This past holiday weekend I spent in Grand Beach, MI. My family has owned several houses in this beach/golf community for several generations. Up untill 8th grade, we spent most of our summers there. This is where I learned to golf, drive (while driving a golf cart), played on the beach, bike around the country side, go to farms to buy fresh produce, and the list goes on.
It’s been about 12 years since I’ve seen the area and probably a good 15 years since I’ve spent even a weekend up there. And Southwest Michigan has totally changed. Last time I was up there the small town near by of New Buffalo was starting to build boat slips and condos. Most of the shops in the town were boarded up. Now, there are more condos and boat slips than you could imagine. Almost all the stores were had operating businesses. What was the most amazing is a number of the business were still running. Same local pharmacy, grocery store and fruit stand. Oinks Ice Cream was still there. Oddly enough, no chains, no starbucks (but a local coffee place did serve starbucks).
There are a ton of little towns near by, all thriving with tons of antique shops, galleries, artists. It was amazing.
In the big city near by, Michigan City, IN, the outlet mall Lighthouse Place, that had already started to save Michigan City, is MUCH bigger than before. Now there is a casino with a second bigger boat being built. The city is bigger and more stores than before. Also, more condos and boat slips.
Finally, Grand Beach it self. Oddly enough the “old” area mostly looks the same. Some houses have had a lot of work done, additions, remodels, etc. Very few torn down and new ones built. In the newest areas, the houses being built are unbelieveable.
On to the food and wine!
We visited 3 local wineries. Tabor Hill was pretty good, rest, aren’t memorable.
The food has changed also! It used to be burger and fried fish places, now there are lots of additional options. The most amazing was Mesa Luna. It has only been open for a few years. They believe in having as much local product as possible. It really reminded me of Parker’s. I’d guess Mesa Luna is like what Parker’s was in the beginning. for the food, the first course was the most amazing things we’ve ever had. Mike’s Sweetbreads were the best ever and my Aspargus soup (they called aspargus cappacino) was to die for also. Rest of the meal was awesome, but those were the big take home items.
I had a pretty good weekend, next time it will hopefully be better since next time Mike hopefully will be able to move. Off to help the guy out.
- Mood:
artistic
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