Wine and Spirits Travel

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 downtow

It was our third day in Sault Ste Marie , Michigan, and we were taking a day trip. When I decided to make the trip to Sault Ste Marie, one of the main attractions I was interested in was Tahquamenon State Park, just about an hour from there.  The park is nearly 50,000 acres and home to wildlife and birds (including bald eagles, which we did see). It’s second to only Niagara as the biggest falls east of the Mississippi River. Since I have physical limitations, we decided the best way to enjoy Tahquamenon State Park was to take the Toonerville Trolley RiverboatTour . The tour is divided into two parts. The first is on land, on the ‘trolley.” It runs along a railroad track for five and a half miles. While there is an opportunity to see many animals, we just saw a few deer and some birds. The trolley then stops along the river, where you pick up a boat for a narrated cruise, 21 miles to the rapids of the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. The falls themselves were

My friend Angela and I were on a short getaway to Indianapolis . We were staying downtown at the Courtyard Marriott , directly across the street from White River State Park. Our first scheduled stop of the day was a Segway tour at the park, but it was a bit windy so we decided to put it off for a few hours and head to brunch first. I usually don’t repeat places when I travel because I like to try something new. Café Patachou is the exception. Owner Martha Hoover (a fellow former New Yorker) opened one healthy brunch spot 25 years ago and it has turned into a chain of tasty cafes. Hoover also gives back to local children in need of food through the Patachou Foundation. The place was packed and we decided to take our food to go and sit outside instead of waiting for a table inside. Although I usually spend some time skimming the menu filled with delectable dishes, I almost always get the same: the California Omelet (filled with lots of avocado) and a