While we were in Michigan, Asa did have to work. It was kind of a test for me to see if we could take a pretty normal work week on the road (spoiler alert: we could). This has led me to believe we could spend weeks at a time at other AirBnbs and not have to take vacation time (although, vacation time has changed for Asa and is much more lax now, still we can't just disappear for weeks at a time- his students would miss him). Anyway, his schedule is nice because his office hours only run until noon on Thursdays and Fridays, so when you're out on vacation, he can work those couple of hours and then we can be off to enjoy wherever we happen to be.
Thursday we did the Old Mission Peninsula after work. Usually this is filled with fruit stands and wineries and beaches- but all of this was closed or mostly empty, because it was still very cold (and rainy out). We didn't let this stop us though, we decided to brave the windy, cold weather and see what we could find that was open. The fruit stands, all obviously closed- but we did decide to head into the Grand Traverse Winery for a tasting. We were literally the only people in there, so we got a few extra pours just because our lovely hostess was so bored and tired of being alone. We picked out a couple of bottles, with totally reasonable prices. Turns out that part of Michigan is at the same longitude as the wineries in Italy- so it's pretty great growing weather. (It's also half way between the equator and the north pole- which we learned on this trip).
We made our way up to the tippy top of the peninsula, to the lighthouse. Though it was closed, and the beach a ghost town, we put our little feet in and climbed around. The water was seriously chilly, but so clear, and I love good rock water climbing. It reminds me of vacations as a child.
We headed back down the peninsula on the other side, and stopped at the General Store, where a woman in a train conductor hat, named Marcie made us some gravy to go along with the giant beef pie her husband makes fresh each day. So, that was an experience. We took it back "home" with us, and had it along with some more pie from the Grand Traverse Pie Company. It was, after all, the BEST pie I've ever had.
On Friday, we headed to Leland, about half an hour away because it was opening day at the Cheese Shanty, a sandwich shop in the fishing village. Opening day at a Cheese Shanty? We're SO there! It was again very cold, very windy, and very rainy. But the Cheese Shanty was in fact open for their very first day of the season. I envisioned walking around the village, sitting at a picnic table to eat my sandwich and enjoying the crisp Michigan air. But, instead, I ended up freezing my bum off in the rain while we waited, until grabbing my sandwich and heading straight for the warmth of the car.
We did stop through a few other towns, including Sutton's Bay and a library, because you know the Waterstrauts love a good library. This one had the most gorgeous views in the children's room, and some crosswords and sudoku that you could do while hanging out, which I thought was a fun little touch. We did a little shopping at Sutton's Bay in the few stores that were open and asked about coffee- or tea- really ANYTHING to warm up these poor Floridians hanging out in windchills well into the 30s. We were directed to this little coffee shop called 'the hive' where we got a waffle, and some teas. It was literally the best tea of my life. And they were playing 'Sour Candy' by Melt, a song popular in this house, but about no where else. The waffle was tasty, and we ended up talking to the owner about Bee Coffee right here, and he added them on Instagram, so I feel like I did my part for small businesses.
Our day would not be complete without another trip to get drinks, so we also stopped to have a cider flight tasting at Two K Ciders and Winery. It was good, but nothing that stood out to me as much as the cider flight at Taproot Cider House.
And of course, on the way home, I stopped by Grand Traverse Pie Company again. I'm telling you, the BEST pie. We also swung by the cheese lady to get their little soup kit again. It was basically just an add water situation, and we found we really enjoyed those with our dinner in the chilly Michigan air, so we had those a few nights.
Next Up: Sleeping Bear Dunes
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