Summer is the perfect time to get out and explore Michigan – and this year, I vow to cross 12 items of my “bucket list” of activities. My challenge to you…is to do the same. Come up with a list of places you’ve never been, things you’ve never done, foods you’ve never tried – and then set out on the open road to discover (or rediscover) this great state in which we live!
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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.
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We are so fortunate in Michigan to have so many great destinations, attractions and natural resources to be discovered and explored! From the Great Lakes to the rivers and streams, from the islands to the forests, from the rural countryside to the urban centers. We’ve got it all, right in the palm of our hands!
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Each spring, we make a ritual out of cleaning the clutter out of our homes, dusting off the last remnants of winter, opening up the windows to let fresh air in. Have you ever thought that your body deserved the same type of cleaning—a rejuvenation, a cleansing, an opportunity to shed the old and make way for the new.
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Spring is a season of awakenings in Michigan – where April showers bring May flowers and May flowers are infused into dazzling artisan spirits like the new White Blossom from Valentine Vodka.
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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.
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It’s no secret that I LOVE Michigan wine…and while I’m partial to sweeter Rieslings, I have a growing fondness for Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir and sparkling wines. I think one of the reasons I’m so drawn to the local wines is that in most instances, I know the winemakers personally.
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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.
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Even though we haven’t had a traditional “winter” here in Michigan the past few months, the true spring season is just around the corner. It’s a time of rebirth and growth – of new awakenings and fresh colors. One of the state’s most active promoters of the spring season, Joe Breidenstein, worked endlessly to get the state legislature to introduce a resolution designating the last week of April as Springtime Splendor Week.
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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.
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Without question, there are hundreds…thousands of things to love about Pure Michigan! From coast to coast to coast, through rural countrysides and in thriving urban centers, the Great Lakes State delivers countless destinations and products that you’ll love to explore in the month of February!
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Michigan has a longstanding history of crafting worldclass beverages. The state’s wineries and craft breweries have been gaining international attention for their diverse products. And now distillers are getting into the game with an array of spirits — from vodka, rum, whiskey, gin, and bourbon to a unique innovation known as Hopquila. Here’s a taste of who’s who, and who’s new.
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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.
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