Traverse City, Michigan
We visited The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, where “one of the largest historic preservation and adaptive reuse redevelopments in the country is underway.” As one solution to urban sprawl, The Village is the unique renovation of multi-storied and tunnel-connected historic buildings which formerly housed the Traverse City State Hospital. A multitude of small businesses, artisan shops, and eateries fill each room of the huge complex, parking is plentiful on multi-pathed and manicured grounds, and tours of yet-unrenovated buildings and a brick steam tunnel built in 1883 are offered.
We ate lunch at yet another carcass-filled restaurant. Could it be we haven’t seen any moose in the countryside because they are all hanging on the walls of the local diners? If you kiss Randolph, a loud bell is clanged . . . no, we didn’t.
Then we spent the afternoon visiting cherry orchards, wineries and scenic spots along the coast of Grand Traverse Bay. The cherry wine is very good here, but we still prefer good ole North Carolina Cheerwine.
Leland, population 377, lies between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau and is home to rustic Fishtown, a collection of shops, galleries and art studios built on or adjacent to the water. Rick Lahmann operates Reflections Art Gallery in a tiny shanty here. A seasoned professional piano performer, Rick has a small spinet tucked in a corner of his shop and has been “delighting area residents and guests with his music since 1969.”
On the Road Again 