Michigan Memories

Since I grew up in Michigan, I have a lot of favorite places and friends to visit. This was the longest time period I have been in Michigan in years and I got to share it with my boyfriend, Forrest. It was great to have the extended time to visit familiar faces and relax in nature. This post is most personal than informational, but here are some of the highlights of this trip.

First stop, Frankenmuth. 

I drove up to Frankenmuth to visit my grandparents and show Forrest this unique town. Frankenmuth has heavy German roots and is known for its Bavarian-style architecture. The economy is driven by farming and tourism. The tourists like to visit Zehnder’s, a restaurant known for its chicken dinners. I have never quite figured out the thrill in eating there. The town is also home to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store. Naturally, we made a stop and picked out a new ornament. We enjoyed seeing my family and having my Aunt and Uncle stop by for lunch. Michigan was full of good conversations and I think Forrest figured out why I tend to talk so much. 

Next stop, Ann Arbor. 

I absolutely adore A2. Growing up, I loved exploring University of Michigan’s campus and wandering the libraries. I also have so many memories of visiting the cute gift shops and restaurants with my mom. One of my favorite times to visit is the Ann Arbor Art Fair, or fairs because it is actually four art fairs in one. Practically every artisan is there, and the fair takes an entire day to see. I just missed it by a couple of weeks this year. 

We started the day with lunch at Zingerman’s, a well-known artisanal deli. Read about it in the New York Times here. I enjoyed a sandwich with sopressata, goat cheese, and honey - a simple combination but not something I would have ever thought of. I still think the deli is pretty pricey, even compared to my New York standards. But as my aunt mentioned, the beer prices make up the difference. Zingerman’s is in the Kerrytown district, a historic area full of creative shops. We wandered the shops here and on Main Street, and I was surprised to see some of my favorites had closed. My favorite visits were Found (vintage meets modern gift shop) in the Kerrytown Market and Moosejaw (outdoors outfitter) on Main. I have been really into all things outdoors lately. I think 5 years of New York City living is getting to me. At Moosejaw, I bought this Kavu backpack with cute cacti on it. 

Then, Brighton. 

After the day in Ann Arbor, we traveled to Brighton for the evening. My mom used to own an art gallery on Main Street and we lived right downtown. This stop was a trip down memory lane, and since I was living in the moment, I took no pictures. I was amazed at how much has changed. We lived there at the start of the recession, so it was wonderful to see how much it has grown in recent years. We were also very disappointed at how our old house looked. It definitely could use TLC. There are lots of shops and so many restaurants now. We ate dinner on the roof of a new bar, The Pound. The nachos I ordered were basically a mound of deliciousness served on top of a serving platter. There were so many leftovers that they came home in a pizza box.  

And then, Vanderbilt. 

My grandparents have a gem of a cabin in Michigan’s Pigeon River State Forest. It is a little slice of heaven. My last visit was during the winter with the oldest cousins. We went snowmobiling and made amazing white bean chicken chili. Winter visits are fun but the summertime is magical. This trip the weather was in our favor, and we were able to kayak and swim at Pickerel Lake and Cornwall Flooding. 

Plus a day trip to Mackinac Island. 

Mackinac Island is located between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas and is only accessible by ferry. The island has an extensive history. It was once an Odowa settlement and then became a fort and battleground during the War of 1812. I learned that it was designated America’s second National Park, after Yellowstone. Now it is a popular tourist destination and has a few cottages and hotels. We took a day trip to the island and biked the 8.2 mile trail around the exterior. The views on this sunny day were amazing and Lake Huron looked so clear, you could almost drink it. 

Even with a week-long visit, there is so much we didn’t get to see. I realized that while growing up in Michigan, most of my vacations were visits Up North. It was so nice to live in a state full of small-town charm and wonderful nature. Michiganders sure do take pride in their state and it was a really special place to grow up. Next trip will include a visit to Leland and the Upper Peninsula with some more cousin time.