Cracker Barrels are a dime a dozen, what with the porch swings and the deep-fried everything, but a Pickle Barrel? That’s a house of a different color. Oh yeah, it’s also a house.

Well, it used to be a house on the shores of Sable Lake outside of Chicago. Now it sits in Grand Marais, Michigan as a tourist information center — probably the only one listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

No pickles were harmed in the writing of this post.

This post is part of UpTake’s Roadside Tuesday Series.

Photo: Kristina_5 via Flickr

Racks of decorative paper at Hollander's

A writer and her  (beautiful) paper should never be parted. At least that’s my philosophy, which probably explains my deep-seated paper snobbery.  I simply can’t stomach cheap, bland or flimsy paper products of any kind, whether it’s a desktop business card or  cheesy wrapping paper. Chalk it up to my long-term, close relationship with paper. I really see no reason why it can’t be high quality and gorgeous.  So I felt like I was in paper paradise when I waltzed into Ann Arbor, Michigan’s paper mecca, Hollander’s School of Book & Paper Arts. But you don’t have to be a paper snob to enjoy it. This crafty emporium stocks cards, bookmarks, books and all the  elegant paper and book making materials that you could ever conjure up. Read More »

Roasted cacao beans

There’s no nirvana quite like the aroma of  fresh cacao beans roasting during the chocolate making process. If you’ve never experienced this special treat, a visit to Ann Arbor, Michigan’s  Mindo Chocolate Makers is a requirement.  These artisan chocolate makers process organic chocolate right from the cacao pod to handmade and dipped chocolate.  This family-owned business operates a joint production in Mindo, Ecuador and Ann Arbor for a one-of-kind chocolate trip. Read More »

... is all you need!

That’s right, I said deals. As in more than one.

If you’re thinking about getting away this Valentine’s Day with that special someone, here are some romantic hotel and spa deals for you: Read More »