Sounds like a wonderful day trip Annie. Michigan is a beautiful state. I loved visiting the Traverse City and the Harbor Springs area in the summer.

Here is the link:

Sounds like a great trip, Annie! Be sure to let us know if you have a "brush with fame"! LOL

Linda

sounds like great fun....don't forget your orange crocs!
Linda C

Wish, wish, wish I could come with. SOunds like heaven. Have fun

LindaC, I have red Crocs, from Canning Camp. Remember, Deb (Momto4kids) sent them for everyone.

Ilana, you have to come and visit sometime. I don't suppose you could make it to the Michigan get together we're planning right now? It looks like maybe August 11. Ann (spacific) is here from California, and Sherry (sheshebop) and Karen(lakemayor) are going to try to met her somewhere, I'm hoping Peppi could come along. Linda (coucanoe) is on her girls grip that week, I think, so she can't make it.

Hey, just take the Lake Express across from Milwaukee or The SS Badger from Manitowoc. Express comes into Muskegon (ugh, icky place) and Badger comes into Ludington (beautiful place). We'll pick you up!

Ann T, you know how beautiful the area is, and now the vineyards rae sprouting up, lots of artisan cheese and bread places, farmers markets, it's not just fudge anymore. thanks for the link, here at work GardenWeb barely works, I think it's our "sonicwall". Sigh.

If I meet Mario, I'll ask for a picture for the Cooking Forum. Hey, maybe I should take him a jar of my "famous" salsa. (grin)

Annie

Annie, Have a great time. I love Traverse City. In fact, if the Michigan get together happens on the 16th we'll be heading up your way to the beautiful Northern Michigan country. Southern lower Michigan just isn't the same.

Karen

Could you give Mario a little kiss on the check from me (explain to Elery that it's not personal, you're on an important mission).

Have a great time, it sounds like a lovely itinerary!

Annie you are bad... I told you to keep things secret. :))

I read that article the other day. They keep playing up this area as a foodies paradise. I guess it is with all the vineyards, high end restaurants, local fruits and vegetables and fresh water fish.

Nancy

Sorry, Nancy.

OK, everyone, listen up. Michigan is a horrible place, the humidity makes your hair all curly and the mosquitos will carry off small children and you never know when you might run into some nut with a gun, like Ted Nugent. The Lake has rip currents and undertow and it snows. A lot. All the time.

Nope, better go somewhere else......Mario and I will make sure to eat lots of that artisan raclette cheese and cherry crunch pie, just for you.

Meanwhile, since you know I'm not a wine drinker, I've found a place where Mother and Elery can get 5 samples of wines of their choice for $5, very common up along the 45th parallel. The same place will give me a glass of ice wine and a slice of cheesecake for my $5. Something for everyone, it seems!

Annie

Annie - 11th! Tell me more, please. Especially about taking a ferry. never done that.

It's the last week before kids go back to school and maybe dh can take the day off and we can make a day of it. He can take the kids out for lunch while I catch up with the girls.

Annie,
Be sure to let me know about any TC recommendations! (Oh, of course, there couldn't be any recommendations. There's obviously nothing good in Michigan.)

l2c46, any chance you could make it on the 16th? That seems to be the best day for the most folks.

Ann

Sorry Annie, you have already convinced me. I am going to Michigan, one of these days!

Hope you get to see Mario!

Ray and I have the UP on our road trip list. I wish we could move it up to the 16th; it sounds like a great get together with all the CF friends we have met mixed with a new destination for us.

My DD and Grandbabies just got back from a week at the cabin in Traverse City. Before she left I set her up with all the great things in the area so she was disappointed that her in-laws didn't take her into the city once! But the kids had a great time fishing, dunes, boating, walking in the woods. Beau (6) did have a melt down because Lily (4) caught a bass and he didn't. I asked if it was a "big mouth" bass; he said Grammy they are called "large mouth bass" here. oops!

Yowsers. I'd have to be up by 4:30 AM!! to get he ferry.

If I come I'll drive. Peppi, you want to ride with me?

Ilana, we're still waffling between the 11th and the 16th, I'll add you to the mailing list!

Yes, Cathy, here they are called "large mouthed bass". (grin) I just saw a shirt today that had a picture of a wine glass and it said "Grammy's Sippy Cup" and I thought of "Grammy", LOL.

We didn't see Mario, but Mom had a good time hitting the bottle all day, and I make a great designated driver. We ate at a local brewery called Jolly Pumpkin, Elery had the day's winner, an awesome pulled pork sandwich on freshly baked bread, I had smoked pulled pork nachos with cherry salsa which was good, but not as good as Elery's sandwich. Mother had crab tater tots. Yeah, that's what I thought too, but they were actually freshly made potato and crab patties, more crab than potato. Served with a lime/cilantro aioli dipping sauce, she loved them.

And I forgot to take pictures of lunch.

Trixie, come to Michigan any time. You can stay with me and I'll drive you around and give you the grand tour!

Annie

Maybe he can take over for Tim Allen on the Pure Michigan ad campaign!

BTW -- we were recently in Florida and saw a Pure Michigan commercial almost every day. Made me homesick!