{"id":254588,"date":"2026-07-29T13:20:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T13:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/254588\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T13:20:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T13:20:08","slug":"get-a-break-from-philly-bustle-on-michigans-leelanau-peninsula","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/254588\/","title":{"rendered":"Get a Break From Philly Bustle on Michigan\u2019s Leelanau Peninsula"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGuides<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The under-the-radar summer vacation spot promises gorgeous scenery, family-owned businesses, and truly great wine.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Michigan<\/p>\n

A view of Michigan\u2019s Leelanau Peninsula \/ Photography by Elise Giordano<\/p>\n

As a lifestyle and travel editor, my job is to share details about corners of the world that you need to visit. But then I fall in love with a destination and want to keep it a secret. Such is the case with the Leelanau Peninsula, an under-the-radar summer vacation spot on the pinky of Michigan\u2019s mitten. It\u2019s packed with family-owned businesses run by some of the kindest people you\u2019ll meet (that Midwestern hospitality is real), gorgeous scenery \u2014 from the waters of Lake Michigan to the cherry orchards that dot the landscape \u2014 and wine (truly great wine!) worth bringing home to savor with family and friends, so you can spread the magic of this place too.<\/p>\n

Day One\"Michigan<\/p>\n

Overlooking the peninsula<\/p>\n

A quick drive from Traverse City (direct seasonal flights run between Cherry Capital Airport and PHL), the Leelanau Peninsula is made up of a handful of adorable towns, each one 15 to 20 minutes away from the next. Stay in Leland, at Falling Waters Lodge<\/a> (rooms from $419). The inn sits atop a dam; folks fish off their balconies into the Leland River. Across the footbridge is Fishtown, a tiny maritime district that, at first glance, seems a world away from our trendy Philly neighborhood. But look closer. Its weathered shanties house businesses like the standing-room-only Village Cheese<\/a> shop, whose popularity rivals that of Liberty Kitchen on a Saturday. Grab a sandwich (on pretzel bread) and a hunk of Gouda. Prefer a sit-down meal? Head to Fiddlesticks, in Lake Leelanau, where vinyl records spin and the beanies bearing the restaurant\u2019s name are remarkably similar to your Eagles cap. Then visit Boathouse Vineyards<\/a>. The space was meant for lingering \u2014 in an Adirondack chair on the waterfront lawn. As for the wine? You can taste the care winemaker Emmy Neighbors brings to her craft. Later, hit locals\u2019 hang The Cove<\/a>, back in Leland, for a New Orleans\u2013inspired whitefish in a Creole sauce that was recommended to me by more than a few people.<\/p>\n

Day Two\"Michigan<\/p>\n

Leland River between Falling Waters and Fishtown<\/p>\n

Start with a croissant and a cappuccino at 9 Bean Rows<\/a>, a farm and bakery in Suttons Bay, and grab a house-made granola bar for the road. Dedicate the rest of the day to wine. There are no rideshare services, so prebook an excursion through an operator (try Movie Stars Wine Tours<\/a>) for a glimpse inside the wine industry: The Leelanau Peninsula sits at the 45th parallel \u2014 that\u2019s the same latitude as Bordeaux, France. Cool-climate wines (chardonnay, pinot noir) grow well thanks to the sandy, loamy soils and lake effect, which extends the growing season. We visited The Ridge at Verterra Winery<\/a>, perched on a hilltop overlooking leafy vineyards and offering events like a meteor shower viewing on August 13th and 14th. Black Star Farms<\/a> came next, then Aurora Cellars, which feels like it was plucked from a storybook. Wind down with a charcuterie board at Leland\u2019s Riverside Inn<\/a>. Neighbors pack the bar, but the best seats are on the patio, in one of the river-facing chairs. Afterward? A walk on Van\u2019s Beach<\/a>, steps from Falling Waters.<\/p>\n

Day Three\"\"<\/p>\n

Cherry Republic<\/p>\n

On Sundays, Market 22<\/a> in Maple City serves breakfast classics to folks who line up before the restaurant opens. (Arrive early.) Then make your way to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore<\/a> to hike the trails through the pines or travel the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. (The latter has 12 points of interest.) You must stop at Sleeping Bear Dune (#10), on a sandy plateau high above Lake Michigan \u2014 the turquoise waters gleam like the Caribbean. Follow that up with a wander through Glen Arbor, browsing cute womenswear at Cottonseed Apparel<\/a> and indulging in everything cherry at Cherry Republic<\/a>. Want to stretch your legs? Rent an e-bike from Suttons Bay Bikes<\/a> and ride the 17-mile Leelanau Trail. Gilchrist Farm Winery<\/a> awaits when you return to town. Its cheery blue\u2004farmhouse\u2004facade gives way to a modern dining area, where estate-grown wines are served alongside an \u00adever-changing menu. It feels special, perfect \u2014 the only way to end a trip to Michigan\u2019s hidden gem.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sleeping Bear Dune<\/p>\n

Drink Me!<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll uncork a lot of wine on your Leelanau trip. Here are the bottles not to miss.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A vineyard on the Leelanau Peninsula<\/p>\n

Boathouse Vineyards<\/a>
2022 Pinot Noir This silky pinot comes alive with flavor \u2014 lush red fruit, baking spices. It reminds me of the pinots you\u2019d taste in central California.<\/p>\n

Gilchrist Farm Winery <\/a>
2023 Woven Made of merlot and pinot noir grapes, it\u2019s medium-bodied with light tannins \u2014 great for both oenophiles and folks who are still getting their feet wet.<\/p>\n

Verterra Winery <\/a>
2023 Pinot Blanc People go bonkers for this dry white, with its notes of citrus and green apple, and crisp minerality. I want this on a hot summer day, with oysters.<\/p>\n

Aurora Cellars <\/a>
2022 Blaufr\u00e4nkisch This is a bigger wine, though it\u2019s not overpowering. I get pretty jazzed when I can sample blaufr\u00e4nkisch (it\u2019s less common on tasting menus), and this one did not disappoint.<\/p>\n

Big Little Wines <\/a>
2025 Treehouse A 100 percent white pinot noir is rare. (The skins of the grapes are removed before fermentation.) It\u2019s robust, and feels like it could take the place of a chardonnay on your table.<\/p>\n

Published as \u201cNorthern Exposure\u201d in the August 2026 issue of Philadelphia magazine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Guides The under-the-radar summer vacation spot promises gorgeous scenery, family-owned businesses, and truly great wine. A view of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":254589,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[69,71,70],"class_list":["post-254588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-philadelphia","tag-philadelphia","tag-philadelphia-headlines","tag-philadelphia-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=254588"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254588\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/254589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=254588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=254588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=254588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}