Category: Travel

The shoreline of Petoskey, MI with the Petoskey harbor. Photo courtesy of TeliDrone.

Petoskey, Michigan is one of my go-to places when I want to get away and feel like I’m in another world. It’s incredibly beautiful and laid back luxurious, both at the same time. No wonder it’s where the rich and famous like to hang out.

Here are some of the places that we love in Petoskey:

The Terrace Inn is a charming place to stay, with wonderful staff. We also noticed that they are paying close attention to protecting visitors during COVID-19, which is much appreciated. This 38 room vintage hotel is a little hard to find, located in the Bay View Association, but well worth the hunt. The wonderful 1911 restaurant makes the experience even more inviting.

Haystacks Women’s Apparel has tons of unique and cute clothes, with their own brand, so you can have stuff that you won’t see on everyone else! Their clothing is also affordable, which I love!

Thai Orchid Cuisine Take-Out guys, if you want something full of flavor, fresh and healthy, try this place! They use authentic Thai ingredients cooked in their 700 degree wok. Just writing about this makes me want to take the trip up there for dinner.

Jose’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant Mexican food is one of my favorites. This family-owned restaurant that features authentic family recipes will make you want to come back for more.

There are so many things to love about Petoskey, MI, we would love to hear from you about additional places you love there.

Here’s an aerial shot of downtown Petoskey. Courtesy of TeliDrone.

NOTE: Aerial photos featured on Michigan Sweet Spot are available for purchase through TeliDrone.

Have you heard of the stunning 4-acre poppy field in Fennville? When I heard about it, I headed out the same day and am so glad I made the trip. The poppy field is indescribably heartwarming and I will be back to experience it every year. The field was planted by Joan Donaldson and John Van Voorhees, the owners Pleasant Hill Blueberry Farm, to honor their son Mateo. Mateo was in the military and deployed to Afghanistan. After returning, he struggled with PTSD and eventually took his life in 2015.

Mateo had been a beekeeper and his parents began planting the poppy field in 2018 to feed the bees and butterflies that he was so fond of. They also hope the field will bring joy to others facing hardships. It truly does.

The poppies are in peak bloom in June, so be sure to visit them before July. Everyone is welcome, but because of the volume of visitors, please, please, please follow the below requests so this can continue next year. The adjacent cemetery was damaged by visitors to the farm and people have been going in the field and trampling flowers. Remember, this is a private farm and a very generous gift of love from the owners:
• PARKING 1. Please park along M-89 or on the very West side of the cemetery only. No parking for poppy viewing will be allowed anywhere else in the cemetery. 2. Please pull far enough off that west side roadway to allow vehicles to pass through. 3. Please remember to be respectful of the community’s loved ones that have been laid to rest there. 4. With the exception of Sunday during church, parking is available at The Fennville Assembly of God Church, a short, pleasant walk. The church is located at 5897 124th Ave, Fennville, MI 49408 • REQUESTS FROM THE FARM 1. The field has a path surrounding it for visitors, please stay on the path and do not walk into the field. 2. Please do not pick the flowers.

Pleasant Hill Blueberry Farm is also worth a trip for their organic blueberries from July – early August. You can pick your own, or they also will ship frozen organic blueberries to you year-round.

Here’s the address for Pleasant Hill Farm, if you are going to see the flowers, you’ll want to park on the road in front of the cemetery, which is just before you’ll reach the actual farm: 5859 124th Ave, Fennville, MI 49408

The Hub is a place you will want to get familiar with, fast if you're in town for ArtPrize.

ArtPrize, in Grand Rapids, Michigan officially starts on Wednesday so I decided to go downtown today and see the status of things to come. After roaming around Grand Rapids, I wrapped up the day by visiting “The Hub.” This is a place you will want to know about if you are visiting ArtPrize.

The Hub is decked out with lounges for visitors to interact with each other

Rick and Melissa DeVos were at The Hub today checking out last minute details.

and the artists. It also has an artist lounge, which Rick DeVos, the founder of ArtPrize told me is going to be quite nice. In other words, if you’re an artist, you’re missing out if you don’t spend some time there.

If you want to know what everyone’s talking about, go spend some time at The Hub. It’s located at 155 N. Division in the Center of Grand Rapids (it’s also known as the old Federal Building.) Here’s more about The Hub from the official ArtPrize blog.

Check back often to learn more about my ArtPrize discoveries, I plan to do a lot of blogging about it.

Post & HDR photo by Ann Teliczan

Amazing Sculpture at the Frederik Meijer Gardens

The Frederik Meijer Gardens will be a venue for ArtPrize this year. Artprize starts September 22 at 6PM. I’m planning on going to downtown Grand Rapids to start scoping out the work that is already up (by the way, this sculpture is not an ArtPrize entry.

Post & HDR photo by Ann Teliczan

Chihuly's A New Eden Exhibit at the Frederik Meijer Gardens
This is my favorite of the 25 Chihuly exhibits at the Frederik Meijer Gardens

Ever since the Chihuly exhibit came to the Frederik Meijer Gardens, I’ve noticed that it seems to eventually come up in conversation with my friends and business associates. The reason everyone is talking about this exhibit is that it’s unique, stunning and beautiful. The exhibit was to end in September and is now being held over until October 31, 2010.

The Chihuly exhibit, titled A New Eden, features 15 sculpture sites with most of them outside and a continuously playing presentation about Chihuly in the Hoffman Family Theater. Dale Chihuly is said to be the most sought after artist in the world, working primarily in glass. This is his 2nd exhibition at the Gardens.

It was hard to pick my favorite from all the sites, but if I had to pick, it would be of the area shown in this HDR photo that I took during my 3rd visit (and I’ll be back for more!).

Frederik Meijer Garden’s hours are:

Mon and Tues: 9 am–9 pm
Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat: 9 am–5 pm
Sun: 12 pm–5 pm

You can learn more at their website by clicking here.

If you can make it, I’d highly recommend this exhibit (just in case you can’t already figure that out!)

Post & HDR photo by Ann Teliczan

The sails come down after a day on the water

There’s boat harbors everywhere in Michigan that look just like this as the sun sets. I took this photo in Muskegon after a relaxing day of sailing. Being able to escape like this makes every day feel like a vacation. Post & HDR photo by Ann Teliczan

stairs to Lake Michigan beach
96 stairs to pure heaven, the Lake Michigan sugar sand shoreline.

Oh yeah! This is the sight that lots and lots of lucky Michigan vacationers will enjoy this summer. This particular photo was taken in Manistee, Michigan however, this is a common sight at beach houses along the shoreline. An infinity of stairs leading to and infinity of luxurious Michigan beach. Gotta love it!

I had to run up these same stairs after taking this scary photo of a huge storm before it hit the shoreline.

On another note, I’ve got to comment on Tom Izzo deciding to stick with Michigan State University tonight. Yeah! The man has integrity and I’m sure glad that we still have him on our side. Thanks Tom for sticking around!

Beautiful HDR photo of Milham Park in Kalamazoo MI
One fine spring day in Milham Park.

Kalamazoo is the home to lots of special places and Milham Park is way up there on the list. My friend Jill told me about historic Milham Park and I’m sure glad she did. It’s 49 acres of creeks, stone bridges and hedges, geese, paths and just a serene, beautiful place.

Windmill Island Holland Michigan
Windmill Island just before dusk.

It’s Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan and Windmill Island is one of the featured attractions for good reason.

It’s a beautiful and leisurely paved walk to the island which is surrounded by marshes with cattails and red winged blackbirds.

Although tourists and vacationers travel from around the world to visit the island during Tulip Time, it’s an attraction that stands on its own and is well worth visiting any time of the year, especially spring, summer and fall.

Click here to purchase print of photo.

Lake Michigan is Waiting for You to Come for a Visit this Summer.

An email I got a couple of days ago from Dustin, who served in the Marine Corps for five years, made me think about how hard it must spend holidays like this so far from your loved ones. Today I’m dedicating my post to all of you serving in the military. You are loved and appreciated here at home. Thank you for your sacrifices, you are not forgotten.

Since so many of you are overseas in the desert, here’s a nice cool drink of the Northern Michigan shoreline.

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