We started our Michigan Wines and Signs Quest on June 2, 2019. On August 24, 2019 (84 days later) we visited the 50th site on our quest to visit every Michigan Historical Marker and every Michigan Winery and Tasting Room. We did not know what to expect when we set out on that day back in June, but what we have found out since is that it has been more interesting and fun than we expected. We have met so many interesting and wonderful people. We have encountered obstacles along the way – signs not located where they were supposed to be, signs missing altogether – and we have tasted some remarkable wines. To celebrate our first 50, I thought I would provide some facts/stats/opinions about what we have seen so far.
The breakdown of the sites we have visited looks
like this:
- 9 wineries/tasting rooms
- 41 historical markers
- 12 historical buildings
- 10 churches
- 5 cemeteries
- 4 Points of Interest
- 2 historical towns
- 2 schools
- 1 golf course
- 1 historic city block
- 1 historic monument
- 1 historic storm site
- 1 library
- 1 missing sign
Our longest quest was one we embarked on back on August
3, 2019. We visited 15 historical
markers and 2 wineries over a span of 9 ½ hours and covered 164.7 miles.
We have been as far north as Caseville, as far
east as Lexington, as far south as Commerce Township, and as far west as
Hartland, and a whole lot of places in between.
Total miles covered during our first 50 sites –
428.4 miles.
Most Pleasant Surprises:
- Sage Creek Winery. We had never heard of Memphis, Michigan, but we sure know it now, thanks to Sage Creek Winery. What a great place. A diamond in the rough. Great wine, great selection, cool atmosphere.
- Hoffman Farms Winery. A winery located on an historic horse farm. The wines and ciders were awesome, the hospitality was wonderful, and we met some really interesting people.
- 3 North Vines Winery. We could have sat there all day – perfect weather, sitting under a tree overlooking the vineyard, and drinking incredible wine, with the most friendly staff taking unbelievable care of us (and everyone else).
- Unwined Winery. Located in the most unusual place (a strip mall in a large city), but with the most interesting owners regaling us with their story all the while drinking from a large selection of wines that just happened to be excellent. Their ports are to die for.
Biggest Disappointments:
- Any historical marker that had nothing to show for it!! (The Thing, The Village of Cash)
- The missing historical marker at Byers Homestead
- Spicer Orchards Winery. Understaffed, long waits in between pours, curious pay-before-you-get policy – chalking it up to a bad day, so will revisit, but we had high expectations and they were truly not met.
- Improperly documented coordinates for many historical markers, most notably the Old Prospect Hill Cemetery and Commerce United Methodist Congregation.
The Most Fun Historical Places We Visited:
- Dibbleville. Timing is everything. We were there during Fenton’s annual River Fest, with music wafting in the air from across the street. And a live volcano just across the parking lot!
- Loop-Harrison House. Again, timing is everything. We just happened to stop the same weekend as their annual Civil War Festival. It’s like walking around a mini-Greenfield village!
- Old Town Hall and Masonic Temple in Lexington. Let’s see – an awesome winery, and a brewery, and a restaurant, all inside an historic building with lots of character. It was like hitting the lottery!
- HONORABLE MENTION: Byers Homestead. Although the historical marker no longer exists on this site, it was a lot of fun walking the grounds and soaking in the history.
Special Moments:
- Crawford Settlement Burying Ground. Our very first stop on our quest.
- Watching the sunset over Saginaw Bay with our son, David, after visiting the Methodist Episcopal Church marker in Caseville.
- Our marathon tour of the eastern part of the Michigan Thumb with our daughter, Sarah.
- The Stoney Creek and Rochester tour with both David and Sarah joining us.
- Exploring Mill Race Park with Kathy after visiting the Commerce Roller Mill historical marker.
Our next 50 promises to be more exciting and
adventurous as we start to expand further out from our home base, and we have a
big trip to the Petoskey and Traverse City regions where we visited 30 or so
wineries. If you’re into wine more that
history, then the next 50 will be more up your alley. But, history buffs, do not lament, because
there are still plenty of historical markers to whet your whistle.
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