Page 14 - Michigan RV and Campgrounds directory

Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds
Reference the member directory in this issue or use our interactive map on the go at www.marvac.org to find a place to stay nearest your chosen destination.
MichiganWine & BeerCities That Deserve a Visit
The perfect spots for campers to enjoy a glass or two of local flavor.
RVers have another reason to make the trek to and across Michigan: local brews, wines, and spirits.
Michigan has grown quite the reputation the past few years, and wineries and breweries have sprouted up across the state in rapid numbers. Many of them also offer food, sometimes a full menu, so it’s possible to take the whole family. Breweries and wineries don’t just offer delicious, locally crafted beverages, they offer a taste of local culture. A taste of Michigan.
Northwest
When it comes to wine, there are two northern Michigan counties that will knock your socks off: Grand Traverse and Leelanau. The area is perfectly arranged at the 45th parallel, benefiting from the landscape, freshwater, breezes, and climate. With around a dozen wineries in and around Traverse City’s Old Mission Peninsula and more than twenty on the Leelanau Peninsula in the towns of Northport, Leland, Glen Arbor, and Suttons Bay, travelers have their pick of tasting rooms
and wine varieties.
Within Traverse City are two wine tasting rooms: Left Foot Charley and Black Star Farms. These are within easy driving distance of local campgrounds and RV parks. There is a
wine trail for the Old Mission
Peninsula that visits eight wineries. Leelanau has wine trails as well, three in fact: the Sleeping
Bear Loop, the Northern Loop, and the Grand Traverse Bay Loop. Visiting the wineries will give you an opportunity to speak with the winemakers and possibly go on a tour of their vineyards and facilities.
Northeast/Thumb
The “Sunrise Side” is less traveled than other parts of the state, and it’s not well-known for wine and beer... but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. In fact, the area is growing considerably in those industries. Just three years ago saw the launch of the Wine & Hops Trail, which covers a generous geographical area. The trail is a combination of eleven wineries and breweries as well as local attractions such as Charity Island Lighthouse in Au Gres and the Alpena Shipwreck Tours in Alpena.
Most of the breweries and wineries are concentrated near the towns
of Cheboygan, Rose City, and Alpena.
Southwest
When it comes to beer, there are two reigning kings – Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Grand Rapids was voted “Best Beer Town” by the readers of USA Today in 2014. Many breweries are within easy walking distance of one another while some require a little more travel to reach, although not much. You’ve probably heard of at least one
of them: Founders, ranked as one of the top breweries in the world. Grand Rapids Brewing Co. is also the Midwest’s first USDA-certified organic brewery.
12 2016 MICHIGAN RV & CAMPGROUNDS marvac.org