My family moved to Ann Arbor when I was 18. I finished out my sophomore year at Florida State, and then transferred to University of Michigan, where my father was head of the Theater Department. My older brother transferred to…
St. Joseph, Michigan
It’s never too late to get to know your family. I met Adri at my half-brother’s memorial service. She was his cousin, but they were raised so closely, she said he felt more like a brother. Afterward, she friended me…
Pentwater, Michigan
My brother and sister-in-law introduced me to Pentwater about a dozen years ago. They’d bought a vacation cabin there, and I went there with them and my mom. It was a very sweet, woodsy place, with a short walk to…
Point Betsie, Michigan
With all of Sleeping Bear closed, most private campgrounds nearby were full. But a local we met in Glen Arbor suggested we try Betsie River Campground near Frankfort, south of any storm damage. It pained us to leave the Sleeping…
Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan
When we were in Mackinaw City, my friend Jane posted photos of a family reunion in Glen Arbor on Leelanau Peninsula. It was one of the most beautiful places on earth, she bragged. She and her family had been going…
Ranch Rudolf
We were approaching Traverse City, Michigan, unsure of that night’s accommodations, when I said to Kate, “Hey, Ranch Rudolf is somewhere around here.” Ranch Rudolf is a place I went with my family as a teenager, and Kate has heard…