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From gleaming lakeshores, to energetic cities, to fascinating historical sites, this summer is all about finding your happy place. Deciding to pack a bag and head somewhere over the weekend doesn’t require a lot of thought. In fact, the best part about summer is being spontaneous and carefree.

Luckily for those of us in the Mitten State, we can enjoy an international adventure without going far. Head to Toronto and experience one of the world’s great cities, where shopping, history, music, and sports promise to make it your #BESTSUMMEREVER. Just across the river, Windsor Essex Pelee Island gives visitors a chance to try their luck at the casino, delve into Canadian Club’s storied background, or even pedal along Lake Erie for a spell.

For most Michigan residents, heading Up North is always a good plan. Be it the Traverse City area with its wineries, restaurants, and miles of beauty by the bay, or Mackinac Island’s iconic Grand Hotel, northern Michigan holds the potential for many fond memories.

Michigan’s west coast offers plenty of open spaces including Harbor Shores, a coastal community with a world-class hotel and Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. If staying close to home is more practical, consider the ivy-covered beauty of Ann Arbor. An afternoon at the University of Michigan Museum of Art is awe inspiring, with thought-provoking works at every turn. Of course, there’s always a vacation right in the heart of the city at Motor City Casino. Go for the spa, dinner at the award-winning Iridescence, or a Sound Board concert. It’s all there, just down the street.

Whether you have a week or a weekend, visit some of these great places and savor the summer. Good memories are waiting for you.

WINDSOR ESSEX PELEE ISLAND

Guest Information:
1777 Third Street, Detroit, MI 48226
visitwindsoressex.com

We have plenty of reasons why you’ll love this place!

We all travel for different reasons. Whether it’s excitement and adventure, leisure and relaxation, or a combination of everything, you’ll find plenty of reasons to love Windsor Essex Pelee Island.

Fun is the name of the game here, and the center of the action is Caesars Windsor. As Canada’s largest casino resort destination, Caesars Windsor is always a sure bet for a great time. Discover the excitement of nonstop gaming — we’ve got slots, blackjack, poker, and roulette. Catch big-name performers onstage at the Colosseum at Caesars. Stay a night or two at the five-star hotel and be pampered by legendary Caesars service.

For something truly unique, visit the Canadian Club Brand Centre. Take a tour of this riverfront landmark and step back in time to the days of Prohibition. See Hiram Walker’s original basement Speakeasy Room, where secret meetings were held with Al Capone. Learn about whiskey-making and, of course, raise a glass to sample some of Canadian Club’s finest.

If you’re a nature lover, our region provides a real breath of fresh air. Pedal or hike along our beautiful Lake Erie Waterfront Trail. Explore the natural oasis of Point Pelee National Park, one of the top birding hot spots in North America. Take a swing on one of our championship golf courses, or hit the beach and bask in our glorious southern warmth.

No visit is complete without indulging in our eclectic food and wine. Clustered along Lake Erie’s north shore you’ll find nearly 20 award-winning wineries, while our dining scene offers practically anything you could possibly crave. Choose from a tantalizing menu of diverse options spanning a world of flavors, including some of the most authentic Italian and Asian fare you can get without hopping on a plane.

Visit us at www.visitwindsoressex.com and find your own reasons to love Windsor Essex Pelee Island

TRAVERSE CITY TOURISM

Guest Information:
800-TRAVERSE
www.traversecity.com
facebook.com/TraverseCityTourism

Nestled at the head of beautiful Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City is a laid-back, four-season destination where breathtaking natural beauty meets a rich blend of adventure, relaxation, and fun.

Known for its 180 miles of sugar-sand Lake Michigan shoreline and an abundance of inland lakes, beaches, bays, and dunes — including the magnificent Sleeping Bear Dunes, voted Most Beautiful Spot in America by viewers of Good Morning America — it’s also home to award-winning wineries, championship golf courses, and a vibrant nightlife scene.

Says who? Well, Fodor’s Travel News calls it one of America’s Top 10 Small Towns, FamilyFun magazine named it one of America’s Top 10 Tourist Towns, and Bon Appetit magazine thinks it’s one of the country’s Top Five “Foodie” Towns. We have a new accolade: This year, Smithsonian.com named us one of America’s 20 Best Small Towns to Visit.

But don’t take their word for it. Set a course for Michigan’s “True North,” and discover for yourself why there’s so much buzz about TC!

THE NORTHWEST MICHIGAN BAY VIEW WINE TRAIL

Guest Information:
www.bayviewwinetrail.com
facebook.com/BayViewWineTrail

The Northwest Michigan Bay View Wine Trail, nestled along Little Traverse Bay, encompasses the cities of Harbor Springs, Indian River, Petoskey, and Alanson to the north; Charlevoix and Atwood are to the south. A region steeped in history and spectacular scenic beauty, it also features exposed shale formations with unique outcrop areas that fold and crimp exposing bluffs and river gorges along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Coupled with warm breezes off Little Traverse Bay, the Bay View Wine Trail region has unique microclimates, providing for a young but flourishing wine region. The region also has many worthwhile and exciting local attractions, including championship golf courses, excellent ski resorts, and dozens of exquisite fine dining restaurants to accentuate your winery experience.

We invite you to explore and discover the treasures of rolling vineyards; unique, small-town shopping; local festivals; and, most importantly, our award-winning, exquisite wines. Whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend, a memorable week with the family, or an exciting getaway with friends, you’ll find what you’re looking for along the Bay View Wine Trail in northwest Michigan.

MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL

Guest Information:
2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI 48201
1-877-PLAY-MCC
www.motorcitycasino.com

Welcome to Detroit’s most exciting escape destination. At Motor- City Casino Hotel, you’ll find a world where you can escape from the everyday. Whether you’re dining at Iridescence, making the slot machines ring out, relaxing at our spa, or seeing a show, you’ll discover what it’s like when excitement, luxury, and pleasure are shaken together to create an experience you can’t get anywhere else.

Just seeing the room is a wake-up call. In our 400 luxurious rooms and suites you’ll find unrivaled elegance coupled with the latest technology and amenities. With complimentary Wi-Fi, on-screen in-room flight updates, decadent bedding and spa bath products, in-room dining, and a business center and fitness center that are available 24 hours a day, it’s like being right at home — only better.

Big sound. Up close. Enjoy free live music nightly at the intimate Chromatics Lounge, or take in a concert at Sound Board, our live performance theater that features some of the biggest names in entertainment. This 1,500- seat theater puts everyone up close to the performers, and its state-of-the-art sound and lighting technology makes it an intense entertainment experience.

Every day, we offer a place to hide out from the everyday. D. Tour, our 13,000-square-foot spa, offers thermal whirlpools, large steam rooms, and dry saunas. We have a specialized selection of massage and body treatments so you can pamper yourself with manicures, pedicures, facials, and massages, all designed to revitalize body, mind, and soul.

You can’t work or play on an empty stomach. Perfectly executed food, intelligent wine selections, and stunning ambience are on the menu at Iridescence, our AAA Four Diamond Award-winning restaurant. Modern American cuisine is complemented by breathtaking city views and a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. If you’re in the mood for something a little more casual, the Assembly Line Buffet, The Lodge Diner, Grand River Deli, Pit Stop, and Little Caesars are guaranteed to get your motor running.

We’re in the business of unforgettable. We offer everything you need to make your next event truly memorable. From cutting-edge presentations to gala banquets, MotorCity Casino Hotel has the right facilities and the right people to make the extraordinary happen. With 67,000 square feet of flexible banquet and meeting space, sophisticated boardrooms, and the state-of- the-art Sound Board theater, you’ll find everything you need to make your next meeting or event legendary.

HARBOR SHORES LIFE

Guest Information:
269-932-1600
Harborshoreslife.com

Discover a magnificent lakeshore that’s home to a beautiful way of working, playing, and living.

Harbor Shores has plenty of sun, sand, and the beach town charm you’ve always dreamed of. And at just 190 miles from Detroit, finding the right balance is closer than you think.

At Harbor Shores, you’ll enjoy 25 miles of prized Lake Michigan shoreline including pristine beaches, dunes, and the coastal beauty of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.

For those who appreciate fine living and entertainment on the waterfront, Harbor Shores offers a 92-room, world-class hotel complemented by a full-service spa, indoor/outdoor pools, a marina, and a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course.

Finally, should you decide you simply can’t imagine leaving, you’ll find an amazing array of living spaces, ranging from homes to condominiums.

TORONTO

Guest Information:
www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Make this your #BESTSUMMEREVER

Between internationally renowned festivals, Broadway theater, a plethora of sporting events, and live music, Toronto gives visitors reason to celebrate all summer long!

This summer, take part in the spirit of the Pan Am and Parapan Games, where you can cheer on more than 10,000 athletes from 41 countries as they compete in Olympic qualifiers.

Theater buffs have a wide range of award-winning musicals to enjoy, like Kinky Boots, Titanic, Newsies, and more! Music aficionados can celebrate music festival season at Digital Dreams, Bestival, Way Home, and Ovo, just to name a few.

For family fun, experience the CN Tower Edgewalk, MythBusters at the Ontario Science Centre, the giant pandas at the Toronto Zoo, or the wonders of marine life at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. Toronto is also home to Canada’s biggest amusement park, North America’s only castle, and the world’s largest collection of hockey artifacts, which can be found at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Find out all there is to do in Toronto this summer and check hotel package deals at www.SeeTorontoNow.com

GRAND HOTEL

Guest Information:
1-800-33GRAND
www.grandhotel.com

Family Added Value Days. It’s a grand family getaway and a great Michigan tradition: Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. This year’s longer summer season — with seven extra nights between Memorial Day and Labor Day — means there are more chances to take advantage of Family Added Value Days on select dates in July and August.

Enjoy complimentary children’s programs, free golf for kids and half off for adults, nightly kid-friendly movies, and outdoor movies in the Tea Garden on select dates. Grand Hotel stays include a full breakfast and a five-course dinner daily, with a casual family dining option.

Mackinac Island offers lots to do, like bike riding, horse-drawn carriage rides, and tours of historic Fort Mackinac. It’s a grand family experience.

Stay two nights and get the third night half off, or stay one night and get the second night 25 percent off. Children 17 and under stay with their parents for no additional charge.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN MUSEUM OF ART

Guest Information:
525 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
734-764-0395
www.umma.umich.edu

UMMA is one of the finest university art museums in the country. Our collections represent 150 years of art collecting, and our dynamic exhibitions and programs connect visitors with the rich artistic legacy of the past as well as today’s appreciation of the avant-garde.

Galleries are open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am–5pm; Sunday 12–5pm; closed Mondays.

GRAND HAVEN SPRING LAKE WATERFRONT HOLIDAY INN

Guest Information:
940 W. Savidge Street, Spring Lake, MI
800-516-4015
www.higrandhaven.com

For an experience you’ll never forget on the west Michigan lakeshore, stay at the Grand Haven Spring Lake Waterfront Holiday Inn. The full-service hotel offers live entertainment, seasonal Tiki and deck dining, an indoor pool with a hot tub, and an outdoor pool. The facility is dog-friendly. Photo courtesy of Gregory Bozik.