4 Days and 1 night
2,088 Miles
41 Hours and 57 minutes driving time
12 Restaurants
17 Bakeries
7 Ice cream shoppes
3 Candy stores
4 Sonic America’s Drive-In (total is now 186 in 25 states with 190 menu items)
Friday, May 24th, 2013
What a glorious downtown, it was like taking step back into a simpler time in Marshall.
Only open for a few hours, the young lady explained Louie’s Bakery already sold hundreds of Nut Rolls.
Though it was my third time in Ann Arbor there were still things to cross off the list. Starting with the 1949 Fleetwood Diner.
Hippie Hash. What an awesome creation. The use of feta is brilliant.
Took a stroll through Kerrytown Market and then passed through Zingermann’s, admired for their very successful business model.
Left Ann Arbor and continued east to Detroit.
Yum-Yum Tasty Donuts. Yeah, I know, who is going to drive past that? This Peach Fritter counts as a serving of fruit.
As expected, in the years since the last visit to Detroit the number of vacant buildings has increased exponentially. Downtown and in every direction around it are once grand structures left empty. This one approaching from the south is typical. Just a shell of its formal ornate glory.
Immediately west of downtown in Mexicantown for a panaderia.
And then to downtown.
NE of downtown, Eastern Market is your typical big city wholesale area that is morphing into a visitor friendly destination. Walked around with a dish of ice cream from Mootown.
One of the great American food feuds are the neighboring Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island.
My winner- Lafayette (left) for a snap in the dog and well-seasoned chili.
Greektown. (Five Guys?!)
Started driving north (more empty buildings) to the affluent communities.
Edsel and Eleanor Ford built their estate 14 miles north of the city from 1926 to 1929 on 300 acres, which is now 87 acres. This is the gate house.
The son of the Motor Company founder, Edsel utilized his artistry to endow his home with priceless artwork and reclaimed woodwork from around Europe. Pictures weren't allowed inside and since the tour group was only 3 I couldn't execute my usual sneaking of pictures.
The grounds include a pool, gardens, their daughter’s 2/3 scale house (I felt like a GIANT), and garage.
In Port Huron, that is Canada across the water.
Filled Rice Krispy Treat. Just evil. Holy man was that good.
Headed inland towards Flint.
Sonic America’s Drive-In’s new Strawberry Banana Split Molten Chocolate Cake Sundae. Pure genius.
Frankenmuth is Michigan’s most popular attraction. Think Bavaria. During Christmas. Year round.
Saturday, May 25th, 2013
Croswell’s Be Good to Your Mother-In-Law Bridge was built in 1901 for sugar mill workers to cross the river to work. I can attest it swings and bounces. They didn’t add the handrails until decades after it was built.
They say Lexington is like New England. Not seeing it.
Port Sanilac
What a wonderful slice of Americana in waterside Port Austin!
There was a farmer’s market, art fair, petting zoo and bands playing.
I almost committed carbicide at the Farmer’s Market. There was Fry Pie from an Amish guy, donut holes from some nice lady, Cranberry Almond Scone, Peanut Butter Cookies from another nice ladt, donuts, Granola Bar from more Amish....
Continued to follow the curve of highway 25 along Lake Huron as it turned into Saginaw Bay.
Impossible to pass a Dairy Barn.
Bay City's historic downtown was punctuated by a modern building.
Turning back north to what is called the Sunside region of Michigan along Lake Huron.
East Tawas was bustling with tourists. Marion’s Dairy Bar (1948) scooped up some Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream which was enjoyed…...
…strolling to the pier and downtown.
Heading inland the fields transitioned to coniferous woods.
Seeing a sign for “Michigan’s CCC Museum” I wondered if that is for Civilian Conservation Corps. It was. Nice little exhibit of this WPA project.
What the heck, in Lansing might as well repeat the tradition of the picture in front of the Capitol.
Sunday, May 26th, 2013
About 95% of today’s route along the coast of Lake Michigan has been driven before. With so many charming towns it was worth seeing again and to cross more things off the list.
This was a great day to tour the USS Silversides in Muskegon since they had an event for Memorial Day:
- Lots of veterans.
-They started up the engines so it was cool to know it still runs and then experience the heat in the engine compartment. Imagine that constantly with the sub sealed up.
-It was free that day.
In the picture on the left you can still see the haze from the engines running.
Sleepy and tourist friendly waterside Pentwater charmed my socks off.
Tucked into the pines south of Ludington, Bortell’s features a fish market, fried and smoked fish. I went with Smoked Lake Trout.
Charming Victorian Manistee showcases quality boutiques, a lake setting and a river inlet running behind Main Street.
Got deep into the woods heading north to the Leelanu Peninsula.
Glen Arbor. No socks left.
The charm was not only from a few dozen freestanding buildings, but the happy bustle of families on this holiday weekend.
The Cherry Republic is a complex where I had a cherry soda float with cherry ice cream, chocolate covered cherries, cherry ketchup, dried cherries…..
Not only were there some more eateries to cross off the list, Traverse City is certainly worth another stroll.
Rhuburb Strawberry Pie from Grand Traverse Pie Company.
I kept wondering how many servings they got out of it.
A crowd of locals demanded a stop.
Another fave- Charlevoix.
Another fave- Petoskey.
Good night!
Monday, May 27th, 2013
Cinnamon Roll Danish. A hybrid!
Heading south on Hwy 131 from Petoskey the rolling hills allowed vistas of the beautiful geography.
Continued through Grand Rapids while the blue skies darkened.
Negotiating all the country roads with their numerous turns, stop signs and low speed limits I wondered why Gilmore Car Museum was in the middle of nowhere. And then I got there and puzzlement was replaced with giddiness.
This map shows how it covers 90 acres.
It took 10 minutes to declare this the best car museum I’ve visited in the world.
The cars are immaculate and intriguing.
The buildings are immaculate and attractive.
The staff is helpful and knowledgeable.
The even had buildings for a hood ornament collection and peddle cars.
I wondered in awe of the past auto industry and how well this museum was put together.
My favorite cars were:
1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton. 1931 Franklin Pirate Sedan.
1934 Auburn V-12 Salon Phaeton. 1932 Lincoln KB Dietrich Coupe.
The 1941 Blue Moon Diner was moved from Connecticut to the museum. Pulled Pork was succulent.
A repeat visit to Kalamazoo to pass through the Warehouse District and downtown. And Frank Lloyd Wright’s Parkwyn Village in the SW burbs.
In the southwest corner of the Michigan, New Buffalo strides Lake Michigan and the Indiana state line. Swine themed Oink’s Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt was bustling. This kid sized scoop of Blueberry Cheesecake was 3 bucks. I was going to get a banana split until seeing they were seven bucks.
Across the street New Buffalo Bakery ended the trip as it began.
