Last summer my mom, my daughter, and I took a girls trip to New Buffalo, Michigan, about 75 miles from Chicago. We enjoyed our trip so much that we decided to make it an annual tradition, and I started planning this year’s trip right away! Several years ago, my mom had mentioned wanting to go to Mackinac Island, Michigan, about 420 miles from Chicago, so I decided that would be our destination this year. It may sound far, but we made so many great stops in western Michigan, along the way, with delicious food at every turn. I’m sharing my itinerary here so that all you have to worry about is packing your bags, and the road trip snacks, of course.
Stop 1 – Holland, MI (150 miles from Chicago)
Holland is a really cute town known for it’s Tulip Time tulip festival in May, but it’s also a great place to dine. We had dinner at Seventy-Six. I rarely order fish, but the brown sugar roasted salmon with tikka masala sauce and saffron basmati rice was so good. It’s definitely on my list of dishes to recreate in my own kitchen.
If you have little ones in tow, be sure to check out Nelis’ Dutch Village. You’ll get a taste of Europe without needing your passport or plane ticket. We learned how to Klompen dance, with the traditional Dutch wooden shoes (after watching a demo of how the shoes are made), tasted a variety of cheeses, and enjoyed a stroopwafel hot off the press. Cold packaged stroopwafels are now ruined for me.
Stop 2 – Traverse City (170 miles from Holland, MI)
Traverse City, the cherry capital of the world, is full of beautiful views, gorgeous water, wineries, shopping, restaurants, and the National Cherry Festival, of course. We enjoyed our most upscale meal of the trip at Boathouse Restaurant. I ordered Oysters Dupont – a twist on Oysters Rockafeller, they featured crab, feta, and capers – absolutely delicious and on my list to make at home.
Be sure to check out The Little Fleet, a food truck park – such a great way to sample a lot of delicious food in one place. TC Pizza and Cordwood BBQ were both solid choices.
Make sure you leave room to stop at Moomer’s for some ice cream. The original even has cows roaming in the field!
If donuts are more your style, Peace, Love, and Little Donuts has endless options.
Stop 3 – Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (25 miles from Traverse City)
This isn’t your ordinary National Park. It’s focal point is sand. If you’re brave enough to hike down the dune, make sure you’re prepared to climb back up. If you find yourself stuck at the bottom, the cost of rescue is $3000! For a less strenuous way to enjoy some gorgeous views, do the seven mile scenic drive.
Stop 4 – Torch Lake (30 miles from Traverse City)
I had seen Torch Lake on social media, and I had to stop to see if it really looked as amazing as it seemed online. It was better. The water is unbelievably clear and looks like a Caribbean oasis.
Stop 5 – Petoskey (35 miles from Torch Lake)
Petoskey is a charming waterfront town. Known for Petoskey stones, a rock with a certain pattern due to fossilization, you’ll find people combing the edge of the water to find them. I put in my time but came up empty handed. Symon’s General Store is an excellent stop for putting together a delicious picnic. The chicken salad has dried cherries, of course! Petoskey has tons of cute shops, including American Spoon, where you can taste jams, mustards, and more!
End the day with a well-deserved flight of wine, a wood fired pizza, and a view of lavender farms at Petoskey Farms, or head to The Back Lot, another food truck park, for lots of delicious options. You’ll need more ice cream, of course, so check out the original Kilwin’s.
Stop 6 – Harbor Springs (15 miles from Petoskey)
Harbor Springs had some of the best baked goods I enjoyed on our trip. Tom’s Mom’s cookies has the cutest walk up window with cookies that look homemade cookies as opposed to large bakery cookies that look too perfect to eat! They’ve been around for almost 40 years, and after eating the caramel pretzel cookie, I totally understand why. I’m definitely going to take advantage of the fact that they ship!
Small Batch also makes some incredible cookies with options of stuffed cookies! If savory food is more your style, Teddy Griffin’s Roadhouse, is a great casual option with standard American fare.
Stop 7- Mackinac Island via Mackinaw City (35 miles from Harbor Springs)
Mackinac Island is an incredible and unique place. You have to reach the island by ferry, and no cars are permitted on the island. Horse, bike, and by foot are the primary modes of transportation here. Take the ferry that goes under Big Mac, the Mackinac Bridge, for a beautiful photo op!
If you’re a chocoholic, you’re in luck, Mackinac Island is the fudge capital of the world, and the smell is intoxicating. You can’t walk more than a few feet without finding fudge and everyone has a different favorite, and different flavors. Murdick’s was the first in 1887, but there are now more than 12 shops that produce more than 10,000 pounds of fudge every day during the summer. My grandmother was an excellent fudge maker, so I’ve been inspired to get her recipes out and make my own.
Take a tour by horse, and rent a bike to ride the 8.2 miles around the island.
You’ll work up an appetite, so get in line early at the Chuckwagon, known for breakfast and burgers. It won’t be hard to find, because the line forms before they open and stays out the door. Cocktails more your style? Get an outdoor table at the Pink Pony. The view alone is worth the wait!
The most famous landmark on the island is the Grand Hotel. The hotel is expensive, and books months in advance, but the good news is that you can enjoy afternoon tea inside, or relax on the longest front porch in an Adirondack chair for a fraction of the price. My mom swears this is the best $12 she ever spent, and I know we’ll all remember this trip for years to come.
I hope my trip has inspired you to grab your suitcase, and hop in the car, or on a plane, in a boat, or on a train to explore a new place, and dive into the delicious food along the journey. If you need to stick close to home right now, you’re in luck, we have some great classes that will teach you to cook food from a variety of cultures without ever leaving Chicago. Be sure to check out: