Jealous! I haven't been up north in a like 5 years. I miss it My parents are up north snobs and always say you aren't "Up North" if you aren't over the bridge. They also say it's not really camping if you have flush toilets...so there's that.
I'd really like to explore the upper lower peninsula though. There's a lot of places I haven't been to and I've lived in Michigan all my life! Have fun!
This is how I am too. I lived in the U.P. for awhile so I can't help but to laugh when people tell me they are going 'Up North' and then head to Houghton Lake.
I lived in the UP until I was 22. To me it's not up north until you hit Lake Superior We're heading there in a week in a half, I haven't been there in the summer in several years, can't wait.
Jealous! I love Northern MI! I'm from Traverse City, originally, and where I went to culinary school. Leelanau Peninsula wineries are AMAZING! They are my favorite, much much better than Old Mission Peninsula wines! You have to go to "45 North" and "Mawby" (sparkling wines!). Let me know if you need any restaurant suggestions, I have a ton for that area!
I'm going to the U.P. tomorrow!
Mawby is, IMO, the best vineyard in N.Michigan. Get a bottle of Sex. You won't regret it.
Jealous! I haven't been up north in a like 5 years. I miss it My parents are up north snobs and always say you aren't "Up North" if you aren't over the bridge. They also say it's not really camping if you have flush toilets...so there's that.
I'd really like to explore the upper lower peninsula though. There's a lot of places I haven't been to and I've lived in Michigan all my life! Have fun!
Since I live a few blocks from Lake Superior - you have not reached Northern Michigan until you get to the UP. You are only in the northern section of the LP. Enjoy your vacation - the weather should be great!
Post by thedutchgirl on Jul 4, 2013 16:47:52 GMT -5
This post makes me nostalgic. I grew up in GR, and my whole family lives there still. I love northern Michigan. Now I go "up north" in Minnesota instead.
This is how I am too. I lived in the U.P. for awhile so I can't help but to laugh when people tell me they are going 'Up North' and then head to Houghton Lake.
I lived in the UP until I was 22. To me it's not up north until you hit Lake Superior We're heading there in a week in a half, I haven't been there in the summer in several years, can't wait.
Yup, you are not in Northern Michigan until you hit Lake Superior, see signs for pasties, and huge upstanding rulers that show measurements of snow fall through out the years! :-) I live as far north as you can go in the UP and we always chuckle at people who forget we are actually up here.
Too cold? In January maybe, but on a day like today it is 85, sunny and absolutely perfect. You should try it some time, it's really not so bad! And there is no other lake quite like Lake Superior!
Too cold? In January maybe, but on a day like today it is 85, sunny and absolutely perfect. You should try it some time, it's really not so bad! And there is no other lake quite like Lake Superior!
Yeah, it is Lake Superior that is to cold!
It is beautiful up there. My aunt and uncle have a cottage on one of the many small lakes in the UP. But for us, it is quite the drive on a what is a limited vacation schedule.
Have so much fun! I'll be in Traverse City next week and I am actually super bummed we aren't up there right now.
I love, love, love Northern (lower) Michigan! My parents had a place on Lake Charlevoix when I was growing up, we got married in Petoskey, and I can't get enough of it up there!
Too cold? In January maybe, but on a day like today it is 85, sunny and absolutely perfect. You should try it some time, it's really not so bad! And there is no other lake quite like Lake Superior!
Yeah, it is Lake Superior that is to cold!
It is beautiful up there. My aunt and uncle have a cottage on one of the many small lakes in the UP. But for us, it is quite the drive on a what is a limited vacation schedule.
Maybe next summer.
I totally hear you about the ride. It is 5 hours through the UP to the bridge, at 55 mph and it sucks! I don't blame you one bit. Mackinac is awesome, I just love to ride around the island on bikes and stroll around St Ignace. Have an awesome time, the weather is great right now, and have an extra little piece of fudge for me!
Too cold? In January maybe, but on a day like today it is 85, sunny and absolutely perfect. You should try it some time, it's really not so bad! And there is no other lake quite like Lake Superior!
You forgot to mention the giant man eating mosquitoes. The U.P. has a very special kind of mosquito. No matter what kind of super DEET repellent you put on - you will be eaten alive.
(Charlevoix for that) have a blast. i miss living in northern mi in the summers. That's where Dh and I worked when we met. We traveled and camped all over on days off.
Jealous! I love Northern MI! I'm from Traverse City, originally, and where I went to culinary school. Leelanau Peninsula wineries are AMAZING! They are my favorite, much much better than Old Mission Peninsula wines! You have to go to "45 North" and "Mawby" (sparkling wines!). Let me know if you need any restaurant suggestions, I have a ton for that area!
I'm going to the U.P. tomorrow!
Mawby is, IMO, the best vineyard in N.Michigan. Get a bottle of Sex. You won't regret it.
And black star farms has award winning leelenau raclette cheese. One of the only non European raclettes to win big awards. Mnmmm you can go eat and taste cheese and wine in the old insane asylum in traverse, too!!
Mawby is, IMO, the best vineyard in N.Michigan. Get a bottle of Sex. You won't regret it.
And black star farms has award winning leelenau raclette cheese. One of the only non European raclettes to win big awards. Mnmmm you can go eat and taste cheese and wine in the old insane asylum in traverse, too!!
You have to go to their location in Leelanau for the cheese! They also have baked goods in a little shop, and fresh preserves! And animals!
Stella's - Italian Red Ginger - Asian Amical - American? FireFly - Fusion Jolly Pumpkin - American? Red Mesa Grill - Mexican Boons Long Lake - Steak! Pangea's - Pizza (the owner also makes Great Lakes Potato Chips!) Mission Table - American?
ETA: The "american?" restaurants aren't burger places or anything like that. I just didn't know how to categorize them, they have a little of everything! All of these restaurants are in Traverse City.
This post makes me want to head north! My friends grandparents live on Lake Superior in Grand Marais - we used to go up there all the time - so gorgeous! We typically go to Boyne every year or so because our time share has a place there and we drive all over. I'm jealous of your vacation! But I do get to head to Gatlinburg on Sunday for a week so I got that going for me
Stella's - Italian Red Ginger - Asian Amical - American? FireFly - Fusion Jolly Pumpkin - American? Red Mesa Grill - Mexican Boons Long Lake - Steak! Pangea's - Pizza (the owner also makes Great Lakes Potato Chips!) Mission Table - American?
ETA: The "american?" restaurants aren't burger places or anything like that. I just didn't know how to categorize them, they have a little of everything! All of these restaurants are in Traverse City.
Oh I forgot about Boons! LOVE that place!
My mom got food poisoning from Boons once...But that was in the mid '90s. So I think its safe.
OH! And I almost forgot! (Sorry - this will be my last recommendation )
Omelette Shoppe for breakfast!
And if you want a super fancy nice dinner you HAVE to go to Blu in Glen Arbor. OMG it is AH-MAZING! They pair wines with each course, the menu changes everyday! It's super tiny so you need a reservation. And you will likely pay over $100 for two people. But it's SO worth it!
And black star farms has award winning leelenau raclette cheese. One of the only non European raclettes to win big awards. Mnmmm you can go eat and taste cheese and wine in the old insane asylum in traverse, too!!
You have to go to their location in Leelanau for the cheese! They also have baked goods in a little shop, and fresh preserves! And animals!
I prefer to go to the farm anyway. I had a great meal there too.
They do serve the raclette traditional way over potatoes at the asylum location. And occasionally you can find their raclette in Meijer in TC! I've ordered it by mail before too
Traverse city- we ate at apache trout grill on the waterfront the night we for engaged. I do enjoy eating there, the docks/ water view is beautiful.
I had a stunning meal on old mission peninsula a few yrs ago. I'll try to think of the place if you want. Lol you have more than enough fun stored up in this post and in your own agenda, I bet!!
Lol, yoopers. We love the land up there too. TC/charlevoix/etc are just the start of the glory of "up north" when you're traveling from down south (gr and the like haha) it's like the sign you're entering the beautiful country.
I adore the UP as well. We spent much of our honeymoon up there because we love it (and have hiked there tons and Been to some of the far reaches). But there will also always be a special place in my heart for the beautiful sands of Lake Michigan.
Northern LP is more doable for a quick weekend getaway.
I just have to participate in this party because I'm going to TC on Sunday. One night there with my parents, one night at Little Bear Lake (Johannesburg/Lewiston area) for RUSTIC camping with my friend who now lives in Virginia and her family. I can only do one night of no plumbing and the amount of drinking they do. H and I just got back from New Orleans last night so I am having a coast-to-coast week, lol!
For wineries, I like Good Harbor (the Harbor Red is perfect table wine) and one other, I think it might have been Chateau Fontaine. In Leland, Verterra Winery has a really good hard cider. Skip Ciccone and 2 Lads, both were crappy and 2 Lads is too far to go for lousy wine. (They are still a little newer so it may be better in a few years.) The Grand Traverse Distillery is interesting, too. Have fun!
I second: Blue Bird in Leland. And Firefly in Traverse City As for wines Left Foot Charley in Traverse City and 45 North are very good. The Old Asylum in Traverse City is really neat, definitely go there. There is a great restaurant Trattoria Stella. I've also had some good wines from Bowers Harbor. There are also a lot of less expensive wineries where you can pick up bottles for about $12, I generally stick to whites though at those places.
Also: Dam Candy Store in Leland in Fishtown. And buy all the cherry flavored stuff you can in Traverse City and Charlevoix. There are good pasties in Mackinaw City before the bridge if you get up that far.
I got excited when I heard northern Michigan until I realized you meant the lower peninsula. My parents have a house near Manistique in the U.P. on Lake Michigan it's gorgeous up there right now, not too hot, the water is nice and the beaches are so much less crowded and people aren't quite as finicky about their beaches as they are in the lower peninsula. DH and I spent a few days up there for our honeymoon.
Lol, yoopers. We love the land up there too. TC/charlevoix/etc are just the start of the glory of "up north" when you're traveling from down south (gr and the like haha) it's like the sign you're entering the beautiful country.
I adore the UP as well. We spent much of our honeymoon up there because we love it (and have hiked there tons and Been to some of the far reaches). But there will also always be a special place in my heart for the beautiful sands of Lake Michigan.
Northern LP is more doable for a quick weekend getaway.