Lake Michigan route
University of Michigan Stadium
We were two weeks early for the full Fall colors experience; nonetheless, Michigan was a delight to the senses. The state is so green, and you can not turn around without spotting a river or a lake. We left Grand Haven and headed north towards Glen Arbor. A quick detour through Manestie was the perfect opportunity to walk along Lake Michigan and watch the waves crashing against the lighthouse. Manestie has a river walk through the old downtown with charming shops and restaurants and would be a great day destination on its own.
We drove through back roads with eggs, honey crisp apples and firewood for sale on the honor system. Just take them, and leave money in the box. We drove through the Michigan Wine trail, and the cherry capitol of the world. We stopped for lunch at the Cherry Public House. There was also a store and wine tasting room. I truly enjoyed my “southern style” whitefish sandwich. It was a huge piece of fish, lightly coated in cornmeal and quickly fried. The bread was seasoned and toasted perfectly. It came with a fancy red pepper aioli, that was good but totally unnecessary. Lettuce and plain mayo would be just fine! The sandwich came with fries, but I had no room after that sandwich! The house brewed Small Town Brown Ale was delicious. Chris enjoyed his pulled pork sandwich, and house made cherry cream soda.
Fortified for the journey, we drove to Leelanau Winery for our first, and last, Michigan wine tasting. The tasting room was beautiful, right on the shores of Lake Michigan. The bar was crowded and there were small shopping carts that people were filling to capacity. They offered a complimentary tasting of 5 wines. They had 43 to choose from, ranging from dessert wine and port, wines made from different fruits, sangrias, sweet white wines, and dry whites and reds...we chose the “dry red” wines. Everyone around us was drinking moscato, blueberry wine, red bubbly, etc...
The wines we tried were, from our California wine snob perspective, not bad. We enjoyed the meritage and the Cabernet Franc the best. Did they convert us to Michigan wine fans? Not really. But it was a great experience.
View from tasting room
Lake Michigan on a good day, cold but clear
MI, Meritage, good, not great…
Back home we call this stemware…joker glasses…;-)
MI, Cab-Franc, much better.
