposite page, top and here: You haven’t camped if you’ve not stayed at Wilderness State Park, about 11 miles outside of Mackinaw City. The park’s attributes include 20-plus miles of trails and 26 miles of picturesque shoreline. It’s also a designated dark sky preserve.

HAPPY HOUR

Statewide

Pink Pony, Mackinac Island

OUTDOOR DINING

Statewide

Pink Pony, Mackinac Island

CAMPING

Statewide

Wilderness State Park, 11 miles west of Mackinaw City

Northeast Michigan’s Jeffrey and Jess Dobbs invite us to look at some of their favorite autumn sights, captured through their creative lenses

Text by Megan Swoyer

There are many ways to absorb the astounding fall color enveloping the beautfiul Au Sable River, especially if you take River Road National Scenic Byway out of downtown Oscoda. It's peppered with trails and overlooks, including the one shown here — Highbanks Trail. The river is considered a blue ribbon fishing stream, and is teeming with trout.

Wagner Falls, just south of Munising, comes to life with vivid oranges and golds starting in September. The falls are nestled among old-growth trees, adding to their draw.

The warm russets, vivid yellows, and verdant greens of autumn pop against brilliant blue skies at Munising Falls, which is located in the westernmost portion of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The falls drop about 50 feet.

 Meander over to Little Sable Point Lighthouse in Mears, south of Pentwater, during an autumnal sunset and you'll take in quintessential Michigan. The light was originally built in 1874 and has undergone a few changes over the years. Located in Silver Lake State Park, the towering sentinel invites you to climb its 139 steps.

 Rustic Negwegon State Park takes on a quiet vibe in the fall, and, actually, it's quite quiet througout the year. Located off U.S. 23 north of Harrisville near Black River, the park features 8 miles of pristine Lake Huron shoreline that's home to a mix of lowland areas, small ridges, and pockets of open meadows. The park is a great spot for finding bald eagles, Blanding's turtles, and other special things we won't divulge.

 Peeking out of the Huron Natonal Forest is Alcona County's Reid Lake Foot Travel Area's Little Trout Lake. The very essence of this still ambience is exactly why our featured photographers wanted to call peaceful northeast Michigan their home.

 Get to Tahquamenon Falls State Park (between the Upper Peninsula's Newberry and Paradise) early in the morning if you want to observe the attraction's ethereal, misty vibes. Thirty-five-plus miles of trails and multiple overlooks to the Upper and Lower Falls await in this special spot that's part of the North Country Trail.

Husband-and-wife team Jeffrey and Jess Dobbs chose to live in Glennie, in northeast Michigan, because they say it’s the most U.P.-like region in lower Michigan. “We initially wanted to move to the U.P., but we didn’t want to be that far from our family downstate,” Jeffrey says. “So we compromised and settled in Alcona County. We’re so blessed to live among endless natural beauty and vast forests.”

The Dobbses run Michigan.Photography (michigan.photography). While they’re both avid nature photographers, they’re also professional wedding and portrait photographers, as well as business and marketing photographers, through their company Framed by Nature Photography (framedbynaturephotography.com). They also own Intrigue Digital Services (intrigue-digital.com), through which they create websites, SEO, social channels, video, and more for dozens of clients.

For travel and nature photography, Jess’ favorite camera is her Nikon Z5; her preferred lens is a Sigma 135mm F1.8 Art. Jeffrey says he tends to be sentimental and often uses his 13-year-old Canon 6D and his slightly newer Nikon, but he admits that he can’t live without his Tamron SP 35mm F1.4. Jeffrey says he’s been interested in photography for as long as he can remember. When he was a child, back in the days of film, his grandmother helped him learn the basics on her old Minolta. In 2012, when he married Jess, he received a digital SLR as a wedding gift from his bride.

“That’s when we really got into it,” Jeffrey says. “She stole my camera so often, I had to get one for her, too. Taking photos of landscapes and nature really is what got us interested and passionate about learning the art of capturing light.

The ‘people’ aspect came along secondarily, but opened the door to us becoming professionals.”

Jess’ path is similar. Her grandmother was a good photographer and inspired her granddaughter’s journey into learning the craft. “My can’t-live-without lens is my Tamron SP 35mm F1.4,” Jess says.

Photographers Jeffrey and Jess Dobbs say their love for photography was inspired in part by their grandmothers.

The family room windows were reconfigured to reflect the roofline.

A swivel chair, which can face the lake, complements a gorgeous vintage rug.

Renovated home on Diamond Lake is the perfect escape

Interior Design: Jamie Foley, Studio 1018, Chicago Contractor: Gatz Construction, Dowagiac Cabinetry (kitchen and mudroom): Amish Custom Kitchens, Chicago

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jeffrey Johnson BY Jeanine Matlow

Taking a cue from the exterior, Jamie Foley, interior designer and owner of Chicago-based Studio 1018, worked her magic on this Diamond Lake getaway for a Chicago couple. “The architecture made it feel a little French, and that resonated with the client. The French-inspired architecture and finishes blend with eclectic furnishings, creating a curated, collected aesthetic throughout the home,” Foley says.

The scenic location supports the clients’ active lifestyle. The family loves to partake in activities like waterskiing and sailing at Cass County’s popular recreational lake, which is said to be the largest in southwest Michigan.

Furnishings and adornments from the past add character to the home. “Every room has a piece of vintage furniture; they have a layering to them,” Foley explains. “This project was done during COVID, so we had to be really scrappy with sourcing from vintage and retail stores.

“There are little details peppered throughout, like unlacquered brass that will patina,” the designer adds. “The clients are fine with (some of the pieces) being imperfect and changing over time.”

The ILVE range in the kitchen, where custom cabinetry meets floating shelves that seamlessly integrate LED light strips, was color-matched to Nocturnal Gray from Benjamin Moore. “Every room has that color in it somewhere,” Foley says. “The interiors were mostly color-palette driven.”

Creative modifications to the layout included removing an extra staircase. “The house doesn’t need two staircases,” Foley says. “That gave us room to create a closet for a hidden office space that looks like an armoire. We sliced off the front for the doors and the pediment.”

A three-car garage was adapted to meet the family’s needs, as well. “We took the third bay for a laundry room and a mudroom,” Foley notes. “The extra space also gave them a powder room.”

Another clever transformation benefits overnight stays. “The clients had an enclosed dining room that felt very formal for a lake house, so it became a guest bedroom,” Foley says. “It’s a cozy little room with a wallpaper remnant from their home in the city.”

A new dormer features a 12-person bunkroom that looks like the hull of a ship,

Both pages, clockwise from upper right: Cheerful art creates a welcoming feel in a daughter’s bedroom. Wood, metal, and soft blues and grays adorn the cozy primary bedroom. A curated, collected aesthetic runs throughout the home, including in the kitchen, where neutral tones allow the outdoors to take center stage.

while an adjacent bathroom with a trough sink can handle two at a time. “The space has a great vinyl wallcovering that looks like grasscloth,” the designer notes.

In the family room, where the windows were reconfigured to reflect the roofline, a coffee table from the couple’s Chicago home and a swivel chair that can face the lake complement a vintage rug. Nautical elements include a guest bathroom with a rope mirror. The luxurious primary bath has a vaulted ceiling, marble floors, and a clawfoot tub. “It was very intentionally designed to be their sanctuary,” Foley says.

Foley is crazy about the wet bar. “It’s a favorite space,” she says. “I love the metal mesh doors, the backsplash, and the metal countertop edging.”

The designer previously worked with the couple on their primary residence. “It was really nice to do their vacation home because I knew them and I knew what’s important to them,” she says. “There was a little bit of a looseness to it, so we could go outside their comfort zone with a slightly different vision. They’re now empty-nesters, and this is a nice transition for them.”

This page: The bunkroom is awash in Hale Navy paint from Benjamin Moore. Cubbies and drawers corral duffle bags. The adjacent bathroom features a trough sink. Opposite page: A reading nook provides the perfect hideaway.

A few of interior designer Jamie Foley’s favorite elements for fashioning lakeside comfort

1. Daughter’s Bedroom Bed, Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com

2. Dining Table, Lumber2Love, Grand Rapids, lumber2love.com

“We found this vendor online in one of the numerous client/designer brainstorming sessions in the car on our way home from a site visit,” designer Jamie Foley says. “The clients were very receptive to unique details, customizing one of their existing pieces in size, shape, and finish.”

Top: Removing an extra staircase provided room for a hidden o ce. Bottom: The designer is crazy about the wet bar, especially its metal mesh doors and countertop edging.

3. Porch Swing/Bed, Southern Komfort Bed Swings, southernkomfortbedswings.com

“I wanted a porch swing that could also function as a bed, to increase the sleeping capacity of the home and create a prime nap location with a view of the lake in the summer and the crackling fire in the winter.”

4. Trough Sink, Watermark Fixtures, watermarkfixtures.com

“We found a great faux grasscloth wallcovering for this space and had Watermark match the exterior of the trough sink exactly, to give this bathroom o of the bunkroom style and function.”

5. Guest Bedroom Sconces, Lumens, Bimini Single-WallSconce, Regina Andrew, Detroit, reginaandrew.com

Grand Rapids cookbook author and content creator mixes up delicious concoctions, and dishes up some apple-icious seasonal recipes

BY Megan Swoyer

Yumna Jawad is the founder of Feel Good Foodie.

About 12 years ago, Yumna Jawad decided she wanted to learn to cook well. A graduate of the University of Michigan’s business school, Jawad, a marketing research manager, had been working in her chosen field for a number of companies as a contract consultant.

“I’d get a project, complete it, turn it in, and move on to the next project,” says Jawad, who was born in Africa and moved to Dearborn as a young child.

She says that working in the field of marketing research gave her great experience in a variety of subjects, yet she sensed that there was something else waiting for her.

Jawad recalls that she would often watch her mother, Amal Mackie, closely in the kitchen as she diced, chopped, and whipped up delicious Lebanese fare like hummus, tabbouleh, falafel, and shawarma, along with classics like kibbeh. Eventually, a lightbulb went off.

“I’d had a baby six months previously, but I wanted to get out there and try to share myself and be the subject, relating to cooking, (and I realized I wanted) to create a public forum on Instagram with the eyes of strangers watching me,” the Grand Rapids resident says. She kept her research job part time, until the summer of 2014, and then decided to jump into the world of social media as a content creator.

In no time, Jawad was posting her healthy-food-with-a Mediterranean-twist recipes on Instagram. An overnight success, today the home chef is a full-time entrepreneur, social media content creator, and recipe developer. She also founded overnight oats brand OATS. As the creator of the popular Feel Good Foodie brand, with more than 10 million (4.7 million on Instagram) followers on her social media platforms, she shares “healthy-ish” recipes with feel-good ingredients.

“I just needed to pave my own way and figure it out on my own,” says Jawad, who believes that if you’re passionate about something, you’ll figure it out.

About a year ago, she published a cookbook, “The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook.”

An agent contacted her to write a book, but Jawad told her she was too busy and

would put the idea on the back burner. She recalls being told, “Yumna, no one wants a cookbook created by someone who’s not busy. They want to buy a cookbook from someone who is killing it!” That convinced her to do a book. She ended up working with Penguin Random House, which was a fan of Yumna’s recipes and expressed interest in having her create a book with whatever recipes she wanted.

“They allowed me to use the exact amounts of salt, as so many today want you to say, ‘salt to taste!,’ ” Jawad says with a laugh. Her “Feel Good Foodie Cookbook” features everything from white zucchini pizza with garlicky labneh to tomato rice pilaf, harissa-grilled shrimp skewers, and seven spice roast chicken & pomegranate potatoes. “They’re unfussy, healthy meals that are enhanced by Middle Eastern flavors,” the author says.

The busy entrepreneur has her food career down to a science. On Monday, Jawad tests eight recipes, which she retests until she’s satisfied with them. She publishes two of those recipes per week on her website. On Wednesday she makes three videos that she shares the following week on social media platforms.

“I could create a to-do list that doesn’t end, but I have to set boundaries. I love that I’m available for my kids,” she says.

Lest one think she’s just cooking, the answer is a resounding no! Jawad has a team that includes copywriters, an SEO manager, and more. “For recipes to be found, say, on Google, you have to write some 200 words to explain it,” she says, noting that her copywriter can take her ideas and express them in words for that very purpose.

Change is inevitable, as Jawad navigates food trends and what followers want. “People are so casual now and don’t want videos (that are) ultra-processed and finished; they want it to be more like you’re Face-timing with your sister,” she says. As a result, she no longer uses a videographer; it’s just Jawad, her iPhone, and her tripod, and each recording is 30 seconds or less.

“Before, this all was about what I wanted — but now that I know I’m a business that serves people, I have to focus on what customers want. Often, that might mean they’re sitting in a carpool lane waiting, so they look on their phone to see what Yumna is making.”

Her posts have changed, too, and are much shorter and more simplified than they

once were. “Everything was too involved,” she says, sharing that her website users and Facebook friends do not have the same demographics as her Instagram followers. “Yes, there’s some overlap,” she says, “but Instagram people are busy and can follow a recipe without having to print it out. They get the gist of it.”

As for topics, she no longer shies away from what might be considered too simple. “People want to learn something as basic as how to scramble eggs,” she says.

She’s also careful on how she delivers her message. “Believe it not, food can be polarizing. For example, some say, ‘Garlic, ick!’ Others say, ‘Oh, yeah, garlic!’ ”

A favorite kitchen memory from her childhood in Africa is watching her mom make tabbouleh. “Although tabbouleh sounds exotic, it’s just parsley, tomatoes, lemon, olive oil, and bulgar wheat (or substitute that with quinoa).” When she envisions her mom chopping the ingredients, she can almost smell the fragrant parsley and lemon spritzes filling the air. “Cooking is a labor of love.” Tabbouleh also conjures up memories of beach picnics in Lebanon or Africa. “It’s so refreshing on a hot day — parsley salad in lettuce cups at the beach.”

This fall, Jawad and her husband, a cardiologist at Corewell in Grand Rapids, and their two children, now 14 and 12, are looking forward to their annual apple-orchard visits. And there’s no shortage in Michigan of apple-picking destinations. They’re especially plentiful in the Grand Rapids region, thanks to the role Lake Michigan plays in moderating the climate. The lake effect results in milder winters and cooler summers, creating ideal conditions for apple trees to thrive.

“Apple-picking is a great Michigan thing to do,” Jawad says. “We go every fall.” She’ll make apple pie and apple crisp, which is “so easy, but feels like a truly elegant dessert.” She’ll also whip up cookies, muffins, and oatmeal cups with the apples. “And don’t forget, you can use apples in savory recipes, too, like with walnuts on kale or in an apple slaw. You get the tart with the sweetness.”

Favorite orchards include Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery and Farmhaus Farms, both in Grand Rapids, and Frugthaven Farm in Greenville.

“I prefer apples that we also snack on and my family loves, like Honeycrisp. They’re crispy, lightly sweet, and tart.”

Turn the page for her apple recipes.

More Information:

Visit Yumna Jawad’s website at feelgoodfoodie. net. Follow her on Instagram at feelgoodfoodie. You can purchase “The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook” on Jawad’s site, Amazon, or wherever books are sold.

Creative entrepreneur Yumna Jawad and her mother, Amal Mackie, dice and chop their way to deliciousness.

Jawad’s book was published by Penguin Random House.

Apple g Cinnamon Oatmeal Cups

This Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cups recipe is a cross between baked oatmeal and muffins. They’re made with simple vegan ingredients and make a healthy breakfast! (Makes 12 cups)

Ingredients

3 cups rolled oats

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups almond milk

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

¼ cup maple syrup

1 cup apples, finely chopped

½ cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12cup muffin pan with nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Add the milk, applesauce, and maple syrup, and stir until wellcombined. Fold in the

chopped apples and pecans, then transfer the oatmeal mixture into the prepared muffin cups, filling all the way to the top. The batter will seem a little wet, but this is normal. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned and the top is set. Allow to cool completely in the muffin tin before serving.

Tips for Success

You can freeze the baked oatmeal cups for up to three months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, or in the oven at 350 degrees for five minutes, until warmed through. For best results, follow the recipe as is. However, here are some common substitutes that would work well in this recipe: You can use any kind of milk you like, dairy or nondairy; and you can replace the maple syrup with any other liquid sweetener, like honey or agave syrup.

Easy Apple Crisp f

For a quick and cozy treat, try this easy Apple Crisp recipe. It’s the perfect fall dessert, made with juicy apples, cinnamon, and an oat topping.

(Makes 6 servings)

Ingredients

Apple Filling:

6 apples, peeled and chopped

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon cinnamon Crisp Topping:

¾ cup rolled oats

¾ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup light brown sugar, packed

½ cup finely chopped

pecans ½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup unsalted butter, diced cold Vanilla ice cream for serving

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish or 7-inch x 11-inch baking dish. Place the apples into the greased baking dish and add the sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon on top. Stir and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in the butter using a fork or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle

the crisp topping mixture over the apple mixture. Bake until the crisp topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly, about 35-40 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream, if desired.

Tips for Success

Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last about three to four days in the refrigerator. Freezer

Instructions: After baking the apple crisp, allow it to cool completely, then cover it with two layers of aluminum foil. You can freeze it for up to three months. When you’re ready to bake it, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and warm

it at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.

Make Ahead: You can make the topping ahead of time, but add the butter right before baking.

Substitutes: For the best results, follow the recipe as is. However, here are some substitutes that will work well: For the flour, you can use almond flour, glutenfree flour, or even all-purpose flour. Oat flour keeps it glutenfree and light. For the butter, you can use a vegan butter stick or coconut oil. You can leave the pecans out completely, or use walnuts or almonds.

Easy Apple

Pie 

This easy apple pie is a quintessential fall recipe that you can make with premade pie dough and basic ingredients. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving! (Makes 8 servings)

Ingredients

2 pastry dough premade pie crusts (9 inches)

3 tablespoons allpurpose flour

¼ cup granulated sugar

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

6 apples seeded and sliced (sweet and tart varieties)

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 large egg, whisked

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, lemon juice, and the apples. Let stand for 15 minutes. In a second bowl, combine the flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Line a 9-inch pie plate with one of the pie crusts, allowing it to droop over the edges slightly. Drain the sliced apples in a colander, add the flour and spice mixture, toss to combine, and evenly spread the apple mixture in the bottom crust. Place the second pie crust over the apple mixture and gently press down, to ensure it is sitting well on top of the apples. Use a knife to cut a hole the size of a quarter in the center of the crust to allow

the steam to escape. Trim and crimp the edges. Brush the top of the pie with the whisked egg. Place the pie in the preheated oven on the baking tray for 35 minutes. Rotate the pie and reduce the heat to 325 degrees, then bake for an additional 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack for one hour before slicing.

Tips for Success

Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last about three to four days in the fridge. To make it vegan (granted your pie crust is vegan), simply use the drained pie juice liquid to brush the top of the pie crust (or you can use almond milk).

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

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These Apple Cinnamon Muffins are a simple one-bowl breakfast recipe made with no oil and loaded with fresh apples — a perfect treat for fall! (Makes 12 muffins)

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup coconut sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup non-fat Greek yogurt

½ cup unsweetened applesauce

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 cups apples, peeled and diced

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-

cup muffin pan with parchment paper liners.

Combine all dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, spices, salt) in a large bowl. Whisk to evenly distribute everything. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add the eggs and yogurt to the well. Whisk eggs into the yogurt, incorporating as little flour as possible. Add the applesauce and lemon juice to the yogurt and eggs. Whisk to mix, slowly incorporating in the flour. Mix only until everything is incorporated; some lumps may remain. Overmixing will result in tough muffins. Gently fold in apple pieces. Scoop the batter into the paper liners, filling to the top or slightly heaping. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean and the muffins are lightly browned.

Tips for Success

Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days. Place a paper towel under them to absorb any moisture. They’re best served warm and the same day. Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However, here are some common substitutes that would work well in this recipe: Substitute the Greek yogurt with milk; substitute the egg for a flax egg, to make it vegan; substitute the coconut sugar with any other granulated sugar; substitute the applesauce with butter, coconut oil, or any neutral oil. To make this gluten-free, use an all-purpose, gluten-free flour mix. Do not substitute only almond flour or only coconut flour.

Reflections on how the fall season introduces itself to those who love one of north-central Michigan’s most popular regions

BY Bill Semion

When does autumn settle in across the region surrounding Michigan’s largest inland lake? Sometimes, it’s hard to tell.

Along Houghton Lake and neighboring Higgins Lake (the state’s 10th largest lake), only a few miles apart and actually connected, summer in the north central Lower Peninsula likes to linger.

Take it from someone like me who owns a home along the Au Sable River’s fabled South Branch near Roscommon, a few minutes’ drive from both lakes. Most folks decide it’s the Tuesday just after Labor Day weekend, when the last frenetic holiday revels of summer are done. But for others, those who often spend more than a weekend or two here, you’re rewarded with a bigger, longer show. Most of the time.

For folks such as longtime area resident Glenn Stuart, who lives a short walk from the South Branch, the wait is worth it.

“Everybody raves about Vermont, but Michigan has more color than anyplace on Earth. Everything about fall seems to be just comfortable. The temperatures aren’t too cold or too hot. It’s just gorgeous here in September and October. They have to be my favorite months out of the whole year,” Stuart says.

Some years, you’re in shorts, serenaded by grasshoppers and crickets singing their own fragile goodbyes to the season. Other years, savoring your morning coffee by the river at my house just upstream from Glenn’s is better with a blanket, jacket, and perhaps a fleece hat. As fall deepens, watching the first hints of frost tinge the maples a brilliant red weeks before their neighbors is, for me, a melancholy treat.

Either way, as the inevitable unfolds you’re witness to Mother Nature breathing a relaxing sigh and getting ready for what’s next — and this small patch of the state is a great spot to do it, culminating in the first two weeks of October when the rest of the region is at its absolute brilliant best.

What the season brings to this region, however, means that you can enjoy fall in some surprising ways, and in others that are always part of the season. Here are a few of my favorites.

Drink It In

Cider in northern Michigan? You betcha. Apple cider isn’t just a southern Michigan treat. Drink in fall’s sweetness at The Forbidden Fruit Apple Orchard, outside Roscommon. It’s so new, you may not even know it’s been open a few years now.

Owners Chip and Carol Wright have put in 4,000 trees in a 5-acre fenced plot that keeps the deer out. They say they plan to add at least another 2,000 trees, and they’ve just added some plum trees.

“These are tall, spindle trees. They’re designed to be on a trellis wire and grow to 9 to 10 feet. Pruning them promotes the fruit buds, and that’s the key. They’ve been doing it this way in Europe, but it’s fairly new to the U.S.,” Chip Wright explains. The Wrights sell six varieties (many other varieties will be available in the future, as the trees mature) of picked apples from mid-August to late November.

Wright starts pressing unpasteurized cider the first week in September. The first to go in is the honey crisp variety, producing a unique clear drink. As other varieties ripen, they’re combined to make cider with that traditional golden hue, all sold by the half gallon. The orchard is open for tours every Sunday beginning in late August.

“Everybody raves about Vermont, but Michigan has more color than anyplace on Earth. Everything about fall seems to be just comfortable. It’s just gorgeous here in September and October. They have to be my favorite months out of the whole year.”

– Glenn Stuart

Opposite page and above: Charming cottages circle Houghton Lake. Chip Wright checks on his apples at The Forbidden Fruit Apple Orchard.

Quilt It

Enjoy the changing seasons while following a different tapestry, the Roscommon County Quilt Block Trail. Stretching along Houghton Lake’s south shore and over to nearby Lake St. Helen are 21 roadside quilt blocks on wood, telling the stories of the families, history, and culture of the county.

Harvest It

Drive to Wellington Farm USA and you’ll be warping back to 1932. The farm is a 60-acre living history museum set during the Great Depression in northern Michigan, and it’s located on the site of a community that existed here between 1874 and 1918. It’s the project of retired Grayling High School music and theater teacher Howard Taylor, who grew up on a farm in the northwest area of the Lower Peninsula. He started this museum across from his house in 1996, to ensure that the legacy of Wellington and farming endure. The museum has grown from its original two buildings to feature 26 structures with farm

demos and a crafter’s alley, plus plenty of fall demonstrations.

The corn maze, depending on the weather, opens in late September or early October. Pumpkin-picking and annual “pumpkin-chuckin’ ” contests take place in mid-October, and wagon hayrides pulled by steam-powered tractors that might be unique on a Michigan farm will be available Oct. 28-30, Taylor says.

Camp It

As Glenn Stuart likes to say, camping season’s not over by a long shot in the fall, and you’ve got plenty of picturesque spots to do it. North and South Higgins Lake state parks feature sites in a mature hardwood forest. In early September, this stunning lake, once rated the world’s sixth most beautiful by National Geographic, is still warm enough for swimming or wading, and you can always enjoy a campfire.

Houghton Lake State Forest Camp-

Above: Serene Higgins Lake is dressed in fall finery.

Right: Campers enjoy a fire on a crisp autumn day at Higgins Lake State Park.

ground, on the Higgins north shore, has vault flush toilets and an artesian well. If you’re considering other options, there are several different secluded state forest spots, plus nearby private campgrounds, to choose from.

One of my favorites is on the South Branch east of Grayling off M-72. There are no fancy amenities at Canoe Harbor State Forest Campground, just nature. You’ll find a pitcher water pump and pit toilets, and magnificent scenery. You’ll be enveloped by deep forest, and the river’s trout are steps away, available for catch-and-release fishing. Other spots include Hartwick Pines State Park and more state forest campgrounds along the main stream around the Grayling area.

Fish It

You can also enjoy both lakes, and that fantastic fall color show, from the water. B&B Sports Center & Marina on Higgins Lake rents pontoons into early September, while Houghton Lake’s Sun Chasers can rent you a ride into October. Fish for bass, walleye, pike, and panfish. Cool weather means the weed growth recedes, and the fish are eager

to put on some weight prior to the river icing up. Combine fishing with lakeshore color viewing, or take in the colors on a fly fishing float organized by Grayling’s shops including Drake’s Fly Shop, Old AuSable Fly Shop, or Gates Au Sable Lodge.

Paddle It

A fall color canoe trip will send you about five hours through the Mason Tract from two liveries in Roscommon: Paddle Brave Camp & Canoe and Campbell’s Canoes, Kayaks & Tube Rentals. Shorter trips are also available. Bringing a canoe or kayak? Paddle Brave will pick you up at the end of your trip with prior arrangements. Or spot a vehicle on Houghton Lake’s north boat access and kayak or canoe between the lakes on the clear Cut River.

Hike It

Walk your way into the season on hiking trails at both Higgins Lake state parks, including one circling shallow Marl Lake, part of the Cut River connecting Higgins with Houghton Lake. Another at Higgins Lake

North will take you by the CCC Museum, one of hundreds of former camps of the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps across the country. This site was also home to the Higgins Lake Nursery, which helped reforest Michigan and shipped millions of seedlings across the country.

Other hiking options include the Mason Tract Pathway, about a 9-mile out-and back trek through the woods bordering the South Branch, which also becomes a beautiful cross-country ski trail in winter.

About 20 minutes north via I-75, the trails at Hartwick Pines State Park, featuring 49 acres of monstrous old-growth pines and hardwoods, lead you to the Au Sable’s East Branch. There’s even a paved, fully accessible 1.25-mile trail through the trees (Old Growth Forest Trail) and a driving route, aptly named Scenic Trail. Get information that details the state’s lumbering history at the park’s visitors center.

Bike It

The woods near Houghton and Higgins lakes have miles of routes, both paved and

Left: The South Branch of the Au Sable River is breathtaking in autumn.

unpaved. Hop on the sandy routes of the Mason Tract, just north of Roscommon, or follow the main two-track road north of the Chase Bridge Road parking lot at the river. It links to another sandy road that follows the Au Sable River’s South Branch to M-72. All told, it’s about 15 miles. Double check to make sure it’s open when you visit.

You can also bike the North Higgins Lake State Park Trail, starting from North Higgins Lake State Park. You’ll be on part of the Iron Belle Trail, a 2,000-mile system connecting Detroit and Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula, now about two-thirds complete. Other fun bike routes on the Iron Belle include Grayling’s 11-mile paved Community Pathway, which takes riders to the mountain bike trails of Hartwick Pines State Park and Hanson Hills Recreation Area to the west, both stunning in fall. You’ll find loads of ATV trails, too.

Drive It

Hop in your car and drive through thousands of acres of color. Starting on I-75 or U.S. 127

between Houghton Lake and the Mackinac Bridge, the road is one big show, usually between Oct. 1-15. Or follow the two-lanes such as Military Road, Chase Bridge Road, or M-76 near Roscommon; M-55 from I-75 to Houghton Lake; M-18 between Gladwin and Roscommon; or M-72.

Golf It

Experience fall from a tee box at Forest Dunes Golf Club, with three courses — including one holding down No. 37 in Golf Digest’s top 100 in the U.S. There’s a unique reverse course that’s also on Golf Digest’s got-to-play list, and there’s also a 10-holer, all bordering the Mason Tract. Play here and enjoy the color show until Oct. 12. Plus, there are loads of other area courses to enjoy.

Dine It

I recommend multiple worthy restaurants to explore, including two that are at Forest Dunes. Want riverfront food? Try the Cut River Grille near Roscommon, or Gates Au Sable Lodge on the main stream. Casual Higgins off-lake spots include the Landmark and, on Houghton Lake, The Limberlost. Try breakfast and brunch at Roscommon’s Beechwood Café, run by two chefs who know their stuff, or stop at Matt’s Lake Street Grill and Pizzeria.

A former Roscommon bank has been repurposed into The Village Vault restaurant mall, which includes a new brewpub, the Irish Kilt Brewing Co. (you’ll find multiple house-made brews on tap and non-alcoholic choices, as well), Rosco’s Coney Island, and BC Pizza. And, if the weather doesn’t cooperate, enjoy bowling with a full food menu at Fred’s of Roscommon.

Overnight It

Places to stay include motels in Houghton Lake and Grayling, as well as rental homes on the river and both lakes. For a switch, try a state park camping cabin.

Whatever you choose to do, watching the seasons change in the Houghton-Higgins Lake area is one of the true joys of a Michigan fall.

Plan It!

Houghton Lake Visitors Bureau visithoughtonlake.com Grayling Visitors Bureau graylingmichigan.org

Above: There are three course options at Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon, where golfers can enjoy the fall colors through Oct. 12.

ANCHORS AWEIGH

Luxury design firm Soucie Horner Design Collective elevated several spaces at Saugatuck’s Wickwood Inn. Read more about this classic, southwest Michigan inn inside this section.

MICHIGAN BLUE FALL 2025

The grapevines that cover Old Mission Peninsula’s slopes hang heavy with fruit in autumn, and their leaves take on a golden-green cast. Against a backdrop of blazing fall foliage, vineyard crews make their way along the tidy rows of fruit, moving from one vine to the next, pulling clusters of ripe grapes and dumping the harvest into bins for transport to winery crush pads.

The scent of fermentation is already discernible. It’s a sticky-sweet aroma that hints of the thousands of wine bottles soon to be filled.

There’s never a bad time to visit a Michigan winery, but there’s something special about visiting during the crush.

“The crush is the culmination of an entire year’s worth of work,” says Patrick Brys, president and CEO of Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. “All the light, all the sunshine, all the rain, all the pruning and tending, all the weather and all the effort that’s gone into the vineyards in the past year, it all comes together at harvest time.”

The word “crush” originates from the practice of pressing ripe wine grapes, either manually or with winemaking equipment, to extract their juice. Over time, the term has expanded to include the wide array of activities that happen at harvest: pulling ripe fruit from the vines, sorting and cleaning the fruit, pressing the juice from the grapes, and piping it into fermentation tanks. And the crush undeniably includes an air of celebration.

“It really is a joyful time to be around the winery,” says Marie-Chantal Dalese,

TASTING ROOM

Crushing It

Northern Michigan’s wine country showcases a bit of magic at harvest time

BY

Amy S. Eckert

CEO of Chateau Chantal. “It’s the moment we’ve worked toward all year.”

The timing of the crush is never entirely predictable, as the harvesting of wine grapes takes place only when a winemaker believes the fruit has achieved the perfect sweetness and acidity for the style of wine the vintner desires. Timing is also dependent on the weather. Wineries don’t like to pick fruit after a rain, when the juice may be more diluted than optimal. Nor do they want to leave grapes exposed if severe weather is predicted.

Still, most of northern Michigan’s wineries begin their harvest in mid to late September or early October, typically beginning with grapes headed for sparkling wine. White wine varietals like chardonnay, pinot gris, sauvignon blanc, and pinot blanc come next on the harvest calendar, and are followed by the region’s red wine grapes: pinot noir, merlot, and cabernet franc. After this, or intermixed with the red harvest, come the rieslings for dry and

Left: The sorting of grapes keeps staff busy at Black Star Farms.

Top: It’s joyful to be around Chateau Chantal during the harvest season, CEO Marie-Chantal Dalese says. Her parents started the vineyard in 1986.

Middle: During the fall crush, visitors like to enjoy Brys Estate’s elevated deck, which sits above the grapevines and offers a view of East Grand Traverse Bay.

Bottom: When the fruit is ready, one must pick and process the grapes immediately, according to staff at Black Star Farms. Here, visitors learn about Black Star’s “punchdown” process.

vats with their bare feet. The Harvest Festival also includes an all-day art fair.

At nearby Brys Estate, visitors like to gather on the winery’s elevated deck, which sits above 40 acres of grapevines and offers glimpses of colorful fall foliage and a strip of East Grand Traverse Bay beyond. It’s a popular spot for shooting fall photos, and guests can reserve a table on the deck for customizable wine flights and light meals. Visitors can also gather on the adjacent Lawn Bar, a grassy area that promises more great photo ops, cornhole boards, and space to play.

At all Michigan wineries, harvest time is incredibly busy for staff.

“When our fruit is ready, we pick and process it immediately,” says Sherri Campbell Fenton, a second-generation managing owner of Black Star Farms. “It’s not unusual for our winemaking team to work 16- to 18-hour days during the crush.”

Still, Fenton thinks fall is one of the most satisfying times for those in the winemaking business, and one of the nicest times of year to visit Michigan’s wine regions for reasons other than wine alone.

“Fall isn’t only harvest time for grapes, but for a lot of agricultural products,” she says. “All our local restaurants are serving local produce.”

semi-dry styles. Last to be harvested, from December and into early January, depending on the first good cold snap, are the grapes for ice wine.

Across the Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas, visitors can see manual and mechanical pickers at work throughout October. They’ll likely notice tractors hauling bins of fruit for processing. Cellar tours are particularly enjoyable in the fall, and many wineries offer wagon tours through the vineyards.

“We tell our guests the harvest happens when the time is right,” says Dalese, of Chateau Chantal, “but we count on being busy for the length of October. It’s a fun time to visit, and we try to make it more fun with our annual Harvest Festival.”

Chateau Chantal’s festival takes place on the first Saturday of October each year. The event celebrates the crush with public cellar tours, a cork-tossing competition, and an old-fashioned grape stomping, where guests are invited to crush fruit in wooden

Guests at the Inn at Black Star Farms will find apples and pears on the breakfast menu when in season, and meals at the winery’s Bistro Polaris feature fruit, herbs, and vegetables from Black Star’s own gardens and local farmers markets.

Wine country visitors can expect to find those same locally sourced ingredients across the region. And they’re likely to be paired with wines from previous years’ vintages. “The crush is the fruition of a year’s worth of work at a winery,” Fenton says, “but harvesting the fruit is just the beginning.” Two or three years after harvesting, when the wines have aged, is the time to pop a cork and sample a glass. “Then we’ll know what we’ve really got.”

Plan It!

blackstarfarms.com brysestate.com chateauchantal.com michiganwinecountry.com traversecity.com

There I was, indulging on the signature butter cake — a custard-soaked sponge delight with salted caramel gelato, hot fudge sauce, and whipped cream — after just sampling a classic warm popover on which a smidgeon of cinnamon butter melted onto the crusty exterior. And believe it or not, I was already anticipating tomorrow’s to-go lunch, a Maurice salad.

The dinner I recently enjoyed at The Continental at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores was heavenly, to be sure. My main course was roasted airline chicken, a citrus-brined, oven-roasted, super-tender delicacy with Michigan cherry and asparagus risotto and a mushroom Diane sauce. Wow. You can be sure there wasn’t a single bite left.

My dining partner ordered the halibut (a catch of the day), and proclaimed it to be remarkably tender and oh-so-good. He nibbled on just-baked, still-warm, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

We paired our meals with the establishment’s signature wines from Heron Hill Winery, founded by the Ford family in New York’s Finger Lakes region.

Undoubtedly, The Continental promises a unique outing and is an ultra-special experience, as you’re just steps from the Ford mansion (located on Gaukler Pointe), which showcases Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s prized possessions in the home’s jaw-dropping interiors. (The historic family home of Edsel Ford, the only son of Henry Ford, and his wife, Eleanor, is a 1928 National Historic Landmark where visitors can learn about a special piece of the American automotive story in metro Detroit.)

The Continental is located inside the Ford House visitors center, which includes a museum on this branch of the Ford family and a special-event space.

Surrounded by flower-filled gardens, a spacious patio (where we dined), birdsongs, and the beauty of Lake St. Clair, not much could top the experience, especially if you’re a nature lover or are fond of classic dishes.

On a short stroll before dinner, and while dining, we spotted kingbirds and Baltimore orioles amid a patch of purple-topped chives. We also saw Eastern bluestar, woodland sage, puffy peonies, red columbine, chamomile, blue false indigo, and lupin. On Bird Island’s cedar-chipped

DINING OUT

Feasting on History

You’re in for more than a meal when you reserve a table at The Continental at Ford House

trails, we saw lots of cormorants flying and resting amid sweet-smelling honeysuckle. Occasionally, a sailboat or fishing boat would cruise by, adding to the serenity of the scene.

Just before taking our seats at the restaurant, we ran into Kevin Drotos, the property’s landscape and natural areas manager. He was excited about our bird sightings, and told me that he and his team are in the throes of planting a native garden that’s just starting to look good.

Knowing that we’d be able to stroll the home’s rose gardens and explore the lawns beyond after dinner, my companion and I didn’t feel too guilty about savoring our desserts. In fact, thousands of steps

BY Megan Swoyer

later, we returned to our car with happy, exercised hearts.

But back to the food. The restaurant is run by Gretchen Meeuws, Continental Services’ general manager of food and beverage operations. She provided us with some insight into the menu’s pure Detroit offerings, such as the Maurice salad, a protein-packed combo of smoked, julienned ham and turkey, Swiss cheese, green olives, sweet relish, fresh lettuce, and a dressing that’s been described by many as kind of tartar sauce-meets-Thousand-Island, but much lighter.

The Maurice, which we also took home as a carry-out option for lunch the next day, and the aforementioned popovers

(they were great warmed up in the microwave oven), pay homage to Hudson’s Department Store, founded by Eleanor Ford’s famous uncle, J.L. Hudson. “We prepare both the Maurice and the popovers just as they were made at Hudson’s restaurants decades ago,” Meeuws says.

The most popular items and staples, according to Meeuws, are the shrimp and grits (next time, we’re trying this — think Andouille sausage, shrimp, and applewood cheddar grits, in a creole sauce!), the Maurice salad, and the popovers.

She shares that the menu changes with the seasons, but the Continental burger, filet, salmon, Monte Cristo, charcuterie, black bean burger, pot pie, and crab cakes are year-round offerings (perfect fare before or after a stroll or tour).

Some of Meeuws’ favorites include the butter cake (“It’s delish. The hot fudge is what takes it over the top.”), while she also loves the burger for casual dining. “The filet and salmon dishes are favorites for dinner,” she adds. She says you can’t go wrong with the fresh catch, which is always expertly cooked.

Whether you’re enjoying a leisurely lunch, an intimate dinner, or a weekend

brunch, the menu is sure to be memorable, thanks to dishes crafted from seasonal, local ingredients. There’s entertainment on select evenings and guests can order food to enjoy while exploring the historic site.

Dining at The Continental is more than enjoying a good meal; plan to stroll the gardens and grounds along Lake St. Clair before and/or after dinner. Get there even earlier and you can take a tour of the home, participate in a class, or watch a concert. And don’t miss the gift shop — a gardener’s delight full of botanical-themed items, Ford House memorabilia, locally made jewelry, and more.

Plan It!

The Continental at Ford House fordhouse.org

Below: Remember the popular Maurice salad and delicious, light, and airy popovers served at Hudson’s department stores? They’re still available at Ford House!

Above: Diners at The Continental at Ford House have a choice of dining inside in chic surroundings, or outside where lovely gardens await and birdsong entertain.

BY Megan Swoyer

Refined Refuge

Downtown Saugatuck’s charming Wickwood Inn presents finery around every corner

Many years ago, Mara and Andrew Fisher became engaged down the street from the charming Wickwood Inn in Saugatuck. With that history, it’s no surprise that the couple decided to celebrate a decade of marriage at the historic inn this past spring.

The Fishers, who live in Freeland near Saginaw, were delighted at the changes they saw at the inn, which at the time of their late spring visit was surrounded by a beautiful

outdoor landscape popping with white tulips.

“I love that the (relatively new) owners put extra details into the stay, from the hors d’oeuvres at night that bring people together to the amazing breakfasts. Plus, it’s very cozy and warm,” Mara Fisher says.

Originally built in 1937, the Colonial Revival-style house was the family home of Frank Wicks, the mayor of Saugatuck, and became an inn in 1981. The home is located just a block from the Chain Ferry that has crossed the Kalamazoo River since 1838; the ferry is

Both pages, clockwise from left: The Wickwood Inn’s cozy entryway and adjoining great room invite guests to relax. Pretty grounds surround the inn. A guest room seems to take guests back to quieter times. Enjoy coffee, tea, or wine in the alwayswelcoming great room.

the last hand-cranked chain ferry in the United States and connects downtown Saugatuck to Mount Baldhead Park and Oval Beach.

Later, Julee Rosso (co-author of the wellknown “Silver Palate Cookbook”) and Bill Miller purchased the inn and transformed the Wickwood into a farm-to-table culinary destination that attracted 30 years of dedicated guests and garnered lots of publicity.

Four years ago, they sold the inn to Shea Soucie and Martin Horner, founders of the Chicago-based luxury design firm Soucie Horner Design Collective. The Indiana natives elevated the Wickwood’s years of traditions and added their own stamp of timeless elegance with a treasure trove of fine details.

Pure comfort comes in the way of fresh bedside roses, plush linens, homemade breakfast sausage, and nicely appointed landscaping featuring neatly trimmed boxwood and pots brimming with seasonal flowers.

“I love that the (relatively new) owners put extra details into the stay, from the hors d’oeuvres at night that bring people together to the amazing breakfasts.”

— Mara Fisher

My husband and I loved the lighting in our suite, which featured bedside lamps, overhead lighting, and beautiful sconces. We also enjoyed a comfy settee near the window — a perfect spot for reading before walking over

to nearby downtown shops and galleries, or heading to Pumpernickels, down the street, for a tasty burger.

Upon checking in, we were greeted by a warmly lit living room with a blazing fire, a large charcuterie platter, chocolates, and wine. If you’re lucky, the inn’s renowned carrot cake (so moist and chock-full of the perfect spices) might be available. The chef whips up a variety of treats regularly, so guests never know what they’ll find. Attached to the living room is a sweet library alcove brimming with books guests can borrow, as well as a nice assortment of board games.

It wasn’t long before we met and chatted with other couples toasting to the weekend.

A bright, airy dining room, just off the living room, is a perfect spot for enjoying eggs, house-made sausage, and other delectables in the morning, and just off the dining room through French doors is a charming porch adorned with wicker furniture, a beadboard ceiling, and unique wooden bird carvings that hang on the wall.

Beyond awaits a pool and several intimate garden gathering spots with tables where you can enjoy breakfast. Blue Adirondack chairs surround a small fire pit that’s watched over by a lovely female sculpture, while nearby are water features, brick pavers, and lots of classic green plants — echoing the interior’s nod to plants through its beautifully framed botanical prints and fresh flowers artfully placed throughout the inn.

The boutique-style, 11-room inn, close to the shores of Lake Michigan, was undergoing a renovation project, at the time of our visit, that includes a pool (a year-round spool — a spa-pool hybrid) and a new three-bedroom bungalow. The bungalow is nestled amid the English garden-style grounds and is now open and ideal for families or friend groups.

Mara and Andrew Fisher say they’re sure to return, and next time they can celebrate their marriage with a dip in the new pool.

Plan It!

Wickwood Inn wickwoodinn.com

Coming Up: Power of Pause Sleep Retreat, Sept 26-28. Immerse yourself in The Power of Pause, a restorative retreat for women who lead. Hosted by Soucie Horner Design Collective and The Luxury Bed Collection, this weekend blends mindful wellness, cozy elegance, and nourishing farm-totable cuisine. Expect yoga, meditation, and more — all designed to help guests reset and restore.

DISCOVERIES

Waterfront Charms I

From its get-away-fromthe-crowds location along the eastern shore of Lake Charlevoix, Boyne City offers visitors a vibrant small town to explore

BY Dianna Stampfler

t was more than 25 years ago when I first learned about Boyne City, thanks to the then director of the local chamber of commerce, Scott MacKenzie. He often waxed poetically about how his roughly 4,000-resident community was thriving with distinct businesses and events, and touted it as a great place to live and visit.

Years later, when I finally made my way to Boyne City, I instantly understood the allure and it quickly became one of my favorite Michigan destinations. From personal experiences, here’s what I’ve come to enjoy about this charming getaway tucked on the eastern end of Lake Charlevoix, about 15 miles south of Petoskey.

Within its downtown area, Boyne City boasts more than 10 unique restaurants serving up flavorful fare, including Red

Mesa Grill, the Boyne River Inn, Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen, and Lake Street Market.

Cáfe Santé, a European-inspired waterfront bistro, offers an impressive wine book, Belgian beers, and even an absinthe fountain for mystical drinks sure to prompt questions and conversation. Croque madame, mushroom tartine, and quiche Lorraine are brunch favorites, while evening diners savor delicacies such as escargot and pâté Maison, along with woodfired pizzas, pasta, rotating seasonal entrées, and decadent desserts.

In the heart of downtown, Provisions Wine Shop & Market offers anything and everything you might need for a beach, boat, or cottage picnic. A curated selection of wine, beer, and spirits is found alongside gourmet snacks, soup, hot and cold deli sandwiches, and even culinary-themed gifts.

Adjacent to the market, Provisions operates a trendy lounge space with small plates, salads, burgers, and entrées, in addition to a variety of beverages.

Muskrat Distilling serves pre-Prohibitionera craft cocktails, mocktails, and small-plate shareables inside its restored 1890s historic building. The name is a nod to the aquatic creatures commonly seen navigating the currents of the Boyne River, which flows through the city and is the second-largest tributary to Lake Charlevoix. Muskrat also hosts a monthly free book club, with themed cocktails and the occasional author visit.

Tucked on the second floor above the Alpine Chocolat Haus and Cáfe Santé, the 2,000-square-foot Boyne Arts Center encompasses a reception area, classrooms, a gift shop, and a gallery showcasing works

from local artists. Both children and adults can take classes in a variety of mediums such as painting, stitching, jewelry-making, pottery, needle-felting, and smartphone photography.

Since 2009, the Freshwater Art Gallery & Concert Venue on South Lake Street has collectively been highlighting the works of hundreds of Michigan artists. Inside the once-abandoned hardware store, the walls and aisles are adorned with distinctive wood carvings, steam punk pieces, sculptures, furniture, blown glass, and more. Live music is a hot ticket in Boyne City, and Freshwater hosts some of the best shows around. The combination of décor and ambience creates a harmonious listening room experience, drawing performers and audiences from near and far.

Visitors can explore the rural side of Boyne City — a nationally recognized Monarch City — at Avalanche Mountain Preserve, where hiking and biking trails meander through the 300-plus acres of picturesque woodlands. Climbing the 462 steps to the top platform delivers great views of the downtown area and Lake Charlevoix, especially in the fall when the treetops are ablaze with color.

Nearby, Kiwidinok Farm — a Tibetan yak and petting farm — invites visitors to interact with sheep, alpacas, miniature ponies, and other exotic animals.

On the northern outskirts of town, Young State Park has welcomed visitors since the early 1920s to explore its sandy Lake Charlevoix beaches and miles of trails. As

ANCHORS AWEIGH

the main road on the eastern side of the lake winds along farther north, it passes through the unincorporated town of Horton Bay, where a teenaged Ernest Hemingway and his fictional alter ego, Nick Adams, once gallivanted.

Less than 10 miles from downtown Boyne City, Lavender Hill Farms is one of the largest attractions of its kind in the state. With more than 30 varieties of lavender, this certified naturally grown farm hosts garden tours that showcase how lavender is turned into oils, mulch, and more. Summer visitors can pick bunches of lavender from a couple of its fields. And be sure to sample goodies such as the lavender shortbread cookies, made nearby. Live musical performances, workshops, yoga, and events like the Sunflower Festival, which takes place the first Saturday in October in its restored century-old barn, also are on tap.

Every Saturday morning, year-round, the bustling Boyne City Farmers Market sets up along the waterfront. The market is held in Veterans Memorial Park from May through October, and in the adjacent pavilion during the colder months.

Hopefully you, too, will have an opportunity to discover all the creativity, vibrancy, and charm of this quintessential small lakefront town. It just might become one of your northern Michigan favorites.

Plan It!

Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce boynechamber.com

This page: Miles of hiking and biking trails meander through colorful woodlands across the Boyne City region. Opposite page: Tucked away on the eastern end of Lake Charlevoix, about 15 miles south of Petoskey and less than 30 minutes from Charlevoix, Boyne City offers great art, dining, pubs, and beaches.

Inset: Pedestrianand cyclistfriendly Boyne City.

Falling for the U.P.

This photographer’s favorite autumn splash zone sparkles within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

My favorite Michigan getaway is the Upper Peninsula. From stunning Lake Michigan vistas on U.S. 2 to the rocky shores of Lake Superior, there’s always something new to experience in the U.P.

Konnie Spenceley

Now that my husband and I are both retired, we’ve been making trips to the U.P. in the fall. Last fall we embarked on a waterfall trip and visited Miners Falls in Munising. We then drove to pretty Grand Marais to visit Sable Falls, a gorgeous part of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

The morning was sunny, with a touch of fall crispness in the air. It was a short drive from Grand Marais to the falls, and we were the only car in the parking lot. The short walk to the falls was relatively easy, and meandered through a beautiful, wooded area full of birdsong and leaves beginning to transform into their fall palette of colors.

There are 168 steps down to the viewing platform. The sound of falling water kept increasing, as did our anticipation as we continued descending. My husband went first. When he reached the platform, he told me not to look at the falls until I reached a certain spot. When I got there, the photo shown here is what greeted me! We’ll never

forget this day of beauty, solitude, and being one with nature.

After enjoying the falls, we continued on the path to Lake Superior, where we took in a wide-open expanse of sandy beach and crystal-clear water as far as the eye could see. It was an experience that exemplifies why the U.P. calls to us every year.

I photographed the falls using a Canon R7, with a Canon RF 24-105mm lens. My shutter speed was 1/10; F-stop, 16; and ISO, 320. I used an ND filter and no tripod.

P.S. Sable Falls is located on Sable Creek, in the easternmost portion of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Alger County. The main access road to the falls is H-58, west of Grand Marais. The falls tumble 75 feet over Munising and Jacobsville sandstone formations (geological features of the area).

Konnie Spenceley lives in Oscoda, and sells her work in various Oscoda and Tawas locations. She also takes orders from her Facebook page (Konnie Spenceley Photography).

Spenceley, who’s been photographing nature for six years, self-published a children’s book (“What Did I See?”) that’s available through her Facebook page. Her nature posters are available at the Tawas Point Lighthouse gift shop. Follow her on Instagram at Konnie Spenceley Photography.

Sable Falls is named after Sable Creek, the waterway the falls are formed on. The creek got its name from the sable or pine marten, a small mammal found in the area.

TEXT AND PHOTO BY

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