Summer is Here ... Wish You Were
This is one of the best times of the year to enjoy a beautiful romantic getaway in NW Michigan. The views of Lake Michigan are spectacular. After a brisk day in the great outdoors kick back and enjoy a soak in a bubbly hot tub. Then settle down in front of a toasty fire sipping a glass of our wonderful regional wine and savor our fantastic locally made breads and cheeses.

Go for a Hike
Budgets are tight this year, cutting into summer travel plans. And for the 26 million Americans spending this summer unemployed or underemployed, there's more time than money. What to do? The old staycation idea seems good, but how do you create a staycation that is actually enjoyable? The first important step is to set aside time specifically for your staycation. Whether it's two weeks or a weekend, put yourself in an "away" mindset, and avoid calls, emails, chores or any other activity that typifies your everyday. The next critical step is to find some fun things to do. That's where this article can help. We've identified some solid tools for finding memorable outdoor experiences in your area.

Traverse City #8 Beach Town in America
Traverse City is now proudly posted as America's #8 beach town. The beach itself is a major factor in the ranking. AOL even called Traverse City the "Malibu of Michigan." But they also judged the beach towns on other things they offer, like festivals and downtown shopping. Traverse City holds its own on the list against coastal towns in places like California and Florida. In fact, we're the only Midwest city to make the cut.

Foodie Haven
Attention, traveling foodies: Something yummy is happening in the Traverse City area, and it's even grabbed the attention of luminaries such as celebrity chef Mario Batali, who has a summer home on the scenic Leelanau Peninsula just northwest of town.

Retailer Bans Some Plastic Bottles
A line of water bottles that had become a symbol of environmental responsibility has been removed from the shelves of Canada’s leading outdoor gear retailer over concerns about a chemical used in its manufacture. Skip to next paragraph Polycarbonate plastic bottles are transparent and almost as hard as glass. The Mountain Equipment Co-op, which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, removed the bottles, sold under the brand name Nalgene, and other polycarbonate containers from its 11 large-scale stores on Wednesday. The retailer said that it would not restock the bottles, which are made by Nalge Nunc International in Rochester, a unit of Thermo Fisher Scientific, until Health Canada completed a review of bisphenol-a, or B.P.A., a chemical used to make hard, transparent plastics as well as liners for food cans.

One of the best vacation destinations in the world...

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