Featured Destination

Some might think it’s crazy to take up residency at a former mental institution, but the rooms which once housed patients suffering a multitude of ailments are now being converted into some of the most unique, chic and coveted condos in Traverse City.

Perched high on a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, the Governor’s Summer Residence on Mackinac Island has been an icon of distinction since it was built at a private home in 1902.

Lawrence Andrew Young – a Chicago lawyer, stock broker and vice president of the Chicago City Railway – leased a parcel of property at the top of Fort Hill from the State of Michigan in 1901 for $150 a year and set out to build a grand home for his family.

Now in its 5th year, Chefs Challenge attracts chefs from all over the state to compete in a tasting extravaganza judged by event goers and a celebrity judge panel. This year’s event, April 20-21 at Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne City, showcases the best of Michigan with the state’s finest chefs, ingredients and products, combined for a good cause — Challenge Mountain.

Reserve Wine & Food’s Executive Chef, Matthew Millar, has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the 2012 James Beard Foundation “Best Chef: Great Lakes Region” Award. He is one of only three Michigan chefs to make the list this year; the two other chefs are from the Metro Detroit area. This year’s list of 424 semifinalists was assembled from more than 57,000 online entries – more than double the 28,000 submissions received last year.

Grand Rapids hotels are taking action to end breast cancer — and you can help! When you book one of the Experience Pink hotel packages, your hotel will donate $3 to the Susan G. Komen of West Michigan. This pink-thinking charity works tirelessly “for the cure” — an end to breast cancer. So far, more than a dozen hotels around Kent County are participating.

The Homestead announced today that it is taking strong steps to encourage families to ski and ride – kids 17 and under will ski and ride free.