Travel

Summer in Northern Michigan, boating, swimming in the Great Lakes, lazy days spent at the beach and delicious ice cream. I love our summers here in Northern Michigan and I also love ice cream. I might even love ice more and so do my children. I love making our own but there is just something about...
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There is still a lot of summer left, and there are a lot of ways to enjoy it in Petoskey. Here’s our list of top 10 things to do when you visit Petoskey. 1. Petoskey State Park - You’ll find this gorgeous, scenic state park just outside of Petoskey. It sits on beautiful Little Traverse Bay, and...
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Sometimes you need a break from the mundane, day-to-day. Whether you want to relax or need to blow off a little steam, these six places in Michigan are sure to get you out of the routine of daily life. 1. Whirlpool Compass Fountain, St. Joseph - Are you trying to get in touch with your inner child...
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I was fond of Michigan for years. The vastness of Lake Michigan awed me. I was amazed by the yearly display of autumn color. The sparkling, white winters were dazzling. But I didn’t fall completely head-over-heels for The Mitten State until I started spending the night in her Great Outdoors. Ca...
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Vacation season is just around the corner, and more and more folks from near and far are putting Michigan on their summer itinerary. Word is getting out about Michigan's clear, blue waters, sandy beaches and lush forests. If it’s culture you’re looking for, we have galleries, museums and enter...
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Michigan comes alive in the spring. Trees and grass turn green, flowers bloom and the lakes sparkle blue in the sunshine. It’s a great time to take a Mitten State road trip. Here are some ideas for spring road trip destinations around the state. Comerica Park, Detroit Nothing says spring like base...
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There are so many reasons to come to Michigan in the summer. We could go on and on about it, but we had to narrow it down. Here are 18 of the best reasons you should make Michigan your summer playground. 1. Beaches - The Great Lakes give Michigan 3,052 miles of coastline, the most freshwater coastl...
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Spring break is just around the corner for many of you. If you have time off in March or April, you don't have to head south to enjoy your vacation. There's plenty to do right here in Michigan. 1 If skiing is your thing, you can hit the slopes for spring break. Ski season in Northern Michigan and t...
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I'm watching the snow fall quietly outside my kitchen window as I type up this blog post. Beautiful giant flakes, the soft fluffy kind and the girls are outside playing giving me a few minutes of solice! I'm pretty sure winter is finally here to stay for a while (but hopefully not too long...). We ...
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Recently Ryan, Carl and I met my sister-in-law, Jennifer Shorter and her family in Vancouver, BC for the weekend.  Jenn as many of you may know is the Owner of Grandpa Shorter's gift stores.  In our group we had 6 parents, 2 grandparents and 5 children ages 4 to 13 years old.  Vancouver is loca...
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