Our agency just won some new work from a health system in Texas and I felt inspired by how this state is full of big surprises. A favorite roadtrip moment was discovering the art work of the art group Ant Farm: Cadillac Ranch. What’s a favorite roadtrip surprise you have experienced?
Turning 30 has inspired me to set some goals and try some new things. So here is my list for the year:
1. Visit a new state (21 to go till we hit all 50)
2. Start a family
3. Print photo books of our past trips
4. Finish my Masters Degree at SCAD in Interactive Design (3 classes left to go)
5. Blog for a year
6. Take a family roadtrip
7. Get or renew passports for the whole family
8. Use our passports
9. Make an ebook and post online
10. Buy a piece of original art
11. Fly somewhere as a family
12. Surprise Doug once a month
13. Finish a painting inspired by travel
14. Learn how to split hostas
15. Buy a piece of original art as a souvenir
16. Go to the zoo
17. Get a family picture taken
18. Can vegetables
19. Lose the baby-weight
20. Find a pair of shoes to replace my famous “red pair” that Chloe ate a year ago
21. Design and decorate our guest room
22. Write and illustrate a children’s book for Maggie
23. Visit a new art museum
24. Go hiking as a family
25. Do a pro-bono design project for something I believe in
26. Make a family portrait wall
27. Write a letter or card once a month
28. Find a black hat to replace the one I lost in LA earlier this year
29. Find a new signature hairstyle/haircut
30. Read through the New Testament
After a beautiful morning on the island, we took the ferry to the mainland and decided to explore Fort Michilimackinac.
Doug remembered visiting the fort as a kid and we explored all the old buildings and learned about the traders and native americans who called the shores of Lake Michigan home. On the weekends, the fort has volunteers who dress up in character and have demonstrations of cooking, blacksmithing and firearms. After a history lesson or two, we headed back towards home – but decided to take the scenic route along the shore of Lake Huron.
We turned to PureMichigan’s site for some inspiration and found their lighthouse roadtrip guide. Our first stop was the lighthouse of Old Mackinac Point – which is now a restored museum. It’s in a beautiful location (right beside the Fort and overlooks the Mackinac Bridge to the UP. We then headed south and our second lighthouse was 40 Mile Point Lighthouse – which is free and you can climb up the tower at no charge (we found that most charge a fee for this). I would highly recommend this location for a picnic on the beach – as they have a trail leading down to the water. Perhaps our favorite stop of the day was the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse (said to be the oldest lighthouse in Michigan). The tower is separate from the living quarters and the steps are hand carved out of stone – which makes this a picturesque lighthouse – however the most intriguing fact maybe that George (the old caretaker) is said to haunt this tower on occasion. The lighthouse has been disconnected from power sources for some time, and the volunteer said she has seen a phantom light coming from the tower on numerous occasions. So George may be present – making sure the ships come safely home.
Our final stop of the day was in Alpena – not exactly a hotbed of culinary options – but we used Yelp to guide us to the Courtyard Restaurante. Perhaps one of the most memorable meals of the year for us (and believe me that is no small feat with the restaurants we have explored). This local place has an eclectic decor and the menu features some locally sourced ingredients with a commitment to scratch-made italian dishes. The owners travel every year to find inspiration for their menu – and our pesto ravioli was truly inspired. A great ending to a beautiful weekend!
In my small midwestern town, a single tree is responsible for signaling the onset of fall. And with this first burst of fire engine red leaves, we also welcome cider and donut season. Our town is surrounded by apple orchards (I have 8 within a 5 mile radius of my house). My husband and I set out on a Saturday or Sunday and scout out our favorites and then proceed to accumulate the calories while judiciously critiquing each stops cider and donuts. We have developed a score card (an analog version of yelp if you will) that will help to denote the subtleties of the cider (clarity, crispness, sweetness, spice and finish) and the characteristics of the cake donuts (sweet, crunchy, soggy, soft, spice and freshness). This may be a Michigan thing, but as summer fades away and fall blankets the country, there are many scenic drives that can include an orchard along the way.
our itinerary:
Last year, I utilized the mapquest app on my iphone and entered in each location avoiding all highways (this helps to ensure we hit some scenic routes along the way – not too mention that most of these orchards are located on winding roads surrounded by changing leaves).
Westview Orchards: Home of the climbing goats. (no I am not kidding, they literally have goats that climb) This place is a beacon for families, which also means it can be pretty crowded on the weekends. They offer a petting zoo, hayrides, corn mazes and also offer a country store. It offers quite a bit of entertainment, but most everything has a small fee associated with it. As for the cider and donuts: The cider tastes spiced and doesn’t have a distinct crispness. The donuts are slightly crunchy and they load on the sugar and cinnamon.
Verellen Orchards: Don’t be fooled by the lack of hoopla surrounding this store, they offer the best cider hands down. It’s crisp, refreshing, not too sweet. There isn’t much more than a parking lot here – but it is worth finding a spot. The donuts this year are wonderful – crunchy and light with the perfect amount of cinnamon and sugar.
Millers Big Red Orchards: These guys offer stuff for the kids on the weekends (ranging from a petting zoo to bounce houses) and they have a good selection of fresh produce as well as their cider and donuts. Their cider is on the tart side but it compliments their donuts which I find a bit heavy. Perhaps the best item on their menu is their tomato soup. These guys are known for their heirloom tomato festival every August and they have mastered this recipe.
Hys Cider Mill: Located quite a bit north of Detroit, these guys are truly a great place for picking apples and having cider. A couple of years they even advertised having some of their staff dress up as storm troopers – so you got to believe they have a sense of humor. The cider was sweet and spicy and the donuts were some of the best – crunchy, light and fresh.
Rochester Cider Mill: Located off Rochester Road, this cider mill is surrounded by subdivisions (so I am not sure where they get their apples) but they have the best donuts around – hands down. Their cider is good – sweet, slightly crisp and spicy but their donuts are a work of art. Consistently they are the crunchiest crust of cinnamon and sugar with a light and fluffy cake.
Stony Creek Cider Mill: With apple crates greeting you and a hand-painted sign, this is perhaps the most picturesque cider mill for me. When I drive by this mill, I often think this is what a cider mill would look like on a movie set – nostalgic and genuine. The cider and donuts are average but I feel the ambiance makes up for it. They also have dog shows just about every weekend.
Hope you enjoy this fall – make sure to post your favorite cider mill here and give a review.
I have lived in Michigan now for almost 10 years and have heard of this magical place known as Mackinaw Island and yet I have never been there. So this summer, my husband and I planned to hop a ferry and experience a place set back in time for a perfect weekend getaway. Continue reading…