We celebrated another milestone a few days ago...MH's birthday. The Traverse City area is a wonderful place to celebrate....
everything! It was so much fun we've decided to extend her birthday through July 31. Why should birthdays be limited to one day when they are as much fun as this?!
The weather in Traverse City has been especially comfortable for summer. We would compare it to a nice Fall day. It seems like a cool westerly breeze off Lake Michigan is always prevalent. If "snowbirds" come from the north to enjoy the weather in the south in the winter, what do you call southerners who head north for the summer?
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| Traverse Bay, MI |
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| Lower Platte River, Benzie County, MI |
Sweet cherries are ripe now and it seems that overnight cherry fruit stands have cropped up everywhere. Some roadside signs advertise "cold cherries", where you walk up to an "honor" refrigerator and leave your money in a basket. Michigan grows about 14 varieties of cherries during the season. Sweet, Tart, Yellow, and now we know how to make maraschino cherries (number 5 dye added to yellow cherries and marinate the cherries until they are like rubber). We enjoyed a 3-cherry pie last week which may have been the best pie ever! Second place cherry dessert goes to the cherry bread pudding we shared at Little Bohemia Restaurant (Walter Hagen, the golfer's, favorite hideout) in Traverse City. This time of year you can find everything from cherry salsa to cherry pop! It's cherry heaven.
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Walter Hagan, Professional Golfer
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Neat rows of cherry trees and beautiful grapevines line the sandy hills and wineries, and farmer's markets dotting the countryside attest to the area's rich agricultural heritage. One of the reasons northwest Michigan is perfect for growing cherries, grapes, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries is its proximity to the 45th parallel - halfway between the equator and the north pole - which makes it very conducive to raising these delicious fruits.
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| Cherry Orchard, Leelanau Peninsular, MI |
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| Black Star Farm Vineyards, Suttons Bay, MI |
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Black Star Farms - Raclette Cheese
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| Drive In Movie - Honor, MI |
While riding the Peninsular's scenic shoreline-hugging M-22, we visited Point Betsie Lighthouse, a rock star among lighthouses. Built in 1858, this lighthouse is the oldest structure in Benzie County on Lake Michigan, and its 37-foot tall gleaming white tower sits 52 feet above the lake and can be seen 27 miles out at sea. Some of the areas 16 documented shipwrecks can be seen from the shore because of the shallow water.
1 comment :
My word! It's the Incredible Shrinking Marty! It's okay, girl, you can have another piece of cherry pie. U look like you could use it!
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