There’s nothing quite like a few days “Up North” to revive one’s spirits.    

Ahhhh.  Pure Michigan.    Wild flowers and painted fences.  A wonderful getaway.   

A non-Michigander friend asked me recently, “What’s Up North?”

For me that means Leelanau Peninsula and up the coast of Michigan from Traverse City to Harbor Springs. 

We were fortunate to spend some time in this area over the 4th of July this year and what a delight.  

Why? 

It is a beautiful part of the world.  Year round. That’s a given. 

There’s plenty to do and to enjoy.  

We have special friends who welcome us. 

We spent some time in Glen Arbor poking around the Glen Arbor Art Center, some galleries, shopping and, of course, the Cherry Republic.  

I love stuff like “Open at 11ish.” Says it all about the attitude here. Take off your Watch and relax.   I laugh at the amusing things for sale in the cute stores, like these coasters. Funny.   

New in the area is the restored and reinvented Mill.  Having been in the area since the mid 1880’s, the stark white building on the Crystal River is a destination now reinvented as a coffee shop and restaurant. 

We had dinner there one night with friends. It was a bit fancy with a pricy menu but all delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed coffee and rolls the next morning sitting in the Great Room, still outfitted with machinery and elements from its Mill days. 

In the late 1800s and early 1900s it was a center of town activity as farmers came in from all around to have their wheat milled.  Made me think of a trip to Romania where we visited a working mill where we watched locals gather to grind their wheat and mix and mingle.  Romanian Experiences https://designdestinations.org/2014/12/random-romania-experiences/

The Crystal River is central to the area and we enjoyed watching kayakers float their way down the river on a picture perfect summer day. Many waved, played music and enjoyed their visit to the area. 

A Highlight was the July 4th parade where children got candy and locals lived it up. What a hoot. Old Fashioned fun.  Red, white and blue everywhere. 

I got a kick out of fact that residents got out early and set their chairs in their favorite spots.  

I LEARNED from the Glen Arbor Ticker the parade has been going on since the 1960s and anyone can be in it.  

Speaking of being the center of Glen Arbor life, our friends Georgia and Jeff, own Northwoods Hardware Store. Not only do they get calls about plumbing needs, garden supplies and what is available to rent, they get calls about the community events. I heard Georgia answer a call from someone  on Thursday morning asking what time  the parade started.  Clearly they are people in the center of Glen Arbor activities.   

For another blog post about life in Glen Arbor, click on Plein Air Painters Enjoy Glen Arbor