Michigan trip

Been to Founders a few times and looking for something new in GR. What could I sell the wife on to "stop for lunch" in GR?

TC list will be JP, North Peak, and Short's if I can find something else to do along the way or near Bellaire, but seems kinda out of the way. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

Brewery Vivant probably has the best food of all of the GR brewpubs, so that alone should satisfy the missus, and the beers are well worth the stop there too.

 

It's a real scenic drive from TC to Bellaire if you take the route along Grand Traverse Bay/Elk Lake/Torch Lake. Stop in Alden to check out Torch Lake ('third most beautiful lake in the world' according to somebody who I presume knows a lot about lakes) and grab some delicious ice cream at Higgins Store. Dockside Bar/grill is further up the lake and on you're way to Bellaire. Nothing too special but you can sit out on the deck right on the water.

Short's is a great stop for both beer and food. They have live music most weekend nights I'm pretty sure, although it does tend to get crowded during those times, especially in the summer. I'd definitely recommend trying to make a stop there.

Other worthy non-beer side trips in the TC area are Sleeping Bear Dunes (highly recommend) and Leland on the Leelanau peninsula (small fishing town). There's also a ton of great golf courses scattered about the area.

If you feel like venturing further north from TC, it's about 2.5 hours to Mackinaw taking the very scenic lakeshore route. Crossing the Mackinac bridge to the UP is an attraction in itself, and the locks at Sault Ste Marie and/or Tahquamenon Falls would be good options for a day trip into the UP (about 1 or 2 hour drives respectively from the bridge).