What do wine, waterfalls and asparagus have in common? Each is a central theme to three of the coolest warm-weather traditions happening around the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

It’s not too early to get a jumpstart on planning your spring calendar. This shortlist of the region’s best parties and most talked about events will get you rolling into summer.

Spring Sip & Savor — May 4^th and 5^th

As northern Michigan vineyards wake to the sun and warmth of May, the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association is inviting wine lovers to enjoy special wine and food pairings at each of the now 25 wineries surrounding the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Tickets for the annual “Sip & Savor” wine tour are just $35 and include wine and food pairings at each winery, a commemorative glass, a $5 gift certificate that can be used at any LPVA winery and a $5 donation to a select local charity to be announced in April.

Discount lodging packages are also being provided by area providers:

The Homestead: Sip and Savor package includes two nights lodging May 3^rd to May 5^th; dinner at Nonna’s one evening; tickets to the Sip & Savor wine trail event; and a pass to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Rates are from $94 per person, per night.

For added fun, Sip & Savor participants are encouraged to participate in the “Sip o’ de Mayo Hat Contest” for a chance to win prizes that many of the wineries will be offering. There’s also a fabulous grand prize of two nights lodging at The Homestead (subject to availability) and a pair of tickets to any LPVA weekend tour or the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival. 

To get you tickets and to check out a complete list tour activities and special lodging packages, go to www.lpwines.com/spring.

Empire Asparagus Festival, May 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th

Spring in the Sleeping Bear Dunes means lush green forests, sunny skies, morel mushroom hunting and the most ass-paragus kicking festivals in the North. Say what?

Listed as one of the World’s Weirdest Festivals by MSN Travel, the Empire Asparagus Festival kicks off with a dance and pig roast from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Art’s Tavern in Glen Arbor on May 17^th. Admission is only $5. Grab a pint of Right Brain Brewery’s asparagus beer (or any local brew you choose) and enjoy a good time and the great music of local band, The Benzie Playboys.

Saturday starts bright and early in Empire with a 5k walk/run, followed by an asparagus poetry-writing competition, asparagus food and beer eats, asparagus recipe cook-off, and more. 

For the most up-to-date information on this wacky rite of spring, check out the Empire Asparagus Festival on Facebook.

Here Comes the Sun Party, May 27^th

Party on the deck overlooking a waterfall, right next door to historic Fishtown. For 25 years, The Cove restaurant in Leland, Michigan, has been the place locals go to officially welcome sunny skies and warm temperatures to northernMichigan. With great food, local brews, creative cocktails and live entertainment, the annual “Here Comes the Sun Party” kicks off on Memorial Day at 11 a.m

Not only the best place in Michigan to vacation, LeelanauCounty— home of the Sleeping Bear Dunes — is now ranked as the healthiest place in state to live, according to a recent study by the University of Wisconsin.

Find out where your home county falls on the list, along with what factors make Leelanau an Eden for health-minded people.

Wayne County ranked dead last while Leelanau was number one in an annual study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the annual report ranks Michigan counties against each other based on six variables: mortality (length of life), morbidity (quality of life), health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors and physical environment.

While access to quality food and outdoor activities galore undoubtedly contributed to Leelanau taking the top slot, Universityof Wisconsin associate researcher Angela Russell told the Free Press that rankings were also driven by income and education levels.

“We know that communities with higher incomes and higher education levels are more likely to be healthier,” Russell said.

Click here to see where your county ranks along with a detailed, county-by-county breakdown of the numbers.

Scenic M22, that increasingly famous highway known as The Gateway to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, also happens to be the main road into Leelanau County’s award-winning wine country. 

Come autumn, the fields and forests lining M22 are ablaze with fall color.  The country is truly a “leaf peeper’s” paradise and right here’s where you can get the details on organized fall tours as well as links to maps and information on how you can go it alone.

As autumn vacation activities go, there’s nothing easier to undertake than a leaf tour.  All you need is a place to stay and road with lots of rolling hills and vistas overlooking large tracts of forest ablaze in fall color.

If that road happens to wind through some of the best wine country in the United States, it’s all the better.  

Leelanau County has just such a road. Michigan’s most scenic highway, M-22, has been the subject of numerous stories and fall commercial promotions like this YouTube photo montage put together by Pure Michigan.

Not only beautiful, M-22 is the road you mostly take to reach all of the 20 Leelanau Peninsula wineries, many of which are regarded as the best in the state.

How good are they?  Of the 53 wineries and 367 wines entered in the most recent Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition — an event judged by wine experts from around the country —Leelanau Peninsula wines dominated. Among the winners seizing Best of Class were: Chateau Fontaine’s 2010 Dry White Riesling; L. Mawby’s Cremant Classic; and Forty-Five North’s 2010 Rosé of Cabernet Franc. 

These and all the other Leelanau wineries are easy to check out and there’s no better time than fall to do it.  For those interested in a do-it-yourself tour, The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association offers an online map that just so happens to double as a great route for viewing the county color.

As for places to stay while you’re here…Forgetaboutit.  Glen Arbor is one Sleeping Bear Dunes community that knows how to accommodate northern Michigan travelers.  Some of the best are Glen Craft Marina & Resort, Sylvan Inn, Lakeshore Inn, and The Homestead, which hosts fall foliage and wine tours for those who like to leave the driving to someone else.

Drought has hit Midwestern farmers hard this summer, but reports indicate that all but northern Michigan fruit growers have been spared.  An early spring followed by heavy frost and erratic temperatures resulted in a cherry and peach crop that’s virtually nonexistent.

How has this year’s weather impacted people in the business of beef and growing local produce?  Check out this roundabout of all the latest farming reports from throughout northern Michigan.

No Roll in the Hay

Despite an August that was particularly dry, overall rainfall in the region is only about an inch below average, according to this September report from the The Petoskey News.  With modern irrigation, large fruit producers have seen only a slight impact on the size and color of apples.  But the slight dip in rainfall (coupled with longer and hotter spells of summer heat) have produced a lower than average yield of hay, which has impacted area beef producers.

Polish Cherries?  No Joke.

It may take several years for local fruit growers to recovery from the extreme weather that devastated this year’s cherry crop, according to this recent MLIVE story.  Just how bad is it?  At least one northern Michigan business specializing in cherry products was forced to purchase cherries from Poland and, in an effort to keep costs down, began mixing cranberries into some of its offerings.

Weird Weather, Better Wine

Earlier this summer The Ticker, a Traverse City-based online business report, spoke with a number of area wine makers who — instead of worry — expressed confidence that unseasonably warm temperatures might result in local wines being better for it.

That prediction seems to be panning out now that the fall harvest is here, according to the Detroit Free Press.  The grape harvest — projected at 30,000 tons — is down from 94,400 tons produced last year.  “But much of the damage was confined to the juice grape crop, which develops earlier than the wine grapes that dominate northern Michigan’s grape production.”

Connecting people to the natural scenic beauty of the lakeshore and surrounding coastal communities, the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail opened this summer. 

Linking the Dune Climb with the town of Glen Arbor, the first five-mile section is perfectly located, paved and just the right length for an afternoon of family fun.  From must-see attractions to activities you can only do here, check out this shortlist of things to do while taking in the trail.

Climb the Dune

The Dune Climb has been called the “cherry on the sundae” at the Sleeping Bear Dunes.  But if you’re on vacation, what’s the problem with having your dessert first?

If you’re biking with children and have your sights set on Glen Arbor, the 450-foot Dune Climb offers a great way to kickoff the day.  The Dune Climb was the spot where a ribbon cutting ceremony was held this summer to celebrate the Phase I completion of the first paved portion of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.  Parking is great at The Dune Climb and the trailhead is easy to find.

Travel Back in Time    

After you dust off the sand from between your toes, the Heritage Trail heads North through hardwoods and cedars swamps along a gently winding trail and pedal-friendly trail.  First stop: The old Great Lakes shipping town of Glen Haven, where a small boat museum and general store offer a peek at what life was like for turn-of-the-century steamboat passengers and locals who once called Sleeping Bear home.

Two things to check out are what remains of the Glen Haven boat dock and the General Store setup to look like it did in the 1920s.  Interpretative markers show historic photos of what the dock looked like 100 years ago when Glen Haven was a major shipping port overlooking the Manitou Passage.  At the General Store, there’s a genuine ticket window where locals once stood to secure passage on one of the steamers cruising by for Chicago or the other Great Lakes.  If you brought along a backpack and don’t mind carrying the extra weight, there are toys, ship models, candy, books and postcards chronicling Glen Haven’s early days as a company owned town that supplied cordwood to fuel the steamships that passed by.

Pack a Lunch

As every parent knows, keeping children motivated on the trail is all about defining expectations, goals and — most important — laying out exactly when you’re going to stop for drinks and snacks. 

“Leaf peeping” in the fall is a major pastime for Sleeping Bear Dunes visitors, most of whom stick to the main roads to enjoy the fall colors.  Out on the trail, you get to be right in the middle of it.  So take the time to stop and really take in the view.  If you require proper seating for a mid-afternoon respite, the D.H. Day Campground is close to Glen Haven.  In autumn, finding a vacant picnic table shouldn’t be hard.  The campground also has vault toilets and water spigots to refill empty water bottles before the final leg of the trail.

Shop Hop     

Reach the town of Glen Arbor and it’s time for a change of pace.  While the streets are less crowded in fall, all the shops and boutiques are still open for business.  Poke around, take your time, and you may find some great end-of-season bargains on everything from jewelry and clothing to local artwork and crafts. 

If shopping in Glen Arbor is one of the goals for the day, you might consider starting your daytrip in town so there’s a car waiting to haul all your goodies away.  Crystal River Outfitters in Glen Arbor offers 1/2 day bike rentals, perfect for exploring the trail.  Bikes available include mountain, comfort, road bikes, child bikes, tag-alongs and child burley trailers.

Behold the Two-Headed Fish

There’s something a little crazy about Art’s Tavern, which is maybe why they call it “a Glen Arbor Institution.”  From the “tree of lost soles” out front to the two-head fish inside, Art’s is known locally as a fun and comfortable place to hang out.  Grab a seat, catch the end of the game and enjoy one of their famous white fish burgers (with a side of Tater Tots).  Art’s also has a kid’s menu and —for all you parents — a complete list of local beers, including some nostalgic favorites your grandfather probably used to drink (Schlitz and Black Label, among them).  Whether you’re feeling adventurous or a bit retro after a day on the trail, kick back and enjoy.

There’s nothing like a little national recognition to give tourism a shot in the arm.  One year after ABC’s Good Morning America viewers named the Sleeping Bear Dunes as the “Most Beautiful Place in America” local towns are bustling, the campgrounds are packed, and bookings are way up at area inns and resorts.

Hear what the locals are saying about how area business has changed and how long they think the boom will last.

Crazy, wonderful, and really fun to see – that’s how Lisa Myers, chief of interpretation and visitor services for the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, describes life at the “Most Beautiful Place in America” over the last year.

“We know that visitation is up and has been ever since the Good Morning America announcement,” says Myers.  The bump was immediate and is still reverberating.”

In 2011, viewers of the popular ABC morning show cast tens of thousands of votes for Sleeping Bear, edging out places like Sedona, Yosemite, Aspen, and Cape Cod.

As of July 31, 2012, visitation throughout the park was up 28 percent – a record 860,156 visitors (2,000 per day) compared to 668,527 at the same time last year.  Myers says that overnight use of the D.H. Day Campground is up almost 25 percent.  And even mainland backcountry campsite use is way up, with reservations at Valley View campground in the Leelanau District jumping 55 and 42 percent, respectively.

No Tourist Trap

Calling Sleeping Bear the “best-vacation-spot-in-the-country” on national television probably didn’t come as a surprise to 1.2 million visitors who already make the annual trek to this quiet corner of northwest Lower Michigan.  But certainly surprising is how little the park experience has changed.

As writer, Melissa Anders, noted in a MLive article this summer, the uptick in visitors has translated into some lightly longer lines for Dune Dogs and at other area food, wine and tourist shops.  But, overall, the park and surrounding communities have not complained about any of the other typical trappings of increased tourism – namely traffic tie-ups and trash.  With its 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, 71,199 acres of farm country and coastal forest, 26 inland lakes, 12 miles of rivers and stream, and more than 100 miles of hiking, biking, and cross-country ski trails, the park experience is still the same as it ever was.  Maybe even better for the future of Sleeping Bear, Myers told MLive.

“This is America’s national park,” she said.  “It’s for everyone, and so the more people know about it, I think the better it will be protected because more people will realize how important it is and how valuable it is.”

A Place on the Water

Many area inns and resorts, namely The Homestead in Glen Arbor, also recorded a banner year of booking that show no sign of slowing down.  The Homestead hit a milestone in 2011 with guests arriving from all 50 American states, five Canadian provinces, and three foreign countries.

And then there are vacationers who came and fell so in love with the place they wanted to return – some permanently – to the region.

Diane Kemp, Resort Realty Manager at The Homestead, says the sale of vacant land, condominiums, fractional-ownership properties and single-family homes has almost doubled in the last year.

“Almost everybody I talk to mentions the Good Morning America announcement,” she says, adding that this has had a positive impact on property values in the area.  “Sellers at the resort are getting closer to their asking price and buyers – while many are still looking for the best value – are equally motivated by the prospect of getting a home in this most beautiful place.”

Many of the calls at The Homestead for vacations are now from people who have not been to the area before, according to Kemp.  No doubt recent media attention on nearby Traverse City as a top destination for beer lovers, film goers, foodies, golfers, cyclists, boaters, book lovers, and retirees has helped.  But Kemp also gives credit to the state’s Pure Michigan campaign along with coverage in other media outlets, including National Geographic Traveler magazine, Family Circle magazine and others as contributing factors that continue to keep the region in the minds of vacationers and vacation-home buyers.

“Because of that [the continued recognitions],” she says, “we believe this is a trend that can sustain itself for years to come.”

Official Press Release of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintner’s Association

December 22, 2011

December is the time for the Ice Wine Harvest in Northern Michigan. Ice wine is a rare and wonderful dessert wine unique to cool climate wine regions like Leelanau.

‘When you want something truly amazing, ice wine is the nectar of the gods.”
~winemaker Alan Eaker of Longview Winery

The Leelanau Peninsula in Northern Michigan is an ideal location to grow and harvest grapes for ice wines. Located right on the 45th Parallel, Leelanau is on the same latitude as some of the best wine growing regions in the world including the Rhone Valley in France, the Piedemont in Italy, and the Williamette Valley in Oregon.

“Many of the ice wines made in Northern Michigan consistently rival those from the great ice wine producing regions around the world. -Lee Lutes, winemaker at Black Star Farms. ”Our region is extremely well suited for the production of ice wine because of our unique climate.

The shape and location of the Leelanau Peninsula is also important in producing ice wines. The long, somewhat narrow shape provides a superior micro-climate. Leelanau is surrounded by Lake Michigan on three sides, and is perfectly buffered from harsh weather which allows for a gradual freeze.

Ice wine or ‘eiswein’, from its German origins, is a rare and wonderful dessert wine that requires special care and skill. Limited quantities of healthy grapes are left on the vine until conditions are right for an ice wine harvest. This can occur anytime from November to the first of the year. The labor-intensive harvest requires picking grapes that have frozen on the vine by hand, often before the sun has risen. Quantities harvested are small, and the grapes must also be pressed while frozen, providing a concentrated grape juice that gives ice wine a deep sweetness that is balanced by high acidity.

Due to the labor intensive harvest and small quantities of suitable grapes, ice wines are generally rare and expensive. Here are some of our Leelanau Peninsula Ice Wines, which we hope you will get a chance to sample:

Black Star Farms: A Capella Riesling Ice Wine
Price: $92.50

Verterra: Vignoles Ice Wine, NorthPole
Price: $40 (375ml)

Good Neighbor Organics: Organic ice wine
Price: $30

45 North: Icebox Gewurtztraminer
Price: $55

Longview – Winter Ice
Price: $60

Bel Lago: Pinot Grigio Ice Wine 2011
release date: Spring 2012
Price: $60

Watch Black Star Farms as they harvest grapes in the YouTube video 2007 Ice Wine Harvest.

The Leelanau Peninsula Vintner’s Association was formed in 2000 with a goal to help spread the word about all the wonderful things the Leelanau Peninsula has to offer including a growing number of award-winning wineries, excellent restaurants and a rich agricultural history. Today, it is the largest and strongest of the four organized wine trails in Michigan which promote the state’s nearly $790 million grape/wine industry.

Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association
http://lpwines.com/press/
231-421-1172

Official Press Release from Leelanau Peninsula Vinter’s Association

(LEELANAU PENINSULA, Michigan) – In what has become a Northwest Michigan holiday tradition, the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association will hold the 2011 Toast the Season wine tour. Once again, two consecutive weekends of tasting and touring will be offered, November 5 & 6 or November 12 & 13. The self-guided tour includes a gift bag featuring local food items, and you may visit up to 8 wineries each day in any order you choose between the hours of 11am to 5pm Saturday, or noon to 5pm Sunday.

“Toast the Season is lots of fun, giving you a chance to experience the Leelanau wine trail, enjoy a great gift bag, taste some great wine and sample our food pairings,” explains Lucie Matthias of Chateau Fontaine. “It’s also a good time to get a start on your holiday shopping in our tasting rooms and at all the unique shops & stores in Leelanau’s villages. Deer hunting season starts on November 15th this year, and we see a lot of ‘deer widows’ too, who are looking for something fun to do while their husbands are away at deer camp!”

The tour features a special wine & food pairing at each of the 19 Leelanau Peninsula member wineries. At your starting winery you will be given a commemorative glass, an LPVA holiday ornament, a souvenir wine key and a holiday gift bag featuring local food including fair trade coffee from Higher Grounds Trading Company of Traverse City, cocoa-coated chocolate covered almonds from Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate in Empire, and (of course) Michigan cherries from Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor!

Tickets are available online at www.lpwines.com/toast along with Toast the Season packages from a number of local lodging partners.

Food Pairings

Below are a few of the tantalizing wine & food pairings!

• Chateau de Leelanau will be serving the “World Famous Willies Chili” with Solem Farm Red.
• L.Mawby will offer Nature’s Treat dried apples slices with Black Diamond aged white cheddar, paired with the L. Mawby Consort.
• Ciccone Vinyards will feature an Italian Bruschetta with fresh ingredients straight from the garden paired with their 2009 Cabernet Franc.
• Willow Vinyards will be serving up some naughty French Vanilla Pumpkin Squares with Caramel topping, paired with their Semi Sweet Gris.
• Cherry Republic will pair a Gorgonzola, Pecan and Cherry Fondue using their delicious Cherry Bread and with their Great Hall Riesling.
• Verterra is offering different food pairings with their Pinot Gris for each weekend: 1st weekend will be Char-Grilled Pizzetta with sun-dried tomato, fresh spinach, garlic, feta & mozzarella and the 2nd weekend will feature Santa Fe Sweet Corn Chowder.
• Forty-Five North will be serving up carnitas tacos paired with their new 2010 Dry Riesling.

Tickets

Tickets for Toast the Season are $50 per person or $75 per couple (couple ticket holders receive two glasses, pours and food at each winery, but only one gift bag and ornament). Tickets are available online at http://www.lpwines.com/toast/.

The LPVA encourages using a designated driver or local transportation services when touring its wineries. Visit www.lpwines.com for more information including lodging packages at many great area hotels, B&Bs and resorts!