As the saying goes… There’s MORE to do at Ranch Rudolph (RR). RR is a 195 acre four season resort just minutes away from downtown Traverse City (TC). It is nestled in the pristine Pere Marquette State Forest and on the beautiful Boardman River. RR…Read More

As the saying goes… There’s MORE to do at Ranch Rudolph (RR). RR is a 195 acre four season resort just minutes away from downtown Traverse City (TC). It is nestled in the pristine Pere Marquette State Forest and on the beautiful Boardman River.

RR offers a wide ranch of day activities such as: Rump Boating (i.e. floating the river on a tube), Canoeing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Fishing, Archery…

To experience the beauty of the forest and the river, I’d suggest the canoeing and if it’s a very warm day, tubing is fun. Canoeing offers 4 mile (1.5 hour) or 9 mile (3.5 hour) trips, with a cost of $17 or $26, respectively. Tubing rates are $7 for a 4 mile (1.25 hour) trip or $12 for a 4 mile (3 hour) trip. There’s a small deposit required for equipment. As you float/paddle your way down the river, you will pass through some very pretty terrain.

Horseback-riding is popular at the Ranch or so I’m told. I have never done it though, as those big animals, well, well… they scare me. Give me a mountain bike any day. The cost for horseback riding is $20 per hour and run daily Memorial Day to Labor Day and weekends during the months of May, September and October. I think you can even camp overnight with your horse.

My favorite activity at the Ranch is snowshoeing along the river and amidst the deer tracks. Nothing is better on a sunny, blue skied day that a tromp in the woods in the freshly fallen snow.

Since I’m only a few minutes from RR, I never utilized there lodging. RR has 16 motel units, a bunkhouse for groups and 25 campsites. The motel is $65 per night with a 2 night minimum stay. Additionally the Ranch has a: General Store, Restaurant, and Lounge for your enjoyment and convenience.

To check Ranch Rudolph out on-line click here.

For years I have heard from my mother about the Legend of Sleeping Bear which gives the state park its name. And when you hike to the top of one of the many paths, you can see the mound of sand which is supposed to…Read More

For years I have heard from my mother about the Legend of Sleeping Bear which gives the state park its name. And when you hike to the top of one of the many paths, you can see the mound of sand which is supposed to be the waiting bear mother from the story.  But the picture does not do true justice to this view of Lake Michigan.  

There is another area where you can climb the sand dunes and look out over another of the area's smaller lakes. Take one of the many paths to see scenic views.  Or climb the famous dunes.  Either way, what a wonderful way to be out with nature.  If you come out to this area, you have to visit the dunes.

We had a great time canoeing down the Platte River. We had the sunniest day of our timeshare week. This was a two-hour adventure that was primarily relaxing. But heed the warning about hitting the lake halfway though the trip… stay to…Read More

We had a great time canoeing down the Platte River. We had the sunniest day of our timeshare week. This was a two-hour adventure that was primarily relaxing. But heed the warning about hitting the lake halfway though the trip… stay to the right!!! It got windy and choppy. I really thought we might tip our canoe. And I almost peed my pants watching my parents trying to navigate the river. They were only able to spin in circles. They finally caught up to us paddling backwards!! Someone must have been paddling wrong or something, but it was so funny (see photos).

Shopping in the Traverse City (TC) area provides a multitude of options. Within the TC area you will find: Grand Traverse Mall, Horizon Outlet Center, Cherryland Center, Grand Traverse Crossing, Historic Downtown District, and many local shops. Since everyone has their own taste when it…Read More

Shopping in the Traverse City (TC) area provides a multitude of options.

Within the TC area you will find: Grand Traverse Mall, Horizon Outlet Center, Cherryland Center, Grand Traverse Crossing, Historic Downtown District, and many local shops.

Since everyone has their own taste when it comes to shopping, and because I tend to be "shopping challenged," I will let your mouse do the "walking" for you by providing the following links.

Malls and Mainline Retailers:

Grand Traverse Mall.

Horizon Outlet Center.

Cherryland Center.

Historic Downtown District:

Traverse City Downtown.

Traverse City Downtown - Second Opinion.

Now for the cool shops. Though the malls and downtown have some cool shops, here are some of the great local retailers that have independant locations:

Carp River Trading Company.

Traverse Bay Woolen Company.

Brick Wheels.

The Troutsman.

Outdoor Adventures Down Outlet.

The Candle Factory.

Deering’s Meat Market.

Grand Traverse Pie Company.

Folgarelli’s Market.

Doug Murdick's Fudge Shops.

Other Food Specialty Stores.

Happy Shopping!!

It’s the cherry festival; need I say more? Everything has cherries: beer, pies, etc. Good heavens, the delicacies are incredible. It is worth it to buy the cherry wine, but check in the wine store to get the good stuff. Some of it is lousy.…Read More

It’s the cherry festival; need I say more? Everything has cherries: beer, pies, etc. Good heavens, the delicacies are incredible. It is worth it to buy the cherry wine, but check in the wine store to get the good stuff. Some of it is lousy. AND get the barbeque and hot wings sauce made from cherries - good gracious!!!Close

AgaMing Golf Course in Elk Rapids is beautiful. It's next to Torch Lake and a few of the holes on the backside have breathtaking views of the lake. We took our camera and should get some pretty pictures. The course is very nice and somewhat…Read More

AgaMing Golf Course in Elk Rapids is beautiful. It's next to Torch Lake and a few of the holes on the backside have breathtaking views of the lake. We took our camera and should get some pretty pictures. The course is very nice and somewhat challenging. The cost was $45/person including cart. We were told this course is beautiful in October during fall colors. This is only a 15-minute drive north of Traverse City.Close

We played 18 holes at Lelanau Club Golf Course in the Lelaunau Peninsula, near Lake Lelanau - on Otto Road. This was a very nice course, with some tough greens. The course is through an old orchard - lots of trees, lots of hills! Would be…Read More

We played 18 holes at Lelanau Club Golf Course in the Lelaunau Peninsula, near Lake Lelanau - on Otto Road. This was a very nice course, with some tough greens. The course is through an old orchard - lots of trees, lots of hills! Would be very pretty to play later in the fall during color changes! Highly recommended for the price ($45 each for 18 holes plus cart)Close

Downtown Traverse City has blocks of great stores and restaurants. Some of our favorite stores include: Annie's for to purchase beans of flavored coffee, cards, other stationery, gifts for kids, and other fun gifts; ColdStone Creamery for ice cream, of course; American Spoon Food for…Read More

Downtown Traverse City has blocks of great stores and restaurants. Some of our favorite stores include: Annie's for to purchase beans of flavored coffee, cards, other stationery, gifts for kids, and other fun gifts; ColdStone Creamery for ice cream, of course; American Spoon Food for any cherry product you can think of (we recommend the cherry barbecue sauce and peanut grilling sauce, the natural peanut butter, and the zingerman's preserves, along with the cherry mustard, and the cherry peach salsa), along with many other local fruit products, dried cherries, etc.; The Cherry Stop for anything cherry you can think of—from kitchen utensils, to luggage, to clothing, to kids items, and everything in between; Hocus Pocus, the magic shop for fun gags and gifts, and costumes galore, plus the usual magic tricks.

If you are shopping downtown, we highly recommend eating lunch at Mustard's, a deli-type eatery located a block off from Main Street, for delicious sandwiches and soups; or at Bubba's, a great bar with huge serving sizes and a fun atmosphere, along with Bell's beer on tap and local wines. Suttons Bay is a lot smaller, but still have many wonderful specialty boutique jewelry and clothing stores, including the Painted Bird and Front Porch Gift Shop.