Our Michigan Trip, Part 3: Traverse City and the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa

And now, time for the third and final installment of the story of our Michigan Vacation.

Having no idea as to where to stay in Traverse City, we selected the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.  It was great choice, as the view from our room might indicate.

And the town of  Traverse City was also delightful.  A downtown shopping area 

jammed with interesting shops, two independent book stores (!), and many neat bars and restaurants, including this one

where we enjoyed dinner one evening.

We also discovered a great local product

that could well be, after the automobile, Michigan's greatest gift to America.

We also just happened to run into lots of interesting "stuff" that was happening to coincide with our visit.  These included a cool Saturday morning Farmer's Market,

a bicycle race,

and a Comic Book Convention that took place at our hotel over the weekend.

Now I once attended a SABR Convention, so I am in no position to cast aspersions on other people's hobbies and interests, but let's just say that there were a lot of interesting looking people attending the Comic Con.

We also discovered a great shopping/retail/residential development that is being developed in the buildings and on the grounds of a nineteenth century State of Michigan Mental Hospital.  Sounds strange, I realize, but it was quite nice.

We also visited a Casino (no pictures, sorry) where I came out $.50 ahead after an hour at the black jack table.  Yes, fifty cents!  Found some great places to eat,

enjoyed a nice pool area at the hotel,

and, I have to add, I enjoyed one of the best rounds of golf I have ever played at The Wolverine, a Gary Player designed course that is one of three courses at the Traverse Bay Resort.

It turned out to be a great little vacation that, as I said in an earlier post, exceeded all of our expectations. Who knows if we will ever get back "up north" again, but this will go down as one of our best trips ever, and one that we would recommend to anyone.

And just to put a cherry on the top of the sundae, we were treated to this spectacular sight from our room on our last night there:

As the advertising tag line goes, it was Pure Michigan.

Our Michigan Trip, Part 2: M22 and the Leelanau Peninsula

On day two of our stay in Traverse City, Michigan, we decided, after diligent research by the "brains of the outfit" - that would be Marilyn - to take a road trip up the M22 highway and the Lake Leelanau Peninsula to the towns of Suttons Bay and Leland (and, no, the town was NOT named after the recently retired Detroit Tigers manager), and along the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Park.  It was a trip that lasted about seven hours and just over 100 miles, and it was a memorable day.

First stop was the charming little town of Suttons Bay.

Lots of neat shops, bookstores (yes, honest to God bookstores) and galleries where several Pennsylvania dollars were spent.   Chief purchase was a hooded rain jacket that cost $58 but was on sale for $19.75 with a cool "Up North" logo.  Not that I really needed such a garment, but at that price, how could I pass it by?

It was interesting to see that there are Pirates fans on the Leelanau Peninsula. Why else would they be raising the Jolly Roger?

Of course, we were a little bummed out when we saw this sign in Suttons Bay and realized that we should have planned our trip for one week earlier:

We then left Suttons Bay and stopped at a cool winery...

...and then it was north on the M22 to Leland,

an oldtime, but still functioning Great Lakes fishing port.  As such, Leland is also known as Fishtown, or, better still....

We lunched at this place,

where the local police chief, a Captain Reneault, told us that "In Leland, everyone comes to Rick's."

The seafood chowder

was unbelievably delicious, but the place could learn a lot from Pittsburgh Lenten fish fries about the portion size for a fish sandwich.

The sandwich, small by Pittsburgh standards, tasted good, though!

After Leland, we then went south on the M22 and headed for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park to the famous

 and here it is:

 We both made it to the top....

and back down again....

The trip back down was a lot easier.

We then headed to a scenic drive route that included several places where you could pull off the road and just take in some positively gorgeous views of Lake Michigan.

One spot included this warning sign,

but culminated in what may become one of our all-time favorite pictures:

And that was our day on the Leelanau Peninsula.

Coming next in Part 3:  Traverse City itself and our stay at the Traverse Bay Resort and Spa.