Featured Articles

Everything from A to Z — antiques to zippers — can be found at the Trufant Auction & Flea Market, touted as one of the largest flea markets in Michigan. No matter what you’re looking for, chances are you’ll find it during this treasure hunt in a town that boasts the title “Stump Fence Capital” of America.

Getting from place to place in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids doesn’t need to be a burden when the weather turns inclement. Whether faced with snow, rain or the heat of a West Michigan summer, you can easily get from “point A” to “point B” in the River city without setting foot outside.

Touring the back roads of Michigan will take you past some of the most beautiful countryside, where orchards and vineyards dot the landscape. Wherever you begin your journey, you’ll find unique destinations and attractions that pair well with a trip through Michigan’s wine country.

Perhaps one of the most challenging things for an artist is being judged by others, whether it’s by a visitor at an art exhibit or by a juror for an art competition. Art does not fit into a given shape and is not limited by a spectrum of colors.

In the last issue of GUIDE, I briefly mentioned a pending trip to the Middle Eastern country of Jordan. The week long trip (February 28-March 7) was the experience of a lifetime, reinforcing my New Year’s resolution to try new things. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

Breakfast by morning. Deli by day. Piano bar by night. The musical transformation of Bite, at the intersection of Pearl Street and Ottawa Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids, has created a classic new hot spot for locals and those in town on business. As you approach the intersection, the piano tunes inside can be heard over the outdoor speakers.

The eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Southwest Michigan goes through a fascinating transition from the warm sunny days of August, through the crisp days of fall, and then into the storms of November and December. There is no need, however, to avoid the beach or to put your cameras away once winter has blown into town. You can brave the beach and the ravages of the weather to capture spectacular photos of both the stormy season and the frozen lakefront that follows with a little preparation and great care.

Whoever said enjoying a fine cigar is just for the rich and famous is blowing smoke. A new generation of cigar aficionados has come on the scene and select Grand Rapids establishments are welcoming them. Connoisseurs can enjoy a good smoke at more than a dozen locations in the Grand Rapids area.

Michigan’s craft distilling industry is growing at a rapid pace – ranking #4 in the nation in terms of overall number of distilleries (behind California, Oregon and Washington). To help unify the interests of the more than two dozen artisan distilleries, the Michigan Craft Distillers Association was formed earlier this summer to bring a voice to the industry.

While some travelers admire Michigan’s historic beacons from afar, dedicated lighthouse lovers make pilgrimages far and wide, down one-lane roads and deep into wooded areas to see the stately structures that have aided mariners for generations. Lighthouse aficionados aren’t content just viewing the state’s famed lights. They want to walk the floors and climb the towers, just as keepers did generations before.

Wine production in Michigan dates back to the 1880s, but it’s only been in recent years that the industry has come to fruition. Now, with close to 40 wineries in four distinct American Viticultural (AVA) regions, the wine industry is flourishing in Michigan.

Future guests and local residents are counting the days until the long-awaited Bay Pointe Inn & Restaurant will open its doors, bringing back to Gun Lake the style of resorting found here in the 1800s. The property offers an intimate and boutique feel, resembling communities such as Mackinac Island and Martha’s Vineyard.

In 2001, the management at The Lodge of Yarrow in Augusta was facing a 20 percent decline in corporate business, attributed to a weak economy, the after-effects of 9/11 and a major October storm that tore up the 300-acre property. Little did they know that the final blow in the “trials and tribulations of three” would actually turn out to be “the third time’s the charm” that has now brought them recognition as one of the best new golf courses in Michigan.