In one of Liz McGuffin’s latest photos, she’s posed in front of a field of tulips. Neat rows of purple, red, and yellow blooms create a striped blanket beneath an old wooden windmill, with McGuffin posed at the center. It looks like a scene from Holland, and it is . . . but not the one you’re thinking of.
“I travel abroad and play the tourist here at home to discover things that I love and enjoy, and so then I can do those things more often and share them with others who might love them, too,” McGuffin, creator of the lifestyle and travel blog With Wonder and Whimsy, explains. “I romanticize my life, from the places that I travel to the clothes that I wear to the get-togethers that I host. I just try to make the most of everything and make the everyday things feel more special, beautiful, and appreciated.”
McGuffin’s content covers her adventures (near and far), as well as couples travel advice and fashion, which is why we tapped her to share her favorite things about the Great Lakes State, from wineries and sprawling gardens to historic downtowns.
“I want to instill my same spirit of wonderment and whimsy in others,” she says.
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McGuffin was born and raised in southeast Michigan, as was her husband, Kyle, so they’ve had ample opportunities to explore it from top to bottom. “Michigan is home,” McGuffin says. “We're spoiled with such a wide variety of experiences, all close to home.” That includes everything from relaxing on lakefront beaches to exploring art museums and wine trails.
“Lake life is such a part of the fabric of Michigan. In the summer, Michiganders travel ‘up north’ to Traverse City with their families so they can go boating and swimming out on the lake,” McGuffin explains. Her own family book a cabin each summer so they can walk on the beach, search for petoskey stones (they’re made of fossils and unique to the Great Lakes), and swim in the waves.
Within just a short drive, she can visit bustling cities like Detroit or Ann Arbor, historic downtowns like in Northville or Chelsea, and small country towns like Pinckney, where she grew up. “We have amazing art museums like the Detroit Institute of Arts. We have sports, both college and pro, but none compare with the rivalry between college football's Michigan Wolverines (go blue!) and the Michigan State Spartans. And we have small towns supporting small, local businesses and artists. If you want to get away to the country and get outdoors, hole up in a cabin, or get lost, we
have that, too,” she says.
McGuffin and her husband usually travel for three reasons: romance, culture, and food. Thankfully, they can find it all within state lines. Kerrytown Ann Arbor, for example, is a walkable shopping district right near the downtown, full of independent boutiques and local restaurants.
If you’re in the area, don’t miss Hidden Lake Gardens, McGuffin says. The 755-acre arboretum and botanical garden is part of the Michigan State University campus.
“It’s our favorite place to plan a romantic picnic and do a drive-through tour of the different gardens,” she says.
No Michigan weekend is complete without a good glass of local wine, too. The Pioneer Wine Trail is a hidden gem, as it’s lesser known than the Traverse City wine region, and runs between Lansing and Jackson. Her favorites include Chateau Aeronautique and Sandhill Crane Vineyards.
“I love visiting cities and businesses with history or that have a unique story to tell,” McGuffin says. “And I like to leave a place feeling like it's then part of my own story.
I travel to think or to feel something new. And I revisit old familiar places to recall those old memories and feelings.”
CREDITS
Senior Editor: Christie Rotondo
Senior Designer: Kelly Millington
Photography & Talent: Liz McGuffin
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“Transportation is
always one of the biggest stressors when we travel, so researching ahead
of time can save you
a lot of grief.”
“The best way for couples to
get better at traveling together is by traveling together. Start with small weekend trips within a few hours’ drive. Then you
can branch into longer trips
and flights overseas.”
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Take an afternoon drive to Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton, then eat a picnic lunch.
Visit the Jackson-area wineries along The Pioneer Trail, like Sandhill Crane Vineyards and Chateau Aeronautique Winery.
Visit the iconic Zingerman's Deli,
and put together a picnic lunch.
Shop at indie boutiques like Found, Thistle
& Bess, and Hollander's in Kerrytown.
Walk around the beautiful Law Quad on the University of Michigan campus.
Check into The English Inn in Lansing for a romantic stay at a traditional B&B.
Grab a lavender latte and macarons
to go at Le Bon Macaron.
Head to Bates Alley for dinner and live music on outdoor patios in the neighborhood.
Check into the Kalamazoo House B&B to experience
a Victorian inn
right downtown.
Stop at the Gilmore Car Museum
to see the vintage cars and share
a shake at the soda shop.
Explore Old Town Lansing to experience street art, local shops,
and lunch at retro Cosmos.
Tour the State Capitol for a
glimpse at Michigan’s history.
Sip happy-hour drinks
at Valhalla meadery.
The next morning, check out of
your hotel and grab coffee and a
treat for the road at Ignite Donuts.
Learn about local Native
American history and culture at
the Ziibiwing Cultural Center.
Tour the W.K. Kellogg Manor House.
Shop the Bee Joyful zero-waste shop.
Make your own candles
at Kalamazoo Candle Co.
Explore Downtown Kalamazoo, and check out the local murals.
Check into the Edelweiss Haus for
a pastoral getaway in the country.
Enjoy sushi and martinis on Midori’s outdoor patio for dinner.
CREDITS
Senior Editor: Christie Rotondo
Senior Designer: Kelly Millington
Photography & Talent: Liz McGuffin
CREDITS
Senior Editor: Christie Rotondo
Senior Designer: Kelly Millington
Photography & Talent: Liz McGuffin
CREDITS
Senior Editor: Christie Rotondo
Senior Designer: Kelly Millington
Photography & Talent: Liz McGuffin
The English Inn
Hidden Lake Gardens
FOUND, Ann Arbor
Le Bon Macaron
THISTLE & BESS,
Ann Arbor
Hidden Lake Gardens
Cosmos Landing
The English Inn
The English Inn
Le Bon Macaron
Hidden Lake Gardens
THISTLE & BESS, Ann Arbor
Le Bon Macaron