Roadtrip! Three of my college friends and I decided to spend a weekend in Northern Michigan to enjoy the beautiful fall scenery and get a little break from our everyday lives. I couldn’t remember the last time I enjoyed a Michigan fall, so I was excited to say the least. Since we visited in early November, there were still colorful trees and leaves surrounding us, it was picture perfect trip! Here’s what we did…

Where We Stayed: Airbnb in Leelanau County, MI

Our Airbnb was located off the Grand Traverse Bay, which is one of my favorite views in Northern Michigan. The home was very clean, quaint, and comfortable for the four of us. This Airbnb was also in a great location for our trip and less than 20 minutes from each of the stops on our itinerary. Each morning, we woke up to the sunrise on the lake and cozied up by the fireplace before getting ready for the day.

45th Parallel Café in Suttons Bay, MI

We ate breakfast at 45th Parallel Café before we started our festivities for the day (lots of tastings). I ordered the breakfast sandwich on a parmesan bagel with a cherry chai tea. This café is also connected to Candy World, which has treats and treats for all!

Leelanau Cellars in Omena, MI

Our first stop was at Leelanau Cellars and it was probably one of my favorite spots this weekend. There are plenty of dry and sweet wine options, but I stuck to my dry whites and reds, while my friends tried sweets. I enjoyed learning about each wine that I tried, and the incredible lake views. They also had a heated tent outside for more people to gather and watch sports/TV. My favorite wine was the 2021 Meritage!

Hop Lot Brewing Company in Suttons Bay, MI

This stop was by far my favorite and I will be back in the future! There are fire pits scattered around the outdoor space to enjoy and a heated tent for football watchers. The brewery itself has a very ‘up north’ feel to it. I ended up purchasing a beer, pretzel sticks, and a Hop Lot wall print to bring back home. I could’ve easily spent half of the day here, but there were more stops to go!

Mawby Sparkling Wines in Suttons Bay, MI

If you’re someone who enjoys bubbly drinks and champagne, I would highly recommend stopping here. The views are incredible and worth visiting. There are tons of funny signage around the space and I felt very comfortable here. They also recommended making reservations in advance to avoid space/seating issues, but we were able to sit at a table for 4 without booking one.

Bluestone Vineyard in Lake Leelanau, MI

Another favorite from the weekend was Bluestone Vineyard. The building itself is very modern, and the staff were very informative and friendly. We even met a fellow college rival from CMU (Central Michigan University). We sat outside by the fire and enjoyed the views. They also have outdoor heaters and blankets to use (free of charge). I will be back!

2K Farms Cidery and Winery in Suttons Bay, MI

One of our final stops was at 2K Farms, which had incredible lake views and scenery. The views here were one of my favorites from the trip. There are plenty of cider options and a few wines. We all decided on flights and I ended up trying 4 of their ciders and a taste of pinot noir.

Overall, this trip was very satisfying and much needed. I ended up taking the train back from Holland, MI to Chicago. Thanks for following along!