If you seek a pleasant peninsula...

Mr. P joined myself and four friends on a wonderful trip to northern Michigan all around the Leelanau Peninsula from May 31-June 3. We had amazing weather, delicious eats, grand outdoor adventures, a killer driving soundtrack, and plenty of laughs. Mr. Pickle was happy to hop on board as we ventured around the peninsula as we whiffed the lavender forest and stared at the stars.

Relaxing outside Michigan Artists Gallery in Suttons Bay.

Walking in Traverse City, on our way to The Cooks' House for dinner.

Before dinner we had to make a quick stop at the water and dip our toes in the freezing bay.

Mr. P was dying to see and hike some dunes. He did the Empire Bluff trail walk and this is what was at the end of it. PURE MICHIGAN!

The veg tacos at Cedar Sol hydro farm taco stand were super yum. Mr. Pickle enjoyed himself a wild ginger drink as he recooped from his afternoon hike.

 

YES! In Cedar, MI.

That same day we hiked a bit around Pyramid Point.

And more PURE MICHIGAN was waiting for us as we walked out of the forest. The aquas in the water made Mr. Pickle's heart burst out of his chest a couple of times.

Fishtown! Mr. P enjoyed walking around and shopping in the little shops.

Today! Mr. P is thinking about it.

When in Fishtown you gotta try a Chubby Mary! (Chub as in fish, as in a whole fish inside the drink glass acting as though it were a pickle or an olive.) Mr. P went with the chubless. I drank water.

VROOM VROOM! Just driving a Ferrari boat inside The Cove bar. No big deal. 

This pickle has taste.

Mr. P stayed in the most gorgeous modern farmhouse. Here he is enjoying an evening by the fire enjoying some vegan dessert, chocolate, wine, and good company.

In the Leelanau State Park we visited the Grand Traverse Lighthouse. We also visited a LEGO version of the lighthouse, which was just Mr. Pickle's size!

Mr. P wasn't creeped out by this lighthouse keeper or anything...

Mr. P met Macaulay Culkin at a creepy antique shop in Northport! They reenacted a few scenes from Home Alone, then Mr. P was on his way. (I'd like to know who is going to buy that Mac cut-out?!)

And what trip north is complete without a stop or three for some wine tastings. Mr. P indulged in some bubbly at L.Mawby, and it was goooooood. 

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It's been a while since I've taken the P man on a trip, so I was happy to finally get to do so again. 

He's got a pretty open summer schedule so far... 

Where are you taking him?! Let me know.

Santa Barbara Animal Adventure

Mr. P had a wonderful time traveling to Santa Barbara, California from January 31 to February 4 with Mara to meet up with her friend Tara! They encountered travel woes, a billion cute animals (including the cutest ostriches ever), they went to a film festival and hounded film star Jennifer Lawrence, went to the beach, watched butterflies mate, and went whale watching! How do you fit all that into a few days? Mr. P and his guest are pros at this kind of thing. Here we go:

A crazy layover in Denver for Mr. P and Mara as they missed their connecting flight.

Alas! A beach and a drink in Cali, just how this traveling pickle likes it.

Hello hippie cupcake!

Mr. P enjoys the view from the Santa Barbara courthouse tower. (Looks a bit European, eh?)

What up, Ben Franklin? You like chillin' with a pickle, or what?

Ben must have not liked chillin's with Mr. P. He put these pigeons on him! BIRD ATTACK!

Enjoying a bagel while waiting to board the whale watching boat! WHALES!

Tara and Mr. P trying to stay dry and look for whales at the same time.

Look out One Eyed Willie, we're coming up right behind ya! Well, Mr. P and Tara that is.

At a "weird bar." GAME OVER. Poor Mr. P, he's never been good at this game.

Hello film fest! Hello HUNGER GAMES star Jennifer Lawrence. Check out Mr. Pickle's bow & arrow! His skills could give Katniss a run for her money. In his mind.

Theater front. Trying to get his eyes on THE Jennifer Lawrence.

In the meantime, may as well practice some Katniss-style bow moves...

Alas! Jennifer Lawrence is spotted! Look at Mr. P, being all cute and blurry and stalkerish.

Pickle-blur inside the theater, waiting for J-Law to give her interview and get her award. Yes, inside! It was a beautiful, old-style movie palace! This green guy does enjoy a good film.

Checking out the butterfly preserve. The area is full of eucalyptus trees and milkweed plants, so it's an ideal place for them to stop on their migration to and from Mexico. Mr. P LOVES monarchs.

If you walk up a path from the preserve you end up on this bluff. Great view!

Mr. P's lovely hosts, Mara and Tara. No, their names don't rhyme, and he kept getting it all confused.

Attempting to feed the ostriches at the ostrich farm. OSTRICHES! They are sooooo cute and Mr. P just wanted to pet one.

Then he saw the signs and decided against it. Even though he has survived alligator attacks on more than one occasion.

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?

They stopped in a Frankenmuth/Gaylord-esque town (except a Danish version) in the mountains for lunch. It was strange to see a bunch of Nordic stuff in the middle of the California hills. The food was amazing though: Danish sausage, Swedish meatballs, cabbage, pan-fried potatoes, and of course, PICKLES! Mr. P was in heaven.

Onto a mini horse farm! Do you C Mr. Pickle?

After leaving the mini-horse farm, they passed by an animal rescue park/petting farm and had to stop. Mara says it was the happiest place she's ever seen. The animals were all running around in the same pens in harmony, and they were all so CLEAN! She tried to take a picture of Mr. Pickle riding on the tortoise, but it was too fast and he kept falling off.

The baby mini-donkeys like to snuggle with people at naptime. Tara and Mr. P. were happy to keep this baby company. Mr. P. tipped his hat down and was about to take a snooze, too.

Happy, crazy animals playing.

Hannah's mom runs the animal rescue. What a fun job!

When she would yell "Heeeeey, Tom!" one of the turkeys would gobble.

Last stop, the lavender farm! The lavender wasn't really blooming, but there was a fun purple store that sold lavender products. Mr. P. helped Mara pick out some sachets to take home!

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Alas, an action-packed trip comes to end. So much fun was had! Mr. P thanks his gracious hosts. It's amazing how every trip to California is so different!

Don't forget to check out his itinerary and see if you can fit Mr. Pickle into you travel plans!

Putting the P in the U.P.

A northern Michigan trip for Mr. Pickle! Michigan is his home base, but he hasn't done much exploring in it. Immediately after returning from Paris, France he joined Darla (and James and Henry) and headed Up North to join Eby (and Ginger) for a bit of Northern Michigan fun from October 1-7. He first landed in Suttons Bay to visit Eby and Ginger at Hemlock Creek Farm and to hang with their pigs. Eventually they all traveled to the Upper Peninsula to soak in the majestic Lake Superior and visit the Tahquamenon Falls. Mr. Pickle's liver got a workout in between adventures. This was prime time for fall colors and OH MY it was pretty...
 

 

 Visiting Eby's pigs at Hemlock Creek Farm in Suttons Bay.

 

Gnome-like mischief, witnessed by ceramic pics.

Sippin' the fine Tandem Ciders. Mmmmm.

Mr. P dining with THE Henry at Towne Plaza in Traverse City. 

One of many drinks. Talk about fermented pickles. 

A stop at Deadman's Hill in the Jordan River Valley in Warner, MI.

Graffiti and trees and a pickle at Deadman's Hill. (See how it says DANG?)

DANG, Mr. Pickle, look at that view! Look at those lush colors. 

Drink stop at Dixie Saloon before crossing the Mackinac Bridge into the UP. 

Mr. P and the Mighty Mac! 

Overlooking Lake Superior at the mouth of the Tahquamenon River.

Well, it's not a gator attack, this time it's a giant bear at the gift shop! He just can't escape the sharp jaws of these critters.

Mr. P and PASTIES at the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery. Typical Up North. Typical Eby.

Mr. P is helping Darla dig around graves at Mission Hill Cemetary. Darla is realllly good at finding dead people. Mr. Pickle is not so much into genealogy.

A pickle-sized gazebo!!

A pickle-sized boat! He mans the HENRY T. I wonder if Henry J was amused...

They spent a lot of time on the beach of Lake Superior near Brimley. Oh, Lake Superior, so vast.

Um, that's a lot of water.

Bacon for breakfast, of course.

Mr. Pickle visited the top of the Point Iroquois Lighthouse in Hiawatha National Forest in Brimley, MI.

Lighthousing around.

The old lighthouse light. The sign says DO NOT TOUCH. SHARP EDGES. I guess Mr. P came out unscathed.

Mr. P loves meeting other stuffed friends on his travels. This time around he met a celebrity! Smokey the Bear!! In a lighthouse, no less.

Lunch at Clyde's in St. Ignace before heading over the bridge and back home.

The Mighty Mac and the mighty Mr. P headed back to SE Michigan. 

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Such a fun trip with fun people. And those fall colors! Those waterfalls! Swoon. 

Until next time...