All Blog Posts (1,863)

Michigan has two trillium species that are only found in three Michigan counties in the southwest corner or the mitten. 

Trillium recurvatum is know as Prairie Trillium, Toadshade and Bloody Noses. The name recurvatum refers to its strongly recurved, upright sepals.…

In May 2012 my daughter and I were purchasing wet suits at Play It Again Sports in Traverse City, having learned some lessons about cold water. Cmdr. Joe Buzzela was checking out with his son. Buying baseball equipment I think. A complete stranger, I approached him to thank him…

Some of my favorite bouquets are from simple blooms so common you almost don't see them anymore. My yard has been overgrown with violets this spring. Thousands of purple blossoms are nearly spent, now. Today, I found that these delicate white ones have spread across the northwest corner of my hosta beds. I almost…

Ten reasons why you shouldn't miss the 2013 Northern Home & Cottage Tour on Saturday, September 7. 

1. Windows so large that the glass had to be shipped over from Europe—they don't make glass panels this large in the U.S.

2. A blue-and-white granite that I've never seen before and that looks like the sky.

3. A wet bar faced in corrugated metal.

4. The home that Dr. Munson (as in Traverse City's Munson Medical Center)…

On the way home from our Presque Isle birthday party, we stopped by the Ocqueoc Falls, the highest falls in the lower peninsula … (pronounced AH-key-ock) … okay, they are the only…

My daughter was delighted to get an invitation to her friend's 10th birthday celebration at the Presque Isle Lodge. This is my second adventure at the Presque Isle Lodge and it reminds me of my childhood vacations Up North. It's a melding of the comfort of…

Nodding Trillium of Michigan

Nodding Trillium (Trillium cernuum) is a the shyest trillium of our eight species native to the Great Lakes region. She hides her blossom beneath a tight whorl of…

My great weekend treat is to take my coffee cup into the garden for discovery. The visions inspire the voices of past experiences to rise to the forefront of my mind's eye. A poppy plant has reseeded in a spot that will be too shady for it and hide its blooms from view. Some phlox have escaped their bed for the sedum…

Well let's just start off with admitting that there is no shortage of Carter fans here at the magazine. Nope, no siree. With 20 women making up the majority in office, we're a fan base all on our own. And you can bet that when a lucky Trav Mag gal meets up with the handsome lad, all the not-so-lucky gals hear the news. Facebook status, staff email, what have you—there…

From left: Sommelier Claudia Tyagi, Traverse Travel Editor Kim Schneider and Andy McFarlane, event mastermind. Tyagi was offering tasty background on the wines to be served at the Winemakers Party, June 21 at the Grand Traverse Commons.

On the evening when daylight lingers as…

Goodwill is excited to announce the Grand Opening of new Acme Retail and Donation Center on Friday, May 24.



Festivities begin with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:45am, followed by the 9am grand opening and continue throughout the weekend with daily door prizes, generously donated by area businesses and one lucky shopper winning a 32 inch HD TV.



The new 12,000 square foot retail and donation center is located at 3922 E. M-72. Shoppers and donors will be impressed…

My daughter turned 10 this spring. Double digits. Worth an extra layer of sophistication than the princess, cup-cake-focused, plastic party favor events of her past. She remembered the lobby of the Grand Traverse Resort from the November Chamber Expo, when she helped set up our corporate booth. While this may sound…

It's that time of year again: I'm out and about gathering sneak peeks of the homes on our 2013 Northern Home & Cottage Tour (Saturday, September 7, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) The photo above is from a home built by Grand Bay Builders. Besides having a gorgeous kitchen that sports a cork floor, granite countertops and a…

My first experience with Dwarf Iris was reading my daughter a children's book, "M" is for Mitten. Each page is a different letter of the alphabet associated with a Michigan fact. And there was a drawing of the Dwarf Irises of the eastern shore of Michigan, on the banks of Lake Huron. Until today I had no idea how small these fab little irises are.

My friends invited me to join them at the Presque Isle…

Bent Trillium of Michigan

Bent Trillium (Trillium flexipes) also known as ‘Drooping’ or ‘White’ trillium, often hybridizes with…

Here's a sample of what you might see at this year's show.

Snow Trillium of Michigan

Michigan Snow Trillium (Trillium nivale) is the first trillium to appear each spring. It blooms in March most often under a blanket of snow. Snow Trillium can tolerate below freezing temperatures without suffering. No matter how…

With its vibrant vermillion, ochre and tangerine hills against an azure Grand Traverse Bay, fall is the quintessential winery tour season, but I much prefer spring. When I lived in the Detroit area, getting Up North in spring felt like a special sneak peak. It was the early start to the summer, and made me feel like…