Meet the characters and places that deeply influenced one of America’s most famous authors. Ernest Hemingway summered in northern Michigan between 1899 and 1921. Using his experiences in Michigan as inspiration, he wrote
his first novel, Torrents of Spring. Come along and discover Hemingway’s Michigan.
Your day begins in the quaint harbor town of Petoskey, nestled along the Lake Michigan Bay. Your guided tour will visit Walloon Lake, one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite lakes. Hemingway and his new bride rowed across the lake to the family cottage where they began their honeymoon. Located on the North Shore of Walloon Lake, Windemere was the childhood summer home of Ernest Hemingway. The house is still owned by the Hemingway family. You’ll hear wonderful stories of the Longfield and Bacon Farms and the Indian Camp. All of these places played parts in numerous short stories and novels written by Hemingway.
A sacred place to the Native Americans that Hemingway wrote about in several stories, Greensky Hill Indian Methodist Church is a national Historic Site. Prudence Boulton, the model for the character of Prudence in "Ten Indians," is said to be buried here in an unmarked grave.
Nearby is the Horton Bay General Store. Since1876, this store has remained the center of business and social life in the village. Hemingway frequented the store as a boy and a young man. Hemingway photos and memorabilia are on display.
Stops will be made at the Red Fox Inn and the Township School, both of which played prominent parts in writings by Ernest Hemingway. Pinehurst and Shangri, both spacious cottages, will intrigued you as you hear the stories of how Ernest often bunked in a shed at the back of Pinehurst so he could see his Horton Bay friends and enjoy "Aunty Beth" Dilworth's great cooking. A wedding "breakfast" was held at Pinehurst following Hemingway's marriage to Hadley Richardson in Horton Bay on the afternoon of September 3, 1921.
Tour the Little Traverse Historical Museum- Built in 1892. This building was the main station of the Pere Marquette Railroad, which Hemingway refers to in "The Indians Moved Away" and his high school story, "Sepi Jingan." The station is now museum and displays a Hemingway exhibit.
Other stops may include the Penn Plaza Station, and Potters Rooming House, where Hemingway rented an upstairs room here during the winter of 1919-20 and worked hard--but without success--at writing fiction - The Flat Iron Building where Hemingway went for a shave and a haircut and enjoyed the banter of the other patrons and Jesperson’s Restaurant where for 109 years the same family has been serving simple home cooked from scratch food to locals and tourists. Hemingway was a daily visitor here whenever he visited his family on Walloon Lake.
Step inside the Carnegie Library - a favorite haunt of Hemingway's when he was living in Petoskey during the winter of 1919-20. In December of 1919 he spoke here to the Ladies Aid Society about his experiences in World War I.
Hear about the Harold Grant Building- In the early 1900s this building was home to the New Braun Hotel and Restaurant, and a setting for a scene in The Torrents of Spring. Your final stop of the day brings you to your overnight at the historic Perry Hotel in Petoskey. Built in 1899, this is the last of the original resort hotels in Petoskey. Hemingway stayed here in 1916 after a hiking and camping trip in Michigan a friend.
Enjoy dinner this evening at the Perry Hotel dining room. All these visits and more help to bring Ernest Hemingway to life.
In the middle of Hemingway Country is the Lavender Hills Farm. Discover how Lavender is grown. Local artisans create the sachets, linens, spa pillows and other gifts found in their lavender shop. The farm’s all natural goat’s milk soap with lavender, and the LAUNDRY BAR are made by the locally owned and operated family business, “SOAPS ‘N SUCH”. Esperance, a Charlevoix Deli, blends and packages two different herb mixes using our lavender.
Other businesses make their lavender jelly, lavender shortbread, and custom blended "Lavender Grey Tea". Enjoy a tour of the fields, join a class in making lavender wands, sample lavender ice cream, shop a while in the gift shop, or sit under the big walnut tree to relax over the serene countryside.
Mushroom homes...Gnome houses … Boulder homes ...Fairy houses. The creations of Earl Young are known world-wide. And the only place you can see them is Charlevoix. Here you can see some of the most famous, and most beloved, work of long-time Charlevoix resident, Earl Young, and the homes he built, culminating in the construction of the “mushroom house”. His signature style included use of stone, including stone fireplaces, curved cedar shake roofs, and unusual chimneys that look like they come from fairy tales. Whimsical is the best way to describe these beautiful homes.
Enjoy waterfront dining today at the Weathervane Restaurant in Charlevoix. Built by architect Earl Young and in the same style as the mushrooms houses, the Weathervane roof was designed after the curve of a gull’s wing. A glacial boulder fireplace was built in the main dining room and the main bar is made of shipwreck planks. Illuminating the Weathervane’s entrance are 150-year old street lights imported from Copenhagen. Enjoy lunch here today.
Afterwards, take a stroll downtown among the shops, boutiques and galleries. Now you’ll see why the city is referred to as “Charlevoix the beautiful”.
Step aboard Keweenaw Excursions for a sunset, sightseeing cruise around Lake Charlevoix. Your boat cruise will take you along the south arm of Lake Charlevoix and over to Horton Bay -the stomping grounds of Ernest Hemingway. It’s a perfect way to end your tour in Hemingway’s Michigan. Return back to the historic Perry Hotel in Petoskey.