suttons bay + glen arbor = fun weekend up north

In the midst of all our business travels this summer, Steve and I got a chance to get away to Northern Michigan for a weekend.   We met a few of our friends at The Grand Traverse Resort and the boys headed out for some golf while the girls made their way to the beautiful Leelanau Peninsula.

 

First stop, Suttons bay.  This is a very sweet little town with lots of lovely shops.  One of my favorites is Michigan Artists Gallery They have lots of unusual items made by local artists.  One of my favorite artists they carry is Jesse Hickman.  His fanciful folksy fish cannot help to make you grin.

Another one of my ‘must stop’ shops is Hats and Haberdashery  Their displays and unusual mix of products from around the world create a delightful shopping atmosphere.

Also tucked around a corner is the wonderfully whimsical The Happy Woman Once again, fabulous displays and unique goodies.

We were lucky enough to also enjoy the art fair that was going on that weekend down by the beach.  Scrappy Nation won my personal award for the best booth.

Next stop, Glen Arbor.  There are also lots of great little shops and galleries nestled in this sleepy town but by far my favorite is the Cherry Republic  We first stopped at the store where we sampled cherry jams, candies, crackers and even salsas! (all delicious)

Then we visited the winery and picked up wines and cherry flavored sodas of sorts.

And we ended the stay with some scrumptious cookies and tart cherry smoothies at the cafe.

What I love about this place is that every detail is addressed from the gorgeous gardens to the quirky signs to the quality products and great service.

It’s always one of my most enjoyable stops when I’m visiting Northern Michigan.