The Wickwood Inn, a charming B&B snuggled in the heart of Saugatuck on Michigan’s west coast, offers a range of cooking classes taught by Julee Rosso, the inn’s owner and author of the bestselling Silver Palate cookbooks. These insightful classes fill quickly and reservations are required, visit Wickwood Inn for a complete class schedule. 

Saugatuck’s Kirby House Bed & Breakfast has a number of great culinary offerings, including a weekend getaway package with hands-on dinner preparation February 17-18 and March 9-10. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s maiden voyage at this year’s Last Dinner Aboard the Titanic, April 13-14, where meals will be created right off the legendary liner’s dinner menu. Saugatuck also hosts the Grand Escape Inns' Winery Weekends, February 3-4 and March 2-3, where participants enjoy winery tours, gourmet dinners and award-winning wines.    

While in the area, be sure to contact Hungry Village Tours to schedule a Culinary Walk or Delicious Drive. Experience the food-to-fork movement of the area farms and creative artisan producers while getting a culinary peek into the village food and village life of Saugatuck and Douglas. Tours are for six or more people and by appointment only January through April. Visit Hungry Village Tours to schedule.

On the evening of February 17, stop by Traverse City to help kickoff the annual WinterWow Fest. Enjoy local wines and handcrafted sweets while viewing ice sculptures and anticipating the event’s weekend of winter festivities.

Enjoy a memorable weekend at Old Mission Peninsula’s award-winning Chateau Chantal near Traverse City. This enchanting inn combines vineyard and winery, with pleasant B&B lodging and friendly company. Upcoming cooking and wine classes include Wine Immersion on March 31; and instruction on Italian homemade pastas and sauces on April 21. Contact the inn to schedule a private wine education tour for you and your friends. 

Foodies visiting Southeast Michigan must stop by the nationally acclaimed Zingerman’s Deli and Bakehouse in Ann Arbor. In honor of their 30th anniversary, the deli has added new classes and deli favorites to their 2012 culinary lineup. Bake! and Bake-cations weekend and week-long cooking classes teach cooking techniques simple enough for culinary beginners. Classes include Danish: The Breakfast of Vikings, February 18; Bakin’ with Bacon, February 25; Palmiers & Puff Pastry, March 10; and Cin-ful Cinnamon Rolls, March 24. Remember to register soon, as classes fill up quickly.   

Plan a stop in Mid-Michigan to get educated on the art of cheese-making at the Michigan State University Dairy Store in East Lansing, March 5-7. The three-day artisan cheese-making workshop focuses on ingredients, techniques and aging requirements. To register, call (517) 353-3175. 

Maximize your culinary knowledge with a class at the Le Chat Gourmet Culinary Arts in Eaton Rapids. Hands-on classes are offered for cooks of all levels. Limited class sizes ensure personal training from the chef. Choose from a variety of classes such as sushi making, March 8; sauce making, March 17; Tuscan Trattoria, April 13; or Greek Gyros, April 18.  Students dine on their creations at the close of class. Visit  Le Chat Gourmet Culinary Arts for a complete list of classes.

Visit Michigan Foodie Tours for additional culinary tour locations and information. Visit Michigan Wines to plan your next wine tour and learn more about the more than 80 wineries and vineyards in Michigan. 

You can tour individual wineries, take to one of the Michigan wine trails, or attend an upcoming tasting event. Plan to stay a while and check into one of the winery Bed & Breakfast inns in the Grand Traverse Region.

    

Events With Good Taste

A wonderful way to get to know wines is with the guidance of an expert. Sample food, wine, beer and spirits.  >more 

    

    

Welcome to the Wineries

Add something special to your next dinner party by serving an exquisite Michigan wine from one of the vineyards along a trail near you.  >more 

    

    

Hit the Wine Trails

Discover the world of wine by visiting the tasting rooms and wineries nestled among the rolling hills and lakes in Michigan.  >more 

    

    

Wine Not Sleep On It

Extend your visit with an overnight stay at wineries that also offer Bed & Breakfast accommodations.  >more 

    

The Great Lakes State has more lighthouses than any other state in the nation, with 115 lights along the shores of Lakes Huron, Michigan, Superior and Erie. Each is unique in its design, and each has its own story. Many have been preserved by passionate volunteers who share lighthouse legends and lore with the public on tours and at special events. And, given their locations on the freshwater seas, sunrises and sunsets are special at Michigan lighthouses. Remember to bring your camera to capture a picture that’s Pure Michigan!

    

Celebrate the Sentinels

Plan your visit to coincide with some of the special events at lighthouses across Michigan.  >more 

    

    

Sample a Keeper's Life

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live the solitary life of a lighthouse keeper you can volunteer (and usually pay) to spend a weekend or a week as a greeter and caretaker giving tours, staffing the gift shop, or doing light chores.  Programs are in place, at several Michigan lighthouses, for guests to become a volunteer lighthouse keeper.  >more 

    

    

Worth the Trip

Many lighthouses are accessible by driving to and parking near a trail, beach or pier that leads to the structure, but there are several lights that take a special effort to reach.  >more 

    

    

B&B&B

If you like staying at Bed & Breakfast inns, you’ll triple your enjoyment at a lighthouse-turned lodging…a Bed & Breakfast & Beacon!   >more