Summer Break Pt 2: Northern Michigan Magic!

August 11, 2023

Taking another quick break from recipes to share a few snaps from a little getaway we took to Traverse City, Michigan! Here's why we call it the California of the Midwest: bright blue waters, sandy beaches, wineries, fruit picking, and beautiful hikes. We cannot stop going here every summer!

We stayed with a few friends in a house near Sleeping Bear Dunes national lakeshore, a playground of mounds of perfect soft sand and glimmering blue fresh water. Each day we worked our way through beaches, hikes, wineries, and cherry orchards, and even a U-pick flower bouquet.

One of our favorite memories? Lighting a beach fire at sunset to roast the perfect s'more, a spin we created with Stroopwafels and Nutella (yep, it was as good sounds!).
Here a few photos and highlights from our trip!

Sleeping Bear Dunes: It’s like a giant sandbox with breathtaking views of crystal blue, Mediterranean-style water! This is Pyramid Point, one of our favorite spots in the world.

Cherry Picking: Fresh cherries straight from the tree? Yes, please! This year we picked at Santucci’s on Old Mission. (We used these babies for this cherry crisp and cherry cobbler.) We also went blueberry picking on the way home and loaded up with a massive pile.

Beach Fires and S'mores: Evenings by the water are what vacation memories are made of. And yes, those s’mores were killer. Good Harbor Beach is our hands down favorite.

Wineries: Rove is one of our favorites: it has great views! We brought back several bottles to try from different stops. (Feel free to suggest some of your favorite wineries in the comments — we’ve been to many but only did a few this trip.)

Restaurants: Our very favorite restaurant in the area is called Farm Club: incredible food, perfect ambiance. We also love getting ice cream at the original Moomer’s Ice Cream. 9 Bean Rows is a great bakery to hit up, and we try to always grab a sandwich at Folgarelli's Market in Traverse City.

The Mill: A new stop for us this year was The Mill Glen Arbor: it’s a beautifully restored mill with a coffee shop and restaurant. It’s a great stop for coffee, breakfast or lunch.

Flower Picking: We also tried a new U-pick flowers experience this year: Old Mission Flowers. It was so much fun to create our own bouquet and it held up well on the drive home, too. (We also love the General Store and the Lighthouse if you’re up on Old Mission!)

Have you been to (or are from) this part of Michigan? Or, what adventures do you have planned before the end of summer? Let us know in the comments!