Midwest – Wayfaring Gals

At New Glarus Brewing in New Glarus, WI -Photo by Maria M.

If you are a beer fan that also wants to get out of the city, there are many amazing breweries around the Midwest that you can take a mini road trip to. I’ve been spending some time in Michigan since my parents retired there so I can use their place as a home base. I’ve become fond of Grand Rapids myself, and discovered it has become a popular destination for beer fans. If you haven’t visited the city, I recommend a road trip to explore and sample some great beer. There’s also other things to do there, but I’m focusing on beer for this post.

At Founder’s Brewery in Grand Rapids, MI -Photo by Maria M.

The beer that got me into stouts and craft beer is Founder’s Breakfast Stout, so imagine how happy I was to visit the brewery in Grand Rapids…it was like coming full circle. Founder’s Brewery was opened in 1997, and was modeled after a German beer hall with a patio and beer garden, so you can enjoy your beer in different spaces. There’s also a stage so you can listen to live music there while you enjoy your beverage.

Feautured artwork by Kevin Hamman at Founder’s Brewery in Grand Rapids, MI -Photo by Maria M.

I tried the Mas Agave, Passion Fruit Gose, and Rubaeus since I was in the mood for a refreshing drink, plus it is summertime. My sister had the Green Zebra, a watermelon Gose, which I got to taste. My brothers both had stout, which I enjoyed as well. I tend to drink darker, heavier beers when the weather is colder. There is food there, but I snacked on the pretzel since I had eaten before. The brewery also has artwork hanging promoting different artists. This was my favorite stop on my Grand Rapids brewery tour since the beer was so full of flavor.

At Brewery Vivant in Grand Rapids, MI -Photo by Maria M.

The next stop was Brewery Vivant, which is in a refurbished funeral home in Grand Rapids as well. It has the feel of a Belgian style monastery (it is actually inspired by small Belgian breweries), and focuses on Michigan farmhouse ales. I like that Vivant also uses locally sourced ingredients. Vivant is translated as “to be lively” or “to be alive,” since a visit there definitely made me feel better. The atmosphere is great, the setting is beautiful, and the staff was friendly. Hard core fans of the beer can even join the Monk Club, and get their own personalized chalice to drink from when visiting (if only I was closer). I’m a fan of the taster sizes so I tried Love Shadow, the Imperial Stout and the Tropical Saison, with pineapple and mango. My beer taste is all over the place since I like sours, stouts, porters, and other varieties of ale. Love Shadow has a coconut version coming soon so I hope there will be some the next time I visit Grand Rapids…it’s the little things in life…

Couldn’t resist a pic with the dragon at New Holland Brewing in Grand Rapids, MI -Photo by Maria M.

Jolly Pumpkin and New Holland Brewing also have locations in Grand Rapids if you like those breweries. My siblings all wanted a picture with the dragon at New Holland. And who doesn’t want to try all the different varieties of Dragon’s Milk? Jolly Pumpkin is across the street so you can sample some tasters or do a flight…that brewery also has the best name too. Some other highly recommended breweries in the city are HopCat and Grand Rapids Brewing Co. I will definitely have to try those on my next trip since I plan on going back.

At Arcadia Brewing Company in Kalamazoo, MI -Photo by Maria M.

If you’re in Kalamazoo you can stop by Arcadia Brewery along the Kalamazoo River. The outdoor space along the riverfront is beautiful. Arcadia is inspired by British style beer that is brewed here in the US. The brewery is next to bike trails and pedestrian walkways that you can take a stroll along, or even go kayaking along the river. Sit outside and enjoy the scenery, and the kids can play bags while you savor your beer. This brewery had one my favorite outdoor spaces (New Glarus wins). I tried the Shipwreck Porter, and can’t wait to go back to try some of the seasonal beers on tap. All the breweries also serve food, and Arcadia is known for its barbecue so make sure you sample some of the food when visiting as well. Bell’s Brewery is also in the same town so you can head over afterwards, making Kalamazoo a good stop for beer lovers.

Enjoying the outdoor view at Arcadia Brewing Company in Kalamazoo, MI -Photo by Maria M.

You can probably tell I’m a fan of Michigan so I wanted to visit another neighboring Midwest state to not only sample some beer, but find a place to get away from the city. A friend recommended New Glarus, known as “Little Switzerland,” since as you might have guessed, the town was founded by Swiss immigrants from Glarus, Switzerland in 1845.

The view from the beer garden at New Glarus Brewing in New Glarus, WI -Photo by Maria M.

When in New Glarus, I recommend you visit the brewery there. In 1993, Deborah and Dan founded New Glarus Brewing Company, which sells its products only in Wisconsin. It was the first brewery in the country to be founded by a woman. It also has one of the most beautiful outdoor beer patios that stretches along the property. It looks like you are sitting among ruins with a view of the sweeping hills along the country side. I tried different taster sized beers which included Kid Kolsch, Spotted Cow, the Raspberry Tart, and Two Women. The raspberry was great since it was a warm day when I visited, with the Kolsch coming in second. You can also walk along trails through the forest there.

The beer garden at New Glarus Brewing in New Glarus, WI -Photo by Maria M.

These are some of the places I have enjoyed visiting to try some great beer while getting away from the big city life. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Also, if you like my Facebook page, there are videos from different trips you can check out. I update the Instagram WayfaringGal page with new posts too. Thank you for reading, and comments and feedback are always welcome since that is how I learn and grow.

Trying the Raspberry Tart at New Glarus Brewing in New Glarus, WI -Photo by Maria M.

Mermaids at Mermaid Megafest in South Haven, MI -Photo by Maria M.

Sometimes you need a break from city life, and to get out to have a closer experience with nature and a slower pace of life. Lately, I’ve had this feeling of wanderlust, and going on mini road trips around the Midwest has helped. I don’t have a major vacation planned until September so I need smaller trips to tide me over. This spring I’ve visited some places not too far from my home base of Chicago that are only a few hours away. Luckily, there are many fun places and festivals around so the sky is the limit, but here a few places I’ve visited that I wanted to share with you.

At the Carousel Room in the House on the Rock -Photo by Maria M.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite books so I have always wanted to visit the House on the Rock in Spring Green, WI. In the book, Mr. Wednesday and Shadow Moon stop there on their road trip, and the recent season of the TV series had an episode that was filmed there. The book did such a great job describing the place, but it still did not prepare for how odd and interesting the House is. If you are a fan of unusual places and spaces then this is worth a trip.

At the Streets of Yesterday in the House on the Rock -Photo by Maria M.

Alex Jordan designed the place and opened it to the public in 1959. Additions continued to be made over the years, and there are three parts you can visit (I recommend seeing them all). It takes a few hours to get through and see it all. The main house seems to be a parody (or twisted homage) of Frank Lloyd Wright’s style. Interestingly, one of the homes, Taliesin, Wright designed, is nearby. As you enter the grounds, there is a Japanese Garden outside. In the main house, you have to check out the Infinity Room, which juts out 218 ft. without any support. As you continue, you will experience the Streets of Yesterday, which recreates an early 20^th century town. It also reminds me of the exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. The Heritage of the Sea has a nice surprise in there; a friend that went didn’t want to spoil it for me so I’ll do the same for you. You can purchase tokens to put into musical animatronics around the house as well.

At the Organ Room in the House on the Rock -Photo by Maria M.

The most famous part is the Carousel Room, which features the world’s largest indoor carousel. They don’t let you ride it unless you’re Neil Gaiman or one of the gods that gets a special token (see American Gods TV series). The carousel is full of mythological creatures and surprisingly, no horses. If you look up in the room, you’ll see angel mannequins above you. As you leave, you head into the mouth of a dragon. I also really enjoyed the Organ Room with its massive chandeliers and ramps going around the space. The red lighting adds to the sense of eeriness. There are more carousels, and you’ll run into one that is full of dolls. There are collections of doll houses, memorabilia from the British Crown, Tiffany lamps, vintage cars, and so much more as you continue your journey through the House on the Rock. This is a place worth visiting and spending hours in, taking in all the amazing surroundings.

At the Tulip Fest in Holland, MI -Photo by Maria M.

If you want to pretend you’re in the Netherlands, I recommend a visit to Holland, MI. Holland definitely makes the most of its Dutch heritage with different events like the Tulip Festival, which was when I visited. It is the largest tulip festival in the United States, and claims to have five million tulips. Fair warning, it was really crowded; I think over 100,000 visitors come to the fest. There is Dutch market, a parade, Dutch dancing, and many more activities during the week of the festival. The tulips are spread over different locations in the town so downloading or printing the map is helpful.

At Windmill Island in New Holland, MI -Photo by Maria M.

I started out on Windmill Island, a park that has rows and rows of bulbs planted there, and has the De Zwaan Dutch windmill located there. The area also has replicas of Dutch buildings, and the market was there. It also rained on the day I attended, which helped clear out people, so I ended up enjoying myself more. Thankfully, I brought my umbrella. I think the Main Street and downtown area are charming with small businesses and restaurants. Take a stroll to Centennial Park for more tulips, dancing, and music. There were large decorated clogs all over the fest.

At New Holland Brewing -Photo by Maria M.

One of my favorite breweries is in Holland: New Holland Brewing, which makes Dragon’s Milk. You can eat at the restaurant or tour the brewery as well. Michigan has many fantastic breweries so you can even focus on touring some of those if you are a beer lover. You can also see the lighthouse, known as Big Red, or hike up Mt. Pisgah dune for a great view. It is worth staying overnight in Holland since you can’t do everything in one day. I recommend staying at the City Flats. There are plenty of things to do so you don’t need the fest as an excuse to go; it’s actually probably more fun without the bus loads of tourists that come for Tulip Fest.

With Hannah Mermaid at Mermaid Megafest in South Holland, MI -Photo by Maria M.

South Haven, MI has a Mermaid Megafest that all the mermaid lovers have to check out. The festival’s mission is to “Protect our Water Wonderland!” and bringing attention to the challenges that the Great Lakes face. Hannah Mermaid was there offering a workshop for aspiring underwater models, and Harlow Photography was doing mermaid photo shoots (her work rocks). I made it a family event and took my nieces, who are four and five, since they love mermaids. The mermaids gathered at South Beach near the lighthouse (which was built in 1872 and is still operational). Hannah was really nice and took pics with the girls (had to jump in for one with all the mermaids too). It’s a pretty small fest, and doesn’t take much time to go through. The girls were happy since they won prizes at the carnival games. The main attraction is the Island Moon party at Lake Arvesta (on a man-made island) where the mermaids swim in the tank, music, bonfires, and the beer has glitter in it.

Hannah Mermaid at Mermaid Megafest in South Haven, MI -Photo by Maria M.

South Haven is small town with a nice downtown area as well. It is a port city located on the mouth of the Black River on Lake Michigan. It has a charming old fashioned feel with many small shops and businesses. The houses on the waterfront are beautiful. I recommend a trip to Three Blondes Brewing where you can taste some of the local craft beer, and eat some good food. The brewery was started by three blonde sisters from South Haven, and just celebrated their year anniversary. As far as I know, it’s the only brewery in town, but you can correct me if I’m wrong. Like New Holland, you don’t a fest as an excuse to spend some time there.

At Three Blondes Brewing in South Haven, MI -Photo by Maria M.

These are some of the places I have enjoyed visiting to get away from the big city life. Let me know if you have any suggestions. If you like my Facebook page, there are videos from the trip posted that you can check out as well. I also update the Instagram WayfaringGal page with new posts. Thank you for reading, and comments and feedback are always welcome since that is how we learn and grow.