Hi Friends.
Last time I wrote, we explored Cuyahoga National Park, and started on our way to Cleveland. If I’m being honest, I had no expectations for this next leg of the trip. What could be that exciting about Ohio and Michigan as states, besides getting to see some people we love? Well, I’m happy to report how wrong I was. This past week, we went from Cleveland, OH to Toledo, OH; over to Ann Arbor, MI briefly before heading west to South Haven, MI; then started our drive up the western coast of Michigan, ultimately landing in Sutton’s Bay, MI. We didn’t take a ton of photos, so you’ll have to take my word for it on how pretty these states are, especially the western and northern parts of Michigan.
Cleveland was interesting. I didn’t know much about Cleveland except for the fact that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is there. Travis would revisit an indoor mountain bike park that he went to a few years ago. He was able to go to the bike park while I hung out with PepperJack, but we both wanted to explore the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This meant we had to figure out a plan for him. Luckily, nearby there was a doggy daycare place. They happily took him in for a few hours while we were able to explore. Better yet, your first day is free. It cost us nothing.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was really cool. Seeing video of performances from all of our favorite musicians when they were inducted into the Hall of Fame, to learning about all of the different styles of music that influenced artist’s sounds and seeing outfits and keepsakes from all of the greats was just awesome. Our favorite items were seeing handwritten lyrics from Billy Joel and The Beach Boys, as well as seeing the piano where John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote so many of their greatest songs. My favorite part of the museum entirely though is the show they put on every hour. It combined footage from so many Hall of Fame performances and inductions and put it to lights. It’s loud and fantastic and just exactly what Rock and Roll is meant to be.
When we left Cleveland, we went to Toledo to visit one of Travis’s best friends, Drake. We were able to catch up a bit, explore the city a little and try some cool independent places in town. Drake is co-owner a brewery called Funky Turtle Brewing Company, which is known for their interesting mead and cider. We spent some time in their production facility and tried some of the products they were working on. What I love about their drinks is that they’re not only tasty, but they’re different from a lot of what you’ll find around. I highly recommend going on their website and ordering some to your house. If you’re not sure what to try, I recommend the Smooth & Groovy mead.
We weren’t entirely sure what we wanted to do next. We could either go to Chicago and up through Wisconsin that way, or go through Michigan. After hearing some great things about both the west coast and northern part of Michigan, we took off that direction. We first drove up to Ann Arbor for a couple of hours, just to explore and look around. Then, we went over to South Haven which sits on Lake Michigan.
One of my best friends, Mike, along with his mom and sister happened to be visiting their family vacation house in South Haven at the same time. We were able to meet and spend a few days with them, catching up. Mike brought his dog, Lola, and his mom and sister brought their family dog, Tucker. It was so fun being able to see the dynamic between them and PepperJack. After we said our “see ya later”, we headed up the coast. We stopped by a cute Farmer’s Market in Muskegon, and then drove up to Sutton’s Bay, which is located just above Traverse City. It’s such a beautiful area. We hung out by the water, stayed overnight at a winery, and just relaxed. It’s so peaceful up here.
Next up, we head to Mackinac Island, and up to Marquette which is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. After seeing some photos and videos of both places, I was really excited to check out these areas. More on that next week.
Let’s Discuss! Comment Below:
What’s your favorite city in the US?
What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Have you ever been to Michigan?
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