Take the time now to plan and book your Michigan small-town and beach getaways for this coming year.
It’s critical to plan your getaways now for two reasons: First of all, time-blocking your calendar and reserving your accommodations will ensure that you do get those vacations in. Don’t miss out because some urgent task becomes more important than taking care of the most important person–you! Second, the best accommodations get booked up fast. Beach motels, B&Bs, cottages, and resorts get booked as much as a year in advance (often people keep standing reservations year after year) so the inventory of really choice places is pretty small. You’ll get your best shot at a preferred date by booking now.
I know that to best serve my clients, real estate team, and to be the best person possible for my family, I need to take time off to recharge. It’s like on an airplane how they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others. You owe it to yourself and those you love to take care of yourself. Work hard to play hard and be energized by both. It’s part of the PiperPartners Team Core Values!
Beachcomber Motel, Port Austin
You’d think this would be easy for those of us who make our schedule, self-employed entrepreneur types, but what happens is we get busy with the next important and urgent task and never get around to taking care of ourselves. That’s why I follow Gary Keller’s advice from The 1 Thing:
“I time block all my time off (first)–vacations, days off, short days, etc.–so that I make sure they don’t get left out. If I intend to work hard then I’ll need this time to renew.” Gary Keller
I plan a weekend getaway at least once a quarter and once a month in the summer. One of my favorite things to do is hit Michigan’s great beaches and explore the small towns to get a glimpse into the past and of simpler times.
There are many ways to enjoy the Michigan Great Lakes and beaches, ranging from luxury accommodations to tent camping, and I like them all. My preference is to keep things simple so I can access Michigan’s beautiful lakes and beaches and enjoy the heritage of its small towns easily and often.
Here are my tips for planning a simple Michigan getaways:
- Look for accommodations that are walkable to downtown or to the beach. Check out small local hotels, B&B’s, and vacation rentals through VRBO.com or Airbnb.com. Sometimes it takes a recon trip the first time around to really find the special places that are hard to find online. Little motels in small towns can often be very clean and quaint. Don’t get annoyed if they are not really great with online reservations and 24-7 answering services. This is a blessing in disguise. Most of these are mom and pop operations and they just don’t take the hustle of big city life too seriously. Be nice, be patient. Maybe you have to call a couple of times.
- A two- to three-hour drive from Ann Arbor is best. If you go further you may want to spend an extra day or two. This way you spend more time relaxing and less time in the car.
- Look for places that offer good restaurants and small-town amenities, like a farmer’s markets, maybe a small library, and interesting shops. I like to explore the history of these small towns, many of which were built on the lumber business and the transportation routes on the Great Lakes. You will find very special restaurants that specialize in farm to table, wild game, or have a great wine list. These off-the-beaten-track places can be a real joy!
- Plan a trip around an event such as a concert, festival, or art fair. A two- or three-day trip to enjoy a fair or festival can be a great getaway and refresh your mind and body.
Here’s a short list of of my favorite places. I like to explore them a little more deeply each year. Your list will be different of course. I hope these will inspire you to add a trip to your summer calendar this year:
St. Joseph, MI. Lake Michigan from the bluff. Yes, you can take the train there if you want!
St. Joseph
It is the quickest route to Lake Michigan from Ann Arbor–2 hours straight west. St. Joseph is great small city with several bars and restaurants and one of the best city beaches in Michigan. This can even be a day trip. Leave Ann Arbor at 6am and you can be there for breakfast! Stay in town at the Boulevard Hotel and Bistro or, for less money, stay at I-94, Exit 31 at one of the many hotels. The Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff July 7-9, 2017 (always the weekend after the 4th of July) is really nice. It is a fraction of the size of the Ann Arbor Art Fair and draws a lot of artists that like the smaller fairs. For a great day, check out the art fair, go to the beach in the afternoon, and enjoy dinner at Schu’s.
Empire Beach. North Manitou Island at the horizon.
Empire
This town is right at the entrance of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It’s a simple, laid back town with my favorite beach in all of Michigan. The Empire City Beach. Go to Glen Arbor to be with tourists or stay in Empire if you are looking for a quiet, small town to relax in. They have all the amenities: a great ice cream shop, bars, restaurants, a farmer’s market, and a great town library for some A/C and wifi. Plan your dune hikes and day trips and activities at The Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore website. Make this a longer trip; the National Lakeshore is one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Holland
Home of one of the finest downtowns of any town in Michigan. Holland is an example of how to do things right! They even have heated sidewalks for the winter. Great for a quick getaway anytime of the year. Stay at the Centennial Inn. Located a couple of blocks from downtown, this historic B&B is a great place to stage a Holland, MI getaway. Or the contemporary City Flats Hotel. Rooms are eco friendly and uniquely decorated with modern furnishings and custom bedding. It is an easy drive to Saugatuck Dunes and Holland State Park and many more great beaches. Head to Pereddies Italian restaurant for an old world dining experience. The Alpenrose has a Sunday brunch not to be missed. This bright European eatery & bakery features intricate woodworked walls and a popular Sunday brunch.
Ramsdell Inn, Manistee (image courtesy of ramsdellinn.net)
Manistee
During the lumber boom of the 1880s, Manistee had more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the United States. At its peak, the town featured over thirty shingle mills on the Manistee River. Today, it’s a somewhat sleepy town on a rebound. Manistee is a great jumping-off point for many “Up North” activities – golf, hiking, beaching, and exploring small town Michigan. They have a great 4th of July parade. Stay at the The Lakeshore Inn right on the beach and watch the sunsets from your lawn chair. Or Stay downtown at the historic Ramsdell Inn.
Many of our clients are not from Michigan, and I feel obligated to let them know about the the joy and beauty that awaits you at Michigan’s beautiful Great Lakes and beaches. Many of the clients we serve are super busy medical, software, and management professionals working very long hours. That’s how I work, too.
The getaways I mention here are designed for a quick recharge over a weekend or a long weekend. There are endless ways to explore Michigan. Here are is a quick mention of a few others to explore, too:
Traverse City Film Festival
Mackinac Island Grand Hotel
Old Mission Pennisula Winery tour
Tent Camping at any of Michigan’s State Parks
Grand Rapids Frederik Meijer Gardens
Marshall Michigan “A textbook of 19th century American small town architecture”. National Historic Landmark District. The district includes over 850 homes and businesses.
With all this information, I hope you feel ready to go ahead and make plans for a special Michigan summertime getaway. Still have questions? Give me a call–I’d love to talk more about all that Michigan has to offer: (734) 845-9700.
