Episode 65 – Website Info
Air Date: Sun. Sept. 8, 2019
Special Guest
Erin Ernst – Director of Marketing – Inn at Bay Harbor
Website: https://www.innatbayharbor.com
Colleen, Catie’s and Audrey’s Picks for Michigan Getaways
Colleen
Destination: Holland, Michigan
Distance from Chicago: 3 hours
Why it’s unique: Adorable town with a private lake AND on lake michigan
Accommodations: CityFlats Hotel – Leed certified modern cool hotel right in the downtown area
Restaurant: Boatworks Restaurant – Right on the water, great food and location, location, location!
Activities:
Lake activities such as paddle boarding jet skis
Dutch Village – Great for kids
Windmills – Sometimes they even have festivals
Tips: Go on a Thursday as they shut down the downtown to cars and there are street performers everywhere…and it is free!
Catie
Destination: Petoskey, Michigan
Distance from Chicago: 6 hours from Chicago
Accommodations: The Inn at Bay Harbor, Autograph Collection. They have regular rooms, suites on the water (we stayed in the suite) or cottages to rent for your whole family, or multi-gen. Has quite a few restaurants in the area you can walk to.
Restaurants: Vintage Chop House – American Steakhouse with the perfect view of sunset
Activities:
Electric bikes at the hotel are great. You can also rent at Pedego in town.
Smores at night, pool, the Bay Harbor golf club
Looking for Petoskey stones (a rock and a fossil, often pebble-shaped, that is composed of a fossilized rugose coral).
The spa at the Inn is fantastic.
Tips: Book in advance, especially if you’re planning your summer vacation
Audrey
Destination: Muskegon, Michigan
Distance from Chicago: Little over 3 hours, also have direct flights from O’Hare
Why it’s unique: A lot of different things to do, unique shops, and it’s right on the water. Almost like if Portland were a beach town.
Accommodations: Shoreline Inn & Conference Center. Right on the water, beautiful marina views, indoor pool with two hot tubs, centrally located to downtown Muskegon.
Restaurant:
The Deck – Casual dining right on the water by Pier Marquette Beach
Hearthstone Bistro – More upscale, with a lovely garden area for outdoor seating. Delicious goat cheese fritters and peanut butter pie!
Activities:
Michigan’s Adventure – Cedar Fair amusement park and water park. 9 coasters, good for kids or teens who want some thrills, but nothing too intense.
USS Silversides – Submarine Museum – Beautiful museum plus you get to explore and walk through a real submarine.
Aquastar Cruises – Take a cruise around the bay of Lake Michigan. An hour and 45 min. Relaxing.
East of Eden Spa – Relaxing, holistic spa with massages, float treatments good for those with physical ailments, and a salt room, good for breathing.
Tips: If you go to Michigan’s Adventure and the water park, which is easily accessed within the park, rent a locker outside of the water park, and leave your stuff there. You can have access to your locker all day, even after the water park closes at 7pm. $10 for a decent sized locker (good for 2 people).
“What’s” with the “Trip Sisters”
What’s in Your Suitcase?
Lay/N/Go Cosmo Plus Starting at $19.95 on https://www.layngo.com
This cosmetic bag allows you to see all of your cosmetics at once, and clean up in seconds. Great for staying organized while you travel!
What’s on your phone?
How to use Google Lens to enhance your vacation
Not only is it good for translating signs in a foreign country, but it can also help you to identify buildings, landmarks, and even fruits, vegetables, plants and animals.
You do need wifi to access Google Lens, but if you don’t have wifi access at the time, you can always take a photo and then use your Google lense to identify the object later.
It’s also really helpful for reading menus in foreign countries, or even just ethnic restaurants in general.
What’s the tip?
Extra items you can carry on a plane for free
Jacket – You can wear your jacket on board. There’ll probably even be space in the overhead bin or under your seat if you don’t want to wear it for the entire flight. Or just drape it over your lap.
Clothing Layers – You might not be able to wear all your layers for your security screening, but you sure can wear them to board the plane.
Neck Pillow – You can clip your neck pillow to your suitcase if you can’t fit it inside. Some people even wear it around their neck to board!
Umbrella – Just put it somewhere on the plane where you’ll remember to bring it with you when you leave.
Camera Bag – totally fine, because this is also an item that is allowed to be separate from your outer luggage dimension limits.
Hat – Wearing it to board can save you precious luggage space if you’re struggling to zip that bag.
Duty-Free Purchases or Any Kind of Merchandise Purchased at the Airport
Reading Material – Just hold your book or ereader in your hand.
Infant Accessories – These include a car seat, collapsible stroller, and a bag up to 5kg/11 lbs – or more.
Medical Devices – Cane or crutches, collapsible wheelchair, and any oxygen or dialysis devices you’re dependent on. All free of charge.
