J and I are heading to Traverse City today and Grand Rapids tomorrow just to hang out and see what we can find. The plan is to eat lunch at Cook’s House when we get to Traverse City. For dinner, we’re looking at Boone’s for dinner.
Tonight, we’re heading back to Grand Rapids where we’ve got a Red Roof Inn booked. Red Roof’s don’t offer free Wi-Fi with rooms, so there probably won’t be any blog updates until at least tomorrow night or Sunday. Saturday’s plans are to check out Grand Rapids. I don’t have much as far as restaruants go in GR. I’ve heard good things about Real Food Cafe and Wealthy St. Bakery for lunch. We’ll see what we can find. Dinner? Not sure. Maybe find something in GR..maybe drive back to Portland and try Duke’s Cajun Bar & Grill. Not sure. We’ll see. If you have any suggestions, leave them here. We may be able to find Wi-Fi at a McDonald’s or something so I can at least check e-mail and the blog.
Mid-Michigan Dining 
Since you are a fan of Whole Foods, while on your way back to Lansing from Grand Rapids on 96, you might want to stop at The Fresh Market, 5114 28th St SE Ste B, Grand Rapids, MI 49512-4125.
http://www.freshmarket.com/stores/store_locationsDetail.aspx?StoreID=80
Not as big or comprehensive as Whole Foods, but still different enough from anything we have in Lansing and worthy of a visit.
There is also a Meijer superstore closeby: 1540 28th Street SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508. It is new and clean, and has a wider variety of items that are not found in the Lansing stores…
Both these stores are close to their 96 exits so they are easy to find…
Real Food Cafe is EXCELLENT for breakfast. For dinner, San Chez (downtown) is wonderful.
Referencing Corky’s comment above: The Fresh Market rocks- you should stop there on your way home for sure. That Meijer is a concept store- their wine department layout is very nice and organized. (I have close friends that live behind the store- we go there a lot).
Another dinner option: Bella Vita in downtown GR. If you really want to go crazy, check out the 1913 Room at Amway Grand Hotel. Or, just go look at the menu.
The Eastown neighborhood has some nice restaurants and quirky shops. I’ll skip the Indian food recommendation. You could go ultra cheap at Yesterdog but please don’t call that a recommendation from me!
We made it to Grand Rapids after an awesome day in Traverse City. Don’t know if I’ll get to any posts tonight, but I got quite a few to write.
Our hotel is right across the street from Fresh Market. I made a comment about that when we came in..guess I’ll be running over there to check it out.
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