Wine and Spirits Travel

It was a beautiful morning on Mackinac Island , where my friend, Lynn, and I were staying at the Grand Hotel. Fortunately, we weren’t in a hurry to leave and could enjoy the hotel and the island until the afternoon. We went to the main dining room for another breakfast with just about anything you could possibly want. We were always greeted with a fresh, warm basket of baked breads and pastries. Everything was delicious and the service spot on.    We took our time and packed up our room at the Grand Hotel, enjoying a little time on the balcony taking in the spectacular view for the last time. After we checked out, we took the horse drawn carriage to downtown, where our luggage would be store while we walked around. Downtown Mackinac Island is filled with shops for souvenirs, clothing, and fudge. I certainly couldn’t leave without taking some with me. We decided on the Pink Pony, a well-known bar and grill, for lunch before we got on Shepler’s Ferry back to St. Ignace.

It took us all day to drive up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but Brittany, Jamie, and I were excited about the trip ahead of us over the Mackinac Bridge. The trip to Sault Ste Marie was a first for all of us. This city on the Lake (Superior) is filled with history and fun and we were ready to experience it. The Sault Ste Marie tourism board arranged for a large suite for us at Superior Place . It is in a good location and quite comfortable, with a pool and gym for use at the Best Western across the parking lot. We got an early start in the morning and headed downtown to find someplace for breakfast. Oh, Crepe immediately caught our eyes and we decided to go in. They have a menu with a little something for everyone. I went for the sweet ( Nutella and banana), while the girls did more savory crepes, with bacon, sausage, and eggs. This year celebrates the 350 th anniversary of Sault Ste Marie , the oldest city in the state of Michigan. Sault Ste

My friend, Joan, and I were enjoying a quick girls’ getaway to the Eaglewood Resort and Spa in Itasca , just outside of Chicago, Illinois We had breakfast in the Burnham restaurant, where there are buffets for breakfast and lunch. This buffet had a lot of healthy options. I was especially impressed with all of the fruit for yogurt and oatmeal.  They also had an omelet station where you could fill your eggs with just about anything you wanted, and plenty of warm baked goods. I had a delicious veggie filled omelet, some yogurt covered in homemade granola, a freshly made Danish, and some fruit. Joan also took an assortment from the buffet. After we ate, we took a tour of the rest of the property we hadn’t seen before we left. I loved the design of the lobby but hadn’t realized it was Frank Lloyd Wright inspired. The business center at Eaglewood Resort includes a convenient up-to-the-minute list of flights departing at nearby O’Hare Airport.   The

My friend Joan and I headed a few hours away to Itasca, Illinois, for a short girls’ getaway at Eaglewood Resort & Spa . You could see the golf course from the balcony in our room. The Deluxe Room is quite large and suitable for a small family. The spa and fitness center are located in a building across the parking lot from the rooms and other common areas.  The pool center at  Eaglewood  is set up to be enjoyed year-round. It’s totally enclosed in the winter and one side opens up in the summer so you can sit around a patio and enjoy the Olympic-sized pool with accompanying whirlpool. During the warmer months, they also serve cocktails and snacks out there. Three separate rooms were in the fitness center, all with all new equipment. One room had state-of-the art machines.  The second was all about weights, and the third was for classes. We saw someone in there stretching. Within the fitness and spa area  Eaglewood Resort  also has its own bowling

My friend Cortney and I headed to Galena, Illinois , just before the holidays this past year. She had been there before, but it was my first trip. As we headed there, I was surprised to see the dramatic change in the Illinois landscape. What had started as flat farm land had turned into rolling hills, some of them high enough to be considered small ski mountains. Our home for the long weekend would be the Goldmoor Inn and we were impressed from the start. It looked like an English castle, with 18 suites inside, as well as three cottages and two cabins on the property for those looking for real privacy. Although we were on a girls’ getaway, I could also certainly see it as the perfect place for a romantic trip. The 23 acres the Goldmoor is on are right on the Mississippi River, which offers fantastic views all year round, from every spot. We were shown into our suite and first went through a common area, which was welcoming with a fireplace and couches.