You guys know northern Michigan holds a special place in my heart, and I’m always up for exploring new spots in Leelanau County. I was recently invited to check out The Vineyard Cottage located on Aurora Cellars Estate, and let me tell you this little gem is amazing for a family or small group to rent. I also had the opportunity to learn more about Sister Pie Bakery located in Detroit with their cookbook tour at Leland Lodge. Scroll down for a little recap of my fall weekend in Leelanau!
The Vineyard Cottage
If you’re planning a trip to Leelanau with your family or a group of friends and you’re looking for a place you can stay at together this rental is perfect. Sharing memories together over breakfast, playing cards at night, and sipping wine on the back deck are extremely special when you can stay together in one spot. This is something my family values most when we vacation together. The Vineyard Cottage has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms which makes this rental ideal for a small group or family.
One of my favorite aspects about The Vineyard Cottage is the proximity to Grand Rapids, Michigan. A quick 2.45 hours drive from Grand Rapids to The Vineyard Cottage is the perfect distance for a weekend getaway. I also value staying in place that has updated amenities and the decor of the cottage was absolutely beautiful. The cottage was recently renovated with modern touches, stunning tile work in the bathrooms, and very comfortable bedding.
One thing I really appreciated about staying at The Vineyard Cottage is not having a TV. Turning on the TV is a bad habit of mine, and this really forced me to enjoy some quiet time. I brought along a deck of cards, and those nights together playing card games were truly a highlight. They also have chess available and Cards Against Humanity that’s fun to play with a group.
Aurora Cellars
Another big benefit of staying at The Vineyard Cottage is obviously how close Aurora Cellars is. The tasting room is a 5 minute walk from the cottage and they feature some really excellent wine. I was so excited to take a tour of the winery to learn more about the wine making process and what makes Aurora truly unique. Everything from the type of grape, the stainless steel wine tanks, and method of making wine is a very detailed process.
At Aurora Cellars you can find red, white, sparkling wine and ciders so there’s a little something that everyone is sure to enjoy. You can sample 5 wines for $7 and I would highly recommend trying the Pinot Gris, Brut Rosé, Pinot Noir and the Cabernet Franc. In addition to tasting you can also purchase a glass of wine or a selection of food items to enhance your wine experience.
Since Cory and I recently got engaged we also loved seeing their two wedding venues on site at Aurora Cellars. They offer the Aurora Cellars Terrace that seats 40-80 guests and the Aurora Cellars Estate that seats up to 300 guests. I watched one of the videos on their website and was almost in tears at how beautiful the space was. If you’re looking for a space to get married in northern Michigan check out Aurora Cellars!
Sister Pie Cookbook Tour at Leland Lodge
Have you been to Sister Pie in Detroit? If you haven’t been to their bakery or you aren’t following them on Instagram be sure to check them out! They recently launched a cookbook filled with delicious recipes for pie, cookies and much more. With this new cookbook Sister Pie did an event at the Leland Lodge to showcase a few of their recipes including sweet potato, black bean, and feta hand pies.
If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for your mom, sister or best friend who loves baking this book is perfect. I’ve already bookmarked a ton of pages of recipes I want to make this holiday season. Learning more about how to roll out pie dough and the process of hand pies was a great learning experience. The Leland Lodge had a great event space for all of us to enjoy dinner together, spend time in the kitchen and learn together. Also, get ready because Sister Pie will be returning to the Leland Lodge next year to host a baking class!
Anyone want to have a pie party with me?
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Vineyard Cottage, Aurora Cellars and The Leland Lodge but all opinions here are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who allow me to continue to create content on The GR Guide.
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