Traverse.
North of your expectations.
W
Welcome to the sixth edition of Barefoot Magazine, the annual lifestyle magazine of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.
Whether you’re joining us here at Northern Michigan’s premier year-round resort destination for a family vacation, romantic escape, business, convention or special occasion, we’re looking forward to serving you and are dedicated to ensuring you enjoy a grand experience. From our private beach club on East Grand Traverse Bay and scenic championship greens to our soothing, renew-
ing Spa and distinctive dining atop our 17-story glass Tower, you’ll find an array of amenities and activities to enjoy here right on-site at our acclaimed 900-acre property throughout the year. And while every season extends new reasons to head Up North, the Resort offers multiple lodging options to suit your needs and customer care that exceeds your expectations.
Summer, winter, spring and fall, our own love of this nationally-renowned region comes through. It is at the heart of every award and accolade Grand Traverse Resort and Spa has earned, and sharing it with you as a team to help you make the most of your stay with us is our privilege and pleasure. We invite you to explore the following pages of Barefoot Magazine 2014 to
discover the unique active lifestyle this region’s bounty of freshwater, trails, orchards, beaches, rolling hills and friendly communities inspires, and to make time for yourself to enjoy its benefits. Along the way, we’ll be on hand, as well, extending the many benefits of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, working in earnest to make your time with us as extraordinary as Northern Michigan itself.
Thanking you for sharing that equally unique opportunity with us! Sincerely,
Steve Timmer, Director of Marketing
Two ways to roll
Name: leelanau sands Casino & lodge location: 19 miles north of Traverse City in Peshawbestown Phone: 800-922-2Win (2946) Web: www.casino2win.com Hours: daily 8 a.m. – 2 a.m. Machines: 440+ Table Games: 8 tables for Craps, roulette, Blackjack Bingo Hall: yes, seats 150+ restaurant: dex’s Pizzeria entertainment: leelanau sands showroom, seats 900+ Hotel: lodge with 54 rooms Meeting Facilities: eagles ridge Conference Center or leelanau sands showroom Name: Turtle Creek Casino & hotel location: 10 miles northeast of Traverse City in Williamsburg Phone: 800-922-2Win (2946) Web: www.casino2win.com Hours: 24 hours Machines: 1200+ Table Games: 38 tables for Craps, roulette, Progressive 3 Card Poker, Blackjack restaurants: Bourbon’s 72, seasons Buffet and the deli entertainment: level 3 lounge, Thursdaysaturday, live Bands or dJ Hotel: 137 rooms Meeting Facilities: Ballroom (4,000 square feet) and Conference room (550 square feet)
Presented by:
join the team
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contents volume 6, 2014
columns 6 20 22 28 48 50 56
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reGION NATIve CUlTUre FAMIly & lIFeSTyle HeAlTH & FITNeSS DINING reTAIl WeDDINGS & SPeCIAl eveNTS MeeTINGS & CONveNTIONS
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features 32
From social to serene
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the most disrespected golf course in michigan
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traversing the regional craft Brew scene
Balance the healing benefits of solace with renewing powers of camaraderie at Spa Grand Traverse. Which is all the more reason to play it.
Sample tried and new flavors of Northern innovation.
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On thE COVEr/ pagE 1 Photography by Tony Demin of boating off Torch Lake (cover) and Power Island (page 1)
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Barefoot is the official lifestyle magazine of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa and is published once per year. Distribution is throughout the Resort’s property and by free subscription. To inquire about advertising rates and deadlines, subscription information or to submit story ideas, email info@ gtresort.com. No part of this publication may be used without written permission of the publisher. © 2014 All Rights Reserved.
PUBlISHer Gemini Publications
DeSIGN & PrODUCTION Christopher H. Pastotnik
ASSOCIATe PUBlISHer Randy D. Prichard rprichard@geminipub.com
PHOTO COOrDINATOr Layla Peoples
eDITOr Lisa M. Jensen eDITOrIAl COOrDINATOr J. Michael DeAgostino WrITerS Diane Carey, Eric DeBoer, Jason Deegan, Char DeWolf, Cymbre Foster, Lorri Hathaway, Elaine Keaton, Tom Peters, Kim Schneider
PHOTOGrAPHerS Brian Confer, Tony Demin, Coreene Smith, Andy Wakeman, Brian Walters CONTACT US Barefoot Magazine Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Marketing Department 100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd Acme, MI 49610 Phone: 800-748-0303 Email: info@gtresort.com
Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. If, however, an error comes to your attention, please accept our apologies and notify us via email or phone so we may make the appropriate corrections. Thank you.
grandtraverseresort.com
10% PCW
read more at grandtraverseresort.com
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region every season brings new reasons to revisit
Northern Michigan, not to mention the seasons themselves
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National Geographic cites Traverse City on its 2012 list of Top 10 Summer Trips.
Spring
Explore: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore as “America’s Most Beautiful Place” awakens and before summer crowds arrive, starting at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire See: Carpets of sweet Trillium sweeping through fresh green forest and native favorites like Lady’s Slippers during peak spring season hikes Savor: A paved stroll or ride on the new Sleeping Bear Trail and award-winning wines on the Leelanau Peninsula Catch: The Empire Asparagus Festival in May and a rare shoreline sight of the protected Piping Plover
Summer
Road’s steep ridge and harvest-time activities at acclaimed, picturesque vineyards Savor: A scenic kayak paddle out to forested Power Island for a secluded shoreline picnic and crisp autumn hike Catch: The year’s last swim at serene Haserot Beach, where protected waters are still often warm into October
Winter
Explore: The pristine serenity of gliding between towering white pines along the Vasa Pathway, a premier cross-country trail in the Pere Marquette State Forest See: How far you can hit on the GC2powered Golf Simulator at the Resort’s Winter Golf Center
Did You Know?
Explore: The 10th annual Traverse City Film Festival at myriad venues throughout Traverse City for premier showings of “Just Great Movies”
Savor: Fun ways to keep the family warm at the Resort’s Clubhouse, from hot chocolate and s’mores around the bonfire to iceskating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing on-site and dog sled rides
See: Grand Traverse Commons, a 480-acre historical redevelopment of spire-crowned asylum buildings from 1885 into unique spots to shop, eat, live and get fit
Catch: The Christmas Buffet and New Year’s Eve festivities at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
Readers of Family Fun Magazine rank Traverse City one of America’s Top 10 Tourist Towns. Fodor’s Travel lists TC as one of the Top 10 Small Towns in the U.S.
opposite page: Traverse City Tourism, Top: Andy Wakeman
Savor: Fresh-picked goodness of locallygrown produce at the Traverse City Farmers Market every Wednesday and Saturday in season Catch: Downtown Traverse City’s boutique shops and galleries, coffeehouses and breweries, charming parks and Children’s Garden and ways to play in Grand Traverse Bay
Fall
Explore: Old Mission Peninsula beneath a canopy of color on a winding drive up West Grand Traverse Bay’s coast, a 19th-century mission village with authentic general store and the iconic Old Mission Lighthouse See: Spectacular bay views from Center read more at grandtraverseresort.com
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aCtiVitY CardS in the
Resort Lobby make choosing what to do and where to go in the region simple: From Art & Museums, Nature & Parks, Scenic Spots and Outdoor Sports to Lighthouses, Beaches, Distilleries and Water Fun, there’s a round-up of area fun on each one waiting to be explored! Visit the Resort’s Concierge Desk for recommendations and more details.
BlOg: Experience Northern Michigan’s beaches, festivals, microbreweries and more with the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa’s official lifestyle Barefoot Blog. Follow along as Blogger Eric DeBoer plays the role of tourist and local, revealing the undeniably cool places and activities that make this destination unlike any other. blog.grandtraverseresort.com 8 read more at grandtraverseresort.com
JOin thE tEam: Anyone passionate about being active throughout the year is welcome to apply to be part of the Resort’s Team Barefoot network of support and camaraderie. “We’re the antithesis of ‘couch potato’ — the folks who can’t help but get outside and get moving, get exploring and get involved,” says Resort Marketing Director Steve Timmer. “Our mindset is simple: Live an active life.” Learn more at grandtraverseresort.com/ teamBarefoot.
TOP: BRIAN WALTERS, BOTTOM leFT: COREENE SMITH, BOTTOM MIDDle/rIGHT: ANDY WAKEMAN
Find more top ways to spend time away Up North in the region and at the Resort by tuning in to Barefoot TV, the official travel show of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Watch videos featuring host Jordan Carson at grandtraverseresort.com/ BarefoottV.
2014 Calendar of Events To learn more about regional activities listed and other year-round happenings, visit traversecity. com. *Event takes place at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. JanuarY
april
Winter Activities at the Clubhouse*
Spring Break Celebrations*
Wineries of Old Mission Winter Warm Up 20th Annual Downtown Traverse City Chili Cook-Off
National Trout Festival Golf Course(s) Open for Season*
maY
FEBruarY
Bayshore Marathon
Winter Activities at the Clubhouse*
Mud, Sweat & Beers
38th Annual VASA Cross Country Ski Race Traverse City Winter Microbrew & Music Festival Romancing the Riesling — Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula Taste the Passion — Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival
marCh Suds-N-Snow
Asparagus Festival, Empire Blossom Days – Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula Spring Sip & Savor – Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association
JunE Leland Wine & Food Festival Divas Uncorked – Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula
JulY
OCtOBEr
National Cherry Festival
Gears + Beers Party*
2014 Beach Week – Featuring the Beach Olympics*
Taste of Traverse City
Traverse City Film Festival
Golf Your Daylights Out*
Horse Shows by the Bay
Sleeping Bear Marathon & Half-Marathon
2014 Beach Week – Featuring the Beach Olympics*
auguSt
4th Annual King of the Mountain Obstacle Race
Spring Break Celebrations*
Traverse City Wine & Art Festival
Easter Celebrations*
M-22 Challenge
Elk Rapids Harbor Days & Short’s Fest Peshawbestown Traditional Pow Wow Horse Shows by the Bay Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival
SEptEmBEr TOP: andY WaKeman, BOTTOM: JOHN ROBERT WILLIAMS
“Tuff Enuff?” Golf Tournament*
Labor Day Weekend Celebrations* 2014 NHL Prospect Tournament
Halloween Celebrations
nOVEmBEr Traverse City Beer Week Bell’s Beer Iceman Cometh Mountain Bike Race 12th Annual Mac & Cheese Bakeoff — Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula Toast the Season — Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association Turkey Trot 5K
Detroit Red Wings Training Camp & Charity Golf Classic*
dECEmBEr
Harvest Stompede — Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association
New Year’s Eve Celebrations*
4th Annual Bluegrass, Bourbon, Blues & Beer Festival
Biggest Little Holiday Party*
CherryT Ball Drop
Big Hole Golf Tournament* read more at grandtraverseresort.com
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Paddle On!
Slip into a kayak, canoe or hop on a stand-up paddleboard for a fun way to observe the natural beauty in and around the waters of the greater Grand Traverse region. An intimate perspective of these freshwater rivers, bays and lakes can be had via paddle, vessel and a sense of adventure.
DID YOU KNOW? organizers of the Suttons Bay Floatilla 2013 garnered a World record for the largest raft of canoes and kayaks ever to float together: 2,099 watercraft of myriad sizes and colors. The aug. 31 event — which also raised $50,000 for suttons Bay Public schools — left the previous Guinness World record of 1,902 boats (“one square mile of hope,” achieved in Fourth lake, new york) in its wake. learn suttons Bay Floatilla and help defend the region’s title against other nationwide attempts by visiting sbfloatilla.com. 10 read more at grandtraverseresort.com
KEN SCOTT
more about how to participate in 2014’s
BluE SKY rEntalS at grand traVErSE rESOrt’S BEaCh CluB. The crystal-clear water of Grand Traverse Bay awaits! The Beach Club at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa offers kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and much more through Blue Sky Rentals (bluesky-tvc. com). ranCh rudOlph rEntalS. Situated along the wild, winding Boardman River southeast of Traverse City, Ranch Rudolf hosts a wide range of activities including four-mile canoe, kayak and tubing trips, as well as fly-fishing lessons (ranchrudolph.com). riVErSidE CanOE tripS. Located just outside of Honor, within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Riverside Canoe Trips boast kayaks, canoes and tubes for excursions down the Platte River (canoemichigan.com).
unCOmmOn adVEnturES. Looking for expert instruction? Professional guides at Uncommon Adventures in Beulah provide kayak, stand-up paddleboard and flyfishing tours and lessons for all skill levels, plus a few fun “foodie” tours, too, including: • tour de Brew: paddling micro-Brew tour. Starting at Old Mission Point, this day trip incorporates kayaking, hiking, gourmet food and area microbrews capped off by a private brewer’s tour at Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant, Brewery, and Distillery.
thE riVEr. With a fleet of self-propelled vessels for rent, The River is located at Traverse City’s Clinch Park. After you work up an appetite on the water, grab a burger, brat or Moomers Ice Cream at their café (therivertraversecity.com). — Eric DeBoer
top: AARON PETERSON, middKe: TONY DEMIN, Bottom: ANDY WAKEMAN
• Water to Wine day tour. A winethemed picnic on Grand Traverse Bay’s Power Island highlights a day of kayaking, hiking and wine tasting at Traverse City’s signature wineries (uncommonadv. com).
CrYStal riVEr OutFittErS. Experienced paddlers can take on the Big Glen Extreme Trip through open water and into the Crystal River within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Familyfriendly trips down the Crystal River are also available from this paddle provider located in Glen Arbor. (crystalriveroutfitters.com).
read more at grandtraverseresort.com
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Sunken Treasures Great Lakes shipwreck . . . the words stir up dramas of storms, struggles and adventure upon the world’s biggest freshwater lakes, and the Traverse City region is a rich panorama for wreck hunters. The Grand Traverse Bay Underwater Preserve — which includes both East and West arms — extends from Cathead Bay near Northport to Norwood south of Charlevoix. Hundreds of shipwrecks from the 1800s through the 1970s are phantoms of times when speed trumped safety and sailors were easy to replace, when risk meant profits and a young state’s thundering economy tempted daring entrepreneurs out into Michigan’s mercurial weather. Or maybe it was just bad driving — there’s also a sunken Ford Pinto not too far from a submerged refrigerator in “The Junk Pile,” a dive site off Haserot Beach on Old Mission Peninsula created by teens in the ’50s. Every site has a story, and life still
clings to wrecks as fish claim these manmade habitats. Sunken cargo schooners like the Metropolis and A.J. Rogers rest in the same region with tugs, sloops, a scow and an unknown vessel whose name might have been the Ada, the Brick, or the Morning Star. No one knows — and she’s not talking. While some of these wrecks can be accessed just offshore, others can be reached and observed from tour boats and kayak excursions. Several are even shallow enough to experience by snorkeling. Charter boat tours through Scuba North in Traverse City carry both experienced and novice divers to explore these many ghosts and treasures of the underwater preserve. To learn more about training and tour opportunities, visit Scuba North (scubanorth.com). Discover what else lies beneath at gtbup.org. — Diane Carey
Did You Know? Non-divers can get an in-water, yet staydry view of the Metropolis off of Old Mission Peninsula via a guided kayak adventure through Paddle Away Tours (traversebaypaddler.com).
The Metropolis. While the 125-foot schooner’s hull lies 120 feet below, a shallow debris field can be explored just offshore Old Mission Point in about 8 feet of water.
Yuba Wreck. The remains of a little-known schooner sunk in 1894, this shallow wreck shore dive site is about 15 feet deep off East Bay’s lower coast.
The A.J. Rogers. Built in 1862, this 138foot cargo schooner sank out beyond Old Mission Point and rests 53 feet deep.
Elmwood Wreck. This partly intact wood fishing tug lying 20 to 40 feet deep just off West Bay’s lower west shore is a site for many open water training dives.
12 read more at grandtraverseresort.com
Chris Doyal
Top dive sites preserved in Grand Traverse Bay include among others:
FLY TVC – Total Value and Convenience Your connection to all of Northern Michigan... From the world!
tvcairport.com
Bowers Harbor Vineyards Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan
An Experience to Remember
Superior Quality from Grapes to Glass
• Open daily year round • Wine tasting, wine by the glass, selection of cheeses and dips • Event rentals • Corporate and private “Dining in the Vines” • Summer and fall vineyard tours • Parties of 8 or more, please call for reservations
2 8 9 6 B o w e r s H a r B o r r o a d | T r av e r s e C i T y, M i | ( 2 3 1 ) 2 2 3 - 7 6 1 5
or
(800) 616-7615 | BowersHarBor.CoM
Slices of Variety Among regional artisans handcrafting delicious fare using fresh local ingredients, making hearty, one-of-a-kind breads is a thriving culinary endeavor.
pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery
a Top 5 Foodie Town in
Made within a small freestanding building in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, products of Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery — named one of the “Best Bread Bakeries” in America by Food & Wine Magazine — are receiving a lot of local praise in sync with national acclaim. Owner and Chef Jonathan St. Hilaire uses organic flours and grains from Michigan farmers and a slow and natural fermentation process to prepare loaves for the wood-fired oven. This local flair fills the air as you walk in to choose from signature offerings such as Parmesan Olive and Village Rye. Along with breads, the bakery makes an indulgence of pastries, and what chef could have a wood-fired brick oven without whipping up pizza? On Wednesdays from 5-9 p.m., stop in, too, for gourmet pies topped with fresh local ingredients (pleasantonbakery.com).
America.
Bay Bread Company
Did You Know? livability.com ranks Traverse City first in its Top 10 list of Surprising Foodie Towns. Bon Appétit cites TC as
At Bay Bread Company, 40 kinds of artisan breads are handcrafted daily. It’s a tough decision at the bread counter: More traditional favorites like Multi-Grain and Honey Whole Wheat compete with savory Hand-Braided Rosemary Garlic and Spinach Feta. Got a sweet tooth? Try oversized Cinnamon Rolls and Sticky Buns with homemade cream cheese frosting. Or, try the streusel-topped All-American, filled with local berries. All loaves led to locals naming this top artisan spot “Best Bakery in Traverse City” in 2009, along with sandwiches, soups, salads and espressos served at Bay Bread’s Roost café with a pan-
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oramic view of Grand Traverse Bay (baybreadco. com).
Crescent Bakery
Situated on Main Street in downtown Frankfort, the Crescent Bakery and Café features a cohesive crowd of locals, visitors and tasty fare. Owners Bob and Fran Korten bake a full line of Europeanstyle breads, sweet pasties, doughnuts, cakes and specialty desserts, but Crescent is most renowned for creative combination loaves like Strawberries and Asiago Cheese, Cherries and Chocolate, Garlic and Aged Provolone. In the morning, pair a cup of java or fresh smoothie with a breakfast Panini, pastry or slice of daily quiche. Or, stop by for lunch to indulge on fresh sandwiches and salads (crescent-bakery. com).
Stone house Bread
It’s all about quality breads and ovens at Stone House Bread of Traverse City. A steam-injected German oven is used for crusty loaves of goodness as a venerable Matador oven bakes baguettes and boules to crisp perfection. The bakery offers a selection of traditional breads along with Tuscan dipping oil, organic coffee, preserves, peanut butter and even cutting boards. To get an authentic experience, head Leland’s historic Fishtown, now also home to the Stone House Bread Café. Enjoy bakery breads filled with savory breakfast and lunch ingredients, then order up some fresh scones or cinnamon and pecan rolls to go (www.stonehousebread.com). — Elaine Keaton and Lorri Hathaway
Get Your Cherry Fix Experience your vacation Grand Traverse-style with cherries mixed into, well, almost everything. Known as the Cherry Capital of the World, the region is jam-packed with delicious concoctions of just about every sort made by artisans who have embraced the small pitted fruit, including this sampling of local favorites: “Chocolate Cherry Festival” coffee from leelanau Coffee roast (Glen arbor) nuts & Berries, a dried cherries, pecans and grapenuts cereal at Morsel’s (downtown Traverse City) spirit of Cherry (cherry brandy), distilled at Black Star Farms (suttons Bay) Fresh cherries straight from the tree at local u-pick farms like the Cherry Connection of edmondson Orchards (old mission Peninsula) Cherry Balsamic vinegar from Fustini’s Oils and vinegars (downtown Traverse City) Cherry Chilpotle hummus made fresh at the redheads Café and Tasting room (lake leelanau) Cherry Pecan salad with smoked chicken at the Jolly Pumpkin (old mission Peninsula) an array of tart ’n’ sweet picks from American Spoon including Cherry mustard with a kick and Cherry BBQ Grilling sauce (Grand Traverse resort and spa Gallery of shops; downtown TC)
Did You Know?
homemade Cherries moobilee ice Cream at Moomers (Traverse City), voted “america’s Best scoop” on aBC’s Good morning america Cold craft brews such as right Brain Brewery’s Cherry Pie Whole amber and Mackinaw Brewing Company’s Cherry heritage lager (Traverse City) Cherry mead from longview Winery (Cedar) more than 180 products at Cherry republic (Traverse City and Glen arbor), including Cherry Boom Chugga lugga soda (one of oprah’s Favorite Things).
Did You Know?
Grand Traverse Pie
Company’s Cherry Crumb Pie (above) was the first-ever “Signature Cherry Pie” of the National Cherry Festival and selected as “The Best of the Midwest” by Midwest living Magazine.
and, of course, you’ll find an array of dishes and desserts at the National Cherry Festival in TC, which also serves up midway rides and air shows, live concerts and parades, fireworks and fun activities for all ages. learn more at cherryfestival.org. — lorri hathaway
named in USA Today’s Top 10 Fes-
tivals for several years running and tabbed the state’s favorite festival by AAA Michigan living Magazine, the family-oriented National Cherry Festival draws more than 500,000 visitors over eight days to Traverse City in July for a juicy array of mostly free fun. read more at grandtraverseresort.com
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Acme Shoreline Project Update Guests of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa will be glad to know that access to Michigan’s freshwater shoreline, longer than any other continental state, is about to increase and it’s only a half-mile away. After purchasing the last three aging commerical buildings from willing sellers in June of 2013, Acme Township began demolition along one stretch of shoreline, bringing the future Acme Bayside Park closer to completion. This new mile-long stretch of public beach on East Grand Traverse Bay (pictured opposite page) is on US-31, from M-72 to the MDOT roadside park. While empty buildings are being brought down, there are plans for many sandcastles. As it develops, the new shoreline
will have picnic tables, bike paths, a new seawall, fresh topsoil and sandy beach and park benches overlooking the bay. No doubt more ideas for beautification will sprout while the vacant buildings are cleared away. Though Acme Township already has almost 10 miles of shoreline, not much is public-access, so the new public shoreline will be enjoyed by everyone for future generations. A conservancy endowment will allow for tending the area in the future. Soon, we’ll be able to pause, breathe, and enjoy the pitter-patter of little footprints in the sand. Learn more at acmetownship.org and gtrlc.org.
traverse City State park. Between TC and Grand Traverse Resort and Spa on US-31 at Three Mile Road, this sweet expanse of sand paired with a bathhouse and prime picnic spots is worth the vehicle permit it requires.
Bryant park. Gentle shallow waters, ample sandy beach, a picnic area and charcoal grills, playground and restrooms, shady relief from tall pines and lifeguards (midJune through August) draw families to this top spot for sunsets, too, off M-37 at the base of the Old Mission Peninsula.
— Diane Carey
EaSY-tO-rEaCh BEaChES grand traverse resort and Spa’s Beach Club. Next to Acme Township’s new public shoreline park just one mile away on East Grand Traverse Bay, this private stretch of natural shoreline reserved for all Resort guests and Club Members offers a heated pool, concessions and on-site watercraft rentals. Take a complimentary shuttle, or turn west into The Shores condominiums at M-72 and US-31.
16 read more at grandtraverseresort.com
BICyCle reNTAlS einstein Cycles, 1990 us-31 north in Traverse City (231-421-8148; einsteincycles.com) McClain Cycle, 2786 Garfield road in Traverse City (231-941-8855; mclaincycle.com) Brick Wheels, 736 east 8th st. in Traverse City (231-947-4274; brickwheels.com)
NeArBy TrAIlS
Botom LeFt: kaThleen ParTin, rigHt: Tony demin
Grand Traverse resort and Spa’s 5K Path. enjoy a relaxed stroll or jog around the property’s paved 3-mile loop. vASA Pathway. This challenging forested trail system, just minutes away on Bartlett road off Bunker hill in acme, offers three scenic loops of varying length for crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking and hiking.
prESErVEd parK-ing While helping regional communities purchase and create public parks and natural areas, the Grand Traverse Region Land Conservancy owns and maintains nature preserves that are open to the public yearround in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Manistee counties. Many of these special places offer managed trails, interpretive maps and
many ways to enjoy the great outdoors including mountain biking, birding, fishing, hiking, hunting, kayaking/canoeing, trail running, swimming, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. For a list of regional preserves including special features that you’ll find and rules to know before you go, visit gtrlc.org.
Traverse Area recreation Trail (TArT). stretching all the way from acme through downtown TC to suttons Bay, this popular non-motorized paved trail passes beaches, bridges, a marina, mini-golf, ice-cream shops and other fun stops en route. For more details about these and other area options, visit Grand Traverse resort and spa’s Concierge and TraverseCity.com.
read more at grandtraverseresort.com
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WhErE tO Find mOrE muSiC level 3 lounge at turtle Creek Casino & hotel, 7741 M-72 West in Williamsburg (800-922-2WIN; casino2win.com)
A Blast From the Past
Recognized by Forbes.com as one of the Top 10 Reasons to Visit Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, the Music House Museum is a joyful surprise in Acme just over a mile north on US-31 from Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Here history rings out from fun turn-ofthe-century automated machines including pipe organs, music boxes, nickelodeons, rollreproducing “ragtime” player pianos and — spanning 32 feet in width — a most memorable, recently restored Mortier Mechanical Dance Organ known as “the Amaryllis.” The 1922 Amaryllis is a grand 97-key creation from Belgium featuring a sculpted, hand-painted 18-foot tall facade that soars three inches short of the ceiling and rich chorus of “voices”: Can you identify jazz flute, saxophone, carillon, violin, trombone, snare drum, triangle, cello, hi-hat cymbal and tuned cow bells? Tap fingers and toes and learn without trying during a guided tour which showcases, too, scale models of Traverse City landmarks as they were in the 1930s and uncover other musical and noteworthy items of interest at the Museum Store. The Music House Museum’s season runs May 1-Dec. 31. Visit musichouse.org for hours (these vary) and a calendar of events featuring band concerts, mystery plays, silent films, kid-friendly family days and Wurlitzer concerts. — Diane Carey 18 read more at grandtraverseresort.com
leelanau Sands Casino & lodge, 2521 N. West Bayshore Dr. in Peshawbestown (800-922-2WIN; casino2win.com) interlochen Center for the arts, 4700 Highway 137 in Interlochen (231-276-7200; interlochen.org) City Opera house, 106 East Front St. in Traverse City (231-941-8082; cityoperahouse.org) dennos museum Center Concert Series, 1701 East Front St. in Traverse City (231-995-1055; dennosmuseum. org) traverse City Symphony Orchestra, 300 Front St. in Traverse City (231947-7120; traversesymphony.org) Old town play house, 148 East Eighth St. in Traverse City (231-9472443; oldtownplayhouse.com) traverse City microbrew & music Festival, near downtown Traverse City (231-288-7676; tcbeerfest.com) For more musical offerings in the region — including the Traverse City Microbrew & Music Festival and other area events — visit Grand Traverse Resort and Spa’s Concierge and TraverseCity.com.
2014 SCHEDULE
MAY
S M T W T F S 16
17
JULY
S M T W T F S 1
RC
GAT GAT 19
18
20
25
21
22
23
24
FLO FLO FLO WC WC
GAT 26
27
WC
28
LE
29
LE
JUNE
30
31
LE RCK RCK
S M T W T F S
1
2
RCK 8
9
10
16
17
6
11
12
13
18 Double
19
25
26
20
EVN EVN LE
23
LE 29
5
JOL JOL JOL RC
RC 22
4
WSH WSH WSH FG
FG 15
3
24
27
WSH WSH WSH SIL 30
SIL @beachbumstc facebook.com/tcbeachbums
7
FG 14
RC 21
LE 28
SIL
2
6
7
8
WC 13
3
RC
4
RC
5
15
9 10 Double
11
16
18
17
12
19
NOR ALL STAR BREAK GAT GAT
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
GAT JOL JOL JOL SCH SCH SCH 27
28
29
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native culture
Native American communities connecting Pow Wows: and sharing
By Tom Peters, Tribal elder
During the summer season each year, tribal families travel many miles to participate in Native summer gatherings called Pow Wows. The origin of the Pow Wow can be traced back to summer camps when communities would share in the good weather and gather at specific locations each summer to visit, trade and gather important medicines and food stocks. From across the United States there was a time when tribal children were forced to attend distant government boarding schools. During this period, the Pow Wow was infused with the sharing of many different tribal customs. These customs were brought home and many were incorporated into the social event now called the Pow Wow. In the present times, these social gatherings consist of dances, songs, sharing culture, circular dance arenas, master
of ceremonies, traders selling crafts and plenty of visiting. An important community aspect of the Pow Wow gathering for Native communities is the age-old tradition of sharing and treating guests with honor, respect and care. Pow Wows, as they exist today, are vibrant, evolving tribal cultural events that are held across Canada and the U.S. There are two basic types of Pow Wows: the competition Pow Wow, in which participants/ dancers compete for prize money, and the traditional Pow Wow, in which participants/ dancers dance for the sheer pleasure of the dance. All people, both Native and nonNative, are welcome to attend and participate in these gatherings full of intertribal friendships and camaraderie. Peoples of the Great Lakes are known 20 read more at grandtraverseresort.com
as the Anishinaabeg (Ah-nishin-ah-bek). At the center of the Pow Wow is the drum (indewe’igan), pronounced “en-day-wagon” (“inde” means heart). The drum is central to this event because of how it was given to the Anishinaabeg.
A long time ago, tribes would pro-
tect their medicine areas and hunting and trapping grounds, which created serious conflicts between neighbors. The intention was never the elimination of another community, but more of re-establishing respect of the natural rights and demarcation between them. A dream came to a woman of another tribe from the west about keeping peace between neighbors. In the dream, she was instructed how to assemble a big drum and how the men were to be placed on it by the
“I share this with you to demonstrate how Native people possess this type of interconnection to the web of life.” — tom peters, tribal Elder and director of Engineering
andy Wakeman
women. Songs were created to accompany the beat of the drum; this beat was called the heartbeat of the nation, because you can hear the heartbeat that is within all of us when it sounds. The drum is the symbol of peace between communities. On some ceremonial drums, you can see beadwork of a hand on the side of the drum. The hand is extended above the head as a symbol of reaching for the Creator; the hand is then brought down to your heart. There has always been an integration of ceremonial and social meanings in the Pow Wow. Included are a group of songs and dances called the inter-tribal, in which all people of all colors are invited to participate and represent their origins. The dance is done in a clockwise rotation on Mother Earth. The song comes from the singers and represents the good feelings that they have for all living beings. The drum beat is the vibration, like a stone in a pond that extends itself from the center of a circle.
I share this with you to demonstrate how Native people possess this type of interconnection to the web of life. In the Great Lakes, there are Pow Wows within a few hundred miles of home every weekend. These gatherings could be in Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin or Minnesota. Pow Wows allow dancers and singers to share Native culture with other
communities, but they also allow families to come together and reconnect with other relatives and friends. Many Native families have a long tradition of meeting in this fashion and their children’s families often continue this style of social connection for many generations. Although is it wonderful to provide sharing of our culture, many participants are there to be able to connect with family, friends and other like-minded individuals, making these gatherings more about social interaction than the actual presentation of an event. At the end of the gathering there is a giveaway, which symbolizes the generosity and sharing Native communities have always utilized to survive as a community. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians usually hosts its annual Traditional Pow Wow on the third weekend in August. Free and open to the public, this event takes place just north of the town of Suttons Bay on the Leelanau Peninsula in the community of Peshawbestown. As a Tribal Elder, it is my honor to invite you to attend, participate, connect and share.
Did You Know? The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians usually hosts its annual Traditional Pow Wow the third weekend in august. Free and open to the public, this event takes place just north of the town of suttons Bay on the leelanau Peninsula in the community of Peshawbestown. learn more at gtbindians.org.
Tom Peters is a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the Director of Engineering at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. read more at grandtraverseresort.com
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family & lifestyle Spring FitnESS rEViVal
Right On-Site grand traverse resort and Spa is the perfect spot for family fun in every season.
LeFt: andy Wakeman, rigHt: Brian WalTers, opposite page: andy Wakeman
By lisa m. Jensen
Celebrate the season’s arrival at the Resort’s 100,000-square-foot Health Club. Before your own family arrives, check out Fitness Classes online. Pre-register for favorites, or try something new; daily options vary from Nice-n-Easy Aquatics and Pilates to feel-the-burn Zumba and Spinning. Or spin away in a private ballroom dance lesson pour deux while children have a ball of their own at the Resort’s 2,000-square-foot, on-site licensed day care center, the Cub House (see sidebar page 25). Moms and dads can get in step with sons and daughters, too, in a fitness session of Urban Dance, or pair up with teens at least age 16 for services at Spa Grand Traverse. Book hot stone massages and a Teen Clean Facial, then manicures and designer cuts at the Salon. Or enlist a personal trainer/yoga therapist/meditation coach at the Health Club to design a family/personal path to better health area events and fitness, then Old Mission slip into the Spa for Blossom Days Thai Bodywork to nearby Fun feel energized and Biking on the renewed. paved TART Trail; Make the most Boardman River of Spa sessions by Nature Center arriving early and lingering later: All services $65 and up include unlimited use of on-site amenities including sauna, pools, whirlpools, cardio center, fitness studio, free weights and relaxation lounge with fireplace.
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Beach Club adjacent to The Shores open to all resort guests, the private Beach Club offers plenty of ways to play on the bay. Beyond the outdoor pool, families can spend the day playing with stand-up paddle boards (suP), sea-doos brand personal watercraft options, pedal boats, water trampolines, one- and two-person kayaks and pontoons, available for rent through Blue sky rentals on east Grand Traverse Bay, adjacent to The shores Condominiums (bluesky-tvc.com).
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Right out of the gate, kids of all ages will gravitate to the Resort’s Indoor Water Playground. Comprised of a 70-foot-long spiraling waterslide, floatable water-walk, in-pool basketball, hot tubs and zero-depth Sprayground with floor geysers, spill bucket and more, this 15,000-square-foot, doublepool attraction provides year-round family fun, all viewable from above at the Health Club’s fireside café. Stay: Book a spacious room in Grand Traverse Resort and Spa’s Hotel or landmark 17-story glass Tower, where amenities including large flat-screen TVs, refrigerators and Jacuzzi whirlpool tubs pair with fast access to the Resort’s Health Club, Spa, pools, Gallery of Shops and three family-friendly restaurants including Aerie Restaurant and Lounge on the 16th floor. highlights: National Spa Wellness Week, Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Brunch in Aerie (March); family activities and specials for Spring
Break (March-April), Mother’s Day (including Sunday Brunch at Aerie, pictured below, May) and Memorial Day.
SummEr Camp
Named Best Midwest Golf Resort for a Family Trip by Travel + Leisure Golf, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa draws parents who love the game with three championship courses offering varying levels of challenge plus an indoor-outdoor Golf Academy onsite featuring private lessons, clinics, oneand multiple-day schools and high-speed photography technology to improve play (see page 41). Parents making the fairways a part of each vacation day can swing away area events assured children up National Cherry to age 13 are having Festival in just as much fun Traverse City; at the Cub House, Harbor Days in Monday through Elk Rapids Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. nearby Fun On scheduled Nauti-Cat Kids dates in June, July Cruise; Traverse and August, kids City Beach Bums ages 6-12 can also pro baseball enroll in Camp Traverse for halfdays, full days or a full week (advance registration is required). Overseen by certified counselors, camp activities from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. range from team-building adventures, swimming and a daily sports lesson taught by Resort pros and staff members to field trips, nature studies, crafts and recreation including golf, basketball, soccer, yoga, dance and more (grandtraverseresort.com/ camp-traverse).
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At Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, tennis is a premier activity that young campers, other Resort guests and local residents alike can also learn on-site over multiple days. The Resort’s renowned, multi-faceted program includes leagues, private lessons and an array of classes for both adults and juniors, including fast skill- and confidencebuilding “QuickStart” instruction for children 10 years and younger (see page 28). Or families can just swing Up North
PAreNTS, PlAN AHeAD In-room Babysitting — Grand Traverse resort and spa offers 24-hour in-room childcare by babysitting staff trained in infant/child CPr and first aid. make reservations up to two months in advance; minimum 48-hour notice required.
to play — no clubs, racquets or schedules required. Stay: Just a few minutes’ shuttle ride from the Resort’s main complex in a privately-owned condo on the water’s edge. While Surfside Condominiums offer three bedrooms, two baths and plenty of living space near the waters, edge along East Grand Traverse Bay, the Condos at The Shores (studio, oneand two-bedroom units, pictured opposite page top) are just a short walk away from the Resort’s Beach Club. Here along the Resort’s private stretch
of natural shoreline, families can enjoy a heated outdoor pool and concessions within reach, special activities such as bonfires and s’mores and Acme Township’s new adjoining public beach, plus an array of watercraft and other ways to play on sparkling East Bay including floating trampolines through Blue Sky Rentals (bluesky-tvc.com). Find more fun July through August at the Resort’s outdoor Governors’ Pool, just a stroll away from Bayview Condominiums. Complimentary activities for kids — scavenger hunts, dance par-
licensed Day Care — The Cub house: monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., kids up to age 13 can enjoy fun, supervised activities in the resort’s 2,000-square-foot children’s center. reservations encouraged up to two weeks in advance. Kid’s Night Out — every saturday from 6-10 p.m., pre-registered kids ages 6-12 can have fun together over pizza, crazy tennis games, swimming, arts and crafts, boards games, Wii and movie time. visit grandtraverseresort.com for more details.
The Sounds and History of Music
One of the “10 Reasons to Visit the Lower Peninsula” - Forbes.com
½ Mile North of the Grand Traverse Resort 7377 US 31N - 231-938-9300 - musichouse.org opposite page, top: Brian ConFer, Bottom: andy Wakeman, tHis page, top: andy Wakeman, Bottom center: Tony demin
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highlights: End of Summer Beach Week the last week of June features special lodging rates, free children’s meals and special daily events, from kayak races and a beach DJ to live music and 5K Fun Run (grandtraversere sort.com).
Fall ESCapE
Make a break for Grand Traverse Resort and Spa during peak autumn season to enjoy golf at its most scenic, East Bay’s lingering warmth and blazing foliage surrounding the paved 5K path looping three miles throughout the Resort’s scenic property. Families can also take a fall escape in early September, when the Detroit Red Wings host their annual Charity Golf Classic at the Resort. This fun on-site fundraising event, precedes the National Hockey League Prospects Tournament, which the Red Wings will be hosting for their 16th season at Centre Ice over the following few days in Traverse City (redwings.nhl.com; centreice.org). Check out Family Fun Weekend/ Midweek Packages offered in Fall (Spring, Summer and Winter, too) that include a two-night stay (Aug. 31-Nov. 1), four coupons for breakfast on-site at Sweetwater American Bistro, an in-room movie or video game and treats from Dylan’s Candy Bar in the Resort’s Gallery of Shops. In autumn and other seasons, too, preregistered guests and local residents ages 6-12 can also enjoy Kid’s Night Out every Saturday from 6-10 p.m. Overseen at the Health Club by a motivating youth counselor staff, this fun evening features creative tennis games, arts and crafts, swimming, board games, Wii, a movie and pizza, plus a great opportunity to make new friends (pre-registration and fee required, grandtra verseresort.com).
highlights: Annual BIG HOLE Golf Tournament on The Wolverine (September); Annual “Tuff Enuff?” Golf Tournament on The Bear (October); Autumn packages and activities (October).
WintEr hOlidaY
The fun doesn’t stop when the temperature drops at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Arrive during the holidays to the magical Holiday Tree in the Grand Lobby, sparkling 23 feet high with thousands of lights and ornaments, surrounded by poinsettias and other evergreens aglow throughout the Resort Atrium, and stroll through the enchanting Gallery of Shops, stocked with
Stay: For panoramic views of the Spruce Run golf course and grand sunset vistas on East Bay, choose a one- or two-bedroom condo in the Resort’s Valleyview complex or a two- or three-bedroom unit at Terrace Condominiums. Sweeping fall views can be found, too, in Tower lodging and two- and three-bedroom Hilltop Condominiums nestled along Spruce Run.
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unique quality gifts for everyone on your list. During Michigan’s snowy season, the Resort’s inviting Northwoods Clubhouse just steps away from the Hotel and Tower transforms into a Winter Activities Center that’s open to Resort guests and the public every weekend, January through February. Enjoy ice skating, explore groomed trails on cross-country skis or trek through fresh powder on-site. Bring your own gear, or find winter snow sports rentals at the Center or Adventure North in the Gallery of Shops. When you’re ready to come in from the cold, settle into the Center’s comfy seating to sip hot chocolate, play board games, savor comfort foods from The Grille’s winter-themed menu or purchase s’mores
Brian WaLters
ties, squirt gun fun and other games — vary weekdays here from 1-5 p.m., with different hands-on arts and crafts to do (for a small fee) on-site too, like Design-Your-OwnBeach-Bag.
Did You Know?
Grand Traverse resort
and Spa has been recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as a Top 20 Mainland resort, was named one of the nation’s Best Family resorts by Family Circle and is cited as one of the 25 Best Family Golf resorts by Golf for Women Magazine.
andy Wakeman
area events CherryT Ball Drop (New Year’s Eve) in T.C. and Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival nearby Fun Horse-drawn sleigh rides at Antler Ridge Farm; tubing, skiing and snowboarding at Mt. Holiday Ski & Recreation Area
supplies for the bonfire. Saturdays and Sundays from noon-3 p.m., families can also partake in free activities like Tic Tac Toe in the Snow, snowman building, snow art and campfire games with Bogey Bear. On select weekend dates, you can learn how to “mush” on a thrilling dog sled ride, as well as play with the exuberant pups. And — while plenty of ways to splash and spa-ahhhh await to be savored, too — heated clinics, practice and instruction can be enjoyed indoors and out at the Resort’s Winter Golf Academy.
Stay: In the Resort’s festively decorated Hotel and Tower for convenient access to all amenities and holiday happenings, or celebrate the season in a privately-owned, spacious Resort home along The Bear golf course, complete with fireplace and big kitchen for gathering with friends and family. highlights: Thanksgiving Day Buffet in Aerie (November); Biggest Little Holiday Party (including special lodging rates and reception with flavorful hors d’oeuvres, snacks, cash bar and dinner buffet, December); New Year’s Eve special rates and celebrations for adults and for children (December). Visit grandtraverseresort.com to learn more about activities and special offers throughout each season. Lisa M. Jensen is editor of Michigan BLUE Magazine.
health & fitness
Serving Up Success
Tennis Director Chris Michalowski’s passion for the game, personal approach to coaching and exceptional staff makes Grand Traverse Resort Tennis top-tier. By Cymbre Foster
Did You Know? Grand Traverse resort Tennis oversees the country’s largest rallyball program.
instructors should be on the courts as much as possible and spends 40 hours a week there himself outside of his managerial duties. “I tell my staff when you’re 5-2 on a set, remember how you got there,” he adds. “What’s the difference between ordinary and extraordinary? It’s the word extra. And it’s all those extras that make a great program.”
grand traverse resort and spa’s director of tennis chris michalowski is a two-time michigan tennis pro of the Year, midwest pro of the Year, Usta cap Leighton award winner and recipient of the Usta/Uspta national community service and national all-star awards.
plaYing tO lEarn
Michalowski loves introducing kids to the sport and has created a dynamic regional program for junior players 18 and younger. Its success, in fact, led to Grand Traverse Resort’s selection as a national test site for “QuickStart,” an innovative learning program for kids 10 years and younger that tailors equipment, court dimensions and scoring to their age and size. “We were pioneers for this,” Michalowski says. “Kids use a shorter court, a smaller racket and balls that are slightly underinflated, which makes them slower and lighter and allows children to be much more successful — their rallies are consistently longer.” The Resort tennis staff also coaches many local high school players, he notes, and over the years, they have seen a marked increase in success at this level. “When we started, Traverse City only had three state finalists,” Michalowski illustrates. “Since then, we’ve taught 48 state finalists and 24 of them have become state champions.” His team has developed many district, Midwest and nationally-ranked players, as well. Outside of lessons, the skills and confidence of younger Resort players are
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BRIAN WALTERS
When Chris “Mick” Michalowski arrived at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in 1988 as the new Director of Tennis, his plan was to stay a couple of years and move on to greener pastures. That was 25 years ago. Today, the tennis pro heads up a vibrant, multi-faceted program that serves the community as well as Resort guests. “When I started, there were 20 people in the program,” Michalowski recalls. “After that first year, I had 162.” And the Resort’s tennis program has only continued to expand, thanks to Michalowski’s passion for the game and a roster of top-notch instructors who feel the same. Some 200 adults and children participate in leagues, instruction and tournament programs overseen by Michalowski at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. While most are Traverse City area residents, some also come from nearby Leelanau and Antrim counties. The Resort’s tennis director credits his staff — members of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and United States Tennis Association (USTA) — for the program’s continued success. “They range from professional, highlyranked players to top-notch tennis instructors,” notes Michalowski, who believes
“What’s the difference between ordinary and extraordinary? It’s the word extra. And it’s all those extras that make a great program.” — Christopher “mick” michalowski, director of tennis
strengthened through monthly Junior Mixers, Travel Matches, USTA Tournament Travel and weekly supervised matches. But it’s not all work: Following up an hour of play with pizza and swimming makes its mark, too.
imprOVing thrOugh plaY
Similarly for adults, Resort Tennis offers opportunities for socializing while improving play at their own pace through private and group lessons, leagues and tournaments. “So many who don’t even pick up a tennis racket until they’re 40 learn really fast,” Michalowski says. “Others start in their 50s and want to take it slower.”
Class options include instruction tailored just for men, just for women and combined genders as well. Players can opt to stop in once in a while or schedule 12-week sessions. Michalowski finds approaching each player as an individual leads to his or her success. So does ensuring they’re having a good time. “At the Resort, players are matched by ratings,” he explains. “Playing against someone with similar skills makes the game more competitive, which makes it more fun. Ratings help make everyone feel more successful.” Taking their game on the road is fun for
Did You Know?
new rules governing competition
for 10-and-under tennis tournaments were developed by the usTa with research from Grand Traverse resort and
top: ANDY WAKEMAN, Bottom: BRIAN WALTERS
Spa’s Tennis and other select sites nationwide.
Resort players, too. “We play teams all over Northern Michigan,” says Michalowski, “and every match turns into a U.S. Open final. It makes it very competitive for them.” Learn more at grandtraverseresort.com. Cymbre Foster is a Traverse City-based freelance writer.
lOVE, lOVE: rESOrt guEStS WElCOmE Whether you want to improve your backhand, get a cardio workout or just enjoy a game of doubles for fun, check out Grand Traverse Resort and Spa’s multi-faceted tennis program. Encompassing five indoor and four outdoor courts paired with more than a dozen USPTA professionals and certified instructors, the Resort’s facilities are renowned in the Midwest and garnered recognition as a Top 50 Tennis Resort by Tennis Magazine. While the program’s popularity typically requires Members to reserve courts early, Tennis Director Chris Michalowski notes Resort guests are always welcome: “Classes are always open to them,” he says, “and we’ll work them into one based on their skill level.” Private and group lessons are both available. “You hit more balls and get more one-on-one technical attention with private lessons,” Michalowski shares. “The nice thing about group lessons is the opportunity to be around more players who hit differently.” Other program offerings include 24-hour racquet stringing, Club Member discounts on special-order rackets and opportunities to hobnob with top-ranked visitors. “We have a lot of guest pros who come in and do weekend workshops yearround,” notes Michalowski. To learn more, call (231) 534-6776.
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Happier and Healthier Ryan LaMott, Manager of Recreational Activities at the Resort’s busy Health Club, loves to see his former fifth grade teacher arrive for her aqua aerobics class. The octogenarian, who attends the class regularly, is just one of an array of folks of myriad ages and fitness levels LaMott sees coming and going at the Resort’s 100,000 square-foot facility, which offers everything from free weights and an Indoor Water Playground to yoga and a newly-installed, 15-person outdoor hot tub. LaMott notes local Club Members and Resort guests alike take advantage of the Club’s mood-enhancing environment. “I had one woman tell me she was here for a conference and that her meeting had been pushed back, so she was happy meantime to sit in a beach chair by the pool,” says LaMott. There’s also a real camaraderie that develops in health and fitness classes, he adds. “People get to know each other and become friends. A lot of times, I see them meet after their session for coffee in the Health Club lounge.” Looking to boost endorphins with the kids in tow? Make prior arrangements at the Club’s fully-licensed childcare facility, a 2,000-square-foot licensed center equipped with age-appropriate toys, crafts and games, secured outdoor playground and educational planned activities (231-534-6780; grandtraverseresort.com/healthClub/). The Health Club, says LaMott, is a great atmosphere whether you’re going for a workout or a treatment at the Spa. “It’s amazing to see all these different people,” he reflects, “and how they all feel when they leave.” — Cymbre Foster
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Andy WakemaN
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa pairs getting fit with having fun.
top: andy Wakeman, Bottom: Brian ConFer
JOin thE CluB As Northern Michigan’s premier golf, tennis, fitness and social hub, The Club at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa attracts friendly, active residents from Traverse City and surrounding areas as well as Resort property owners. Levels of Club Membership plus four-month summer and winter options are offered. Each offers varying benefits from use of Resort amenities to special pricing for dining, Gallery shops, lodging, spa services, golf and fitness programs. Members also have the inside track to tennis reservations, fitness classes, the Resort’s private Beach Club and fully licensed childcare facility, the Cub House.
trainer, yoga therapist or meditation coach. • Amenities at the Resort’s 100,000-squarefoot Health Club for Resort guests and Club Members include five indoor and four
outdoor tennis courts, a spa, a weight room, cardio-fitness and aerobics/yoga studios, an Indoor Water Playground, two indoor pools, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, a café, a lounge and licensed child care facility.
• The Health Club offers a variety of fitness classes that combine cardio and strength training including Aqua Aerobics, Spinning, Pilates, Yoga, Zumba, Muscle Mayhem and more. Resort guests and Club Members can also get healthier through a custom workout program and personal read more at grandtraverseresort.com
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From Social to Serene Balance the healing benefits of solace with renewing powers of camaraderie at Spa Grand Traverse. By Kim Schneider photography By Coreene Smith
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Did You Know?
Spa Grand Traverse earned distinction as one
of the Top 100 Spas of 2011 by Spas of America, which included 67 spas in the u.s., 30 in Canada and one each from mexico, Costa rica and italy.
At Spa Grand Traverse, laughter is allowed — in fact, encouraged — in a cozy space kept aside for animated gatherings over fresh spa fare like arugula salad and Caprese panini. It’s welcome music, too, in the Spa’s soothing manicure/pedicure room, where patrons here in pairs and groups can settle back in luxe chocolate-hued leather seats and visit while sipping, perhaps, a Spa-Tini sparkling with cucumber lime organic vodka or chilled local microbrew. Having fun at the Spa, you might say, is part of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa’s 2014 master plan. And from girlfriend getaways and family get-togethers to corporate incentives and post-golf or ski outings, Spa Manager Dawn Olsen is all for inviting and inspiring more of it. “The spa is not just about quiet — it’s about having fun, having social time with friends,” she says. “Going to a spa goes hand in hand with wellness and peace of mind, and being with friends boosts your happiness — especially when you’re reconnecting with a group you maybe haven’t seen in awhile.” Grand Traverse Resort takes group spagoing so seriously that it has added a Group Spa Coordinator to its staff. For groups of four or more, this team member handles the logistics like pre-ordering lunches, having by request a select bottle of wine ready, and orchestrating spa sessions so private treatments end in sync. That’s particularly easy to do here at Northern Michigan’s largest spa, Olsen notes. “With 23 treatment rooms here,” she says, “we can customize services for a lot of people at the same time.” Whether they arrive with friends or check in solo, Olsen encourages spa-goers
to spin even a single treatment into a day of relaxation by enjoying other Resort amenities as well. “Check in an hour to two hours before your service,” she says. “Sit in the dry sauna to loosen up muscles before a massage. Go swimming in the pools, sip some tea and read or work out in our Health Club. We really try to promote the fact that this is your getaway, your way.” That’s what brings back Spa regulars including local fourth-grade teacher Kristin Sak, who comes by herself, with her daughter or a small group of friends. “Instead of just going out to eat, it’s another avenue to socialize and enjoy other people’s company while still pampering yourself,” she notes. Sak first connected with Grand Traverse Resort and Spa when her children began
taking swimming and later tennis lessons here. She discovered fitness classes offered through the 100,000-square foot Health Club first, then offerings at the Spa. After her first “awesome massage,” she says, she was hooked. “I know it sounds funny, but it can be a form of entertainment as well as relaxation,” Sak reflects. “And the customer service is outstanding. People are friendly and open and warm, willing to accommodate when you come in. I feel like everyone’s welcome here.”
rEadY-madE gEtaWaYS
Special packages at Spa Grand Traverse include the enticingly priced pedicure party “Tini’s & Toes.” While four to six gals enjoy a cocktail of choice, 50-minute session and
ChErrY inFuSiOn When you indulge in a signature cherry-infused treatment at Spa Grand Traverse, you’re soaking up the fruits of both the region and one of its many artisans: These rejuvenating sessions heralding Northern Michigan’s top crop use products locally made by Lynn Rodenroth, the state’s first certified master soap maker. Rodenroth’s Great Lakes Bath and Body shop on bustling Front Street in downtown Traverse City sells lotions, body butters, lip balms, artisan soaps and soaking salts derived from plant oils and other natural ingredients. While the Spa’s signature cherry-almond scent is partially created in a lab, Rodenroth notes the cherry scrub gets its beautiful pink hue — and antioxidant properties — from tart cherry concentrate, and cherry kernel oil is pressed from the pits. Other products feature premium blends of olive, coconut and palm oil. “Nature inspired our ingredient selections, our packaging choices and our logo — the sun, with water incorporated over our name,” the artisan shares. “Over 90 percent of our raw materials, packaging and services are sources in the Great Lakes region. We start local and go out from there.” Visit greatlakesbathandbody.com.
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polish to go as part of this popular option, the Spa’s male-focused equivalent caters to guys with craft beer and rejuvenating foot treatments. “The employees here care about every single guest,” Olsen says. “We illustrate that in our treatments, in the way you’re pampered from check-in to check-out.” If you’re bringing a group, ask about occasional discounts on a second spa treatment, and check online to find seasonal and other one- to two-day escapes that bundle a spa session with lodging and perks like drinks and dinner at Aerie Restaurant, a fitness class and casino shuttle service. “Packages help spin a treatment into a spa-cation,” Olsen notes. “But with all spa packages, the emphasis is on balancing the healing benefits of social time with healing benefits of solace.”
BEnEFitS OF BalanCE
There’s almost a sacred silence on the Spa’s lower level behind a curved rock wall where you can slip to unwind by a twinkling fire. Though lights are dimmed, it’s still bright enough to peruse stories in Spirituality and Health, a glass of organic green tea or refreshing cucumber water in hand. Enhanced by soothing music, treatment rooms and waiting areas featuring cozy seating upholstered in deep green and mocha tones with nature-inspired patterns reflect the relaxed vibe of Northern Michigan. The resulting tranquility is something Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Health Club Member Laura Nyquist savors every six or so weeks when she comes back for routine pedicures, massages or facial treatments in turn. After years of jumping around to various spas, Nyquist says she sticks with Spa Grand Traverse now for its “phenomenal” quality of service and staff. When friends visit, she adds, she brings them, too, for an experience that’s both peaceful and fun. “The way the whole facility is set up, if you want some Zen time, alone time, you can have that on the lower level,” she says. “The pedicure room is a more social area, and the privacy of the dining room lends itself to that too. Want quiet? You can achieve it. More lively? You can find that too. “The Spa fulfills any state of mind you’re in.” To learn more about Spa Grand Traverse, visit grandtraverseresort.com/spa. Travel writer Kim Schneider resides in Suttons Bay. 34 read more at grandtraverseresort.com
“Spa Grand Traverse is one of our most popular spa escapes for consumers across the Midwest. While the spectacular Resort balances all the needs of the guest, the Spa provides a beautiful and natural sanctuary, leaving you soothed, refreshed and rejuvenated.” — Craig Oliver, president of Spas of america (2012)
Spa paCKagES: SOOthEd thrOugh thE SEaSOnS
Inquire about special restrictions that may apply. For reservations, call (231) 534-6750 or visit grandtraverseresort.com.
Spring
Spring renewal, $200 (Over $50 savings) Rain Shower Ritual (45 minutes) Customized Facial (50 minutes) The Ultimate Pedicure (50 minutes) Spring revive, $125 (Over $30 savings) Express Facial (25 minutes) The Ultimate Manicure and Pedicure Combo (100 minutes)
SummEr
girl on the go, $125 ($30 savings) Choice of an Express Facial or Express Massage (25 minutes) Express Manicure and Pedicure (25 minutes each) Spa-tini or Glass of Wine Summer renewal, $170 ($30 savings) Choice of Rain Shower Ritual or Cherry Honey Glow (45 minutes) The Ultimate Manicure and Pedicure Combo (100 minutes) Spa-tini or Glass of Wine
ToP: Tony demin, BoTTom: andy Wakeman
men’s Craft Brewery/ Spa package, $130 ($30 savings) Relaxation Massage (50 minutes) Men’s Foot Maintenance (50 minutes)
WintEr
Winter recovery package, $260 ($30 savings) Rain Shower Ritual (45 minutes) Customized Facial (50 minutes) The Ultimate Manicure & Pedicure Combo (100 minutes) “Skin-Smart” Tea Service Wine & unwind, $240 ($40 savings) Relaxation Massage (50 minutes) Customized Facial (50 minutes)
Express Manicure & Pedicure (25 minutes each) Glass of Wine Spa-tini package, $140 ($20 savings for single guests or per person in group) Express Massage (25 minutes) The Ultimate Manicure and Pedicure Combo (100 minutes) Choice of Spa-tini
Fall
Fall Spa retreat, $135 ($20 savings) Triple Shot Caramel Coffee Sugar Body Scrub (45 minutes) The Ultimate Pedicure (50 minutes) Spa-tini or Glass of Wine Fall renewal package, $245 ($45 savings) Butter Rum Body Scrub (45 minutes) Warm Oil Relaxation Massage (50 minutes) The Ultimate Manicure (50 minutes) Spa-tini or Glass of Wine On the go relaxation package, $125 ($30 savings) Choice of Express Massage or Express Facial (25 minutes) Express Manicure and Pedicure (25 minutes) Spa-tini or Glass of Wine
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The Most Disrespected Golf Course in Michigan
Did You Know? Grand Traverse resort and Spa is ranked by Golf Digest among the Top 50 Golf resorts in America Travel + leisure names the resort Best Midwest Golf for a Family Trip
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Which is all the more reason to play it By Jason Deegan Photography by Brian Walters
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I
f golf courses are elevated in stature by those who designed them, then William Newcomb can certainly stand beside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Grand Traverse Resort hired Nicklaus to build the toughest test of golf in Michigan when he designed The Bear, which opened in 1985. Some 15 years later the Resort added the more user-friendly Gary Player signature course, The Wolverine. But please excuse Newcomb — a University of Michigan graduate, a fine amateur player, a NCAA Division I golf coach and protégée of Pete Dye — if he got a bit testy on the subject of the toughest track in Michigan. If the Bear was built to be 18 of the most challenging holes in the state, it stole a page from Spruce Run, one of Newcomb’s earliest designs. We need to go back a few years to 1973, when Grand Traverse Resort developer purchased the nine-hole Spruce Run golf course from Acme Township. Then-owner Paul Nine wanted the Resort and its golf course on every golfer’s lips. Nine needed a champion-tester track. He needed the hottest designer of the day. Nine needed Newcomb, whom he hired to design and shape 18 holes of incomparable golf, that if they were still intact today, would challenge
even present-day PGA golf elite. Nonsense? Fred Muller may take issue. Now the head golf professional at Crystal Downs CC in Frankfort, he won the first Michigan Open played on Spruce Run in 1981 with an 8-over par! Two-time Open winner Buddy Whitten didn’t fare much better in 1982, sporting a victorious threeday score of 6-over par. Yes, Spruce Run was tough, all right. It would pummel and humble the finest challengers with lush, rough and dastardly fast greens, and length: It once measured 6,982 yards with five par 5s on the back nine. Paul Galligan remembers. He was there. He witnessed it all, and still does to this day as the Resort’s Director of Golf and Grounds. “It was wonderful the way it was laid out. It was difficult,” recalls Galligan. “It was notorious — one of the toughest courses up here. It still is.” Spruce Run has given mightily to the Resort’s reputation as a first-class golf destination. And not begrudgingly, it has come in the expense of land, some in the form of the boulevard that delivers visitors to the Grand Lobby. A little nip here gave The Bear some of its bite. A tuck there created habitat for The Wolverine. And all the
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while, Spruce Run accepted its role as patriarch. Wise. Caring. And to this day firm, albeit shorter in stance. “Every new development at the Resort has taken its toll,” says Resort Public Relations Manager J. Mike DeAgostino, “but the changes were done by guys who knew what they were doing.” Today Spruce Run plays shorter than its glory days — 6,300 yards — and frankly, an 18-hole round is more pleasurable for the average golfer. But it will test you. Three consecutive par 4s of 400-plus yards on holes three, four and five. Galligan believes the 18th may be the hardest finishing hole on the property. “There are six holes out there that are really difficult pars,” he shares. “The greens are fast and the narrow fairways can be penal.” “It’s the most disrespected course in Michigan,” says DeAgostino. Maybe disrespect is the greatest form of flattery. Rodney Dangerfield made a pretty good living at it. Learn more about Spruce Run and other Resort courses at grandtraverseresort.com. Jason Deegan is a contributing editor for Michigan GOLF Magazine.
“There are six holes out there that are really difficult pars. The greens are fast and the narrow fairways can be penal.” — paUL gaLLigan, director of golf and grounds
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“The resort’s long list of accomplishments, their contributions to the game and the community and their exceptional approach to management made them an easy selection” said mGCoa director kate moore. The Bear hosted the michigan open golf championship from the year it opened through 2008. Grand Traverse resort and spa head Golf Professional scott hebert won six of those open championships from 1997-2006. he, along with director of Golf Tom mcGee and director of Golf and Grounds Paul Galligan, represent more than 70 years of key golf management experience. “We’re humbled and excited,” said mcGee while commenting on the honor. “our veteran maintenance and golf operations staff take a lot of pride in their work, and The Bear in particular. The first spring mowing is the happiest day of the year for me. Conversely, the saddest day is when the grounds crews pull the pins in the fall. We strive to provide a magnificent golf experience starting with incredible service and course conditions.” “To be memorable, the golf experience must first be enjoyable,” mcGee added. “once guests arrive on our property, they need not drive or transfer their clubs once.” But it’s not just The Bear that makes Grand Traverse resort and spa golf great. Gary Player’s The Wolverine is a celebrated “friendly” course with wide fairways, welcoming greens and a generous supply of bunkers and water. Four tee stations enable golfers of every playing level to enjoy The Wolverine. and of course there’s spruce run.
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Did You Know? Golf Digest cites Traverse City one of the Top 10 Best Buddies-Trip Golf Destinations. The Bear is noted by Golf Digest among the Top 40 Casino Courses in America.
Top: Andy Wakeman
Player Development The Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Golf Academy is open April-October, offering private instruction and one- to three-day schools, public and corporate clinics, on-course instruction, ladies-only schools and clinics, junior camps and clinics, memberships and club fitting. Recently added was GC2 high-speed photography equipment to measure and analyze ball speed, trajectory, shot shape and shot distance. Academy instructors use GC2 both indoors as a simulator and on the outdoor range. The Winter Golf Center, open to Resort guests and the public, features three heated indoor/outdoor hitting bays protected from the elements. Visit grandtraverseresort.com for more details.
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Traversing the Regional Craft Brew Scene
Sample tried and new flavors of Northern innovation. By Eric DeBoer
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M
ichigan, as much as any state, can lay claim as the nation’s craft beer capital. In the mid-’90s, microbreweries in the Great Lakes State like Founder’s, Bell’s and New Holland ushered in a beer revolution. These spirited nonconformists threw caution to the wind with their goal of transcending the traditional “American Lager” beer empire. Now, taking their cue from the fermenting forefathers of the state’s nationally lauded craft beer scene, a new generation of brewmasters has emerged Up North, where you’ll find no shortage of unforgettable flavors. Artisans of Invention. Quickly becoming one of Michigan’s largest breweries, Short’s Brewing Company was merely a dream of founder Joe Short just over a decade ago. Propelled by a vision of beer loaded with high-quality ingredients and eccentric flavor, he saw there was only one way to make this dream a reality: Build it himself. Today, less than 40 miles northeast of Traverse City in the sleepy little town of Bellaire, Short’s Pub offers well over 100 different beers, and rapid growth hasn’t hindered creativity in the least: Brews containing bananas, pineapples and coffee are standard practice, while peaches and cream, key lime pie and strawberry short-
cake are specialty menu picks. The “power of smallness,” claims Short, is the secret to their success (shortsbrewing.com). Ales by the Rails. Slightly set back from downtown Traverse City within the historic railroad district, The Filling Station specializes in handcrafted ales and woodfired flatbread pizza. This microbrewery’s friendly laid-back charm is impossible to miss as you step onto its rail-side premises. Ideal for a fun and relaxing night out, live music on the outdoor patio is a draw when weather’s in sync. And lovers of spicy
Did You Know?
Draft Magazine cites Traverse City as one of the USA’s Top 3 Emerging Beer Towns. The Travel Channel lists Traverse City as one North America’s Top Seven Beer Destinations.
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food need to look no further than this top spot’s jalapeno/habanero-infused “Firebox” pizza. Just be sure to have a second IPA on-hand — don’t say I didn’t warn you (the fillingstationmicrobrewery.com). Magnetic Beer Mecca. Bright, local artwork adorns the walls of the spacious warehouse Right Brain Brewery calls home. Classic craft brews like Will Power Pale Ale and the acclaimed CEO Stout put this
Traverse City microbrewery on the map and weekly events like the no-cell-phonesallowed Tuesday trivia night keep it a mainstay. Right Brain even has a resident “Beer Geek.” One of only about 20 certified cicerones (think wine sommelier, but for beer) in Michigan, Ryan Engemann acts as a microbrew concierge of sorts, answering beer-related questions via Right Brain’s
Twitter and Facebook pages (rightbrainbrewery.com). Brews with a View. In the heart of downtown Traverse City and within sight of West Grand Traverse Bay, North Peak Brewing Company transformed the Big Daylight Candy Factory’s original rustic brick building into a microbrewery and restaurant in 1997. Though noted for their regionallyinspired craft beer, dining is what raises North Peak up a level: the pretzel-crusted chicken sandwich and white cheddar ale soup are a must-try on your next visit (northpeak.net). Learn more about Traverse City’s craft beer scene at traversecity.com. Eric DeBoer serves as Media Planner and Blogger for Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Visit blog.grandtraverseresort.com
Other Area Microbreweries and Tap Rooms Acme Bravo Zulu (bravozulubrewing.com) Frankfort Stormcloud Brewing Company (stormcloudbrewing.com) Petoskey Beard’s Brewery (beardsbrewery.com) Traverse City 7 Monks Taproom (7monkstap.com) Beggar’s Brewery (beggarsbrewery.com) Ferment (breweryferment.com) Little Fleet Taproom (thelittlefleet.com) Brewery Terra Firma (breweryterrafirma.com) The Workshop Brewing Company (traversecityworkshop.com) 44 read more at grandtraverseresort.com
Three New Microbreweries Open Traverse City’s craft brewing scene continues to expand at a dizzying rate. Since midsummer, three new craft brew operations have opened their doors, bringing the total number of microbreweries and brewpubs to 11.
storefront where Right Brain Brewery got its start. Workshop’s lineup includes seven “journeyman beers” regularly on tap along with seasonal and specialty brews, and a menu of deli-style sandwiches and snacks.
Brewery Terra Firma, Traverse City’s first farm-tomug brewery, opened in July 2013 on the historic ten-acre Dracka Farm just south of the Grand Traverse Mall, offering a variety of well balanced styles including a blonde ale, amber ale, American pale ale, India pale ale, black IPA, extra special bitter and a porter. Brewmaster John Niedermaier, formerly of Right Brain Brewery, hopes to grow most of the hops, herbs, fruits, vegetables and honey that will flavor his beers and ales. Pete Kirkwood had already started a successful craft brewery in Pennsylvania before moving to Traverse City and opening his new Workshop Brewing Company in the Warehouse District
Beggars Brewery is a family-owned production microbrewery and tap room located near pro baseball stadium Wuerfel Park, south of Traverse City, specializing in hand-crafted ales made from local ingredients. Head brewer Michael B. Rizik studied brewing at Chicago’s Siebel Institute of Technology and the World Brewing Academy in Munich, Germany before returning to Traverse City. Though most of the brewery’s clients are restaurants and taverns, Beggars does have a small tasting room for walk-in customers. Two more microbreweries, Bravo Zulu in Acme and Rare Bird in the River’s Edge District, are scheduled to open in 2014.
Technicians of Fermentation: Homebrewing 101 Most microbreweries start out a beer connoisseur’s pipe dream in a dark, dingy corner tucked away from polite company. The blood, sweat and tears of homebrewers are the heart of the craft beer industry and lie in garages, basements and sheds all across the country. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa’s very own Guest Services Manager Scott Firman (at right) and Payroll Manager Dan Meteer took up homebrewing a few years ago and have been hooked ever since. Their borderline obsession has evolved from pre-packaged extract kits to a more sophisticated all-grain process which provides a blank canvas for these technicians of fermentation to work. The duo earned the right to enter their own brews at a homebrewer contest during last summer’s Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival. Evaluated by professional brewers on aroma, flavor and appearance, Meteer’s Bavarian Hefeweizen took home the “Judge’s Choice” award. As part of the prize, his expert-approved wheat beer was added as a limited special edition to The Filling Station Microbrewery beer menu (thefillingstationmicrobrewery.com). Getting started can be intimidating, but with the right guidance and deter-
mination, the art of beer making can be acquired. Dan and Scott’s essential tips include: Visit a specialty store. Homebrew stores like Traverse City’s Bad Teacher Brewing Supply have a wealth of knowledge and are happy to help newcomers pick out their five-gallon fermenter plus other equipment needed for a first batch (badteacherbrewing.com). Do your homework. Instructional brewing books and online resources will help teach you the lingo and tools required to navigate the homebrewing
community. Scott and Dan’s top pick: “How to Brew” by John Palmer (howto brew.com). Keep it simple (to start). Begin with a simple extract for your first few batches to learn the basic steps before graduating to the more refined all-grain process. Find a brew buddy. Having a friend with brewing experience who is willing to let you help out and observe is invaluable. In addition to the free education, eventually you’ll bounce ideas off each other and also yield larger batches to split. — Eric DeBoer
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Like italy’s piedmont and napa valley on the West coast, old mission peninsula is situated in a unique grape-growing universe: the 45th parallel, an invisible line stretching between the north pole and equator from about 30 to 50 degrees north latitude. Here in michigan, grand traverse Bay’s lingering warmth wards off early frosts, cold spring temperatures prevent premature budding and heavy lake-effect snow insulates the vines.
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the air as large crates are filled to the brim with just-picked Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. You may even spot a weary winemaker with grape-stained hands and dirty jeans, happy that harvest has finally arrived and the new vintage ready for reveal. What you’ll find in a sip is likely to impress. Old Mission is the only wine region to unanimously achieve the state’s MAEAP verification for environmentally sound practices. This unified stance from the peninsula’s wineries symbolizes the vintners’ visions to handcraft only topquality wine. “If you set your vineyard up in such a way that fruit quality becomes the cornerstone of your operation,” says winemaker Coenraad Stassen of Brys Estate, “then you will be successful in producing great wine.” You can sample Stassen’s award-winning reds and other favorites like Riesling and Pinot Grigio in an elegant brick and mahogany tasting room or the winery’s red brick patio, which offers scenic peeks of East Bay.
Brian ConFer
A
north turn off of Front Street onto Highway M-37 (about 10 minutes from Grand Traverse Resort and Spa) takes you on a spectacular scenic drive that USA Today recently named one of the Top 10 Memorable Coastal Vistas in North America. This sliver of land — just three miles wide — extends 19 miles into Grand Traverse Bay and is fringed by magnificent lake views in most directions. The calming effect of Lake Michigan behind rolling hills of grapevines has you immediately forgetting you were in the center of downtown Traverse City’s hustle and bustle just moments ago. Come fall, fiery treetops create a vibrant backdrop to roadside stands overflowing with pumpkins and apples as you taste your way through the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula’s eight tasting rooms, renowned for some of the Midwest’s best hilltop views. An active harvest vibe fills
Did You Know? Tripadvisor.com rates Traverse City as one of America’s Top 10 Wine Destinations. USA Today includes TC among the Top 10 Places to enjoy local Wine. Fully one quarter of michigan’s wineries are on the leelanau
Brian ConFer
Peninsula.
Patio wine-sipping is a top-notch experience on Old Mission Peninsula. But you’ll find others, here, too, such as learning firsthand how to prep vines in spring or crush stems to start the winemaking process. “That’s why we partner with Grand Traverse Resort and Spa — so that visitors to this region can become more a part of its overall experience,” says Spencer Stegenga, proprietor of Bowers Harbor Vineyards, which consistently produces a worldclass Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and signature Bordeaux-style blend. In fact, for award-winning vintners on both Old Mission and Northern Michigan’s equally revered Leelanau Peninsula, sharing the day-to-day pleasures of making and savoring wine with visitors is a priority, and both the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association host fun events year-round for all wine lovers, whether they’re savvy sommeliers or just newly reveling in the fruits of these vines. To learn more, visit wineriesofoldmission.com and lpva.com. — Lorri Hathaway and Lisa M. Jensen
In April 2013 the leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail celebrated Michigan Wine Month by introducing three new touring loops: The northern loop covers the northern half of the peninsula and holds 10 wineries in and around the villages of lake leelanau, leland, northport and omena and iconic sites like the Grand Traverse lighthouse and Fishtown. The Grand Traverse Bay loop stretches from just outside Traverse City to suttons Bay along the east side of the peninsula and features the leelanau Bike Trail along with nine wineries. The sleeping Bear loop consists of six wineries in the western half of the peninsula from Glen arbor to Cedar to lake leelanau and boasts the stunning beauty of sleeping Bear dunes national lakeshore. details and a handy map can be found at lPva wineries and various area businesses or lpwines.com. The trail has also released a free iPhone app for easy access to leelanau wineries, lodging, restaurants and more. visit lpva.com.
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Resort Restaurants aerie restaurant & lounge
Located on the 16th floor of the Resort Tower, Aerie is a premier dining experience with seasonal menus renowned for its equally exceptional panoramic views of East Grand Traverse Bay and Old Mission Peninsula. Patrons enjoy unparalleled cuisine, select offerings of wine, beer and spirits and an unforgettably outstanding venue. In addition to nightly dinner service, Aerie imparts special occasion celebrations for select holidays from Mother’s Day to Christmas with gourmet buffets, festive scenery and a dynamic atmosphere. Weekends atop the Tower feature a stylish ambience accompanied by live entertainment as well as a sumptuous Sunday Brunch complete with omelet and carving stations, fresh salads, pastries and champagne mimosas. Be sure to save room for dessert and prepare to indulge in the continually highly-acclaimed, pleasing delights crafted by the Resort’s Pastry Chef. What’s more, Aerie reigns as the place of choice for many as the best spot in the region to unwind over cocktails or to indulge in a scrumptious morsel or two along with a nightcap. Inquire about Aerie’s limited, dis-
tinctive weekends that pair dinner at Aerie with local winery, brewery or distillery tours.
Sweetwater american Bistro
For more casual everyday dining, Sweetwater American Bistro just off the Grand Lobby is a full-service restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with the same attention to quality and ingredients as its upstairs cousin. The Resort’s inviting “mini global” bistro is designed to appeal to a wide variety of tastes and needs. While many guests enjoy Sweetwater’s breakfast buffet, others prefer choosing from tempting menu selections. At lunchtime, look for savory soups, fresh salads and sandwiches on fresh-made bread. Dinner choices can range from pan-roasted chicken and ribs to grilled salmon and baconwrapped meatloaf. The Resort’s signature desserts are also served fresh here. A unique semi-circle bank of seating, along with tables and booths, appeals to families as well as business colleagues. Singles will also find Sweetwater to be a cozy place to take in a meal, with attentive servers and a warmly hued décor.
Clubhouse grille
For golfers and others of all ages seeking a casual, Northwoods-inspired atmosphere for lunch and dinner, The Grille is housed in the Resort’s Clubhouse and offers scenic views of The Bear’s 18th hole. Visit at the bar, dine outdoors on the patio or settle into one of The Grille’s comfortable, cushioned seats. From homemade soups, salads and appetizers including The Grille’s signature house-made potato chips tossed in melted blue cheese and garden chives to hearty sandwiches, wraps, pastas, tenderloin and chicken — plus grilled burgers and hot dogs — lunch and dinner menus feature a range of familiar favorites. Food and beverage carts also operate throughout the golf courses.
Jack’s Sports Bar
With always-fresh popcorn and four flatscreen HD TVs, Jack’s is like the corner bar — a gathering place for groups as well as couples who want to catch the game or catch up with friends. Food runs the gamut, from beef sliders served on a savory bun to salads made with local, fresh produce. Hard-to-choose options also include burgers, sandwiches and the Resort’s delicious house-made pizza.
grand lobby Bar
Serving a wide selection of bottled beers, wines and spirits in the Resort’s spacious and inviting Grand Lobby, the casually elegant Grand Lobby Bar is just the spot for people-watching, conversation and winding down after a busy day.
the marketplace
Tucked within the Gallery of Shops, The Marketplace is the Resort’s in-house deli, featuring an assortment of fresh sandwiches, wraps, salads and baked goods. Sample a taste of ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s. Order a specialty beverage, hot or chilled, made with fresh-brewed Starbucks gourmet coffee. Pick up a newspaper, magazine or book and enjoy it all at one of The Marketplace bistro tables. The Resort’s Pool Bar, located at the pool near Governors’ Hall, offers beverages along with a limited roster of sandwiches and snacks.
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Brian ConFer
pool Bar
Brian WaLters
Patrons enjoy unparalleled cuisine at Aerie Restaurant & Lounge. read more at grandtraverseresort.com
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retail
Gallery of Options
While there’s no debate summer is the busiest season for Grand Traverse Resort and Spa’s distinctive and eclectic Gallery of Shops, guests and local residents alike will discover unique items to choose from the rest of the year as well, whether it’s Brighton’s sassy new vintage-style bowler bag or latest high-loft, heat-retaining North Face innovation. “We have something for each season, and each season you’ll find something new,” says Diane Goodyear, Retail Manager for the Gallery, and notes, “Our prices are comparable with other shopping in the area. Combined with the restaurants, Spa and other Resort amenities, you really don’t need to go anywhere else!”
mud piE
Mud Pie is the “latest and greatest” addition to the Gallery’s already stellar roster of shops, Goodyear shares. Newly opened in spring of 2013, this 1,200 square foot destination boutique is the first retail store in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to Mud Pie’s brand of creative, innovative and affordably-priced gifts including colorful children’s clothing and playful yet upscale home accessories like cheese boards and cocktail napkins. “For the past 25 years, the Mud Pie brand has only been available through
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“We have something for each season, and each season you’ll find something new.” — diane goodYear, resort retail manager
online shopping, with a few select collections found in small boutiques,” Goodyear explains. “We’re very proud Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is housing the very first Mud Pie-branded shop to sell all three of their categories — Mud Pie Baby, Mud Pie Living and Mud Pie Fashion.” As Mud Pie isn’t a franchise, the Resort retail team designed the Gallery of Shops’ store from the dark stained floor to the crystal chandeliers. “It’s a great fit for us,” she notes of Mud Pie’s debut success. “We weren’t yet offering baby or home décor, and their fashion complements our other Gallery shops.”
dYlan’S CandY Bar & CandY CaFÉ
Remember watching “Willy Wonka” and delicious thrills inspired by that all-edible, Technicolor tasting room? The Gallery of Shops opened its own real-life candy emporium — Dylan’s Candy Bar — in November of 2010. Founder and daughter of design icon Ralph Lauren, Dylan Lauren’s magnetic combination of candy with art, fash-
ion and pop culture creates a glitzy and sweetly nostalgic multi-sensory experience that adults find just as fun as kids. “Nowhere else will you find 200 bins of candy that you can mix and match,” Goodyear says, noting patrons get a rush from bagging favorites like squiggly gummis or fruit sours and plucking Whirlipop Trees. While Dylan’s Candy Bar augments its trove of treats with merchandise like personalized storage jars, beach towels, cupcake pillows and key chains along with themed school supplies and apparel,
Dylan’s Candy Bar-Candy Café launched across the Gallery hall in June of 2011, expanding this paradise for sweet teeth to 2,800 square feet. Moomers Homemade Premium Ice Cream, made in Traverse City, was new here in 2013. You’ll also find tempting displays of fudge, decadent specialty chocolates, party items and novelties. From birthdays to baby showers, Goodyear notes the Café is a creative place to celebrate life’s sweetest occasions. Slurping frosty malts and fountain drinks at gumball tables and spinning your own cotton candy is all part of the fun.
Did You Know? Dylan’s Candy Bar Time Capsules come stocked with sweet memories from ToP: Tony demin, BoTTom: andy Wakeman
specific decades, from Chuckles, Chicklets, lemon heads and slo Pokes to Gobstoppers, mallow Cups, airheads and Wax lips.
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More spots to shop
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Andy Wakeman
Looking for a little, not-so-sugary pickerupper? Stop into The Marketplace for a flavorful Starbucks gourmet coffee, crisp salad or fresh deli sandwich. Here, too, find ample glass cases stocked with baked goods crafted in-house by Resort pastry artisans like delectable truffles, flaky croissants, assorted bagels, ham and cheese scones, iced cinnamon rolls, cake pops and bite-sized macaroons. Homegrown and handcrafted, American Spoon’s artisan line of delicious products will wake up your taste buds with samples of edible regional treasures like red haven peach preserves, blackberry spoon fruit and silky smooth cherry butter. Plush life-sized pets by Melissa & Doug and a medley of educational books, games, puzzles and classic toys make Tumbleweeds a must-see for family fun. This nostalgic boutique engages parents and grandparents as equally as it does kids from tots to teens. Peruse the huge selection of t-shirts, sweatpants, hoodies, hats and more for men, women and children featuring the Resort’s exclusive logo at the Gallery’s Bear Logo Shop. You’ll also find souvenirs such as magnets and key chains and a basic
stock of toiletries and medications. Uncover everything you’ll need for an “Up North” outing at Adventure North Outfitters, a North Face “shop within a shop” for adults and children. Other popular sportswear and accessory collections include SmartWool, Oakley sunglasses, Natural Life, Haiku, Baggalini and Lolë. For beach days to evenings out, dresses and more dresses are favorite finds at Ashleigh’s. You’ll also find here the area’s largest selection of Brighton jewelry, handbags and other accessories, along with classic arrivals from top-tier lines including Cartise. From balls and clubs to shirts and shoes for men and women, golfers will find all they need and can peruse new trends from brands like Nike, Adidas, Under Armour and Greg Norman at the Pro Shop, situated in the Clubhouse just a short walk away. Most pampering products used at Spa Grand Traverse are available to take home. Browse selections including treatments from the Spa’s own signature cherryinfused line, hair care from Neuma, Jane Iredale mineral makeup, products from Farm House Fresh, OPI nail colors and others. Visit grandtraverseresort.com.
Find an array of renowned national brands in the Resort’s Gallery of Shops, including these favorites. Tumbleweeds: Melissa & Doug (full line) Adventure North: The North Face Lolë Natural Life Haiku Baggallini Oakley
Ashleigh’s: Brighton jewelry, accessories, handbags & luggage Cartise Pro Shop: Under Armour Adidas Nike Greg Norman
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53
THE
Grand Lifestyle
Don’t Just Dream It‌
Own It. Keller Williams
Greater Grand Traverse Exclusive real estate agency for Grand Traverse Resort & Spa properties
(231) 938-1200 www.KWgrandtraverse.com
(231) 929-1235
Arrowhead Estates At the Grand Traverse Resort
The Shores Condominiums At the Grand Traverse Resort Studio Units Priced From $69,900
Building Sites Priced From $35,000
1 Bedroom Units Priced From $75,000
Single Family Homes Priced From $279,900
2 Bedroom Units Priced From $119,900
Individual home sites offering easy access to Grand Traverse Resort amenities and downtown Traverse City. Situated along the picturesque Bear Golf Course, with panoramic views of the gently rolling terrain.
The Shores is a vacation retreat featuring a flowing stream, mature trees and beautifully landscaped grounds. This waterfront condominium community, located on East Grand Traverse Bay includes 600 feet of shared sandy beach. Ideal vacation get-away spot or take advantage of GTR’s rental management program.
Singletree I Condominiums At the Grand Traverse Resort
Cottage Glens Condominiums At the Grand Traverse Resort
2 Bedroom Units Priced From $184,900
3 Bedroom Cottages Priced From $194,900 4 Bedroom Cottages Priced From $279,900
Located on the 15th fairway of the Bear Golf Course, Singletree I offers natural fireplaces, open kitchens, large decks, central air, separate laundry rooms and detached garages. Ideal vacation get-away spot or take advantage of income opportunities through GTR’s rental management program.
Nestled on the links of The Bear and Spruce Run Golf Courses, Cottage Glens offers a resort lifestyle, with low maintenance single family cottages . Within walking distance to Grand Traverse Resort amenities and just minutes from downtown Traverse City and Cherry Capital Airport.
Golfview Condominiums At the Grand Traverse Resort
Valleyview Terrace Condominiums At the Grand Traverse Resort
1 & 2 Bedroom Units From $84,900
2 Bedroom Units Priced From $155,000 3 Bedroom Units Priced From $224,000
Overlooking the Spruce Run Golf Course, Golfview Condominiums offer full kitchens, cozy fireplaces, central air conditioning, private balconies and carports. Easy access to Grand Traverse Resort Amenities and just minutes from downtown Traverse City. Ideal vacation get-away spot or take advantage of GTR’s rental management program.
JOHN AMMAR
(231) 534-0350 JAMMAR@KW.COM
LOUISE SPRAGUE
(231) 883-6578 LSPRAGUE@KW.COM
DAVE SCHERRER
(231) 649-4441 TEAMSCHERRER@KW.COM
Terrace condominiums, located within walking distance to the main resort complex feature large balconies, a peek of the Bay and border the Spruce Run Golf Course. Condos feature open living areas, fireplaces, complete kitchens and washer/dryer connections. Ideal vacation get-away spot or take advantage of GTR’s rental management program.
Keller Williams
Greater Grand Traverse
(231) 938-1200 | KWgrandtraverse.com
weddings & special events
Details That Make a Difference annual gatherings to come, then, they could compare their company’s growth with that of their special tree. Special requests — including running out to local sites to fill special break snack requests for Murdick’s fudge, Moomers ice cream or fresh orchard cider — are all part of the fun for Grand Traverse Resort’s Conference Services team. “The big thing right now is farm to table,” Savage says. “Our chefs work closely with local farmers. But we’re also known for our cherries, venison and smoked whitefish. Those are the items groups are always asking for.” Special requests often come first to Meghan Gutowski, the Resort’s Event Design Manager, a one-of-its-kind position for the region. As part of her role, Gutowski might book a fishing charter service for a Resort group that partners with a local chef
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off-site who will cook up the day’s catch. When one group wanted dinner at The Boathouse on the shores of Old Mission Peninsula, she arranged an unusual and particularly memorable ride there — by catamaran. Gutowski’s passion is taking a nugget of an idea and from that crafting a fantasy wedding or excursion. “I build the décor — the linens, the uplighting, the arbor,” she notes. “Some corporate groups let us have free rein. That’s the part I like the most.” For the same group that planted the crabapple tree, Gutowski helped design events around a “Seeds of Change” theme. For a casual lunch, she put floral arrangements in watering cans. For a dinner evoking an “enchanted forest,” she ordered linens in deep moss green on a velvet-like fabric that reflected lights and echoed the texture of
BoB Lapine
When a group needed table coverings for a conference focused on Native American traditions, Becky Savage turned to her grounds crew. Could they trim some of the Resort’s cedar trees (sacred in the Native tradition) and give her some cuttings? Serving as Grand Traverse Resort and Spa’s Senior Conference Services Manager, Savage had already talked a friend into creating a display of live plants in the style of the “Three Sisters” — the blending of corn, beans and squash featured in the group’s conference brochure. Days earlier, she’d asked the grounds crew to pick up a flowering crabapple tree for a group that’s been meeting at the Resort for 33 years and wanted to do a ceremonial planting on-site near The Plaza, a flowing, semi-permanent tent venue that overlooks The Bear and Spruce Run golf courses and Grand Traverse Bay beyond. Every year during
forest floor. Real moss, flowers, branches and fairies topped tables as a centerpiece. With brides, Gutowski and Special Events Manager Liz Brooks begin by determining personal style: Do they prefer a more traditional look, or are they more fashion-forward? The Resort’s wedding staff scours everything brides send them including their Pinterest pages for clues. If a bride is mostly focused on the cake, that might be placed in the middle of the dance floor with up-lighting to make it a memorable focal point. Those with love stories centering around golf might opt for a cozy ceremony on the “55th Hole,” engulfed within an intimate circle of trees. “Everything is customized,” Brooks says. “There’s nothing packaged.”
top: BoB laPine
going the Extra mile
One wedding couple originally planned to exchange vows in their native Italy. When work commitments conflicted, they asked Resort staffers if Italy could be brought to Northern Michigan. Wedding planners worked closely with the bride and groom’s chosen photographer and florist to create grapevine-shaped hanging balls twinkling with tea lights for the bar. Resort staff gathered several cloth swatches to ensure linens in the perfect texture and color — Bordeaux — and worked through a distributor to read more at grandtraverseresort.com
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Travel writer Kim Schneider resides in Suttons Bay. 58 read more at grandtraverseresort.com
top LeFt: John novoTnak, middLe: Brian WalTers, Bottom: Jen kroll
import cases of the desired Italian wine. Sometimes, it’s a car that needs a grand entrance, and the Conference Services team can handle that, too. When Porsche Club of America members gathered here in the summer of 2013, they were welcomed by black, red and yellow flowers planted by Recreational Activities Manager Ryan LaMott to represent the Porsche emblem. The Resort’s crew also put high-gear efforts into providing secured parking for these guests’ 700 high-end rides (some worth upwards of $1 million), displaying some in the Resorts Grand Lobby, too. Until a top-tier reveal was made of a Porsche 911 flown from Germany in celebration of its 50th anniversary, the Resort’s team hid it amid golf carts until its big moment, then removed a set of double glass doors to maneuver it inside. They threw a pig roast for 1,300, and beyond creating sugar sculptures resembling the group’s logo, one Resort chef led a well-attended private cooking class on cherry appetizers and desserts. Inventive staffers even customized a car wash featuring six to 10 stations, which became the weekend’s social gathering spot, notes Francie Palms Kish, the Porsche Club’s conference facilities chair. “Few resorts have been as attentive to the group’s needs,” she says. The Resort’s security staff even called her nightly, Palms adds, not just to assure her cars were safe, but to let her know if someone left lights on or a window down. “They were fabulous at making sure everything was in perfect order,” she shares of the Resort’s attentive collaborative care. “It gave us a tremendous feeling of security.” Learn more at grandtraverseresort.com.
top: Tavla sTudio, middLe/Bottom: Brian ConFer
A Bride Confides “To anyone thinking of getting married at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, every detail remains clear in my mind. From the long, flower-lined walk to the tent to the sunset on the beach, it was the perfect night. Our ceremony took place under the huge tent where we overlooked the golf course and bay. Our reception was in the ballroom and we ate on risers so we could see our guests. We returned to the tent for drinks and dancing, but the highlight was our after-party with s’mores on the beach. The Resort’s Special Events Manager/Wedding Coordinator made this event easy and enjoyable, even with us being from out of town. She handled every detail down to the flowers on the cake so that we could enjoy every minute. I can’t imagine a more perfect place to get married, and looking through our wedding album with the beautiful golf course and bay background in every picture only reinforces that Marc and I chose the perfect spot to begin our life together.” — Katie Grass
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meetings & conventions
“See You in Traverse City� By Char deWolf
Did You Know?
Smart Meetings presented its inaugural Gold, silver and
Bronze smart stars winners in 2013. The designation is given to hotels, resorts, cruise lines and venues with the most votes cast by readers and represents the best of the best in 25 categories that meeting professionals consider when planning events. in line with the Broadmoor (Colorado springs, Gold) and The lodge at Torrey Pines (California, silver), Grand Traverse resort and Spa tied with the villas of Grand Cypress in Florida for smart meetings’ Best Golf resort Bronze in 2013 (smartmeetings.com). 60 read more at grandtraverseresort.com
“It’s obvious that management has very high expectations and it shows. The behindthe-scenes set-ups are outstanding.” — Lisa Hart, Vice President of Operations at the Center for Automotive Research
Every August, top leaders in the automotive industry from around the country — and frequently even the sitting governors of Michigan — convene at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa to discuss significant issues relating to the future direction of the global automotive industry. “This is a gold standard event,” explains Lisa Hart, Vice President of Operations at the Center for Automotive Research (CAR). “If you are in the automotive industry, then
you know about the CAR Management Briefing Seminars and you’ll hear people throughout the year saying, ‘See you in Traverse City’ when referring to the event.” Grand Traverse Resort and Spa “is our event home,” notes Hart, who, with her team, carries the monumental responsibility of creating four days of high-level seminars for 900 automotive professionals. “We’ve been coming to the Traverse City area for 48 years, even before the Resort
opened.” Putting together an automotive-related conference of this magnitude long distance — Hart is based in Ann Arbor — would seem to be a road strewn with speed bumps. That isn’t the case here, though. “For most of the year, the Resort staff is up there and we are down here,” she laughs, “but they make my job easier. We work as a team, and they are very good at establishing, and maintaining, relationships.” One of the key elements to successfully hosting an event of this scope is having a highly trained staff that is responsive, efficient and pleasant to work with. Hart enthusiastically praises the Resort’s team and credits them with raising their performance in recent years. “It’s obvious that management has very high expectations and it shows,” she notes. “The behind-the-scenes set-ups are outstanding.” In their most recent poll, 35 states were represented at CAR’s event, Hart notes. And even though this benchmark of automotive strategic planning could be rotated each year to a different high-end resort so not everyone has to travel to Northern Michigan, no one seems interested in changing: In fact, attendees so look forward to returning to the Resort each year, many plan their summers and family vacations around it. “We are automotive-related, and our identity is tied to Michigan,” Hart points out, adding that many participants say how
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stunned they are by Michigan’s beauty and that their image of the state has changed after coming to the Resort. “The timing of the conference is significant — there’s a cachet about coming to Traverse City in the summertime.” Creating an atmosphere conducive for executive leadership while maintaining a comfortable stay for hundreds of CAR attendees, along with many of their spouses and children, is a daunting task, but these Resort guests never feel the effort. “They are very good at making sure people are taken care of,” Hart says of the Resort’s team. “The staff knows the Resort and the area very well, and they are experts at guiding us to making the best decisions for our event.” After each year’s seminars conclude, there is a customary debrief between Hart, her staff and the Resort in preparation for next year’s event. “They really listen to us and respond to what we need,” she shares. “In January, we will ramp up for the 2014 Seminars, and they will welcome us back, as they always do.”
For more information about meetings and conventions at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, visit grandtraverseresort.com. Freelance writer Char DeWolf is based in Grosse Pointe Shores.
Team Building: The Fast Track to Fitness At Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, the “Barefoot” mindset is simple: Live an active life. Along with golf, tennis, swimming and fitness classes, the recent addition of a paved 5K path looping three miles through the Resort’s scenic property is available for convention guests to jumpstart their day, break independently from sessions or brainstorm together in a new way. “Some groups take advantage of it by organizing a morning fitness walk/ run before their meetings,” notes J. Michael DeAgostino, Public Relations Manager for the Resort. “Other groups make it more organized by having somebody from their group lead an activity at a specific time.” With nationwide awareness growing of the benefits to committing to an employee wellness program (including a 20 to 55 percent reduction in
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health care costs, according to U.S. Corporate Wellness), more and more convention groups are requesting onsite consultations and fun fitness activities coordinated through the Resort’s Health Club, says Ryan LaMott, Manager of Recreational Activities. “Enjoying an active outing here is a great way to promote employee interest in an active lifestyle they can enjoy back home,” he adds, “whether that’s forming a weekly league, participating as a company in a community 5K or setting and supporting each other’s personal health and fitness goals.” From golf and gaming to festivals and fly fishing, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa can round out business agendas with other fun and relaxing excursions as well, including strategically-designed teambuilding games, challenges and adventures. Learn more at grandtraverseresort.com.
A Grand Experience It’s our combination of top-notch conference facilities, vast accommodations and amenities, warm Midwestern hospitality and inherent customer care that reaches beyond the norm, enveloping our guests. Able to accommodate groups of up to 2,500 with ease — evidenced in twice hosting the National Governor’s Association — Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is Michigan’s premier destination to mix business with pleasure.
TOP: Brian Confer
• 86,500-square feet of flexible meeting space • Nearly 600 guest rooms and condominiums • 7,000-square-foot Spa Grand Traverse • Three championship golf courses • Four indoor/outdoor pools and several Indoor/outdoor hot tubs • Indoor Water Playground • 100,000-square-foot Health Club • Five indoor and four outdoor tennis courts • Five restaurants and lounges • Gallery of Shops • Private Beach Club For more details about our services, facilities, accommodations, venues, activities, attractions, transportation and more, request a Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Meeting Planner Guide online at grandtraverseresort.com/meetings or call (800) 748-0303.
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Traverse City and the surrounding region
To Suttons Bay
W e s t G r a n d Tr a v e r s e B a y
To Old Mission
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West Grand Traverse Bay
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Pedestrian Underpass
Visitors Center
D Warehouse District
r man Rive
Clinch Par
TC Chamber
Market
Pedestrian Bridge
Pedestrian Bridge
State Theater
W. F R O N T
W. F R O N T
Farmers
UNION
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G R A N D V I E W PA R K WAY
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Boardman River
E. FRONT
Pedestrian Underpass
E. FRONT
City Opera House
To NMC College
History Center of Traverse City
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10-Hour Metered Parking
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Information
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Old Town Parking Deck
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E. 8th
E. 8th
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Old Town Playhouse
Boardman Lake
www.downtowntc.com
Cross-Country Skiing
Mountain Biking
Golf Course
Swimming Beach
Hiking
Winery
Lighthouse
Casino
Ski Area
E D AV
7th Lars Hockstad Auditorium
rdm
ROA
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R i v e r Wa l k & P e d e s t r i a n Wa l k w a y s
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Traverse Area District Library
WOODMERE
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Duncan L. Clinch Marina
Open Space
Lake Michigan
NORTH MANITOU North Manitou Island Fe r
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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
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South Manitou Island
North Lake Leelanau
Ferry Route
LELAND
SU LAKE LEELANAU Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
PORT ONEIDA
Good Harbor Bay
Sleeping Bear Bay
GLEN HAVEN
Lime Lake
GLEN ARBOR
South Lake Leelanau
Glen Lake
MAPLE CITY
Lake Michigan
CEDAR
EMPIRE
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Platte Bay
LAKE ANN
Long Lake Silver Lake
Platte Lake Crystal Lake
HONOR INTERLOCHEN
FRANKFORT BENZONIA
Cat Head Bay
ATWOOD
Beer, Wine and Spirit Trail Map Sponsored By BOWERS HARBOR VINEYARDS bowersharbor.com (231) 223-7615
Northport Bay
Grand Traverse Bay
NORTHPORT
FILLING STATION thefillingstationmicrobrewery.com (231) 946-8168
EASTPORT
GRAND TRAVERSE DISTILLERY grandtraversedistillery.com (231) 947-8635
LS R
GRAND TRAVERSE DISTILLERY LELAND grandtraversedistillery.com (231) 256-0128
OMENA
SHORT’S BREWING COMPANY shortsbrewing.com (231) 498-2300
PESHAWBESTOWN
UTTONS BAY Suttons Bay
BELLAIRE Torch Lake
OLD MISSION
KEWADIN
ELK RAPIDS
Bowers Harbor Bay POWER ISLAND
MAPLETON
ALDEN Elk Lake
West Grand Traverse Bay
East Grand Traverse Bay
RAPID CITY Skegemog Lake
WILLIAMSBURG previous page area map
ACME
TRAVERSE CITY
KALKASKA Vasa Pathway
Brown Bridge Quiet Area
KINGSLEY
Sand Lakes Quiet Area
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