Traverse City is known for it’s wine and beer, stunning vistas, proximity to national & state parks, and unlimited itinerary options for families or couples. We’re focusing on the romance, dialing up the fancy, donning on the endearing, and setting up an itinerary that puts hearts in your eyes. This is a getaway guide to a weekend in Traverse City.
[P.S. There’s a helpful Google map at the end of this post!]
5 Attainable Long Weekend Getaways from Metro Detroit
Where to go on a long weekend getaway from Metro Detroit? As lovely as Pure Michigan is, the itch for a small change of scenery happens. The improving weather means music up, windows down, and go, go, go. It’s time to get moving – with long weekend road trips that are affordable and attainable. Here is a list of 5 adventures that aren’t too far away for Metro Detroiters to visit.
The rules for this small list were simple: The location must be (1.) outside of Michigan, (2.) approximately 350 miles away (3.) a fun place to visit. Note: distance was calculated from Campus Martius Park in Detroit.
They are realistic, achievable, and affordable road trips not too far away from home. Here they are: 5 attainable long weekend getaways from Metro Detroit.
I drove there by memory. Though if memory failed, there were enough signs pointing the way, much like the Star of Bethlehem to the Three Kings. And as I drove nearer, I grew weary with the road winding through the darkness, passing the occasional home, barn or church, but no indication of my destination. Did I go the wrong way? I began to hesitate.
Then, just as the road curved ahead – a light! Then another! Then THOUSANDS! Bronner’s, the world’s largest Christmas store, beamed ahead with enough Christmas lights to rival the night sky.
Just how large is the largest? Well, Bronner’s is situated on 27 acres, is open 361 days per year, greets 2 million visitors annually, and holds over 50,000 Christmas goodies to sell. And my favorite fact I recently learned from the PureMichigan blog? The average electric bill is $1,250… PER DAY! Oh, and there’s a reason why you get a handy dandy map to guide your shopping experience… because it’s just that large.
There’s a section of Bronner’s dear to my heart. It’s toward the back, near the Christmas trees and angel tree toppers. I had to pass various nativity scenes, nutcrackers of every size, colorful stockings and artists personalizing ornaments. I trotted through the Santa section, perused the food decorations (& giggled at the bacon ornaments), and paused by the cafeteria to inhale the wafting hot chocolate.
There it was, my favorite section: Christmas Around The World.
Did you know you can travel the world at the world’s largest Christmas store? Because for the next hour, I swear I became so enveloped in the detail of the ornaments that the holiday tunes seemed to mute, the smell of cinnamon and pine grew stronger, and the lights from the decor created bokeh in my peripheral vision as my imagination took me to every country with ornaments on display at Bronner’s.
Here were some of my favorites:
Before I left, I watched two young boys excitedly waving the different flags from different countries. They may not be globetrotters yet, but perhaps their magical visit to Bronner’s was a small introduction to how beautiful our world is.
If you ever visit Frankenmuth, Michigan, Bronner’s is a must. Even if you just peruse the Around the World section to fuel your wanderlust, you’ll leave with so much holiday and worldly spirit, you may just drive off singing Christmas carols in Spanish. Feliz Navidad!
This post is apart of the 2014 Travel Advent Calendar Series created by Shere y Paul. The 25 Days of Travel. Be sure to follow along here to see where we’re headed next.
This weekend I am escaping to northern Michigan – and there’s no better timing. Right now, Mother Nature should be at the peak of flaunting all she’s got, setting the trees ablaze in brilliant crimson, auburn, gold, and chartreuse.
So here’s a video I had created after a Michigan fall color tour I went on last year. Most of the footage was taken at or near the Tunnel of Trees. Enjoy!
The song is “Time Is All Around” by my favorite singer, Regina Spektor. I thought this song was appropriate due to the line:
Leaves become most beautiful when they’re about to die.
When they’re about to fall from trees when they’re about to dry up.