Purpose of this blog

The purpose of this blog is to give some of our reflections and our ideas about fun things to do while staying at Montague Pied a Terre. Not that you would need to add diversions to a marvelous place to relax, to read, to hike, to snowshoe, to swim, to enjoy the sun. But having spent time in this area lends itself well to providing information regarding sights and enjoyable places to visit. Have fun with your exploration.

White Lake Lighthouse

Located on the south side of the channel. Same directions as Lakeside Inn except when you get to the stop sign, head straight ahead. You will go through a very old beach association where there is still a very small post office where they will hand stamp your post card. The lighthouse is now a museum and the beach beyond is a wonderful walk.

Lakeside Inn

Located on the south side of White Lake. Kind of an old fashioned place where they serve dinner. Good food and resonable pricing. Just follow the road next to the south shore of White Lake and when you get to the stop sign across from the golf course, turn right.

Claybanks Pottery

Great place in the woods for a pottery shop. Head north from the cottage untill you hit Webster Rd. Take Webster west ... it turns into Lakeshore Dr and Claybanks is a mile or two north.

Pentwater, MI

This is a fun place to visit, albeit a bit touristy. The Brown Bear has good burgers. The walk to the beach from downtown is fun. Lots of quaint old homes in the village. About a half hours drive from the cottage.

Pekadylls - Whitehall

Wonderful spot for an ice cream cone later in the evening. Or they even serve lunch and dinner on a beautiful pation in the back.

Blue Lake Music Camp

This is a music camp that welcomes young musicians for the summer to study and perform. They also have a wonderful classical music station (90.3FM) that we listen to a lot up there.

Dog and Suds - Montague

One of the few spots left where they come to your car and mount a little table for the hot dogs and root beer.

Old Channel Inn

Pretty good food. Sort of a restaurant/bar atmosphere. I sometimes will drive Marlene and a friend here and drop them off at the beach to walk north for maybe an hour and twenty minutes ... back to Montague Pied a Terre.

Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery

You can rent canoes here and spot your car downstream on the White River. If you have your own canoe or kayak you can get on the White River by the causeway between Whitehall and Montague and paddle upstream. Lots of good bird watching on this trip.

Michigan Adventures

This is a theme park that has all kinds of rides and a water park as well. Roller coasters, merry go rounds, etc. We have never gone since Marlene gets sick on any ride. It's immediately south of Whitehall, the first exit south of the Whitehall exit. We have heard good things about it.

Bortells Fish Market

This is one of the best kept secrets around. This place has been in business for 100 years and has stayed in the same family. It's to-go only. The Norwegian smoked salmon is the best we have ever had. They have smoked whitefish and sturgeon and several other varieties of smoked fish as well. When we visit we usually share the smelt dinner. You can eat outside on their picnic tables or you can drive south to the second driveway that takes you to a small township park where there are tables on a grassy knoll overlooking Lake Michigan. After lunch go down to the beach and walk north or south and collect stones and rocks until your heart is content.

Tartan Hill Winery

The Tartan Hill Winery is but a small hop from Montague Pied a Terre. It's situated in a beautiful location and it's fun to support a small business like this one.

www.tartanhillwinery.com

Mac Woods Dune Rides

This is a wonderful place to visit. I can remember taking rides on the dune scooters with my parents when I was much younger.

http://www.macwoodsdunerides.com/

Hart-Montague Bike Trail

The bike trail is a wonderful treasure. It is in fact a Michigan State Park.

We have biked it but it's also a wonderful hiking path. We have hiked from Hart to Shelby and had spotted a car with another couple.

A really great part of the path to hike is from the causeway (where the White River dumps into White Lake) south through Whitehall and end at the Whitehall Library. The water fountains and restrooms are great. Turn around and make the hike back through flower gardens and quaint neighborhoods.

http://www.traillink.com/trail/hart-montague-bicycle-trail-state-park.aspx