Festival and Ferry for the Last Day in Southwest Michigan

 

It was the final day in Michigan for my friend, Lynn, and I. It had been a wonderful adventure along the coast of Lake Michigan. We were prepared to spend the day with even more of it.

We started with a breakfast meeting with Nick Nerbonne, Media & Digital Director at Pure Michigan. We met at The Coffee Factory for great lattes and breakfast sandwiches, and to talk about the mitten state and accessibility.

Nick is interested in making the state as accessible as possible, knowing it has to be done place by place. He’s proud of the beach chair initiative and the continued efforts. He eagerly listened to my suggestions about hotels, transportation, and other accommodations.

We went back to the Delta Hotel to pack up and check out. We still had until evening in Muskegon. After leaving our suitcases with the front desk, we walked the three blocks downtown to Hackley Park, where a Polish Festival was going on. Along the way we spotted murals and sculptures throughout the well-kept city.

The Polish Festival, a yearly event in the town, was a lot of fun. It celebrated that countries heritage, food, and culture. We watched the dancing and listened to the music while deciding what to eat from the very tempting booths.

Lynn went for a platter with kielbasa, cabbage, pierogies, and potato pancakes. She said it was authentic and fantastic. I went for something a little less ordinary, but equally good: Paczki stuffed with pulled pork.

We walked back to the Delta Hotel and relaxed for a while before it was time to leave and drive to the port. Instead of driving back to Illinois, we had decided to take the Lake Express Ferry and spend a night in Milwaukee before driving to Champaign from there.

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The ferry was large with plenty of space for me to get around in the wheelchair. I didn’t go outside, though. It was windy and I decided to stay warm inside. Lynn went out for a few pictures.

The trip across Lake Michigan was scenic and much shorter than driving. We got off quickly and were ready to start our 24 hours in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It had been a few years since I’d been there, and it was Lynn’s first trip.

I was hosted on this trip, but opinions are my own. Thanks to Pure Michigan for their hospitality.

Enjoying the Day in Muskegon

I had never been to Muskegon and, honestly, it wasn’t on my radar before. I had started hearing more about it and the representatives of Pure Michigan told me it was a lakefront town making strides in the wheelchair-friendly arena.

Muskegon has had a big resurgence from the cruise industry which has led to growth in the town. In addition to the ferries that go across Lake Michigan (which we would be taking), three cruise lines are now making stops in Muskegon: Pearl Sea Cruises, Victory Cruise Line, and Ponant Great Lake Cruises.

The town was building and improving for the influx of cruise passengers and the feedback on the port stop has been positive. This town would continue to thrive.

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Since we had a late lunch and skipped dinner the night before, we were ready for a big breakfast. Mr. Bs Pancake House was the perfect place. This local favorite has been around over 50 years. The portions were huge and the omelets, pancakes, and hashbrowns we had were delicious.

After breakfast, we went to the Muskegon Museum of Art. I was extremely impressed that this seemingly small town had such a large art museum with extensive collections. In fact, it is in the process of being enlarged even more.

While we were at the museum, we were able to see an exhibition on American artist John Steuart Curry, who was a leader in the Regionalist Art Movement. Although that exhibit was temporary, they do have quite a few pieces that are permanent by the artist as part of its over 4,000 selections.

We spent a few hours at the museum, which was easy to get around in my power chair. (They also had wheelchairs available for those who needed to borrow.)

Another place with wheelchairs to use is Muskegon State Beach. These are track wheelchairs to ride on the sand. Just like the ones at the other state beaches, they were free to use, though I suggest reserving them in advance. We had another clear day for the beach, and I was able to ride a smooth path that went almost to the actual water.

After the full day, we decided not to go back to the Delta Hotel by Marriott and instead went straight to dinner. There were many options in Muskegon, but we had passed the Bear Lake Tavern, and it looked like a popular spot. As soon as we walked in, we could see it was filled with a lot of locals. That’s always a clear sign of a good place to eat.

Lynn ordered the steak sandwich and said it was delicious. I went for their beef stroganoff, which was also incredibly good. I had it with a Cucumber Mule, which Bear Lake Tavern made perfectly.

There was a place in town we hadn’t made it to yet that was on our schedule, and it seemed like the perfect time on this warm evening, Norm’s Ice Cream. They had a wide selection of soft serve flavors, and I had my favorite parfait, with peanut butter and hot fudge!

We headed back to the hotel in time for yet another stunning Muskegon sunset. What a way to end a day.

Recap of the day...

A Sweet Day Through Holland, Grand Haven and Oz to Muskegon

My Southwest Michigan trip with my friend, Lynn, had been going well. We were enjoying the waterfront along Lake Michigan, the Dutch heritage, and lots of tasty food. We were excited to explore even more places in the region, but first we had a couple more things to see and do in Holland.

We started with breakfast at Deboer Bakkerij. This popular spot has been a staple in Holland since the original owner came from Nederland in the 1950s. Five generations later, the authentic Dutch recipes are still being made.

Everything on the menu sounded delicious. Lynn had an omelet and I, as I typically do, leaned toward something sweeter with the Blueberry Bliss pancakes. It was the perfect choice. I did my best to finish them, but it wasn’t possible since the portion was so big.

When we were done, we headed to a spot I was looking forward to while planning the trip. It is a little-known fact that L. Frank Baum, author of the Wizard of Oz, was a frequent vacationer to Holland, Michigan. Rumors have swirled around the possibility that he actually wrote that infamous  book here. A tribute to that is the Wizard of Oz Sculpture Garden in downtown.

Although the brick isn’t quite yellow, we followed it through Centennial Park and across the street to the library. There we found bronze sculptures of all the main characters in Oz. It was a whimsical way to start our exit from this creative town.

First there was another attraction to see. Windmill Island Gardens is a beautiful display of Dutch heritage among a perfectly manicured landscaping of flowers and windmills. I found it to be a picturesque site that was accessible for me to easily wheel through.

We didn’t have a tight schedule and decided to take advantage of the spare time to stop at Grand Haven State Beach after leaving Holland. It was another warm summer day along Lake Michigan. Lynn walked the beach looking for shells, stones, and gems. The heat was getting to me, and I decided to enjoy the scene while staying in a shady area.

It was already into the afternoon, and we stopped at my favorite Michigan chain, Grand Traverse Pie Company, for lunch. I could never get enough of their food, and I was excited about the stop. I had made a habit of visiting one of their locations whenever I was in the state.

Grand Traverse Pie Company has a Combo special that can’t be beat. It includes a pot pie or slice of quiche, salad or soup, and slice of pie. We both decided on the Chicken Pot Pie,  Chicken Noodle Soup, and Cherry Ganache Pie. It was all as good as I remembered. I couldn’t finish it all and saved the soup for later.

We were only a half hour from our next stop, Muskegon, where we would spend the next two nights at the Delta Hotel. It was a huge property in this small town, which offered a different atmosphere, though still on the lake.

By the time we got settled in the room, we were exhausted. We decided to skip going out to dinner and stayed in to rest. It turned out to be the ideal night to do it as we had an incredible sunset right outside our window.

A Busy First Day in Holland, Michigan

 

I have tried the last few years not to late my days be overbooked. It didn’t work out that way for my first day in Holland with my friend, Lynn. We had a very full day, but it was all filled with fun.

We had a quick breakfast in the lobby of the Haworth at the Biggby Coffee before taking off for the day. I had their waffle egg sandwich, and it was quite good.

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Our first stop was Critter Barn in nearby Zeeland. It was the perfect place to put on our schedule as it focuses on those with special needs. They have mobility equipment to lend, quiet spaces and fidgets for those with neurodivergent issues, and an easy to access location with smooth paths everywhere.

Critter Barn is a working farm which promotes learning to individuals and school groups as much as possible. It is not a petting zoo, though there are a few opportunities to visit with the animals (the piglets were especially adorable). It is mostly going through the barns and learning about the animals and how they play a part in the farm.

I wish we had more time at Critter Barn, but we were off to Nelis’Dutch Village. A center point to Holland’s Tulip Festival, the village is a combination of an amusement park, shopping center, and history of Dutch life. 

It reminded me of Colonial Williamsburg. The only tulips we saw, though, were ceramic since it was summer.

Neilis’ was almost completely accessible. I just found a few stores that had steps to get inside, but I was able to walk through other stores to get to them. We wandered through the Dutch Gift Shop, Wooden Shoe (Klompen) store, Delftware Shop, and Cheese Shop, where there were lots of samples. We were able to watch one of the Klompen dance lessons and have lunch at Dutchman Café.

I had a Dutch Tosti, which was fresh ham and smoked Gouda cheese on grilled rye-pumpernickel swirl bread. It had a tasty dill dressing. We also had Dutch apple pie and almond pastry.

Soon we were off again, this time to go the beach. It was a beautiful day to be there, and I was going to get my first track chair to use in the sand. I met with Sean, a ranger at to Holland State Park, who set me up with the chair. It took a little while to get used to it before I headed down to the Lake.

I always thought Lake Michigan looked more like an ocean and it was no exception here. Lynn walked along the sand and looked for stones and shells (she makes jewelry).

I relaxed and listened to the waves. It was a wonderful way to get a rest in on the busy day even though I was buried under UPF clothing and SPF lotion since my Lupus and Dermatomyositis do not go with sun.

Originally, our plan was to go sailing the day before, but the weather and waves weren’t cooperating. Instead, we headed back to South Haven after the beach for a private boat tour with Fresh Coast Sailing.

We saw some of the Tall Ships during the trip which came from the nearby Michigan Maritime Museum. I can’t say enough about Captain Andy and Topher, who made it an incredible experience for us, despite some choppy waves. I highly recommend you book a trip with Fresh Coast Sailing if you are in the area.

We were really hungry by the time we were done sailing and headed back to Holland for dinner at Boatwerks. It was a very busy restaurant, especially since it was a popular place for sunset dining. We settled for a table inside, so we didn’t have to wait too long.

The food at Boatwerks was fantastic. We started with the Goat Cheese Bruschetta. I then had the Garlic Herb Chicken, while Lynn ordered the Honey Teriyaki Salmon, which she raved about. We were exhausted from the long day and skipped dessert.

We headed back to the Haworth Hotel for well-needed rest. We had another busy day ahead of us coming in Holland, Michigan.

 

Starting a Southwest Michigan Girls’ Getaway

 

My friend, Lynn, and I left 21C Museum Hotel in Chicago in the afternoon to start our trip north to Michigan. It had been years since we were last in the state together. We were both huge fans of the state and were looking forward to the opportunity to check out some new towns.

We didn’t have a chance to get lunch before we left and decided to stop in South Haven, Michigan, for dinner. It’s a quaint waterfront town and we headed to a strip by the water to park. South Haven Brew Pub was on that block and looked like a casual place to eat.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple as there didn’t seem to be a way for me to get in the restaurant with my wheelchair.

As we were trying to figure out if I could get in, the manager of the Old Harbor Inn next door came out and led us through her hotel to a downstairs path that led to the brew pub. We thanked her and found a table in the busy restaurant.

I had a pulled pork sandwich with house made chips and coleslaw and Lynn had a salad and tacos with chips and salsa. It was all good, but we were tired and anxious to head to the hotel.

We walked outside in time to see the first of many incredible Southwest Michigan sunsets. It made us especially excited about the upcoming sailing trip we had out of this town.

It only took about 40 minutes to get to Holland, which would be our home base for the next few days. I had wanted to come there to their famous Tulip Festival for many years. It never seemed to work out. I finally decided to at least spend some time exploring this town in the summer.

Our hotel was the Haworth. It is right in the middle of the area where Hope College is located. The modern hotel had a very spacious lobby, the first clue I had that it would be wheelchair accessible. We had a nice spacious room, though it was a little tight around the furniture at the wall.

The bathroom was large and easy to wheel around in. The shower had a chair that I could safely get in and out of.

 

Lynn and I unpacked and wound down for the night. We had a very full next day, and we wanted to be ready for it.

Hotel Saugatuck is a Hidden Gem

 

Lynn and I enjoyed our fresh breakfast of omelets and muffins. It was delivered right to our room at Hotel Saugatuck in Michigan so we got to stay in the comfortable bathrobes a bit longer.

We wished we could stay longer, but we did decide to explore before leaving. The suites are quite big and it had a Jacuzzi tub, microwave, and small refrigerator.

We brought our luggage down to the lobby. The Inn was inviting with a fireplace and piano and the staff was friendly and helpful.

The cottages across the driveway were occupied so I didn’t get to see them, but they looked adorable from the outside.

The Michigan town of Saugatuck includes a quaint town and quiet beaches. We decided to take a drive to Oval Beach.

Lynn and I spent most of our lives on Long Island in New York so we weren’t quite sure what to expect from a Michigan beach. 

Honestly, the water was more inviting than the Atlantic Ocean, without the seaweed and waves, and with the beautiful blue color.

The other thing that you don’t usually see on Long Island is a snack bar and shop in the middle of the beach. What was the same were the people lounging and swimming, and sailboats in the background.

I sat down to rest a while Lynn walked along the beach. We had a long drive home, though, so we didn’t stay too long.

It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Michigan, especially along the Great Lakes. I wish I had more time to explore more of the towns there. There are so many great towns and beautiful beaches.

I will be back.

Mackinac to Saugatuck

It was a beautiful morning on Mackinac Island, where my friend, Lynn, and I were staying at the Grand Hotel.

Fortunately, we weren’t in a hurry to leave and could enjoy the hotel and the island until the afternoon.

We went to the main dining room for another breakfast with just about anything you could possibly want. We were always greeted with a fresh, warm basket of baked breads and pastries.

Everything was delicious and the service spot on.

  

We took our time and packed up our room at the Grand Hotel, enjoying a little time on the balcony taking in the spectacular view for the last time.

After we checked out, we took the horse drawn carriage to downtown, where our luggage would be store while we walked around.

Downtown Mackinac Island is filled with shops for souvenirs, clothing, and fudge. I certainly couldn’t leave without taking some with me.

We decided on the Pink Pony, a well-known bar and grill, for lunch before we got on Shepler’s Ferry back to St. Ignace.

The ride was smooth and quick and we were soon in the car driving to Michigan’s lower peninsula. I had arranged for us, rather than take an eight-hour drive home, to stay over night in Saugatuck, about halfway in between.

The Hotel Saugatuck is a beautiful property on the Kalamazoo River, just a few minutes from the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

It’s a bed & breakfast with attention to luxurious details. In addition to the rooms, there are cottages across the parking lot, for a total of 18 accommodations.

The entrance to the hotel is welcoming, with a fireplace and piano. We were taken to our suite, the Blue Star Room, which had its own fireplace.

One of the specialties of this hotel is that they bring to your room a homemade “sweet treat” each night. For our stay it was blueberry mousse).

I wasn’t feeling well after a long day and decided to stay in and rest. Lynn went on her own for a drive to check out the area.

I would still have the next day to see more of Saugatuck.  

The Best of Mackinac Island

It was a beautiful morning on a most amazing island.

I fell in love with Mackinac Island on my first trip and this time was no different. My friend, Lynn, and I had arrived at the Grand Hotel the day before and were ready to explore.

Most of the people who stay at this resort take the dinner and breakfast package, and that’s what the hotel had provided for us.

After taking some time to once again enjoy the view from our balcony, we headed to the main dining room.

The buffet at the Grand Hotel, from which I decided to take a little of a few different items to have with a smoothie and coffee, was extensive, as was the menu. 

Included were items such as Apricot Cream Cheese Brioche French Toast and steak and eggs. The basket of freshly baked breads was also always on the table.

After breakfast, we headed down to the front entrance. Mackinac Island does not have motorized vehicles. Instead of asking the bellman to get a cab, we needed to get a horse drawn carriage to bring us downtown.

We were going to spend the day with Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. I had done the tour previously and it’s the perfect way to get a real feel for the island.

The tour had changed some since the last time I took it as it had a stop in the middle for shopping and a carriage change. It still covered all of the highlights of this one-of-a-kind island.

We saw the sites on Market Street as Mackinac’s history came to life. We went to the Parade Ground, and saw some of the town’s Bed & Breakfast accommodations and stores. Then, we went to Mackinac Island State Park and Fort Mackinac for the most breathtaking spots in the Midwest.

After the tour, we checked out a few stores and picked up some fudge. Mackinac Island is famous for its fudge and you can get samples and purchase unique flavors at a dozen different shops.

When we returned to the Grand Hotel, we stopped at Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor, where we enjoyed local flavors, Mackinac Island Fudge and Michigan Deer Traxx (Peanut butter cup and chocolate fudge in vanilla ice cream).

It was time for a rest before another delicious dinner that included pork chops and filet, with all the trimmings and a delicious dessert.

Then, we headed out to the porch, enjoying some wine on our final night on Mackinac Island.