Featured Blog Posts (1,232)

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…

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…

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 Dward 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 Lodge in…

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…

Above: Governor Snyder taking the podium on Friday, April 26, 2013 at Brys Estate on Old Mission Peninsula

L…

You know when you're watching Food Network and Ina Garten just casually turns to her window-side garden, picks a few herbs, and continues like "Oh, no big, here's my convenient backyard produce station"? Meanwhile you're sitting there, simultaneously impressed and depressed because, welp, you just don't live on a dang farm. You've got to haul your goods from the grocery store back to your home, losing an hour of freshness just in transportation. Daily, fresh-picked herbs? Meh, more like…

Channels dug beneath the snow this winter.

What, you may be asking, is the subnivean zone. Well, it is a magical world that exists between the bottom of the snow and the top of the ground, and there's a lot more animal action there than what you may be aware of, a secret…

Wine tasting room at Blustone Vineyards, a sleek, contemporary space set amid captivating rolling Leelanau hills and orchards just north of Lake Leelanau village.

At the invitation of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association, I hit the wine trail last…

Red Trillium of Michigan 

After Snow Trillium (T. nivale), “Red Trillium” (T. erectum) is the next Michigan trillium species to begin its bloom period. As a result, it’s sometimes referred to as “Wake-robin”.

From mid to late April into June, this…

With shovels, from left: Mayor Michael Estes, Brownfield coordinator Jean Derenzy, Managing Partner Jeff Schmitz, with Grand Traverse Hotel Properties.

The owners of Hotel Indigo, the long-talked-about boutique hotel that is being built in Traverse…

'Winter Dunes' Eco-photo Tour Alumni Photo Review: Susan Moore of White Lake, Michigan captured this image of the DH Day Barns and Dune Climb on a sunny morning in February during the…

I have not been active here as my new book, Smile: Sell More with Amazing Customer Service, took nearly two years of my life to complete! Switching between a full time job, starting a publishing company, writing and managing an army of freelancers, and day to day chores, I sometimes thought I'd be wise to check with my doc to see if I was suffering…

Michigan's Favorite Wildflower - The Trillium

Living in Michigan or in the Great Lakes Region, winter is long and cold, but springtime boosts or morale. The anticipation of the warmer weather and sunshine excites nature lovers and photo…

Good Harbor Bay on the first day of spring, 2013.

When I first moved to Northern Michigan, I was so surprised at how much beauty I found in what was then called "the off season." These pictures are a perfect example of what I mean. They were taken at sunset…

Barista Spencer McQueen, in the new Cavallino Cafe, brews a cup with an AeroPress coffee press.

When I think about the best changes in American culture during my lifetime, the proliferation of the new American café is right there in the Top 10. Sure, the great coffee and aromas are…