Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery

 The Forty-Five North Winery is excellent.  The people are friendly, the environment is welcoming and the wine is good.  The Forty-Five North winery is aptly named for its direct location on the 45th parallel, a location famed for its ideal grape growing environment.

The Forty-FIve North tasting room is a post-and-beam constructed barn style structure that melds vaulted wood beams with steel panels.  A balcony overlooks the tasting room and provides additional seating.  There is a long tasting bar where the amiable staff samples Forty-Five North’s nice wine selection.

The Forty-Five North vineyard features almost forty acres of grapes and raspberries.  The Forty-Five North wines have won multiple awards including gold medals for the 2009 Blanc de Pinot Noir and 2009 Gewurztraminer at California’s Pacific Rim International Wine Competition.  In 2011, Forty-Five North has produced their first wine with their own grape crops produced locally.

Forty-Five North is a must visit.  Forty-Five North is located at 8580 E Horn Road in Lake Leelanau.  You can visit Forty-Five North online at www.fortyfivenorth.com.

Do you have a comment, memory or thought about Forty-Five North?  Please comment below. 

 

The Magic of Leelanau

The Leelanau Peninsula is unlike any other area of Michigan.  Unique in natural beauty and refined in culture and class, the Leelanau lifestyle is celebrated by both the residents of the Leelanau peninsula and the many thousands of annual visitors.  Dramatic natural beauty combined with diverse activities galore make Leelanau the choice destination for vacationers.

Small towns dot the Leelanau Peninsula including Suttons Bay, Northport and Glen Arbor. The peninsula towns are quaint and filled with charm.  In Leelanau’s towns you will find shopping, dining and recreation opportunities.  Most are situated on the west or east coasts of the peninsula and boast direct water frontage, marinas and public beaches.

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Leland Lodge

Leland Lodge is a resort-style property located in Leland, Michigan. The property is located at the corner of Pearl Street and Fourth Street next to the Leland Country Club.  The Leland Lodge offers dining, a bar, banquet facilities and accommodations.  There is free wireless Internet at the property.

At a recent visit to the resort, we found the rooms clean and affordable but basic.  We stayed at a “cottage unit” which was similar to a duplex-type ranch house across Pearl Street from the main facility.  We liked the privacy of this unit as it was quiet and peaceful.  The unit was comfortable but old with fixtures and furniture from decades past.  The cottage unit has a kitchen, living room, bath, dining area and one bedroom (with a queen bed).  The off-season rates were very good for the area.

The Leland Lodge’s location is very well suited to exploring Leland.  At the end of Pearl Street (about two blocks) is a public park and beach.  Access to the town of Leland is only a few blocks in the other direction.  The location is very tranquil and the golf course next door offers very pretty views.

Leland Lodge’s rates vary depending on season but are published at between $75 and $185 per night.  You can contact the Leland Lodge at (231) 256-9848 or make reservations online. 

Do you have a story, experience or comment to share about the Leland Lodge?  Please leave a comment below.