Blog
A Fun 5-Day Itinerary with Kids in Marquette, Michigan
The pros of visiting Marquette over other smaller towns are that it makes a great base camp. It offers a much broader lodging and dining mix than Munising, plus a walkable downtown, breweries, coffee, and non-park activities if the weather cancels boat or hiking...
Festivals and Fun in Marquette, Michigan for 2026
Winter (January – February) Heikki Lunta Winter Festival February 6–8, 2026 For an authentic “Yooper” celebration of Finnish heritage, the Heikki Lunta Winter Festival is an annual mythology event held in honor of the fictional Heikki Lunta. This folkloric...
Michigan Small Towns: A Planning Guide for Getaways
What Makes Michigan’s Small Towns Special Michigan’s small towns come in many flavors, but they share a few traits that make them especially rewarding for travelers. First, they’re rooted in history and heritage. Many towns grew up around lumber, mining, automotive...
The Ultimate Ann Arbor, Michigan Travel Guide (2026)
If this is your first visit or your first attempt at planning a trip more thoughtfully than "wander and hope for the best,” this guide is designed for you. Consider it a planning map: showing where Ann Arbor is, its vibe, the must-see spots, and how to enjoy it...
The Complete First-Timers Travel Guide to Michigan
If you’re planning your first trip to Michigan, “Welcome!” You’re about to experience something special. This first-timer's guide to Michigan will help you get to know the state the way locals do by connecting with its small towns, scenic drives, and creative energy....
12 Must-Visit Chocolate Shops in Michigan for Foodies
Mindo Chocolate Makers Shop Ann Arbor Mindo Chocolate Makers Shop in Ann Arbor belongs on any best-chocolate-in-Michigan shortlist for its true bean-to-bar chocolates, craft, and ethical sourcing. Tucked into Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown district, this cozy gourmet chocolate...
Echelon Kitchen & Bar: The Next Level of Ann Arbor Dining
About Echelon Kitchen & Bar For diners who already love exploring menus, the tasting format at Echelon is a chance to see the restaurant at its most creative. The team curates a progression that might move from bright, raw bites to deeply caramelized vegetables...
3 Best Coffee Shops in Cadillac, Michigan
Chunky Bear Coffee Roasters Walking into Chunky Bear Coffee Roasters is like walking into a friend’s living room. You’ll find various spaces throughout the shop where you can gather for a relaxing cup of coffee with friends. Known for the seasonal specialties, I...
9 Best Places to Eat in Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette Hotels Pitmaster Don Green Shrimp Po'boy Acadian Superette As the oak and pecan-fired smoke swirls around Don Green, he attends to cooking the brisket in the custom-built brick smoker out back, off the patio. As the pitmaster at Acadian Superette, he relies...
The Secret Behind Breaux Bridge, Louisiana’s Most Exclusive Dinner
“Part dinner party, part performance, and entirely unforgettable.” Maison Madeleine came into sight, a graceful Creole cottage nestled beside Lake Martin, its wide porch glowing in the last light of day. Our host met us at the gate. “Welcome,” she greeted us. As we...
KISS50 Cadillac Reunion Commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the KISS Concert at Cadillac High School
KISS at Veterans Memorial Stadium, mixing in with the Cadillac Marching Vikings and making rock history. Photo Courtesy of Dave Foley for Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau “Cadillac has had this magical connection to KISS ever since the band surprised the community with a...
A Guide to the Best Things to Do in Shipshewana, Indiana
In the fall, decorations celebrate the harvest. You’ll find festive autumn decorations throughout the whole town. The corn maze is one of the fun things to do at that time of year. After Halloween, the town begins decorating for Christmas, with Shipshewana’s lights...
10 Best Dinner Restaurants in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Sava’s Located on State Street, steps from the University of Michigan’s central campus, Sava’s features American cuisine with an international twist, making it one of the best dinner restaurants in Ann Arbor. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On...
15 Best Places to Eat in Cadillac, Michigan in 2025
Discover more about the 15 best places to eat in Cadillac, Michigan, which are listed alphabetically. Annie from Annie's Bakery Annie’s Baked Goods If you’re staying in a vacation rental and don’t feel like cooking, yet after a day at the lake, getting the whole...
9 Best Things to Do in Cadillac, Michigan in 2025
Play a Round of Golf With nine dynamic golf courses within 30 minutes of Cadillac, Michigan, this region is truly a golfer’s playground. During my recent visit, I toured both Lakewood on the Green and Eldorado Golf Course, each offering a unique “Up North” golf...
Take the Michigan Flyer – Lansing to Detroit Metro
However, that idea uncovered three issues: 1. The challenge of catching an early morning flight. 2. The cost of parking at Detroit Metro Airport for a week. 3. Five people with luggage, one of whom is known for being an overpacker. Our flight left at 6:30 a.m., which...
While Piper is a lifelong Michigander, she’s had adventures worldwide. Bomb-sniffing dogs chased her in the middle of the night in Bogota (working late), gate agents refused her boarding to Paraguay (wrong visa), and US Marshals announced her seat number on a plane while looking for a murder suspect (she’d traded seats). It’s always an adventure! She even finds exciting activities in her home state of Michigan, where she lives in Lansing with her husband, Ross Dingman, her daughter, Alexis, and two granddaughters.