This past weekend (okay 2 weekends ago) my family and I took a trip slightly up north in Michigan to do all the fall things. While Michigan is a bit slow in the leaves changing colors section (the 20th and 27th weekends will probably be perfect), we were able to find some spots of the changing of seasons and of course visited every apple orchard we could find within driving distance.
We stopped at Crane’s Pie Pantry and Winery in Fennville, Michigan and stopped in for a quick bite for the first apple cider donut of the season! It did not disappoint! Crane’s doesn’t put extra cinnamon sugar on top of their donuts, but I don’t judge them for it, because somehow its still just as good and delicious as if it did.
After visiting Crane’s we continued on to Saugatuck, Michigan which is one of the cutest little towns in Michigan Its got a plethora of the most wonderful little boutiques and shops that I love to look through. If you’re ever driving up the West Side of Michigan, I definitely recommend stopping here for a quick stop!
After Saugatuck, we kept on with our tour of small towns in Michigan and went to Holland! Which, if you haven’t been, you are MISSING out. Honestly, Holland is a very similar vibe to Saugatuck, just slightly bigger since Hope College is right there and its much closer to Grand Rapids so more people head there on weekends. One of my favorite stores, Spring Sweet, is located there and we had to stop in so I could pick up some cute earrings! Following our little shopping excursion, we drove out to the lake and climbed the steps to the overlook in Holland!
The next day, we had one goal in mind: Robinette’s. If you are from, or attended school in the Greater Grand Rapids area, you know that Robinette’s is the fall thing TO DO. I can almost guarantee that every sorority on Grand Valley’s campus has had a photo shoot here and for good reason. Its beautiful, smells so good, and the donuts are UNREAL. The line for them literally goes to the street every weekend. We got there before they opened on Sunday (about 15 minutes before) and the line was already almost in the road. But have no fear, they know how to deal with crowds and the line moves pretty quickly. And they do not disappoint. They have more than just your typical apple cider donuts. They obviously have cinnamon sugar ones and non sugared ones, but chocolate sprinkled and apple fritters and bear claws, and literally so many others. You have to go.
So after Robinette’s and the obligatory photo shoot, we continued on to find some fall colors in the area. We didn’t find too much as it was unseasonably warm just the week prior, but we found some good spots and personally, I just love riding in cars now a days since I walk so much, so I was excited to just sit back and drive through some back country roads.
And so, thus wraps up our fall weekend mini vacay! Have you been to any of these places before or have any suggestions on where else to go in the area? What about your fall bucket list items? Leave your ideas below!
