Recent Blog Posts

If you want to see amazing fall color, Michigan is the place to be in October. Our thick forests full of hardwoods paint the landscape in brilliant reds, yellows and oranges. Our plentiful orchards and farm markets ensure you’ll be able to take home some of our autumn bounty for yourself. Colors ...
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A little known fact is that when Grandpa Shorter's Gifts opened in 1946 their first account was Minnetonka Moccasins - in turn Grandpa Shorter's was Minnetonka's first account. That is just remarkable. Minnetonka and Grandpa Shorter's have both changed and grown with the times but stayed ...
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Hi everyone! With summer finally winding down here in Northern Michigan I am still in baking mode. The temps have been unseasonably cool and it honestly feels like fall right now. I'm hoping it warms up again and I keep hearing that it will, but for now I'm content using our garden fresh zucchini i...
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School starts in about a week here in Petoskey and I am in FULL back to school mode. New shoes and school outfits have been purchased. Backpacks were dug out this last week and deemed 'good enough' to use again this year and my husband is about to set up our kid command center near our entrance by ...
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Northern Michigan is a popular destination for fall color tours. Blazing reds, oranges and yellows paint the abundant forest and look even more vivid against the blue backdrop of Lake Michigan. If you’re headed up here this autumn, add a few stops at the local wineries to your itinerary. Michigan�...
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Families have been road tripping to Niagara Falls ever since Henry Ford’s Model T rolled off the assembly line in Detroit. The youngest children, to Grandma and Grandpa, and everyone in between, are awed by the roaring waters that drain four of the five Great Lakes. Niagara is just a one day driv...
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Fall is coming at us and there is nothing we can do to stop it - so, why not just embrace it? Fall staples in your wardrobe are very important as you want to be able to walk into your closet and come out with a look that is appropriate for any occasion in any season. This is a variety of looks a...
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Hello again, friends! With fall being right around the corner and school starting soon, if it hasn't already for you, we are all pressed for time and making dinner some nights is just an absolute chore. I love to cook, especially from scratch, but sometimes I just don't have the time to cook a meal ...
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Hello, everyone! Last week's easy summer Cherry & Black Bean Salsa Recipe got me thinking about this week's recipe post. My husband keeps bringing home these giant zucchini's his co-workers have growing in their backyard gardens. I think summer has pretty much peaked and we are in the downward ...
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Islands are scattered throughout Michigan’s Great Lakes, but only a few are accessible and provide amenities for visitors. Most of the islands below are accessible by ferry, and many of the ferries will even transport your vehicle and RV. Whether you’re looking for a unique day trip or a quiet, ...
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