Posh Escapes

Where to live large even if you live small nearby

By Ross Boissoneau

In Michigan, everybody heads north to vacation. It’s what in large part built the reputations of places like Traverse City, Charlevoix and Harbor Springs.

But what if you live here? Fear not. Sure, you can still go to the UP or beyond, but this region has plenty of great getaways that are not only for those from Grand Rapids, Detroit or Chicago, but for everyone. And nobody ever said you couldn’t go south, or east or west (just watch out for that big water). So here are four glorious getaways to allow you to live like the one percent -- if only for one weekend.

HARBOR SPRINGS

Up North luxe. An oxymoron? Not at The Lumberjack Lodge, a sprawling 7,500 squarefoot log home within the Chestnut Valley Golf Club.

Inside? How about eight bedrooms for you and your entourage, a 10-foot movie theater screen and bar on the lower level (you know, adjacent to the game arcade), Jacuzzi on the porch, and true chef’s kitchen? And outside, you’re seconds away from golf, and less than 10 minutes from skiing at either Nubs Nob or Boyne Highlands, as well as cross-country and snowmobile trails outside your door. This cozy place is legit. https://tinyurl.com/2rzanykn GRAYLING

Oh, did someone say north woods lodge? They don’t come much north woods-ier or lodge-ier than this six bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home outside Grayling. It sleeps 18 people, though with everything there is to do here and nearby, sleep will likely be the last thing on your mind.

The post-and-beam construction features soaring knotty pine ceilings and a grand fireplace in the middle of the great room. The furnishings are right in line with the theme as well; pelts and trophies deepen the feel. Heck, the pool table built in part from tree limbs and roots echoes the theme. There are even four elk antler chandeliers illuminating the room.

If you are into fishing, there’s no better place than this: the lodge is just feet away from the Au Sable River. Even if you aren’t, you can drink in the views of the river from nearly every window in the home. If you open the windows, you’ll hear the relaxing sound of the water bubbling its way downstream.

There’s even a big bin of toys for the little ones. A game room and dining building are also available. And with Grayling just minutes away, you can indulge in shopping, dining or whatever else you may need … though you may not want to leave. Ever. VRBO. com/1287329

MANISTEE

Heaven on Earth? Well, maybe. Dubbed “Manistee’s Heaven,” this property offers views over Lake Michigan that go forever. Whether you’re in the living room, the kitchen, the porch, the fire pit or the hot tub, you can take in those endless vistas.

This three-bedroom waterfront ranch sleeps eight comfortably. It’s got all the amenities, including a 55-inch TV, but who’s got time for “NCIS,” “Squid Game” and “The Walking Dead” when you’ve got this place? One reviewer said their kids liked it better than Disney World.

So settle in. Enjoy the hillside fire pit, where you can drink in the sunset over the lake or see the stars come out while roasting marshmallows over the campfire. Did we mention the hot tub on the deck?

The private beach is shared with neighbors and can be easily accessed through the first driveway north of the property. The erosion of the past two years and resulting work meant that the stairs had to be removed, but hopefully will be reinstalled next year when the dune has settled and grass plugs have grown in.

And there’s plenty to do in Manistee, with fine dining, river trips, charter fishing, worldclass golf, events and exhibits at the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, the nearby casino and more. The Victorian Port City is on its way back and Manistee’s Heaven beckons. tinyurl.com/8znbr6ua SUTTONS BAY

Jim Stafford, eat your heart out. At Black Star Farms, you can take a trip and never leave the farm, what with the B&B, restaurant, winery and more.

“People really enjoy getting to someplace that feels remote, even though we’re connected to Traverse City, Suttons Bay and Leelanau County,” says David Avis, manager of the inn. “This gives them a central spot to explore from.”

Though exploring Black Star Farms may be enough in itself. Named Best Wine Country Hotel 2020 by USA Today readers, Black Star Farms offers guests a complimentary bottle of house wine, a gourmet breakfast, a nightly hospitality hour with wine and small bites, and discounts on purchases at the tasting room. Its wines have won a bevy of awards.

The guest rooms are named for various stars in the northern sky (Castor and Pollux is a twobedroom suite). Each has a private full bath; some have fireplaces or outdoor patios. Enjoy the cozy library and from the breakfast room you can watch the horses in their paddock.

Kim Zacharias leads tours of the property, but if you’re the type who wants to go out on your own, not to worry. The farm setting also includes three miles of onsite hiking trails and the Leelanau Trail is nearby. So, whether it’s summer, fall or winter, you can hike, bike (fat tire or otherwise), snowshoe, take a yoga class or just drink in the sights.

Various packages, such as the winter adventure and wine tour bike adventure, package tours, tastings and treats, make it even more special. The Ultimate Experience even includes an in-depth cooking demo, a guided property tour, a comprehensive wine tasting, and a three-course, wine-paired dinner. Blackstarfarms.com

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ALL IN THE FAMILY

The Manitou restaurant in Benzie County has been serving up delicious fare – and world-class pies – since 1979

By Al Parker

It started life as a common northern Michigan resort cabin, but over the years it’s been transformed into one of Benzie County’s most popular places for a quality dining experience.

The Manitou, out on M-22 between Empire and Frankfort, is a family-owned operation opened in 1979 by Doug MacHugh and a partner. A few years later, MacHugh and his wife, Lisa, bought out the partner to operate the steadily growing restaurant.

“’How hard can it be?’” Lisa says she wondered, looking back on those early days. “It was a lot of hard work, but we loved it.”

Now Lisa and daughter Alex MacHughLowery run the business. In keeping with the family theme, Alex’s husband Jared Lowery serves up cold beer and classic cocktails from behind the bar.

One thing that has remained from the early days is the restaurant’s comfortable north woods cabin vibe. The wood-lined walls feature stuffed animals and trophy fish, courtesy of Doug. College football photos give the bar a relaxing, sporty atmosphere.

“Our biggest strength is our consistency,” says Lisa, the restaurant’s main cook. “If you stopped in five years ago and enjoyed our lake perch dinner, you can come back and have that same dinner today. It’s the same now. People like that.”

By the way, that lake perch dinner is the Manitou’s most popular entree. It’s a Great Lakes yellow perch, lightly dusted and sautéed in garlic and butter or beer-battered and deep-fried.

The Nutty Trout ($29.95) is another popular entree. It’s a rainbow trout rolled in pecans and flour, then pan sautéed and topped with lemon butter. They also offer a classic fish and chips, featuring flaky slabs of beer-battered or deep-fried Icelandic cod with a choice of potato ($21.95).

Can’t decide on what seafood fare is for you?

Try The Trawler, a hefty sampler of Michigan whitefish, sea scallops, shrimp and crabmeat stuffing ($29.95).

So, if you’re a fan of seafood, especially northern Michigan fish meals, this is a mustvisit eatery. “We’re pretty well-known for our Great Lakes fish meals,” explains Lisa. “We do sell a lot of fish.”

Manitou visitors go through some 150 pounds of yellow perch, 130 pounds of whitefish and 120 pounds of walleye each week during the busy summer season.

There’s plenty on the menu for nonseafood fans too. Their rack of barbecue pork back ribs ($24.95) is slow-roasted in BBQ sauce, then finished off under the broiler. The Northwoods Crispy Duck ($31.95) features half a duck baked in the oven, then deep-fried and served atop rice with homemade cherry sauce on the side.

There are a pair of flavorful chicken meals on the menu. The herb-roasted chicken ($23.95) is a half of a bird, baked with herbs and spices, then served over a bed of long grain and wild rice. The honeydipped fried chicken ($21.95) is a popular classic done with a sweet twist.

You might want to start your meal with the Manitou’s most popular appetizer: a basket of Skinny Dippers. They are handpeeled potato skins, deep-fried and dashed with garlic salt. The Wing Dings are another top seller. These hefty chicken wings come 10 to an order with horseradish and BBQ sauce. Each of these apps is $11.95.

Lisa’s handmade pies are popular, especially the blueberry-raspberry pie, which is from an old family recipe.

Alex estimates that her mom has made almost 30,000 of these unique berry pies, an average of 800 every year. And that doesn’t count the pecan, apple, cherry, Key lime and peanut butter pies she makes.

“People will call in and place their pie order before they decide on their dinners,” says Lisa, with a laugh.

Almost everything served at The Manitou is made in-house, which means a long workday for Lisa, Alex and the staff. Even though the restaurant is only open for dinners starting at 4:30 pm, the workday begins at 8am and often runs ‘til past midnight. “There’s lot of prep time for everything we do,” says Lisa.

Lisa and Alex are quick to credit their staff for making the eatery run smoothly. During the busy summer months, they have about 35 team members. “We have kids working for us whose parents worked for us,” says Lisa.

Both Alex and her brother Connor worked there during their childhood. “I started out handing out flowers on Mother’s Day,” recalls Alex. “Then I started serving when I was 14.”

Over the years, the rustic cabin expanded to accommodate more guests. In 1982 a dining room was built; in 2000 the bar was added. When the pandemic hit, outdoor seating was added and now the Manitou can host 100 dinners inside and 35 more in the comfortable al fresco area.

It’s been a successful year, according to Lisa. “We’re way up almost every night from a year ago,” she estimates.

And the busy season seems to extend beyond summer, into at least the early autumn. They’ll host special Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, before closing from January to mid-April.

“Closing down gives us a bit of a breather,” explains Alex. “But it’s not a vacation. We do a lot of cleaning from top to bottom, do repairs, ordering and planning for the upcoming season. There’s someone here, pretty much, every day even when we’re closed.”

The Manitou is at 4349 N. Scenic Highway, M-22, in Honor. It’s open for dine-in or takeout at 4:30pm six days a week; closed Tuesday. For takeout orders, call (231) 8824761 or visit themanitourestaurant.com.