Recent Blog Posts

Sometimes a walk around town is all we need to have a little fun with our families. This Petoskey, Michigan scavenger hunt is just the thing to get you outside with your family, enjoying each other, and enjoying our small town. Each picture you see below with a number is a picture of the out...
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Family traditions during the holiday season are what memories are made of. One tradition the Shorter family has each Christmas is making Mari Shorter's famous old fashioned sour cream cookies. Check out the recipe below and our past interview with Mari, where she shares what she's grateful for and ...
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If you've ever driven down Lake St. in Petoskey, Michigan, after Thanksgiving, you might have seen our Letters to Santa mailbox out in front, lightly covered in freshly fallen snowflakes. It's a tradition all of us at Grandpa Shorter's Gifts love. Come inside and ask us for a Santa Clause po...
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The best ski resorts in Michigan are just a few miles from downtown Petoskey, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Northern Michigan has some of the best ski resorts, with skiing and snowboarding being only one of the many activities you can do. Do you want to take a swim in an outdoor pool? T...
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As the weather starts to cool down in Northern Michigan, one of our family's favorite go-to recipes is this easy to make chili. You can make it as mild or spicy as your family enjoys, and it's quick. Ingredients: 1 lb Ground Beef, Cooked16oz Can Chili Beans15oz Can Tomato Sauce15oz Can Di...
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Brown sugar glazed carrots are an excellent side to make with dinner. They pack a little bit of that carrot crunch with a sweet taste. I love traditional veggies at the dinner table, like steamed broccoli, corn on the cob, and green beans. But I also love to change it up here and there, and that...
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Green bean casserole is a staple on the dinner table on Thanksgiving day, a creamy and crunchy side dish that everyone enjoys. If you make a list of the top items that are on the table during Thanksgiving dinner, you'll most likely find turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and of course,...
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Boyne City, in the fall or summer, is one of our favorite local cities to visit. It's a great place to visit for some great fall colors, beautiful views of the lake, and some delicious local restaurants. Avalanche Mountain Preserve: Avalanche Mountain is over 300 acres of woods for outdoor l...
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There's no question that Petoskey is a special place. Northern Michigan is a place most of us choose to live year-round, and a place to enjoy all 4 seasons to their fullest. We put together a fun free word search that includes a few places and things we love about where we live. Print your P...
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It's Fall, Ya'll. It's pumpkin spice, apple cider, and fall color season. These pumpkin spice cake cookies with a cup of coffee are just the thing you need on a chilly fall day. Although I love summer, there's something about the crisp fall air and sweatshirt season that I love. One of the reaso...
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