Travel and Leisure News

The Wellington Inn is a bed and breakfast located in downtown Traverse City. Built by one of Traverse City’s lumber barons, this spectacular neoclassical mansion has been fully restored to its original grandeur. The property features period antiques throughout the eight guest rooms and attached private baths as well as the rest of the property including, the dining room, living room, library and ballroom.Walking through the doors of the Wellington Inn is like taking a step back in time. This historic home in the heart of downtown Traverse City has been a labor of love for the current owners who have gone to great lengths to preserve this beautiful piece of the past. In1999 Barb and Hank Rishel purchased the mansion. Following an extensive 4 year restoration, they opened the bed and breakfast in 2003 as Antiquities' Wellington Inn, the landmark Bed & Breakfast and downtown jewel it is today. Each morning guests are treated to a sumptuous full breakfast in the turn-of-the-century dining room. Refreshments and snacks are always available in the guest kitchen located off the 3rd-floor adjacent the magnificent ballroom. If planning an extended visit to Northern Michigan, the two 2-bedroom Carriage House apartments provide guests with a home away from home, allowing a leisurely multi-day exploration of Traverse City and the surrounding region. As Wellington Inn is situated in a unique downtown neighborhood in Traverse City it is within a short walk to fine restaurants, shops, recreational trails and the spectacular beaches of Grand Traverse Bay. Perfect for small business retreats, Wellington Inn can accommodate with a very unique experience and all amenities needed. Please visit us online at www.wellingtoninn.com for more information about this historic landmark and to book your group or individual stay.”

Walters Cove Resort is a luxurious fishing lodge, owned by the Kyuquot Checklesaht First Nations.  Located in Canada, on the NW side of Vancouver Island in Kyuquot Sound, we provide a first class, all-inclusive fishing experience for salmon, halibut and bottom fish.  Offering your choice of flying into the lodge from Vancouver, BC, driving in to Fair Harbour, BC or even bringing in your own boat, we can provide any of your transportation preferences! Our small, intimate lodge holds a maximum capacity of only 18 guests which allows us to provide exceptional customer service and cultural experiences such as our signature Beach BBQ.  Our Red Seal Certified Chef prepares incredible meals offering both meat and local seafood options prepared with fresh produce and the highest quality ingredients, sure to satisfy any palate!  Enjoy the most consistent salmon, halibut and bottom fish fishery on the West Coast while using top of the line fishing equipment (Abel and Avet reels) aboard large, luxury 23' ft. Grady White boats powered by well maintained, 300 HP Suzuki motors.  Our boats are also equipped with onboard flush toilets for your comfort while spending the day on the water.  Our local, experienced, certified guides have grown up fishing these waters and know where to take you for a safe and productive fishing experience! Our Provincial Fish Processing license allows us to fillet your catch and cut them into meal sized portions, vacuum pack and freeze them within minutes of landing at the dock so you go home with the freshest, highest quality product possible that you can enjoy for months afterward. With the exchange rate currently being so favorable, now is the time to join us as all of our packages, starting at $3195/person, are in Canadian dollars.  For more info go to www.walterscoveresort.com or call us at 1.844.466.9453.

Aberdeen was located by the Milwaukee Railroad in 1880, taking its name from Aberdeen, Scotland, the hometown of railroad president, Alexander Mitchell. Aberdeen soon became known as the “Hub City,” in recognition of the network rail lines that converged there. If you want variety, then head to Aberdeen. It is a city that since its beginnings has flourished with a strong agricultural economy and has diversified into a manufacturing and service center. Recreational opportunities for every season abound in Aberdeen. Aberdeen has an abundance of park and recreation areas for your enjoyment. Enjoy a round of golf at one of the three 18-hole, manicured golf courses in Aberdeen. Walk, bike or jog down one of the city’s many recreational trails. Indoor activities abound in the fall and winter at area gymnasiums. Hockey and recreational skating can be enjoyed at the Holum Expo Indoor Rink. Swim indoors at the YMCA. Trap shooting enthusiasts will feel right at home in multifaceted Aberdeen Gun Club. Beautifully developed indoor and outdoor archery ranges are also available. Mina and Richmond State Parks and Wylie Park all feature beautiful lakes and camping facilities. Whether you are a participant or spectator, you’ll enjoy boating, fishing, sailing and water-skiing. There are additional camping facilities at Melgaard Park and Brown County Fairgrounds. Whether it’s waterfowl, upland game, big game or predators, the Aberdeen area has something for every hunter. Wylie Park is a wonderful destination for the entire family. Wylie Park is 210 acres that features a multitude of outdoor adventures including camping, picnicking, swimming, and playground areas, miniature golf, go-karts, bumper boats, bike and surrey rentals, softball, volleyball, horseshoes and miles of recreational trails throughout the park.  Storybook Land is sure to be a family favorite.

By Cathy & Jesse Cromer Fish the Sportfishing Capital of the World in Islamorada Florida aboard the Dog House, a 53' Hatteras with Captain Jesse Cromer down at Whale Harbor Marina located at Mile Marker 83.5 Oceanside.  Captain Jesse will take you offshore for a day of Deep Sea Fishing to find Mahi-Mahi, Swordfish, Sailfish, Tuna, Cobia, Wahoo, Marlin, Snapper and more. The 53' Hatteras Yacht is fully air-conditioned and comfortable with leather furniture in the salon featuring satellite radio, iced cooler for your beverages.  Customers will also have access to the side-by-side refrigerator in the galley for convenience to store whatever snacks or sandwiches they bring on board. Bait, tackle, rods and licenses are included.  We filet and bag the catch. Dog House Sportfishing Charters and Captain Jesse are recognized as Blue Star Fishing Guide in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.  (To learn more please visit floridakeys.noaa.gov). Dog House offers 1/2 day, 3/4 day and Full day offshore or reef. Website:  www.doghousesportfishingcharters.com Phone:  (305) 393-0436 

The ALL HANDS ON DECK! Show was born out of gratitude and patriotism. Jody Madaras has been described as a home town Ohio farm boy who went to New York and ‘made good’. In a family of great Americans lives patriotism, reverence, gratitude, honor, and integrity. In 2007, Madaras decided to feature these values by writing a show that would not only say “Thank You” to the greatest generation; the men and women who served our country during WWII and the Korean Conflict; but also, would remind Americans of a time when our country was truly united. Madaras has masterfully crafted together those values into a production that takes us all on a sentimental, and truly inspirational, journey—The ALL HANDS ON DECK! Show. In a recent interview, Madaras explained, “Our 1942 Roadshow & Radio Broadcast is very special to me; I spent nearly four years writing it. Saying something important with these songs was my intention. We are reminded every day that our country has challenges. Our songs and deportment all focus on patriotic unity, our “Can Do!” spirit, and what’s right about our country. For younger generations, this show offers a glimpse of what was and what can be. For the senior generations, it offers a trip down memory lane to the ‘best of times’. Ultimately, I simply want everyone to leave the theatre feeling a little bit better and happier about our country.” Madaras’ strong patriotism is credited in large part to his family. His grandmother June was extremely active in the American Legion Auxiliary. “Growing up with Grandma, we always listened to these songs.She was very proud of the United States and believed we are at our best when we are united. Her handwriting is in this show.” His grandfather, Adolph “Duff” immigrated through Ellis Island from Hungary in 1911, and proudly served as an officer in the US Navy in WWII. Madaras continued, “I chose the Hollywood Victory Caravan, a group of famous Hollywood film stars who toured America by train in early 1942 selling war bonds, as the setting for the show. My research uncovered that no one had ever written a show based on the Caravan. Their road shows raised millions of dollars for the war effort, and no one had ever fully honored them. 1942 was one of the most pivotal years in world history; paving the way for much of the prosperity we enjoy in our great country today. That’s our theme: feeling united, then and now.” The ALL HANDS ON DECK! Show tours the U.S.A. annually, and is also featured in Branson, Missouri in the fall. For schedule and information, please visit: AllHandsOnDeckShow.com

Sunlight reflects off the piercing blue waters of the Pawcatuck River.  Prismatic droplets decorate the hull of the vessel as beads of sweat form against sun-dried skin. Waves crash against the sides of the boat, forming mounds of white foam. The fishing line tenses as the rod rattles. This could be the big one. Captain Dan O’Malley and crew prepare for the catch.Angler Dan’s Offshore Adventures offers an exciting fishing experience for those looking for some time on the sea. Captain Dan has over 30 years’ experience in deep sea fishing, while First Mate Joe Bouthot taps into his two decades of fishing to assist both captain and adventurers, alike. Together, they are committed to creating a safe, enjoyable charter fishing adventure for all guests. With three different charter packages to choose from, there’s something for everyone. The in-shore charter package takes fishermen up to twenty miles out from the shore for either four or eight hours, where the bluefish, summer flounder, striped bass, porgy, winter flounder, and blackfish are just some of the catches that await.  He’s been doing this for a long time, and Captain Dan knows just where the sweet spots are located. It wouldn’t be called Angler Dan’s Offshore Adventures if there wasn’t an offshore charter.  Over ten to twelve hours, adventurers can fish up to sixty-five miles out, where the catches are some of nature’s oldest predators. From a variety of tuna to mahi mahi, the fish are big and the fight is strong. An adventure of this nature is a true test of an angler’s skills and determination, but with Angler Dan at the helm, the experience is unforgettable. Makos, smooth hammerheads, threshers, and blue sharks are just a few of the sharks found about sixty-five miles offshore. Angler Dan participates in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program, which is important to study the life of Atlantic sharks. Adventurous anglers can opt for a ten- to twelve-hour excursion to assist with implanting a dart tag near the shark’s first dorsal fin. One doesn’t spend as much time in the water as Angler Dan has without having a respect for the marine life. It’s through tagging programs such as the one Angler Dan’s Offshore Adventures provides that vital information such as stock identity, movement and migration, age and growth, mortality, and behavior of different species of sharks can be obtained. Angler Dan also offers a young anglers summer program, which helps cultivate an early interest in charter fishing. Children ages ten and up learn not only different fishing techniques, but also important skills such as boating safety, sea life identification, and boat management. Captain Dan’s passion for fishing is ever apparent during his sessions with future fishing experts. From how to catch live bait to when to use which type of bait, Captain Dan’s got a lesson prepared. At the end of the day, it’s about the adventure. Angler Dan and crew ensure every guest has a satisfactory experience from start to finish, whether it’s a four-hour trip or a twelve-hour tour. Fully licensed and insured, Angler Dan’s Offshore Adventures maintains the highest level of safety. Ready? The sea is calling.

Over the last few years, the Florida Keys has become increasingly corporate. Pristine chain hotels seem to pop up every other month alongside Mattress Firms and McDonald’s. However, there’s a certain type of comfort one finds in the old vibe: the mom & pops, the low-key, the smooth sailing, wind-blown, "dive-bar-y", aesthetic of the old Florida Keys. There’s a comfort to be taken in these places, something akin to that feeling of “home.” South Dade Marina & Eco Adventures Tours, just at the mouth of the Keys, is one of these venues. Stemming from its attainment by long-standing owner of the Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages (Ph. 305-451-3438), South Dade Marina is in the process of being transformed into an eco-friendly, sustainable operation set on educating the public through adventure and exploration of the backwoods everglades ecosystem. The marina is a sail boat only docking space located deep in everglade mangrove forests. It is in a no-wake zone to protect and preserve the delicate wildlife that surrounds the marina. More than just a marina, South Dade Marina and the surrounding area is a nursery for ocean life. “The other day I was paddle boarding through the dense mangroves of the marina, when I spotted three baby black-tipped sharks,” Captain Serene Sullivan, VIce President and yoga paddle board instructor of South Dade Marina said. “The area is just teeming with life.” In an effort to share this amazing space with the wider public, not just sailboat owners, the marina has recently opened up their doors to those wishing to kayak in see-through kayaks and paddle board through the large expanse of everglade nursery. “It’s a beautiful and important space we have here at South Dade Marina. There’s nothing like the Everglades in the entire world, and we need to protect it. Part of this process is getting people to appreciate what we have here,” Paul Keever, owner operator of South Dade Marina said. “I hope by opening the marina to the public and showing them the importance of these types of habitats, they will take the plight of climate change more seriously.” Wet storage and dry storage are available for sailboats at SDM. Manatee Bay and Barnes Sound are both ideal for day sailing. For inland cruising the intercoastal water way is nearby and the ocean can be reached through Angelfish creek. Kayaks and paddle boards can be rented from South Dade Marina or one can bring their own. Kayaking and paddle board tours through the everglade canals can be scheduled by calling the number on their website. Paddle board yoga as well as on land yoga is also available.     Even the most plugged-in of our times can admit, sometimes it’s nice to get away, to dive into nature and experience what the world has to offer.