Local Independence Day

Local First then 25 has gone well the first week and a half.  The only hiccups so far were the farmers market not being open, gurgling stomachs on the way to Traverse City, and lack of convenience on the way to the golf course.  Over the holiday weekend we had a packed schedule and it was fun exploring some locally owned Michigan businesses.

We started the weekend early on Saturday morning with the 75th Hollyhock Parade.  Little did we know when we bought our house the parade started at the intersection two houses down from us.  Despite the close proximity to our home the parade was a great way to start the weekend.

We celebrated the parade on our front lawn with coffee and donuts from Meijer.  We are lucky to have the local super store in Grand Rapids.

After the parade we loaded up the car and headed to Traverse City for wine tasting.  On the way up we were starving.  We couldn’t stop at one of the hundreds of fast food places along the highway, so we waited to eat until we got to Sutton’s Bay.  We were starving and choose a local pub downtown.  I didn’t realize Sutton’s Bay had such a beautiful downtown.

After lunch we visited two wineries before heading south to go camping.  We visited the Leelanau Cellars (we’ve bought their wine at home before) and Shady Lane Cellars.  We recommend both for an inexpensive day trip.

We finished off the evening camping at a friends.  We got all our camping gear from Meijer.  Every newly married couple needs a new tent right.  We’re told we will eventually make it into a camper.

Now reflecting on the weekend, I realized it’s the first holiday weekend I’ve ever spent buying everything entirely local.  McDonalds, Burger King, and Target have always been my first choice.  Spending it entirely local just made it that much more exciting.

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