Travelrific® Travel Journal
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National Cherry Festival
By Linda Tancs
The Grand Traverse region of Michigan is known for its world-record tart cherry harvest. So, of course, where else would you expect to find the nation’s preeminent cherry festival? This year’s event, from 2 – 9 July, has been named one of USA Today’s top ten festivals for several years. Promising more than 150 events along the shores of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay, the festival features an air show on 3 July over West Grand Traverse Bay–the location for Cherries D’Vine, where cherry creations from starters and entrees to cherry blended desserts will be paired with award winning wines from both the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas. Songbirds can vie for top honors in the Cherry Idol competition, a contest for all ages. For a bird’s-eye view of the festivities, consider an EasyRotor helicopter tour. It all sounds so cherry good.
Michigan’s Asparagus Trail
By Linda Tancs
In West Michigan, the trails are so good you could practically taste them. Consider, for instance, the 22-mile Hart-Montague Trail State Park, Michigan’s first paved rail trail. Located mostly in Oceana County, this linear park travels through cherry and apple orchards, asparagus fields and ice cream stands. Originally part of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad, the trail connects John Gurney Park and the city of Hart with the twin cities of Montague and Whitehall. Both ends of the trail have camping, lodging and places to eat.
Hiawatha Lives in Ironwood
By Linda Tancs
At the door on summer evenings
Sat the little Hiawatha;
Heard the whispering of the pine-trees,
Heard the lapping of the waters,
Sounds of music, words of wonder;
‘Minne-wawa!” said the Pine-trees,
Mudway-aushka!” said the water. – “Hiawatha.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Hiawatha still hears the lapping of the waters–from his bird’s-eye view of Lake Superior–in Ironwood, Michigan. There, bearing an appellation that reads “World’s Tallest and Largest Indian,” stands an 18-meter high statue of Hiawatha, a chieftain credited with founding the Iroquois Confederacy. Fans of roadside americana such as this can get directions here.
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Thanksgiving Parades
By Linda Tancs
The best known Thanksgiving Day parade is arguably the venerated and nationally televised Macy’s production in New York City, stepping off at 77th and Central Park West each year at 9 am. This parade, originating in 1927, is not the country’s oldest, however. That honor goes to Philadelphia. They’ve been parading since 1910, stepping off at 20th and Market at 8:30 am. In second place is Detroit’s parade, originating in 1924 and stepping off at 9:25 am at Woodward and Mack. Everyone loves a parade, and now you have three good reasons to join in–from the couch or the bleachers.
