Wine and Spirits Travel

I had never been to Muskegon and, honestly, it wasn’t on my radar before. I had started hearing more about it and the representatives of Pure Michigan told me it was a lakefront town making strides in the wheelchair-friendly arena. Muskegon has had a big resurgence from the cruise industry which has led to growth in the town. In addition to the ferries that go across Lake Michigan (which we would be taking), three cruise lines are now making stops in Muskegon: Pearl Sea Cruises, Victory Cruise Line, and Ponant Great Lake Cruises. The town was building and improving for the influx of cruise passengers and the feedback on the port stop has been positive. This town would continue to thrive. ' Since we had a late lunch and skipped dinner the night before , we were ready for a big breakfast. Mr. Bs Pancake House was the perfect place. This local favorite has been around over 50 years. The portions were huge and the omelets, pancakes, and hashbrowns we had were delicious. After breakf...

My Southwest Michigan trip with my friend, Lynn, had been going well. We were enjoying the waterfront along Lake Michigan, the Dutch heritage, and lots of tasty food. We were excited to explore even more places in the region, but first we had a couple more things to see and do in Holland. We started with breakfast at Deboer Bakkerij . This popular spot has been a staple in Holland since the original owner came from Nederland in the 1950s. Five generations later, the authentic Dutch recipes are still being made. Everything on the menu sounded delicious. Lynn had an omelet and I, as I typically do, leaned toward something sweeter with the Blueberry Bliss pancakes. It was the perfect choice. I did my best to finish them, but it wasn’t possible since the portion was so big. When we were done, we headed to a spot I was looking forward to while planning the trip. It is a little-known fact that L. Frank Baum, author of the Wizard of Oz, was a frequent vacationer to Holland, Michigan. Rumors h...

  I have tried the last few years not to late my days be overbooked. It didn’t work out that way for my first day in Holland with my friend, Lynn. We had a very full day, but it was all filled with fun. We had a quick breakfast in the lobby of the Haworth at the Biggby Coffee before taking off for the day. I had their waffle egg sandwich, and it was quite good. Our first stop was Critter Barn in nearby Zeeland. It was the perfect place to put on our schedule as it focuses on those with special needs. They have mobility equipment to lend, quiet spaces and fidgets for those with neurodivergent issues, and an easy to access location with smooth paths everywhere. Critter Barn is a working farm which promotes learning to individuals and school groups as much as possible. It is not a petting zoo, though there are a few opportunities to visit with the animals (the piglets were especially adorable). It is mostly going through the barns and learning about the animals and how they play a pa...

  My friend, Lynn, and I left 21C Museum Hotel in Chicago in the afternoon to start our trip north to Michigan. It had been years since we were last in the state together . We were both huge fans of the state and were looking forward to the opportunity to check out some new towns. We didn’t have a chance to get lunch before we left and decided to stop in South Haven, Michigan, for dinner. It’s a quaint waterfront town and we headed to a strip by the water to park. South Haven Brew Pub was on that block and looked like a casual place to eat. Unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple as there didn’t seem to be a way for me to get in the restaurant with my wheelchair. As we were trying to figure out if I could get in, the manager of the Old Harbor Inn next door came out and led us through her hotel to a downstairs path that led to the brew pub. We thanked her and found a table in the busy restaurant. I had a pulled pork sandwich with house made chips and coleslaw and Lynn had a salad and...

  Lynn and I enjoyed our fresh breakfast of omelets and muffins. It was delivered right to our room at Hotel Saugatuck in Michigan so we got to stay in the comfortable bathrobes a bit longer. We wished we could stay longer, but we did decide to explore before leaving. The suites are quite big and it had a Jacuzzi tub, microwave, and small refrigerator. We brought our luggage down to the lobby. The Inn was inviting with a fireplace and piano and the staff was friendly and helpful. The cottages across the driveway were occupied so I didn’t get to see them, but they looked adorable from the outside. The Michigan town of Saugatuck includes a quaint town and quiet beaches. We decided to take a drive to Oval Beach. Lynn and I spent most of our lives on Long Island in New York so we weren’t quite sure what to expect from a Michigan beach.  Honestly, the water was more inviting than the Atlantic Ocean, without the seaweed and waves, and with the beautiful blue color. T...

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...

It was a beautiful morning on a most amazing island. I fell in love with Mackinac Island on my first trip and this time was no different. My friend, Lynn, and I had arrived at the Grand Hotel the day before and were ready to explore. Most of the people who stay at this resort take the dinner and breakfast package, and that’s what the hotel had provided for us. After taking some time to once again enjoy the view from our balcony, we headed to the main dining room. The buffet at the Grand Hotel , from which I decided to take a little of a few different items to have with a smoothie and coffee, was extensive, as was the menu.  Included were items such as Apricot Cream Cheese Brioche French Toast and steak and eggs. The basket of freshly baked breads was also always on the table. After breakfast, we headed down to the front entrance. Mackinac Island does not have motorized vehicles. Instead of asking the bellman to get a cab, we needed to get a horse drawn carriage to bring us dow...