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Special Advertising Section | Weekend Getaway����

We all have our go-to vacation destinations, places where we feel comfortable and know what to expect. We build memories and enjoy the familiarity. Yet there is something to be said for taking it outside your comfort zone. When was the last time you explored a place you thought you knew, only to discover there was so much more? It happens in Michigan and Ohio all the time. Both have bright lights, big cities, and nature’s solitude, yet sometimes we get stuck heading to the same resort, restaurant, or recreation area. Has it been a while since you found your inner child at Cedar Point, or explored the more offbeat trails of southern Ohio? Maybe your childhood memories of a trip to Frankenmuth or the Ludington area need to be updated to include the many new amenities both areas have to offer. The Grand Traverse and Petoskey areas continue to grow, yet the natural beauty of each can easily bathe visitors in a quiet peacefulness.

Need to stay a little closer to home? Consider a mini staycation at MGM Grand or MotorCity Casino and take in a concert, fine dining, and pampering all in one spot.

You made it through another winter, and perhaps, renewed a sense of wonder. What better way to celebrate the arrival of a new season than to find a new destination to explore?

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA

Guest Information: 100 Grand Traverse Village Boulevard, Acme, MI 49610
800-236-1577 |

Adventure awaits at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, where you’ll find a slice of heaven along the shores of Lake Michigan. On our 900-acre property, located just minutes from downtown Traverse City, we believe in making the most of every summer moment.

The Resort is a summer traveler’s dream. Our private beach and pool area, The Shores Beach Club, rents personal watercraft such as Jet Skis, pedal boats, and kayaks, and hosts evening bonfires and live music down by the water. One of the Midwest’s finest golf destinations, we’re home to three championship courses including The Bear, The Wolverine, and Spruce Run. Our nine tennis courts, four pools, and access to citywide trails for biking, hiking, and running make it easy to enjoy a day of play.

We provide a first-class experience in a friendly fashion and strive to create the perfect visit for each guest. Whether you’re looking for relaxation at our full-service Spa Grand Traverse, family fun at the Indoor Water Playground, or a one-of-a-kind dining experience at Aerie Restaurant & Lounge, the Resort has something for everyone.

We’re here to make your visit grand, and we offer exceptional amenities for groups of all sizes. With 86,500 square feet of meeting space, nearly 600 guest rooms, a 100,000-square-foot fitness center, and multiple dining and shopping options, we love to host parties of two or events for 2,000.

Experience all Northern Michigan has to offer with the help of our concierge and events staff, who are ready to help you make the most of your trip. From sand dunes and forests to wineries and festivals, there’s no place like Northern Michigan in the summertime.

Get up and go to Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, the perfect place for your summer getaway.

MGM GRAND DETROIT

Guest Information: 1777 Third Street, Detroit, MI 48226
1-877-888-2121 |

The Only Forbes Four-Star Resort in Detroit

Award-winning experiences are waiting for you day and night at MGM Grand Detroit. From the moment you step into this magnificent MGM Resorts International destination, we strive to provide you with an escape that’s both undeniably exciting and absolutely unforgettable. The truth is, MGM Grand Detroit has worked tirelessly to build an experience that will truly make a lasting impression. From dining to gaming and spa treatments at IMMERSE spa, there are always Grand Times Ahead.

Vacation or Staycation?

Whether you live in the great city of Detroit or plan on stopping by on your way through town, MGM Grand Detroit is the ideal place to settle in for a bit. This is the only hotel in Detroit to receive Four Stars from the Forbes Travel Guide, as well as AAA’s coveted Four-Diamond Award. Each of our 400 stylish rooms offer marble showers, pillow-top beds with plush down comforters, and 50-inch HD televisions. Want more? As a hotel guest, you’ll enjoy a dedicated entrance, a private lobby living room, and access to the luxury spa and fitness center.

It’s All About the Entertainment

MGM Grand Detroit is home to an impressive collection of “must-dos.” Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck perfects the art of steak at award-winning Wolfgang Puck Steak, while Detroit’s best sports pub, TAP at MGM Grand Detroit, has become a game-changer for local sports fans. Elevate your golf game with cutting-edge virtual technology at the Topgolf Swing Suite, or kick back and enjoy live entertainment at AXIS Lounge. And, of course, our 100,000-square-foot casino — equipped with Detroit’s premier poker room, nearly 150 table games, and over 3,500 slots and video poker — is always open and ready to play. 21+

PETOSKEY AREA

Guest Information: 800.845.2828 |

The Petoskey Area is a Michigan Treasure The Petoskey Area of northern Michigan welcomes you with timeless beauty and Victorian charm along the shores of Lake Michigan. Stroll sandy beaches looking for Petoskey stones, dive into crystal-clear Lake Charlevoix, or catch a million- dollar sunset over Lake Michigan. The memories you’ll share after visiting here will be filled with one “remember when” story after another.

What makes the Petoskey Area so much more than just another pretty place is all there is to do after your beach towel has been put away. In fact, our charming resort communities of Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Alanson, Bay Harbor, and Boyne City offer a whole vacation full of activities.

Culture: The Great Lakes Center for the Arts is located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Bay Harbor. It features world-class performances in a variety of genres, with virtually limitless possibilities to inspire, entertain, and educate.

Victorian Charm: The Bay View Association, with its nearly 500 Victorian structures, has earned designation as a National Historic Landmark. A summer lineup of concerts, lectures, and classes adds to the appeal.

Hiking & Biking: The Petoskey Area is home to some of the most beautiful hiking and biking trails imaginable, some of which hug the shoreline and offer incredible views.

World-class Golf: Enjoy more than a dozen courses, from nationally rated layouts to economical facilities. Their beauty and quality are often written about in Golf ����vlog��׿�� and Golf Digest.
Wineries: Small, but with a lot of heart and personality, may best describe the area’s wineries. Twelve locations combine to create the Petoskey Wine Region. Sip, sample, and maybe take in a wine & paint session among the beautiful scenery.

Stay Awhile: Choose from quaint country inns, luxurious condominiums, and modern, full-service hotels. For more information or lodging help, call the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau at 800-845-2828, or visit .

MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL

Guest Information: 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI 48201
1-877-PLAY-MCC |

Welcome to Detroit’s most exciting escape destination. At MotorCity Casino Hotel, you’ll find a world where you can escape from the everyday. Whether you’re dining, making the slot machines ring out, relaxing at our spa, or seeing a show, you’ll discover what it’s like when excitement, luxury, and pleasure are shaken together to create an experience you can’t get anywhere else.

Just seeing the room is a wake-up call. In our 400 rooms and suites you’ll find elegance coupled with the latest technology and amenities. With complimentary Wi-Fi, decadent bedding and spa bath products, in-room dining, and a business center and fitness center, it’s like being right at home.

Big sound. Up close. Sound Board, our 1,500-seat theater, puts everyone up close to the performers, and its state-of-the-art sound and lighting makes it an intense entertainment experience.

Every day, we offer a place to hide out from the everyday. D. Tour Spa offers thermal whirlpools, steam rooms, and saunas and a specialized selection of massage and body treatments so you can pamper yourself with manicures, pedicures, facials, and massages.

You can’t work or play on an empty stomach. Perfectly executed food, intelligent wine selections, and stunning ambience are on the menu at Iridescence, our AAA Four-Diamond award-winning restaurant. Modern American cuisine is complemented by a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. If you’re in the mood for something more casual, Assembly Line Buffet, The Lodge Diner, Grand River Deli & Burgers, and Little Caesars are guaranteed to get your motor running.

We’re in the business of unforgettable. We offer everything you need to make your event truly memorable. From cutting-edge presentations to gala banquets, MotorCity Casino Hotel has the right facilities and the right people to make the extraordinary happen. With 67,000 square feet of flexible banquet and meeting space plus the state-of-the-art Sound Board theater, you’ll find everything you need to make your next event legendary.

TRAVERSE CITY TOURISM

Guest Information:

RECONNECT IN A PRETTY GREAT PLACE. Sometimes we can reconnect at home, and sometimes we need to reconnect in a special place — a place where the hot July sun is matched with cool freshwater breezes, and where winding country roads lead to colorful storefronts and downtown eateries. It’s a place where you can leave behind the things you need to do and focus on the person you’re with. Traverse City has long been a destination for connecting with others because, naturally, it brings great things together: recreation and relaxation, celebration and serenity, rustic and refined. They say that opposites attract, and in Traverse City it couldn’t be more obvious. Whether you’re exploring the area’s 40 wineries, 150 shops and restaurants, or the 100 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, this is a getaway that hits close to home. This summer, reconnect with your other half in a pretty great place.

LUDINGTON CVB

Guest Information: | 800-542-4600

Ludington offers visitors the quintessential “Up North” experience. Miles of sandy shore- line, biking and hiking trails, a vibrant downtown, and so much more make for endless possibilities. No matter what you’re seeking — fun for the whole family, outdoor adventures, or a peaceful getaway — you can find it here in Pure Ludington.

BAVARIAN INN LODGE

Guest Information: 888-775-6343 |
1 Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth, MI 48734

Located on the banks of the Cass River, the Bavarian Inn Lodge is a world-class getaway for couples and families. The Lodge is conveniently located just steps away from Frankenmuth’s downtown shopping and attractions and offers recreational options for all ages and nightly entertainment.

TOURISMOHIO

Guest Information:

Need Some Space? Find it in Ohio.

July 20 marks 50 years since Wapakoneta native Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. Celebrate Ohio’s place in space at these out-of-this-world spots.

1. The Armstrong Air & Space Museum celebrates Wapakoneta’s favorite son and the space program. Practice landing on the moon in one of three simulators. Gaze in awe at the Gemini 8 spacecraft Armstrong piloted, and see how his space suits evolved from the Gemini flight in 1966 to Apollo 11 in 1969.

2. At the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, walk onto a full-size NASA space shuttle payload bay to discover how astronauts function in space. The evolution of space travel is on display, with Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo spacecraft as well as rockets and satellites.

3. Armstrong wasn’t Ohio’s only famous space pioneer. New Concord native John Glenn was one of the first seven astronauts in the U.S. space program, and became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962. The John Glenn Astronomy Park in Logan, built in one of the darkest places in the state (not affected by light pollution), offers incredible views of the night sky. Programs guide visitors through what they’re seeing through the observatory’s 28-inch telescope.

4. Today’s space program is on display at the NASA Glenn Visitor Center, located inside the Great Lakes Science Center. Here you can experience what goes on at the nearby NASA Glenn Research Center. Get your photo taken in a space suit, see a real moon rock, and try lots of interactive exhibits.

5. Enjoy breathtaking views of the night sky at Observatory Park in Montville. The remote location is one of only 45 International Dark Sky Parks in the U.S., and gives visitors brilliant views that will take their breath away. Bring a telescope or look through the parks’ 36-inch mirror research telescope.