Michigan Trip Pics!

Jim and I just got back from our weekend trip to Michigan and we had a fabulous time!

First of all, we absolutely loved our room - here was the view from our deck:

I attempted to take video of the room as it was so gorgeous, but I ended up not saving it somehow - on the positive side, now I know how the video features on my camera work! The room was beautiful; very large, with a fireplace and a huge bathroom with a nice big jacuzzi tub!

Friday night we explored neighboring New Buffalo and had dinner at Casey's, which was excellent, and I had my introduction to one of the local wines from Tabor Hill (the dry Riesling.) This was really tasty and much better (in my opinion) than their sweet demi-sec wine that I had tried previously as a gift from someone who came back from there.
We spent some time by the fireplace in our room that night - you can see I was having a great time after a few glasses of wine...

On Saturday, we decided to do the full winery circuit and visited Tabor Hill

and bought a number of their white wines to come home with us for our "stash."

Next up, we followed the winding winery roads

to Round Barn winery, which is one of the only wineries that make vodka from grapes (called "DeVine", and it apparently beat out Ketel One and Grey Goose in taste tests in Chicago - it was very smooth). We ended up making quite a few acquisitions at Round Barn:

The lady at Round Barn told us that we could take our glasses to their sister winery, Free Run, for a tasting there, so we went there and walked into the open door, but the lady working there told us she wasn't opening for another 20 minutes as she didn't have bottles open yet (?) and to come back. We ended up not going back, though. Here's me in front of that winery when we thought we were going to get into it!

Next we went to Hickory Creek on the way back, a smaller no-frills winery where we bought one bottle:

There were two more wineries we didn't visit, but may next time. It's a good thing Jim doesn't really drink wine, so he could be our designated driver!

Next we went back into town in New Buffalo and went to Sit & Knit, the LYS owned by the lovely Kim Olesker, who I had previously met at Stitches Midwest at her booth. I bought her husband Jack's new book, Cast On, Bet's Off and actually got a signed copy. I started the book yesterday afternoon and really like it so far - it is fun to read and is sprinkled with lots of knitting and local Michigan area references. I also bought a crochet book and the very hard to find "Wonderful Wallaby" pattern booklet. It was so funny that Kim asked me if I had it, out of nowhere, when I had spent the good part of an afternoon trying to find an LYS that carried it!

We had a fabulous light lunch at the Pumpernickel Deli at the corner of Red Arrow Highway near our hotel (corn chowder soup was FABULOUS as was the cherry tea!) then went back to the Sandpiper to hang out on the beach for awhile.

I was really impressed with the pretty shade of blue of Lake Michigan's water (it is prettier up there than in Chicago) and the whiteness of the sand. It was COLD, however, with a strong wind. But gorgeous!!

Later that evening, we went to Frankie's around the corner and had a great dinner. This restaurant came highly recommended by a friend of ours who visits the area often (and just bought a house there, closing this weekend!) and she was right on target (as always!) It was great.

I can't say enough about what a great time we had, and I really look forward to coming back - probably in the summer next time, or maybe in earlier fall, like September or so. It was lots of fun and we really enjoyed exploring the wineries in the area - it was like going to Sonoma or Tuscany, on a nearby, smaller scale. For a 1 1/2 to 2 hour car trip, it was unbeatable!

Comments

[adrienne]

These pics are great!!! I'm so glad you guys had a good time!!!!! Ilove that pic of you by the fireplace! LOL

[erica b.]

Looks like you had a great time. I would love to go to a winery. I would love to try that vodka, especially if it beat out Ketel One since that's my favorite.

[Stacey_CrimsonPurl]

I love traveling with you!! :o)
I haven't been wine tasting in forever!

Thanks for giving us the tour and so glad you made it to a LYS and got that book you wanted!!

[Lara]

I am so glad you had fun in New Buffalo. My honeymoon was there, as it is a fantastic place. From the photos, you had a blast.

Sorry, it's been so long since I visited. . . working takes up a lot of time?! Imagine that.

[Kristina]

Looks like so much fun!
Is that Ariann you are wearing?? The sweater looks great. I have to start wearing mine again.

[Kirsten]

Looks like you had a great trip! I am an East Coaster and it always amazes me how ocean-like the Great Lakes look!

[Amy Artisan]

Looks like you had a wonderful time! I was over there this weekend as well (scrapbook retreat in Michigan City) - as I was heading over there I remembered that I had never sent you my list of faves - but you hit my favorite winery (Round Barn, their vodka is indeed great) & also Sit & Knit. Indeed that area is the perfect distance for escaping from Chicago. :)

[Stephanie]

WOW, that view from the room is just beautiful! So glad you had a nice trip.

[Bobbi]

it looks like you had a great time! So beautiful!

[Jenny]

LMAO at the fireplace pic! Ahhh, wine. Sit N Knit looks way cute, and how random is that about Wallaby!? Too funny!!

[Michelle]

Cool great pictures, looks like you had a great time! Looks like nice weather too, esp. for November! I just picked up the Wallaby book last week at my LYS!

[lisa]

Looks like you guys had so much fun. Good for you. The view from your room was breathtaking!

[Maryanne]

Great photos!! Looks like you guys had an amazing time. So happy for you :) Thanks for sharing!

[Grace]

Looks like a fun trip.

[tiennie]

Great photos. That is a lovely place that you stayed. Glad you had a great time with Jim!

[Carol]

Looks lika alot of fun! I agree with you, in general, I prefer dry wines to the sweet ones.

[Kasia]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing! It looks like you two had a great time!

[Dennis's Mommy]

Fun! Fun! Fun!
(I'm jealous!)

ps: have you checked out the Sugarloaf Mountain Winery in Maryland? Beautiful setting and tastey wines too!

[FantasyKnits]

Great pictures. I feel like going on a trip now myself!

[Heather]

What a fantastic vacation!! Michigan is such an unknown treasure!

[Katie J]

Cool! You liked Michigan and you're going to do a Wallaby!

[Phyl]

I need a Wonderful Wallaby book. I was just looking for one on Friday. I think it would make a cozy weekend sweater.

Sounds like a great trip!

[Jeanine]

WOW!!! It looked like such a relaxing trip. That place looks awesome.

[Monica]

Wow! It looks like you guys had a great time. Great photos too!

Wine tasting, count me in please! Hubby really isn't much of a wine (or anything) drinker either.

I really want a vacation to Michigan now. LOL

[Heather]

Wow - sounds like you guys had a great time. I LOVE the view from the deck/porch. And all the wine? I may have to put that place on my getaway list!!!

:O)

[Maureen]

As luck would have it I am scheduled to go to Union Pier with the husband and his family for the Thanksgiving weekend.
You stated that it isn't too far from the Chicago area so that won't take us too long to get there.
You look like you had a wonderful time.
Hubby and I have been to Napa and Sonoma a few times and I have been to Tuscany. The only thing is we don't drink but the rest of the family likes a bottle of wine every now and again.

[Lara]

So glad you had a great trip! It looks fabulous and those are some great pictures! I think I need a vacation just like that.

[Suz]

Mmmmm, Tabor Hill. I sent my Dad one of their gift certificates for his bday that was on Nov. 5th. They go up and buy cases at a time. White Demi Sec, yummy.

Gorgeous pics! Oh how i miss the lake. Sigh.