Visit Up North Blog » Tours

In the heart of Leelanau wine country stay at Sugarland

visitupnorth — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:26:58 +0000

Want to be in the middle of Northern Michigan’s wine country?

Looking for a retreat in the heart of beautiful Leelanau County? Sugarland is located in the Cedar area between Leland and Glen Arbor. This beautiful home offers comfy accommodations and easy access to everything in the county. Good Harbor Beach which is on miles of Lake Michigan frontage is only minutes from your door. This 4 bedroom 3 bath home comfortably sleeps 11 with 1 King, 2 queen, 1 full, and a roll away. Big wrap around deck. Home features hardwood floors, sky lights, high efficiency washer & dryer, dishwasher, ceiling fans in all bedrooms, wood burning fireplace.Firepit and grill provided. Jacuzzi bathub in master bath. Dish TV. Radio, board games, dvd’s & tapes provided. Linens included. No Smoking. Great area for biking, walking and snow mobiling.Sugarloaf the Old Course Golf Course right down the road! Quiet and peaceful defines this great location. lrelax out in the big back yard, relax, read a book, take a nap. Ahhh the good life. Lake Leelanau boat access 5 miles. 10 minutes to Leland. 12 minute to Glen Arbor. Enjoy festivals and fairs all summer. Hike the many trails that dot this county.

Check us out at visitupnorth.com or call us at 800-901-8922.

Video of Leelanau and the Sleeping Bear Dunes in 1949!

visitupnorth — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 20:56:36 +0000

Take a step back in time and enjoy this short tourism documentary on Northern Michigan from somewhere around 1950. It features the Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Lake, Interlochen, Traverse City and other areas that we have cottages and homes. The really neat thing is that a lot of our area looks just like this today! Come and experience an almost untouched gem that is Northern Michigan.

Saving Birds thru Habitat Omena Michigan Near Grand Traverse Bay

visitupnorth — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:39:30 +0000

This habitat Discovery Center in Omena www.savingbirds.org/ is located on three acres and is adjacent to a forty-four acre private sanctuary.This sanctuary was established in 1993 to aid slumping songbird populations.Since that time,it has hosted more than 60 nesting species. An additional hundred species have used the property for foraging during migration. The Center is open mid-April thru mid-October,every Wednesday-Saturday from 9-4 and Sunday 1-4.The trail is open 7 am to 8 pm daily during the same months.Bring your camera and binoculars and enjoy your flight. 5020 N.Putnam Road Omena.231-271-3738

5 reasons to Take a Girls trip & Visit Up North-Traverse City

visitupnorth — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:36:57 +0000

For a fun filled weekend head to Traverse City-the city by the Bay! This welcoming waterfront community has it all. 5 reasons to go now:

You want to reconnect with nature

For those looking to escape the bustle of busy city life, this area boasts wide open spaces of lush areas of natural beauty, big blue water, twinkling starry nights and cool fresh air. Climb the Sleeping Bear Dune, hike the Boardman River natural area, rent a bike and tour on the Tart Trail. These are just a few of the opportunities to reconnect with nature. At the end of the day you will feel relaxed, stress free ready for the next exciting adventure.

Explore your artistic side

The Traverse City and surrounding area is home to more than 35 art galleries. Featuring local and national artists you will be more than inspired by the creative force that lives in this community. Art festivals are featured at different times of the year in each small waterfront village thru the fall months. Need to be even more inspired? Take one of the many one and two day art workshops. Visit www.artcentertraversecity.com for more information.

You want to drink wine

Traverse City & the surrounding area are home to 24 wineries and counting. The wines of this area are rivaling some of the countries most tasteful wines. You will not be disappointed and surely will bring home a bottle or two of one of the many delicious wines. Start your wine journey on Old Mission Peninsula. Currently hosting 7 wineries make sure to visit them all. 2 Lads Winery, Chateau Chantal, Bowers Harbor and Peninsula Cellars to name a few. Enjoy free tours and tastings!

After your tour of Old Mission travel over to Leelanau Peninsula. Here you will enjoy 17 wineries. Also offering free tours and tastings you will not be disappointed when sampling the tasty nectar of the vines. Your tour takes you along the M-22 corridor along Grand Traverse Bay. Your first stop heading north will be Shady Lanes Winery featuring excellent reislings and chardonnays. Right down the road visit Willow Vineyards, Ciccone Wineries (yes Madonnas Dad owns this) L.Mawby, Chateau Leelanau and Black Star Farms. Continue north to visit the 12 other wineries waiting for your visit.

Unleash you wild side

After enjoying all the day time fun it is time to put on your party shoes and enjoy a little night life. Park you car downtown and walk to the many venues that offer something different behind every door. North Peak Brewery offers casual dining and micro brews. Favored by many locals the weekend finds standing room only but is worth the wait. Union Street Station & Shimmers offer music and dancing. Lil Bo’s and Mackinaw Brewery also offer a little local flare to hang out and meet a new friend. Check local listings to see where live music and specials are in this great town.

Indulge yourself

All this fun starts to sound like work! Treat yourself to some local treats of heavenly chocolate confections at Phils on Front (great drink specials too) or Jacque Torres Chocolates (goes great with all that wine you purchased) also downtown Traverse City on Front St. Enjoy local spa services or have them come straight to you at your location. See local guides for details. Visit Up North Vacation Rentals Cottages and Condos has a perfect place for you to stay. Relax in front of a fireplace looking over one of the beautiful lakes this area enjoys. No matter which way you look at it this is a perfect location to get away for a few days with friends.

Traverse City & Area Fall Color Tours

visitupnorth — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:29:47 +0000

Best Enjoyed: Late September to Mid-October
Approximate Length: 190 miles

Fall is the season of the grape, where local vineyards harvest the future Chardonnays, Rieslings and Pinot Grigios. Combine a color tour of the region with a visit to Michigan’s wine country – a feast for the eye and the palate.

Choose one or several of the 19 wineries of Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas for a very special fall vacation. Old Mission Peninsula has much to offer the autumn leaf-peeper: delicious apples can be found at roadside stands, charming restaurants, and the Old Mission Lighthouse.

“Land of Delight” is the English translation of the Indian wood “leelanau,” and it’s easy to understand the reason for so naming the Leelanau Peninsula, especially in fall. Circling the perimeter of the place many call Michigan’s “little finger” is a color tour that has been popular for decades. An easy and interesting route, M-22 takes you along the shoreline through the quaint villages of Suttons Bay, Peshasbestown, Omena and Northport, with water views almost the entire way. North of Suttons Bay the sign reads: Northport 12 miles. Northport, situated near the tip of Leelanau Peninsula, overlooking Grand Traverse Bay, is a picture-perfect town, with a marina, waterfront, unique shops, galleries and restaurants.

Each port town has its own unique charm, and each is a perfect place for shopping, dining, trying your luck at the casino or just breathing the crisp fall air. Tour the Grand Traverse Lighthouse, a living museum. Along the western coast, Leland and Glen Arbor offer still more options, and spectacular autumn color can be expected in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a 71,000-acre national park that includes 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. Go barefoot “one last time” when you encounter the massive sand dunes and stunning sunset beaches.

According to the National Park Service, many of the best spots for viewing fall colors at Sleeping Bear are easily reached by car or by a brief hike. The park’s popular Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, for instance, gives motorists a bird’s-eye view of areas like Alligator Hill, where brilliant fall foliage is set off by Glen Lake’s tropical shades of turquoise, jade and cobalt blue.

The Frankfort-Elberta area has much to offer, and is the gateway to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Benzie County, the Frankfort and Elberta communities encompass beautiful Betsie Bay, a historic sailing harbor.

The Point Betsie Light Station is one of the most visited and photographed in Michigan, and is considered to be the most popular visitor site in Benzie County. For mariners, Point Betsie (or originally: Point Aux Bec Scies), has been one of the most prominent and utilized lights on Lake Michigan.

Another great side trip is to the Gwen Frostic Prints Company in Benzonia (located between Frankfort and Benzonia). This 250-acre wildlife sanctuary on the Betsie River is home to Frostic’s studio with 15 Heidelberg presses using the original Frostic blocks to print a variety of paper arts.

Kids will love a stop at the Homestead Sugar House in Beulah, just five miles from the top of the hill on US-31. Open until November 30, enjoy delicious hand-dipped candies, fruits and even thick sugarless syrup.

You’re likely to hear the sounds of music mingling with the rustling of fall leaves on a color tour of Benzie County. The Interlochen Center for the Arts offers year-round education for young people interested in the performing arts. Situated on Green Lake, the Center provides excellent professional entertainment, as well as student performances. The campus itself consists of tree-lined pathways that take on vibrant personalities during the autumn months.

For more information check out www.michigan.org/travel

Northern Michigan travels. Tell us where you like to go. Is there a special beach, hiking trail, diner?Northport, Leland, Traverse City, Elk Rapids, Suttons Bay, Interlochen.We want to know!

visitupnorth — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:56:18 +0000

Visiting the great “Up North” is an experience to be shared. With miles of pristine waters, big blue skies, miles of hiking and biking, star gazing, festivals, nature watching and well the list just goes on and on. Whether it is baseball or fudge, napping under a tree or dining at your fav eatery, we want to know. Feel free to post your pics and tips. Have a great summer.
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