After a week long vacation in Glen Arbor I’m feeling refreshed and ready for summer. My family has been vacationing in Glen Arbor, Michigan since I was 3 years old. We have so many special memories up here, and I always look forward to this week together. Many of you sent me a DM asking for recommendations in the area so I’ll share a little recap of our week in Glen Arbor, and our must-visit spots in the area.
Glen Arbor
We love staying at The Homestead in Glen Arbor. They have a mix of hotel rooms, condos and homes depending on what you’re looking for. You can also search vacation homes on Airbnb or Vacasa.
For coffee or lunch don’t miss The Mill which recently opened. We loved walking here for pastries or an iced coffee in the morning and sitting on the back deck. I’m also really excited to try Millie’s Pizza opening this summer.
You can’t visit Glen Arbor and not stop at Cherry Republic. The boomchunka cookies are my absolute favorite! This is also a great spot for lunch or dinner especially with kids.
Art’s Tavern is a classic staple in Glen Arbor. For burgers, fries, and a cold drink this is the place to go.
Ice cream is a must while you’re on vacation. We love visiting The Pine Cone for a sweet treat.
Looking for some fun activities in the area? Try kayaking or renting bikes from Crystal River Outfitters. Or take a hike and climb Sleeping Bear Dunes or Pyramid Point.
For some shopping I love Cottage Book Shop, Imagine That, and Coastal.
Leland
We love taking a little drive to Leland for shopping, lunch and picking up fresh fish for dinner. Don’t miss out on the Village Cheese Shanty for a sandwich on their famous pretzel bread. Pro tip – call ahead to avoid waiting in line or missing the pretzel bread. We also enjoy eating at The Cove on their deck. We enjoy grilling or baking fresh fish for dinner so we always stop in Carlson’s Fishery.
If you’re looking to stay in Leland check out The Riverside Inn. This is also a great spot for dinner during the summer.
For shopping we love The Warren, Leland gal, Duffield Lane, Leelanau Books, Au Sable, Dam Candy Store, Picnic Leland.
Traverse City
On our way up north we always stop at Farm Club for lunch. The outdoor area here is so nice and the food is amazing.
We also stopped in Brew for a coffee before heading home to Grand Rapids. We’ll definitely be coming back here again!
If you want more ideas for things to do in Traverse City check out this blog post.
Suttons Bay
I like stopping in Suttons Bay for some shopping or lunch at Hop Lot Brewing. The beer and the food here are great, and it’s perfect for families with the outdoor seating. Cory and I have Wren on our list for dinner. We’ve heard fabulous things about this restaurant.
For shopping don’t miss Poppy Things, and Bay Books.
Brys Estate Wine Wagon Tour & Tasting
In northern Michigan you’ll find many wineries in Leelanau and on Old Mission Peninsula. One of our favorites for the atmosphere and wine is Brys Estate. They kindly invited us to experience their Wine Wagon Tour & Tasting while we were in the area. We had such a great time on this tour and I would highly recommend it for a group of friends or family members.
The tour and tasting at Brys Estate is approximately 2 hours. During this time you’ll learn about the history of Brys Estate, tour the vineyards, visit the Secret Garden, enjoy a charcuterie board, and learn about their wine making process. Along the way you’ll have the opportunity to try different wines from Brys Estate.
All of us commented that this tour was a highlight of our week up north. We truly learned a lot during the tour, and had so much fun together. Click here to learn more about the Wine Wagon Tour & Tasting and book your experience! Thank you Brys Estate for hosting us.
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