All week I’ve been subconsciously dreaming up ways I could move to the Leelanau Peninsula and spend the rest of my days visiting Lake Michigan, eating ice cream, walking the dunes, and tasting the latest wines. I’m hoping that posting some photos from my recent trip up there will quell my disillusions and get me refocused on day to day life once again! But it’s so amazing up there!
Last weekend I took a quick road trip I’d been excited about for weeks. My friend, Melk (“A friend named Melk”, you ask? Yep, we met along the Appalachian Trail and still call each other by our silly trail names.), was working up on North Manitou Island in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for a few weeks so we met up in lovely Empire, MI for our weekend of wineries and fun. I had been so excited for her to spend some time in Michigan with me before she headed home to Rhode Island! We spent a couple of days lounging around the little towns of Leland, Cedar, Empire, and Traverse City. We visited as many wineries as you can count on two hands, a local brewery, a couple of ice cream shops, and the calming waters of Lake Michigan. It’s always great to relax in that area of the state where the pace is a little slower. And it was exciting to be able to visit with a great friend and show off one of the finer points of Michigan to her as well!
Here are some of the views as we walked around Leland (lovingly referred to as “Fishtown”):
We went into this cafe/candy store for a latte and I couldn’t help but love their displays! Can you even imagine a little one standing at a counter like this?
We enjoyed our lattes on a double rocking chair and took in the sights of Leland, including this “Smoke Fish not Tobacco” sign. Love it!
Melk making a classic Melk face:
Ah yes, and here begins our day along the Leelanau Wine Trail – glorious!
