Another day in the book Mantrippers. Today we made our way out of Manistique, East down Hwy 2 toward the Mackinaw Bridge crossing into Lower Michigan. As you approach into the Mackinaw area we were fortunate to cross through the beautiful town of Harbor Springs. This is a picturesque little “harbor” town complete with sailing boats, boutique shops, restaurants, and steep climbing hills that lead you to beautiful overlooks of the whole town and the lake. Leaving out of Harbor Springs we crossed the Mackinaw Bridge and decided to take some country roads to our next destination of Boyne Falls.

Our little side trip to the country took us out Hwy 81 toward Hwy 119 that skirts the lake taking you back toward Hwy 41. Here you will criss cross the farm land and windy hills through some of the best autumn color we have seen on our trip. Pulling over we had many photo ops of perfect Fall landscapes of yellows and oranges while the leaves float through the wind on their way to there final resting on the roads. It was a great peaceful drive and I highly recommend taking the time out of your route to go through the country.

Finally back on our main route down Hwy 41 we find ourselves heading into Boyne Falls, Michigan where we arrive at our much needed resort location of Boyne Mountain Lodge and Spa. Driving up you are struck by the grandeur of the main lodge and the currently barren ski slopes stretching into the clouds. Walking into the lodge to check in you are greeted by a giant sculpted bear letting you know this is a place you will feel like you are getting away from it all. The interior is warmly lavish with hardwoods and ornate and antique type furniture complete with a large fireplace and a private library. We were greeted warmly by the staff; however since we were early our room was not quite ready. We took the opportunity to have lunch at Everett’s lounge, one of the many restaurants on property.  Food was great and the service was fast and friendly. After lunch we were warmly greeted by our host Erin who was kind enough to give us a brief tour of the resort. We finished and went to check into our room. Upon entering; the room is spacious and I enjoyed that there were two sinks and a large bathroom. My only issue would have been the colors. I thought the lime green and pinkish hues of the wall paint did not quite match the hardwood trim in the room. But all in all it is a nice spacious and comfortable room.

From here we had a very fun and relaxing afternoon and evening. Our first venture was Zip Lining which is done here through the resort. We were all gathered in the suit up room with our 9 other participants and were put through our harnessing and safety instructions. It was quick yet efficient and all the instructors were very patient if you had questions. With the session completed we were shuttled into the van and up the 620ft road to the top of the mountain to start our decent. After some more initial instructions we began and I have to admit this is one of the most entertaining things I have done. While it is not end of life daring it is very enjoying and you do experience some “rush” as you blaze through the treetops at speeds up to 25-30mph suspended through the air. What was a nice side excursion was the mild hiking involved from step off point to point. We were able to enjoy all the great autumn colors as the leaves fell which made even more enjoyable when you were zipping from tree to tree. The whole trip takes about 2 hours depending on your group size. An added program for Halloween was mentioned called “Zip of Terror” running October 29^th through the 30^th where “zipping” will take place in darkness, with the only light coming from the glow sticks carried by “creatures” roaming the woods while you go from point to point. It’s original and sounds like a scary good time. If you live in the area or will be driving through, I would highly recommend trying it out and let us know how it is.

I separated from my Chick Vacation traveling partner and headed to the Solace Spa for a much needed reflexology session. The spa is nice and very welcoming and warm and I was treated elegantly. They have a great relaxation room which you can enjoy before and after, with complimentary fragranced water and assortments of herbal teas, all the while you can relax with soothing new age tunes playing in the background. My session was nice, my therapist was very accommodating and professional and the session completed with fresh fruit and more time in the relaxation room. The locker rooms are well furnished and complete with steam room/sauna and whirlpool. Prices at the Solace Spa are reasonable and comparable to most resort spas.

I met back up with my partner and we enjoyed dinner at one of the other resort restaurants called the Trophy Room. It was a much laid back and rustic pizza style joint. All the tables, chairs and barstools were made of solid wood and the décor outlined the history of the resort through old photos which were quite informative and entertaining to look through while we were waiting on dinner. The food was simple yet good. My counterpart had a calzone and I had a wonderful stuffed chicken. They make all of their own bread here at the Trophy Room which made the fresh hot breadsticks that came out very very appealing. In fact some made it back to the room for later. The Trophy Room also features a Boyne original brew called Everett’s Ale. The ale is a darker amber beer and had the flavor of a malty caramel flavor. The beer finished very smooth and paired well with both of our meals. If you are a brew fanatic, probably worth the trip in to give it drink.

Finishing dinner we took in one more things to finish our day off right. We jumped in the outdoor HEATED pool and spa. I can say that it is quite an experience, and very relaxing, to sit in the warm pool in the night air, the steam pouring off of you while you stare up into the stars and forget reflect on your day. It was a great ending to a great day. There are many more things that can be done at Boyne Mountain. They have many conference and convention facilities and can host your events for business or family. During winter months of course skiing is King in these parts and Boyne offers varying difficulties skiing fun. Further when the weather is nice, enjoy golfing at one of two championship courses. During the summer and weekend currently, you and your family can enjoy “Avalanche Bay” which is their HUGE indoor water park. If all of this was not enough there is always hiking, chair lift rides, 18 hole disc golf, tennis, mountain biking, horse drawn rides and even ice skating! Whew!!! There is so much to do here and the staff has been so great. I highly recommend taking a trip up here, whether it’s romantic, the family, your business, or maybe just you need time for you, Boyne Mountain here in Boyne Falls has everything you will need to enjoy your stay. Happy Trails!!!!

Greetings Mantrippers from our evening stop here in Manistique, MI in the UP. We had mostly a traveling day today but I will recap some of our highlights. We started our day where we left off yesterday in Fish Creek, Door County. We did not have time to visit the downtown but took the time to visit the White Gull Inn for what Good Morning America described as “America’s Best Breakfast”. This “Best” dish was Cherry Cream Cheese stuffed French Toast you would surely enjoy if you like cherries and do not mind an extra sweet start to your day. The Inn was extremely warm in décor and the staff was very polite. It really got going around 9:00am as the wait was starting to build, so best bets is to get there around 8am.

Leaving Fish Creek we drove south into the town of Carlsville to see Cookie the Cow whose home is found at Schopf’s Hilltop Dairy. Cookie is essentially the 15ft high mascot of the farm whom provides much of the dairy used by Land o’ Lakes. It was a unique stop, unfortunately it was closed so we were unable to dive into anything further, but an interesting stop if you are fond of or work in agriculture or food production.

From here we were back on the road and headed toward Green Bay to our next stop in Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. Upon arriving in to town I was surprised at the location of the stadium. I assumed it would be next to the downtown or shoreline, but in fact was in a residential and business district. While I felt it took away from some of it’s appeal, the stadium itself in truth reflected the city it represents. The exterior was simple brick façade and looked very industrial, which represents the blue collar working environment that was paramount driving through the city. I really liked the tailgating portion of the parking lot which was complete with very posh covered buildings with refreshments, seating and what appeared to be entertainment capability. In all, was not one of the more extraordinary stadiums I have seen but is certainly a must see for the die hard NFL fan.

Leaving Green Bay we made our way north to our next destination of Escanaba, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula(UP). Entering into the area around Escanaba it is evident this is a huge fishing area. Tackle and Bait shops are abundant up and down HWY 41 and Hwy 2 east of Escanaba. One will also find boat sales and many hole in the wall motels such as the Sallmar Motel we stopped at. Looking inside you can see this would be an ideal location for you and your buddies to come up for your fishing trip as it provided ample space for up to 12 of your friends and complete with outdoor grill and kitchen inside for cooking up the fish you caught that day. While it was dated and a bit run down, it is very affordable and the staff was really present. We did not end up staying here and continued our journey up to Manistique where we have ended tonight at the Comfort Inn. Our hotel tonight is a nice chain venue and is located fantastically directly across the road from the edge of Lake Michigan. It is an ideal place to stay with many restaurants next door or down the street for breakfast the next day.

Hello fellow mantripper’s. We have begun our Lake Michigan Circle trip and it has been a full day of travel and had a couple stops along our way. Our first stop brought us to Kenosha and a little diner called Frank’s, as seen on Diner’s Drive In’s and Dive’s from Food Network. I can tell you it was a complete dive of a diner and I loved it and why you should check it out. From the moment you pull up you can smell the greasy goodness emanating from the side of the small old building. Walking up you enter the small door and up the stairs to the sliding door and you enter into what a traditional diner should be. What hits you first is the smell of the grill sizzling of hash browns with varieties of porky goodness! Then you begin to look around and take in the small layout of booths and barstools and your eyes are drawn by your ears to the sounds of the cook yelling orders to her bread man and then calling to the servers when the orders are up. There is also the uniqueness of candor of the conversations of the regulars that undoubtedly visit daily. I really enjoyed this quaint and characteristic diner. We sat directly behind the grill and watched as our cook, and she was the only cook, fly through orders with flipping skills unmatched by few. It was real entertainment just to watch her run the grill and worth the trip in self. The food was great, we had traditional eggs, I had a Puffer omelet and all was really good. If you are going through Kenosha you need to stop here. Friendly and entertaining staff (the cook), good food and a fun environment. My only recommendation is to sit behind the grill.

As we made our way north along I-94 we were greeted by increasing colors of auburn and orange redness on our approach to Door Counties front door of Sturgeon Bay. We hit Hwy 42/57 in Sturgeon Bay and stopped by the must see Door County Visitors Bureau. They have every brochure you would need including food, arts, lodging and daytrips. But most importantly-MAPS! We then continued our way slightly North and off County Road WD to Cave Point County Park. The website indicated you will “hear the coast before you see it”, and they were right. Upon walking up through the canopy of orange leaves you hear the tide hitting the bluffs with tremendous force. We made our way to the shoreline and were met with surprisingly steep and rocky bluffs. The lakeshore was crashing into the sides of the shore and it made for a nice relaxing atmosphere after our lengthy drive. We spent about 20 minutes walking up and down the shoreline listening to the bluffs sing their song and enjoying the crisp air. Be cautious though, there are many areas that are slippery and if you have Fido along, be sure to have him on a leash. If he gets to nosy there are places he could get himself and you in trouble.

After the nice relaxing stroll we were back in the car and further north into the heart of Door County. Again the colors continued to impress as yellows turned more to brighter orange and dark reds. If you are a nature lover and looking to do foliage road trips this would be the place to be. Some of the Birch trees have already gone to sleep for the winter but most others are right now in Peek or possibly even slightly past. But overall today the colors have been amazing. The sun is beginning to set and we look west to see the sky filling with ruby and purple colors of the day drawing to a close in full Autumn splendor. It was now time to look for a place to eat. After some discussion and are craving for some BEER!, we end up in a town South of Fish Creek on Hwy 42 to Egg Harbor. Our restaurant of choice was Shipwrecked Brew Pub and Restaurant. It’s a small microbrewery offering 6 different brews and a decent menu of salads, sandwiches and your normal entrée fare. We tried the 6 Brew Sampler which consisted of 2 light beers, 1 cherry wheat, the seasonal pumpkin and a coffee infused peninsula porter. In all, none really impressed; light beers were average, the cherry lacked cherry’ness, the peninsula porter was a bit strong but tolerable, and the pumpkin would probably stand out as very drinkable of the lot. Our food was good; we had smoked chicken salad and a pulled pork sandwich and both were served quickly and by very friendly staff. I will say that I took a splurge and spent $3 for a bread plate that came with local olive oil and balsamic vinegar which was a highpoint of the evening. Both tasted of high quality, very fruity olive oil and the balsamic was ultra sweet and ultra smooth. Shipwrecked is the only microbrewery in the Door County region and I would say for the true brew lovers its worth the trip for the tasting and experience, but you probably will not find anything extraordinary worked about the brews. Of note Shipwrecked also houses an inn with quite reasonable rates starting around $59 even in peak season.

After dinner we drive back up 42 to our final destination of Fish Creek to our home for the evening at Parkwood Lodge. Rolling into town I will tell you Fish Creek has a very busy nightlife. The small business lined streets were packed with cars and people walking up and down visiting shops, restaurants and bars. There is everything from Mexican, American and Swedish restaurants to Art galleries, Antique shops and Clothing Boutiques. I was so taken aback by all of the charm this town of Fish Creek has to offer. We are hoping to get out early tomorrow morning to dive into this town and explore what more it has to offer. Arriving into Parkwood Lodge we are greeted by a quaint tree lined two story lodge. We arrive into the lodge office and are greeted warmly by our office attendants. We were checked in quickly and I was impressed with how much information they offered us such as restaurant ideas and points of interests. They recommended but we were unable to attend a local theater production of “Guys and Does” about a Guy and a Deer and the folly of making fun of “northerners”. I am sure it would have been fun, but it highlights a point that there is a thriving art vibe going on here in Door County. In any event, we got our keys and proceeded to our room. We walked in and were pleasantly surprised with how clean everything was. Of note we noticed that it appears there is fresh paint, newer carpet, new headboards and even the windows were clean so we could see the great colors. One uniqueness is that the sink and mirror are in the bedroom/living space and the bathroom is simply that along with the shower. A little awkward but workable. However, the water was hot and the linens are clean so overall we are pleased. The facilities are decent offering a game room, pool and whirlpool spa, sundeck and tennis courts and access to snowmobile and skiing trails when available weather hits. I would say I am pleased with our first nights accommodations and is typical of a good lodge stay and is very comparable to the nicer state park lodges I have enjoyed in Ohio State parks.

So our day draws to a close and we are turning in. Tomorrow will find us exploring some more of Fish Creek and Door County and then back to the open road on our way North toward Escanaba, Michigan. Special thanks today to John at the Door County CVB for all of his help and recommendations. He has been an invaluable asset to our trip and would highly recommend giving him a call before you make your own trip to this quaint and charming peninsula in a world of its’ own. Good night Mantrippers!

We are getting ready for the Lake Michigan Road Trip.

This time, we will be doing a combined trip, between Chick Vacations and Man Tripping - yes, this means it isn't technically a mancation, but our Man Tripping writer, Nick has told me he is prepared to assert his man card and make sure that we bring you the best that coastal Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana have to offer!

Help us Plan our Itinerary:

Right now our road trip includes:

Oct. 10: Start in Chicago

Oct. 11: Driving to Milwaukee and Sheboygan - staying in Door County, WI

Oct. 12: Driving north and east through the UP (Upper Peninsula) - staying in Escanaba, MI

Oct. 13: Exploring the UP - staying in Mackinaw, MI

Oct. 14: Drive south and through Northern Michigan towns including Traverse City - staying in Leland, MI (Fish Town)

Oct. 15: Staying in Saugatuck, MI

Oct. 16: Return to Chicago

Sponsors are welcome for the following categories:

Food / Snacks, Gas (cash or gas cards), Lodging, Gadgets, Transportation, and Admission to Attractions.

We will be blogging daily, tweeting constantly, updating Facebook, and uploading video to our YouTube channel througout the trip.

Help us plan our itinerary by leaving a comment below, tweet us, share it on our facebook page, or email us: james@mantripping.com