It's Spring! Give us a Break!

Now that March is finally here, it's time to start scouting ways to break out of winter.

All month long, "Journey to the Sugar Bush" at Hudson Mills Metropark in Dexter. Experience the history and the making of maple syrup. Tap a tree. Enjoy a pancake breakfast with Pure Michigan maple syrup. At the end of the day, rest assured at a Lake to Lake-member bed and breakfast inn in nearby Chelsea, Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti.

Maybe you prefer a little "up north" fun. Discover All Things Irish in Bellaire, March 12 - 14. If you're looking for thrills, race down Schuss Mountain at nearby Shanty Creek on a sled you make yourself at the annual downhill Cardboard Classic Race. When you're looking to put your tuckered-out head in a luxurious bed, look no further than these Lake to Lake-member bed and breakfast inns.

Taste a variety of beers creatively crafted by renowned Michigan beer artisans at The Art of Beer Festival in Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, March 27. At the same time, enjoy foods that enhance the tasting experience and groove to a great blues-rock band. Beer-making classes are available. When you're all beered out, your designated driver can spirit you away to a delectable Lake to Lake-member bed and breakfast inn in St. Joe or nearby Lakeside or Union Pier.

If you crave a themed get-away more than an adventure to shake off that cabin fever, click here. Select Spring Specials from the drop-down menu for great Spring Break Get-Aways offered by our member B&Bs. Of course, Romance is never out of season, so be sure to run your eye over those as well. In fact, there are more than 20 specials' categories to choose from.

Give yourself a break. A Spring Break. Enjoy!

Linda Singer, Executive Director
Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association
6757 Cascade Rd SE Ste 241, Grand Rapids MI 49546
(616) 575-1610 Office (616) 575-0270 Fax

S T R E T C H YOUR VALENTINE'S DAY DURATION AND DOLLAR!

Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association offers three ways to stretch the length of your Valentine's Day celebration and the cash it costs you. What could be better?

First, do you realize that for many of you, Valentine's Day s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s into a three-day weekend this year? Saturday, February 13 is Valentine's Eve. Sunday is Valentine's Day -- and Monday is President's Day, a holiday from work for many. That gives you three glorious days and nights to revel in romance!

Second, many of our quality-assured bed and breakfast inns are offering great deals and discounts over the three-day - s-t-r-e-t-c-h.

Click here for romantic get-away specials -- and click here for more romantic get-away specials. Ahhh, Valentine's Day!

Third and maybe best, if you can't take the three-day s-t-r-e-t-c-h this Valentine's Day weekend, you can give your Sweetheart the gift of a Lake to Lake Gift Certificate to use any time over the next five years at any of our great Lake to Lake-member inns across Michigan. Order online today!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Linda Singer, Executive Director
Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association
6757 Cascade Rd SE Ste 241, Grand Rapids MI 49546
(616) 575-1610 Office (616) 575-0270 Fax

Watch Our Bed and Breakfasts on TV

If you live or work in southwestern Michigan, be sure to tune into "Take Five and Company," airing on WZZM-TV Channel 13 this Tuesday, January 26 at 9 a.m. The popular talk show is featuring a segment on bed and breakfast inns and their marvelous diversity all across Michigan.

Linda Singer, executive director of Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association (ML2L), will provide the commentary. Time permitting, six inns will be featured in the segment. You can visit them now by logging into their websites. They are all members of the association and all inspected for more than 100 points of quality, cleanliness, safety, comfort and professionalism.

Cocoa Cottage B&B
Prairieside Suites Luxury B&B
Schooner Manitou B&B
Historic Webster House B&B
Wind in the Pines B&B
The Sheridan House B&B

Join us on Tuesday for a peek into the wonderful world of ML2L inns.

Linda Singer, Executive Director
Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association
6757 Cascade Rd SE Ste 241, Grand Rapids MI 49546
(616) 575-1610 Office (616) 575-0270 Fax

Bed and Breakfast Christmas Gift Certificates

What's the most wanted, sought-after, dreamed of holiday gift this year?

The answer is "Gift Certificates" for a luxury get-away at one of Michigan Lake to Lake Bed & Breakfast Association-member inns. There are over 150 quality-inspected B&B's all across the state that meet the association's high standards and are eligible to redeem the association's gift certificates.


Worried about that last-minute Christmas gift? That impossible-to-buy for person who has everything? Our gift certificates are your salvation.

Gift certificates are available in any amount, and can be ordered as late as December 23rd (note: overnight shipping rates apply to certificates ordered after December 22). Just click here to order online. Or call 888-575-1610 weekdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.

Linda Singer, Executive Director
Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association
6757 Cascade Rd SE Ste 241, Grand Rapids MI 49546
(616) 575-1610 Office (616) 575-0270 Fax

If You Can Walk, You Can Cross Country Ski Michigan

You don't need to be an athlete or even in tip-top physical shape to enjoy the pristine joy of cross country skiing practically anywhere in Michigan. You simply need to be able to walk. If you meet that single qualification, you can enjoy cross country skiing at any age.

It's easy. Just wait for the first snow. Identify a trail. Snap on your skis, Then just "walk" at your own pace.

The investment in skis, boots and poles can be well under $200. No fancy ski-slope clothing is required -- just your everyday warm hat, gloves, socks and jacket. You pay no lift fees. You can pack your own snacks in a backpack.

If you cross country ski, you can ENJOY winter. Do you know how much faster winter flies by when you're having fun?

MYTH BREAKER: You don't get cold cross country skiing. Why not? You quickly warm through from the exercise. That's why alpine skiiers dress in layers: before you know it, you're overheating and stripping down.

Cross country skiing gets you off the beaten paths and onto trails through parks, swamps and woodlands. It's a silent sport: you listen only to the shush of your own skis and the occasional winter bird, the wind in the pines and the soft, sifting sound of falling snow.

To find trails all across the state, simply click on this link to the Pure Michigan website.

The perfect ending to an afternoon on the trails is to warm, rest and refresh at one of Lake to Lake's 150 member bed and breakfast inns. Sip a glass of wine in front of a crackling fire. Melt into a hot tub. Watch a little TV or simply read. Chat. Sleep on luxurious beds cozily dressed in sumptuous linens and toasty comforters. Awaken to the aroma of freshy-brewed coffee and a scrumptious breakfast home made for you.

Ahh!

Click here to find a quality-inspected member B&B near your preferred cross country trails. Or to find a member B&B near cross country trails, click here.

Linda Singer, Executive Director
Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association
6757 Cascade Rd SE Ste 241, Grand Rapids MI 49546
(616) 575-1610 Office (616) 575-0270 Fax

Why People Choose Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfasts!

What makes people choose to stay at a bed and breakfast inn? Isn't it like staying in the spare room at Aunt Jane's house? Stuffy? No privacy? Like invading a stranger's home? Won't you feel like a stranger yourself, sitting on the edge of a too-soft sofa, feet planted firmly on the floor and hands folded primly in your lap, pretending not to be bored to tears? Being someone you're not?

Nope. You'd be wrong.

Unlike chain motels or hotels, B&B's are an uplifting experience whether you're traveling for business or for pleasure, a romantic get-away or a family reunion. Don't take my word for it. Take the words of people just like you who have enjoyed the luxury, warmth and hospitality of a Michigan Lake to Lake-member B&B.

Edwin and Karin of Chelsea, Michigan took some down time to get an uplift via a quick B&B geataway in Southwest Michigan's St. Joseph.

"It felt like being in someone's home -- a very relaxing and friendly atmosphere."

What did they like most?

".... feeling welcome, being warmly greeted and the quiet, comfortable atmosphere."

Linda of Grand Ledge, Michigan, a recent guest at a Cheboygan B&B in Northeast Michigan, said she chose it because it offered "total comfort over a regular hotel -- a warm and friendly atmosphere."

What about breakfast? "....over the top! Each day I didn't think yesterday's beakfast could be beat, but the breakfast was even more superb every single morning."

Marcia and Gordon of Grand Rapids, Michigan raved about the guest room at the B&B they enjoyed in Fremont, located in lower Northwest Michigan.

"The room was beautiful -- so cozy it felt like home."

Nobody had to twist the arms of John and Pam of Carmet, Indiana to stay at one of Bellaire's luxurious B&Bs in upper Northwest Michigan.

"Friends brought us here. They had stayed here several times and wanted us to see it and enjoy it too. The innkeepers thought of everything to make for a very comfortable stay."

Here is what Paula of Johannesburg, Michigan had to say about the inn they chose in the Upper Peninsula at Eagle Harbor:

"We had never stayed at a B&B, found this one online and it lookd good. It turned out even better than we imagined. We loved the view of Lake Superior, the room, the amazing breakfast with delicious pancakes -- everything was great! The innkeepers were very welcoming and made us feel completely comfortable."

About the B&B experience they enjoyed in Albion, nestled in Southeast Michigan, Bud and Jeanne of Cumberland, Maryland, said, "We felt very much at home and as if we and the innkeepers were old friends. It was our second stay here. We love B&Bs for their convenience and their personal touch."

It's echoed over and over again. Warm. Comfy, Hospitable. Like home -- only more luxurious. Fabulous and plentiful breakfasts elegantly presented. Glorious gardens. Relaxing.

B&Bs range from contemporary log homes to Victorian mansions. Each is unique unto itself. B&Bs can be found in forests, rural countrysides, the heart of cities, a block off Main Street in resort or historic villages..... on inland lakes or overlooking Lake Michigan. There isn't a region in Michigan that doesn't offer B&B alternatives.

Innkeepers are innkeepers because their passion is to make their guests feel special. While they are immensely proud of the beauty, history and comfort of their homes, few actually live in the areas you enjoy during your stay. Most have their own living quarters apart from the common areas. Many have culinary arts training. All are outstanding cooks!

This isn't back in your Grandma's day when the cheapest overnight rooms were found in "Tourist Lodgings." In the "old days," these accommodations were literally spare bedrooms with shared baths in the homes of people needing extra cash to make ends meet.

So revel in the coming-of-age of bed and breakfast inns. But remember that not all B&Bs are created equal. When choosing a B&B in Michigan, be sure it's a Lake to Lake-member inn, regularly inspected by professional and dispassionate reviewers for more than 100 points of quality, safety, cleanliness, comfort and professionalism. Michigan Lake to Lake Bed & Breakfast Association guarantees that when you stay at a member inn, you will "rest assured."

Linda Singer, Executive Director
Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association
6757 Cascade Rd SE Ste 241, Grand Rapids MI 49546
(616) 575-1610 Office (616) 575-0270 Fax

Pure Michigan Fall Color and Culture: Map a Route Through Michigan's Thumb

Not far north of Detroit, discover the least-discovered playground in Michigan. The stretch of Pure Michigan between Algonac north to Port Austin along Lake Huron is a blend of breathtaking fall color splashed against a backdrop of the bluest water you've ever seen. Now, at the height of autumn's blazing display, is the perfect time to explore Michigan's East Coast.

Center one of your evening's plans in Lexington, a short drive north of Port Huron, to enjoy the wealth of music theater presentations, festivals and events that flourish all year long.

Raise a stein downtown at Lexington Oktober Fest on October 10. Snuggle into Fall Flannel Days, October 24. Music Theater Company presentations include Cowboy Junkies, October 3; Terry Lee Goffee - the Johnny Cash Experience, October 9; Jeff Daniels, October 17; and Toxic Audio, October 24.

Then, after a glorious day of play, stay at one of the area's luxurious bed and breakfast inns. You'll find Michigan Lake to Lake-member inns all along the East Coastline, from Algonac to Marine City, North Lakeport, Lexington, Port Sanilac, Harbor Beach, Port Hope and villages and towns all the way to the tip of the Thumb. Every Lake-to-Lake member inn is regularly and professionally inspected for cleanliness, safety, comfort and professionalism. You can "rest assured" at any ML2L-member B&B.

Linda Singer, Executive Director
Michigan Lake to Lake Bed and Breakfast Association
6757 Cascade Rd SE Ste 241, Grand Rapids MI 49546
(616) 575-1610 Office (616) 575-0270 Fax