Gusoline Alley in Royal Oak

Word on the street is that Gusoline Alley in Royal Oak at 309 S Center St has one of the best jukeboxes in Michigan. We had to go check it out. It's a unique dive bar in Royal Oak adjacent to the railroad tracks. Their beers on tap are great, featuring some Michigan brews like Oberon and a DragonMeade specialty. The jukebox music was divine....a little on the moldy side (for those of you under 25), but classic all the way--some country, some rock, a little blues and R&B, some laid back 70's and 80's. We enjoyed! And being as we hit it post smoke free day, the air inside was crystal clear! Hurrah!

Round Island Lighthouse off Mackinac

Beautiful and serene Round Island lighthouse is just off Mackinac Island and visible to those who arrive by boat. Do you remember the picnic scene here from the movie "Somewhere in Time"? It's hard to believe that the movie premiered 22 years ago this month. Who could ever forget Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeves? If you are making your first trip to our incredibly unique no-cars-allowed Mackinac Island, you simply must prepare yourself by watching this flick.

Great Lakes Live Steamers

There's some green space in Royal Oak called Starr Jaycee Park on 13 Mile where Rob, one of the engineers, took us on a steam powered train ride this past Saturday. The Great Lakes Live Steamers offer these rides for free the first weekend of every month when the weather is good. We saw him stoke the little engine with real coal. The park has the 7.5 inch gauge track laid all around. These volunteers do it just to see the joy on everyone's faces while experiencing a ride on an authentic miniature railroad.

Greektown Detroit

There's always excitement in Greektown in Detroit. At 11pm Saturday most restaurants were still open and so was Astoria Bakery with many wonderful goodies. The atmosphere is festive and parking is plentiful. Enjoy a great meal, a wonderful pastry, or a relaxing stroll and be sure to yell opa when they flame the saganaki cheese!

Harbor Springs Train Station

The train doesn't come by this historic station anymore, but it does signify what a delightful community Harbor Springs was and still is today with plenty of hotels, B&B's, restaurants, and shopping--not to mention the beach, the boats, great sunsets, and the Tunnel of Trees. The Harbor Springs Chamber of Commerce provides ample resources. This charming depot was built in 1887, but the last trains pulled out in the 1960's. It was bought and restored by the Trillium group in 2000 when they added a 2 bedroom apartment to the second floor. The depot now houses the Ward Gallery and the waiting room is the antiques showroom.

Tulip Time in Holland

Everyone has to visit Holland at least once in their lifetime to see the glorious Tulip Festival which runs this year from May 1-8. Trolleys are available to take you around to see all the wonderful gardens. There are parades, shows, plays, 1300 dancers, fireworks, the Dutch Market, a carnival, an arts and craft fair, the wooden shoe factory to tour and, of course, the over 1/2 a million tulips in bloom!

Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Southfield

Congregation Shaarey Zedek has its roots back in 1861, at the beginning of the Civil War, when 17 followers of Traditional Judaism withdrew from Beth El Society in Detroit to found the Shaarey Zedek Society. The congregation has worshiped in seven different structures since founded moving to this location in 1962. The building was designed by Albert Kahn and Percival Goodman. In 1966 when Rabbi Morris Adler was delivering a sermon in honor of Abraham Lincoln, a troubled congregant shot Adler twice before taking his own life.