Childhood dreams do come true. Just ask Janet (Noyes) Carrington, a seventh-generation resident of the Les Cheneaux Islands in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She was just eight years old in the late 1950s when she first laid eyes on the luxury 42-foot wooden yacht named Boss, docked at E.J. Mertaugh Boat Works in Hessel. It was love at first sight. She admired its sleek lines, rich mahogany color and unique character, and promised herself that someday Boss would be hers.
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There’s something magical about drifting along a scenic waterway under a canopy of branches adorned with colorful leaves on a fall day in Michigan. That adventure became a dream come true for Capt. Jason Rollings, who launched Cruise Leelanau in late 2020.
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Born in 1906 in a small town in Michigan’s thumb region, Sara Gwendolen Frostic became a one-of-a-kind artist with a legacy spanning 70 years and counting.
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Cadillac-born Pierce “Pat” Stocking had a vision and he wanted to share it with others who explored the scenic shoreline in what is now known as the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. He pictured a series of overlooks atop the dunes where visitors could gaze out, up and down to soak up the unparalleled vistas while also protecting the area’s fragile ecosystems.
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Cruising the crystal blue waters of Little Traverse Bay has long been limited to those who have access to a boat. But, thanks to the community vision and historical reflection of the Little Traverse Bay Ferry Company, a new water taxi is bringing service back to the region.
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It should come as no surprise that Ernest Hemingway chose northern Michigan as the setting for his first wedding. This rural countryside was his first real love, so it was fitting that he and his muse would begin their marriage alongside the towering trees and flowing rivers which shaped his life. This year – September 3 – marks the 100th anniversary of the marriage between Hemingway (at the time, a life-long summer resident on Walloon Lake) and Hadley Richardson.
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Nestled against the backdrop of sloping rows of grape vines and overlooking an expansive horse pasture, Black Star Farms Winery in Suttons Bay has been one of Leelanau Peninsula’s premier agritourism destinations since it welcomed its first guest in 1998.
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Volunteer opportunities (some include overnight stays) allow you to help preserve iconic sentinels on both sides of the Mackinac Bridge.
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Some people are born to lead a particular life, and if we are lucky, we reap the rewards from their passions. Italian-born Mariano Meconi was destined to be a vintner, planting a legacy that remains rooted in West Michigan now for four generations.
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Renovations take time, especially at a wonderfully historic resort that’s tucked into the woods of what many consider to be the most remote region of Michigan.
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Sampling new varieties of wine is a refreshing way to enjoy a delightful Up North afternoon, especially when you’re surrounded by acres of vineyards and the backdrop of a scenic 113-acre nature preserve. Boyne Valley Vineyards, a small boutique tasting room nestled along U.S. 131 between Walloon Lake and Petoskey, offers a friendly new space to do just that.
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Some may think that the designation of “Beer City USA” is something new for Grand Rapids – the state’s second largest city. But beer has actually been brewing here since the late 1830s. Today, the Kent County region boasts about 40 breweries, with about a dozen currently in the greater downtown area.
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Dean Templeton was a lot of things. Above all, he was a character with a colorful yet often dark past.
Born in Flint, Michigan in 1921 to Ralph and Myrtle Templeton (the second of five children), Dean’s childhood was riddled with neglect, abuse, mental anguish and broken hearts. As an adult, he became consumed with the idea of running for President of the United States and began a cross-country, hitchhiking campaign which landed him in Washington state in 1975. It was there, Dean’s bid and his life abruptly ended at the hands of an assassin. Today, more than 45 years later, Dean’s murder remains unsolved.
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