The quaint downtown was bustling, ahead of the peak season that was soon to begin. We felt welcome stepping into the many family-owned shops and establishments. There is a degree of magic to be found in the setting between Lake Michigan, Pine River Channel, complete with a drawbridge, and the harbor on Round Lake that encapsulates it all.
The signs mention “Charlevoix the Beautiful,” and it lives up to these powerful words. Charlevoix is breathtaking with the feeling you can fall in love with your special someone here, and we could undoubtedly imagine spending more time here where you can be inspired to write a book, center yourself and appreciate the calm nature of life.
Edith Pair runs Mushroom House Tours, where she and her guides will take you around in an electric 6-seater cart to learn about the famous thatched roof and stone houses designed and built by the late Earl Young. Mr. Young was an eclectic individual who collected large boulders and rocks from Lake Michigan, where he then taught himself masonry and built some pretty impressive dwellings throughout his life. His work is also found in the Weathervane Restaurant. You can stay in one of the Mushroom Houses, as many are available as vacation rentals!
Linda Mueller’s vision for Castle Farms cannot be missed. Believe it or not, this enchanted castle was once Albert Loeb’s (President of Sears, Roebuck, and Co.) dairy farm built in 1918! Now it’s a museum with a cafe, wine-tasting room, exquisite gardens, and Michigan’s largest model railroad! It’s also an incredible event venue that can host five events simultaneously! Can you imagine that fairy tale ending?
Inspiration is contagious here, and the community embraces artists within all. The Charlevoix Circle of Arts hosted “Garden of Glass” with the art and sculpture of Craig Mitchell Smith. We were in awe of this work and enjoyed learning about the classes and workshops that the organization offers to adults and children. Sign us up!
We took a 20-minute drive south to East Jordan, home to Jay Bavers and Glenna Haney’s Jordan Valley Glassworks. Jay is a glassblower trained at the Corning Museum of Glass in New York. He and Glenna demonstrated as they made a lotion pump; we learned more about this medium. David then worked with Jay to make a bottle we will use in our kitchen for avocado oil!
Be sure to also stop into Bier Art Gallery, which features works from 100 artists. The gallery is within an old red and white schoolhouse and can’t be missed! We’d love to add some of their pieces to our home someday, including metal sculptures for landscaping!
The nature of Michigan’s Northwoods is all around you. Take in the paths and trails that wind through the forests. There are abundant opportunities for fishing, kayaking, rafting, and more on Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix.
You can enjoy delicious fried shrimp and whitefish around town. We enjoyed the Shrimp Boat from The Argonne House and the Planked Whitefish at Stafford’s Weathervane Restaurant. Take in all the locally grown apples with apple cider donuts at Royal Farms. Try anything from the menu at Harwood Gold, where their fifth-generation family-made maple syrup is the star ingredient. And don’t forget to try cocktails that include Michigan Cherries (like the Michigan Mojito at the Weathervane)!
We look forward to more activities the next time we adventure up here when we can bring more of our family and friends! Until then, thank you for all the memories. If you’re looking for a charming and enchanting destination, Charlevoix should be at the top of your list.
We are an interracial, same-sex married couple, on our journey of building a family, turning our house into a home and capturing our daily adventures.
