by Ann Wojtysiak and Leonardo Tombelli, guest bloggers

A Food and Wine tour of the Traverse Area is such a fun experience, especially when enjoyed with good friends.   (Full disclosure:  this was a socially distanced trip before the winter and Covid-19 forced us inside and away from friends for the season).    

From Grand Rapids, our tour started by traveling north on US 31 until the M-113 exit. We began with the wineries on the Old Mission Peninsula located on the east side of Traverse City.   This route avoids the traffic hassle often encountered going by Cadillac and M-37.  

Brys Winery with their incredible elevated viewing deck of the East Bay, great charcuterie board, and wine tasting flights made for a nice start.  After lunch, we stopped at the winery’s “Secret Garden”.  It is a sizeable acreage of lavender fields that includes a gift shop.   

Brys Winery’s incredible elevated viewing deck

looking at East Traverse Bay

Chateau Chantal is a favorite next stop with a large viewing deck.  Rolling hills of grapes and orchards seem to stretch as far as the eye can see, ending in views of both the East and West Traverse Bays.   

Mari Vineyards with its commanding views of the East Bay was our last winery for the day.    Its construction is noteworthy as the winery is built over large underground wine cellars.  At a depth of at least 10 feet below ground, the caverns naturally provide temperatures consistently between 55 and 60°F and a humidity over 70%, both of which are considered ideal for winemaking. 

That evening, we selected the Firefly restaurant with its outdoor decks. river and lively street views.  This part of town has seen many newer residential developments that contribute to the wonderful walkability and proximity to downtown Traverse City.  

The next morning, we headed North to Sutton’s Bay.  We enjoyed locally roasted coffee at the Mundos Roasters, visited gift shops selling “yard art” and crafts from Michigan artists.   

From Suttons Bay, we headed West along M-204 to Glen Arbor.    The “Boonedocks” restaurant was a favorite of our daughter as a child, so we stopped for a casual lunch on their sunny outdoor deck.   A short walk from Boonedocks lead us to dessert at the “Cherry Republic” where some of the best home style fruit pies in Michigan can be found.    Fall of 2020 felt like just the right time for these local comfort foods.  

Whenever in Glen Arbor we make an annual stop at Becky Thatcher Jewelry.  Becky Thatcher has been designing exquisite jewelry for over 3 decades. These fine pieces feature locally acquired stones, as well as rare gemstones.  Boulder opal, sapphire, quartz, and beryl from across the seas are set alone or with Petoskey, beach stones, and fossils of northern Lake Michigan’s pristine shoreline.

An afternoon walk around the historic Glen Haven Maritime Museum was a great opportunity to stretch our legs.  Located between Glen Arbor and The Sleeping Bear Dunes, the site has been restored exhibiting the original lifesaving station when in the early 1900s, its personnel provided lifesaving to distressed ships making their way thru the waterway between the Manitou Islands and the lakeshore.  

An afternoon walk around the historic

Glen Haven Maritime Museum was a great opportunity

to stretch our legs.  

Glen Haven Maritime Museum

Afternoon light and shadows play against the board & batten  of the maritime historic structures. 

On a clear day, the white sand beach meets the clear blue-green waters, continues across to the evergreen Manitou islands, and to views of the Homestead Resort with its condos nestled into the forested dunes.   

Views  of Pyramid Point and  the Homestead Resort

with its condos nestled into the forested dunes.   

We made our way back towards Traverse City as the dinner hour approached and stopped at the Farm Club restaurant with its brewery and marketplace.   The Farm club refers to itself as a   gathering place that celebrates land, honest food, and community and we agree.    Scattered throughout their outdoor dining area are fire pits that serve to extend the outdoor dining season.  

Scattered throughout the Farm Club’s  outdoor dining area

are fire pits that extend the outdoor dining season.

A visit to the Northern area of the lower peninsula of Michigan never disappoints!

Ann Wojtysiak is a recently retired Director of Mortgage Construction Administration with Lake Michigan Credit Union and enjoys traveling and cooking. Leonardo Tombelli is a recently retired Spectrum Health facilities Architect, maintains a residential design practice, and volunteers as President of Grand Rapids Sister Cities International, Grsistercities.org