2018.07.18 Leelanau
Today we explored the northern portion of Leelanau County. On the way north, we stopped at Leelanau Cheese to get some local cheese, and then we drove to Suttons Bay to shop for some local artwork. From there, we headed to the Grand Traverse lighthouse in Leelanau State Park. After that, we went to Peterson Park on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. I was able to fly my drone there for some beautiful footage of the lake and the sandy bluffs. From there, we went to historic Fishtown, an old fishing village located where the Leland River flows into Lake Michigan. We ended the day with a trip to Moomer’s Homemade Ice Cream just outside of Traverse City.
Fishtown is a collection of weathered fishing shanties, smokehouses, overhanging docks, fish tugs and charter boats along the Leland River in Leland, Michigan. Once the heart of a commercial fishing village, the structures and docks are real places you can walk through, see and feel a connection to Lake Michigan’s fishing heritage. We bought fresh lake trout at Carlson’s Fishery and cooked them on the grill that day. They were excellent.
Great Lakes, Great Cheese
Transcript
Reporter: Move over Wisconsin cheese, here comes Michigan cheese.
Barbara Jenniks: Watch out man, were on the way,
Reporter: The Michigan State University Product Center for Agricultural and Natural Resources and 11 artisanal or specialty cheese makers have signed an agreement to form the Michigan Cheese Makers Cooperative.
Product Center Director, Chris Peterson says while the co-op structure will help the cheese makers take advantage of economies of scale, they wont lose their individuality.
Chris Peterson: They each have a very unique product. And thats a wonderful thing for them as an individual business, but it also maximizes the work load when it comes to marketing their product.
Reporter: The USDAs state director for Rural Community Development Cooperative Jim Turner says group can provide a real economic boost to Michigans economy..
Jim Turner: More cooperatives, not just cheese cooperatives, but other kinds of cooperatives will learn from this experience.
Reporter: In fact, Mark Murray, CEO of Meijer, the 190 store chain serving the great lakes region, announced that the company would become an associate member of the Cooperative.
Mark Murray: I've had many of these cheeses, theyre spectacular products. Some are already sold in Meijer stores. As others come into the cooperative, we just want to be clear that our doors are open.
Reporter: That's music to John and Anne Hoyt, of Leelanau Cheese Company in Suttons Bay, Mich.
John Hoyt: Its hard to do things by yourself, but you have more power as a team.
Reporter: For a new cheese maker like Barbara Jenniks, of Cowslip Creamery in Grand Rapids, building camaraderie and a helpful spirit is key.
Barbara Jenniks: It is particularly important to small cheese makers like me because theres always strength in numbers and we can probably get better marketing deals, things like that. It is very important from the aspect of were all in this together. And I firmly believe that if we make good products, theres room for all of us. Its not like were fighting against each other. Thats only going to hurt and its only through communication= and networking that we are going to be fantastic cheese makers and put Michigan on the map.
Reporter: So how long before Michigan starts competing with Wisconsin?
Chris Peterson: Ha, ha, ha, well our view is that were competing right now with Wisconsin.
Reporter: By the way Wisconsin, if you want to get an idea of what your Michigan competition is up too just go to GreatLakesGreatCheese.com
From Michigan State University, I'm Eileen Gianiodis reporting.
Leelanau Peninsula Summer 2011
UAV/Drone Fly Over of Beautiful Historic Fishtown in Leland, Michigan - Must See Town!
Beautiful aerial fly over of the Historic Fishtown located in Leland, MI - one of the last working and thriving fishing districts on the Great Lakes. A must-see historic town now occupied by weather shanties, home to small local businesses, smoke houses, and over hanging docks - capped by a beautiful dam waterfall.
Today, Fishtown Preservation Society manages and maintains Fishtown, so visitors may still experience one of the few remaining commercial fishing villages on the Great Lakes. The endearing fishing tugs, the Janice Sue and the Joy, remain working Fishtown icons – integral to Leland's continuing fishing culture. Visit Fishtown, and enjoy the unique shops and galleries, get a great sandwich from the Village Cheese Shanty before taking a ferry to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore's North or South Manitou Island, and stop by Carlson's Fishery to pick-up the best smoked fish, whitefish sausage, fish pâté and fish jerky in our region.
Vacation September 2017
A #puremichigan vacation in Northport, Leland, Suttons Bay, Traverse City, Glen Arbor, and Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Video of Wild Cherry RV Resort, MI from Shari G.
A quick look around the tent campground area at Wild Cherry.
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Shari G.'s Review on The Dyrt:
▶︎ Ranger Review: Optic Nerve Sunglasses at Wild Cherry RV Resort
Campground Review:
Nestled in a private spot on the Leelanau Peninsula on the 45th north parallel and just a couple miles from Lake Leelanau (west) and Suttons Bay (east) beach, marina, and village is this quiet RV and tent campground. While trees line the perimeter and are speckled throughout the campground, all of the RV sites are completely open to the sun, making it an RV parking lot with grass. Each RV site comes with water and electrical hook-ups. While most RV campgrounds have centralized bathrooms with flush toilets, sinks, and showers, this one is lacking those amenities.
The tent camping area has 10 sites, is nestled in the trees, with a picnic table and fire ring at each site. In addition, there are 2 rustic cabins and 1 yurt nestled among the tent sites for those who aren’t interested in roughing it as much. There is a one pit toilet, a unique “tent shower,” and a central fresh water spigot for campers and those staying in the cabins.
There are 2 man-made ponds in the middle of the RV section of the campground, which sadly act more as mosquito breeding grounds than they do for water activities as they are quite small. There is also a new driving range above the campground for the golfers in the group.
The best part of this campground is its location. It is just a couple miles from either Suttons Bay and Lake Leelanau, and within walking/biking distance of 2 local wineries (Forty-Five North and Aurora), nice restaurants, and great backroads that are off the beaten path and away from nearly all traffic. The Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery has a great walking/mountain biking trail in addition to a nice selection of very accessible wines, a great atmosphere, and super friendly staff! Hang out on their porch or play cornhole and bocce ball while you enjoy a glass of wine and a cheese plate.
Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I was able to test the Rapid sunglasses by Optic Nerve. After a day of cycling and wine tasting, we took our sea kayaks...
Wild Cherry RV Resort:
Camping in Michigan:
The Dyrt: A better way to search for campgrounds:
Village of Fountain Quasquicentennial Celebration
The Village of Fountain, in Mason County, Michigan, marked its 125 year anniversary on August 4, 2007. Dan Scripps, the Democratic candidate for State Rep in the 101st District (which includes Mason, Manistee, Benzie and Leelanau Counties) was delighted to join the residents of Fountain for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration! Visit danscripps.com for more info.
Video of Wild Cherry RV Resort, MI from Shari G.
Check out our new Optic Nerve sunglasses!
-----------------------------------------
Shari G.'s Review on The Dyrt:
▶︎ Ranger Review: Optic Nerve Sunglasses at Wild Cherry RV Resort
Campground Review:
Nestled in a private spot on the Leelanau Peninsula on the 45th north parallel and just a couple miles from Lake Leelanau (west) and Suttons Bay (east) beach, marina, and village is this quiet RV and tent campground. While trees line the perimeter and are speckled throughout the campground, all of the RV sites are completely open to the sun, making it an RV parking lot with grass. Each RV site comes with water and electrical hook-ups. While most RV campgrounds have centralized bathrooms with flush toilets, sinks, and showers, this one is lacking those amenities.
The tent camping area has 10 sites, is nestled in the trees, with a picnic table and fire ring at each site. In addition, there are 2 rustic cabins and 1 yurt nestled among the tent sites for those who aren’t interested in roughing it as much. There is a one pit toilet, a unique “tent shower,” and a central fresh water spigot for campers and those staying in the cabins.
There are 2 man-made ponds in the middle of the RV section of the campground, which sadly act more as mosquito breeding grounds than they do for water activities as they are quite small. There is also a new driving range above the campground for the golfers in the group.
The best part of this campground is its location. It is just a couple miles from either Suttons Bay and Lake Leelanau, and within walking/biking distance of 2 local wineries (Forty-Five North and Aurora), nice restaurants, and great backroads that are off the beaten path and away from nearly all traffic. The Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery has a great walking/mountain biking trail in addition to a nice selection of very accessible wines, a great atmosphere, and super friendly staff! Hang out on their porch or play cornhole and bocce ball while you enjoy a glass of wine and a cheese plate.
Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I was able to test the Rapid sunglasses by Optic Nerve. After a day of cycling and wine tasting, we took our sea kayaks...
Wild Cherry RV Resort:
Camping in Michigan:
The Dyrt: A better way to search for campgrounds:
Dredging the LeLand Harbor
After a rough year with the Harbor being too shallow, work needed to be done. Vic McCarty and Photojournalist Wyatt VanDuinen spoke with the Harbormaster to learn more about their new equipment for the harbor.
Under the Radar Michigan Traverse City and Detroit Ep 203
Leland public school HS choir DEC 2013
Christmas concert