The Traveling Michigander

I “borrow” travel shampoos from hotels whenever I can. It saves me money, and I’m not particular about what goop goes on my head.

This week, when I opened a bottle that had been stored away for a while, the scent hit my nose and I instantly thought of southern California. Sure enough, I looked at the label and it was from a Hilton in Orange County where I stayed at while doing work in Brea, CA ten year ago. Ten years, and I still remember the scent!

On the subject of senses, I like to have a signature taste, like a “Beer of the summer”. Last year, my wife bought Landshark beer for our week at the cottage in Interlochen. I’m sure I’ve forgotten certain details of that trip, but I remember that.

This year, for our trip to another cottage, the beer will be Leinenkugel Weiss. And I’m sure I’ll remember that a year from now, too. And who knows what other little taste will find a place in my memory. A sundae? I hot dog? Fresh fish?

Sounds. For me, it’s songs. I distinctly remember here “She will be loved” by Maroon 5 on the way to camping at East Tawas with my then-girlfriend, now-wife. Or hearing “Key West Intermezzo” by John Mellencamp on a rainy I75 just north of the Mackinac Bridge, heading to Sault Ste. Marie.

The small things like that really bring those trips alive. I’ve forgotten a lot about the rest of my day in The Sault, but I’ll always remember that song.

On my many stays in Chicago, I had never stayed north of the river. I suppose the reason was that good deals at the time I wanted to go seemed to be in the Loop. But this time, we ventured across the green water and stayed at the Residence Inn Chicago Downtown/River North.

Residence Inn River North

The hotel is Just a block north of the river and four blocks west of Michigan Avenue, and locations don’t get much better than that. Best of all, we didn’t have to pay the $38 a night, since we took an Amtrak Train and a slightly longer than expected taxi ride. Helpful hint: Mention that the Residence Inn is on Dearborn, otherwise, you may be taken to a different one.

The lobby is on the second floor and there are actually two check-in desks, one for the Residence Inn and one for the Springhill Suites. The RI is on the right. The staff was friendly each time we interacted with them. The lobby was immaculate with views of the corner of Dearborn and Kinzie. A fireplace anchors the center of the room with televisions on either side. I didn’t spend much time hanging out in the lobby, but it was quiet every time except breakfast.

Residence Inn River North

Our room, 405, was a suite. The Residence Inn is an all-suite hotel, but ours was a true suite, meaning with had a door between the living area and the bedroom, very handy since our 3-year old was with us. Each room also has a kitchenette, and the refrigerator came in very handy to store our leftovers from the Grand Lux Café.

Residence Inn River North

Our room was quiet, except for the very-early morning trash pickup. And why was our room quiet? Take a look at our stunning view:

Residence Inn River North

Sadly, this is not the worst view we’ve had from a hotel room. The Hotel Monaco wins that honor. Instead of a parking ramp, it was a blank wall, but at least we could open the curtains and not have people looking into our room.

We had absolutely no problems with noise.  At times, it seems like we were the only ones on our floor. Which I knew was not true, since my parents were staying across the hall from us.

On the 27th floor is the fitness center and pool. Numerous cardio machines look into the pool area which, at the time of our stay, was a haven for small children, including mine.  The water is a little cold, but the view is fantastic. And towels are provided so you don’t have to take the ones from the room.

There is an excellent at the breakfast buffet. Both mornings I went for the waffles. There is also fruit, juice, eggs, sausage, various breads and cereals, and other choices as well. And once again, the staff was exceedingly nice. So tip the wait staff, people.

I would definitely stay at the Residence Inn River North again. The location was great, the room spacious and clean, and the staff was outstanding.

Have you ever asked yourself, while staying at the Days Inn, why they don’t have a Maybach with driver at your beck and call? I know I have. But if this has ever happened to you, head to New York City – the Four Seasons is the place you want to be.

They are sticklers for details at the Four Seasons. It reminds me of how things are at my house:

The placement of every object in the room is detailed in a book of more than 50 pages. Then housekeeping staff knows “how many hangers are in the closet, where flowers are placed on tables, how far is a table placed from the piano. How far is the Montblanc blotter from the lamp on the desk.”

Amen. If the Montblanc blotter is only and inch from the lamp on my table, there will be Hell to pay, let me tell you.

As an aside, who are these anal-retentive people that care so much? And I don’t mean the staff – they have to deal with the holier-than-thou crowd that stays in these sorts of rooms. I mean the stuck-up superstars and billionaires that actually pay $35,000 for a single night in a room. Let’s see, stay a night, or buy an African village? Decision, decisions.

And let’s not leave Las Vegas out of the picture for overpriced suites:

For the most expensive hotel suites, the high price tags are often part of the allure for guests. Johnna Magliano from Baltimore stayed in the country’s most expensive suite, the $40,000 a night Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, for her May 2 wedding. She and her husband said their vows next to the room’s pool, featuring a Playboy Bunny symbol.

Because nothing says love and fidelity like Hugh Hefner.

I was with my wife in Detroit on Tuesday for a computer conference. Nothing exciting there, even though the very real threat of becoming hopelessly lost in the Renaissance Center is a very real threat.

Renaissance Center

After a lunch in the winter garden, the atrium that looks out over the Detroit River and to Windsor, Ontario, we took a walk along the river. I had not been in Detroit for a year, and the RiverWalk ended at Rivard Street. This time, the walk had been extended with the creation of William G. Milliken State Park. A short paved path winds through a nature area with grasses and ponds next to the river.

Detroit RiverWalk

When last I saw this area, it was an empty of anything redeeming, just a dirt and grass lot with chunks of pavement. Now it is a welcome piece of nature in an otherwise boring area of post-manufacturing riverfront.

Detroit RiverWalk

The fountains between the Renaissance Center I and the river have always been a hit with the kids. It’s nice to see so many people out and about. You hear a lot of bad things happening in Detroit, but there are certainly pieces of good things too. Hopefully, the RiverWalk will continue to be expanded.

Detroit RiverWalk

A parting shot of the Ren Cen shining in the sun.

Renaissance Center

On our travels between Auckland and  the Bay of Plenty, Andrea and I stopped at the Ohinemuri Estate Winery just of State Highway 2. This is a beautiful spot for lunch, with amazing scenery and cheeky cats. But that’s for another post. Except the cat – I’ll do that now:

Cat at the Ohinemuri Winery

Hey, it’s Andrea’s fault – she’s the one that had to use the restroom.

The Karangahake Gorge runs along Highway 2 for a bit, and just west of the Ohinemuri  winery was the parking area for hikers looking for a great walk along the gorge. If you’re able to and in the area, STOP! This is a great, easy walk and worth your visit.

Karangahake Gorge

During the 1875 gold rush, the Karangahake Gorge was a happening place to dig. Now, not so much – there would be lots of upset people if you started digging. I’ve heard. The heavy machinery used to extract gold are now rusted hulks by the path, but it’s a great bit of history as you explore the wonderful scenes of nature.

Karangahake Gorge machinery

The path closely follows the river – very closely in spot. The path is mostly rock and dirt, but there are spots of pavement. And if you really want to get close to the water, there are lots of boulders. Who doesn’t like hopping from boulder to boulder? It takes me back to climbing the rocks around Mackinac Island when I was a kid.

Karangahake Gorge

This waterfall was our turnaround point on the trail. It isn’t the big one, Owharoa Falls, but it was certainly beautiful. We were the only two people around, and this fall was reached by following a narrow path through thick forests. The water tumbled about 40 feet from the top before ending in a small pool, the water rushing away towards the Ohinemuri River. Now that I think back, I’m amazed at the beauty of that little spot.

Karangahake Gorge waterfall

This really is a must-stop if your traveling on Highway 2 south of the Coromandel Peninsula. If you’re only passing through, like we were, or have a bit more time to hike the other tracks around the Karangahake Gorge, this is an experience you will certainly remember.

The Wheeler Mansion, Chicago

I’ve already talked about the wondrous, magical feature called “free parking” that the B&B offers. I’m sure they just roll it into your nightly costs, but it was still nice not to arrive and have an extra $40 added onto your bill.

This is our great view of Calumet Avenue from the fantastically named “Room 33″, harking back to the days when… well, I’m not sure when.

View of Calumet Avenue

Okay, the view is not great, but it was quiet. The Metra trains passed just beyond the buildings in the picture, but they were not an issue at all. And we were only a few minutes walk to the station, and beyond that, Soldier Field.

If you’re a business traveler, McCormick Place is only about a five minute walk south of the Wheeler Mansion. Most of the other guests were attending the gigantic food conference being held at the time of our visit.

Room 33, The Wheeler Mansion

Speaking of food, here we have the dining room, where we could enjoy a quiet meal, if we didn’t have a small child with us. Still, a nice space.

Dining Room, The Wheeler Mansion

The Wheeler Mansion is in the Prairie Avenue district, a great place for a walking tour of the mansion once owned by the business barons of Chicago.

Prairie Avenue district

On a rainy Saturday afternoon, grand plans of hours and hours hiking through Michigan’s woods ruined, I instead made the trip to Pontiac to visit the Walter P. Chrysler Museum on the campus of the Chrysler headquarters just off of I 75.

After actually getting to the campus, it still took a long and winding road to reach the museum, tucked far from the front entrance of the complex. The museum was not at all busy and I was able to leisurely explore the exhibits. The very friendly volunteer at the counter suggested a route to take through the museum to get the most out of my visit.

Walter P. Chrysler Museum

Now, I’m not a “car guy”, but I found the museum very interesting. From the 1902 Rambler Runabout and the 1924 Chrysler Phaeton , to the modern concept cars, there were dozens and dozens of cars, all in superb shape. And throughout the museum, placards explained some of the technological breakthroughs Chrysler made during the period the cars were built.

Rambler Runabout

During my visit, there was a special exhibit on Vipers. And Vipers are “kewl”.

Dodge Viper

I even snapped a picture of my wife’s dream vehicle.

Chrysler Minivan

In the basement-level garage were the racecars as well as a collection of trucks and mid-20th century cars. There was even a Chrysler  air raid siren on display. And like most museums, you’re not allowed to touch the exhibits, but I did get the chance to sit in a purple Prowler. It was surprisingly comfortable, but I could put the seat way back since there was no back seat.

Trucks at the Chrylser Museum

The Walter P. Chrysler Museum is a great rainy (or sunny) day activity. The whole museum can be seen in a hour, though lingering to read all the information about the cars will lead to a longer visit.

It was a rainy weekend here in Michigan. Though it stopped any grand plans I might of had of exploring deep into the north woods far from Lansing, I still escaped the suburbs, just not as far in as I would have liked.

I hiked at Highlands State Recreation Area in White Lake near Pontiac. The rain was a blessing in disguise. Being a park in the greater Detroit area, I would imagine it can normally get quite busy. In fact, as the rain started to let up (also when my walk was nearing its end), there were double the amount of cars in the parking lot. Wet boots were a small price to pay for a little solitude.

Highlands State Recreation Area

Highlands has over thirty miles of biking and hiking trails. The section I hiked were those on the east side of the park, centered on Haven Hill Lake. It was springtime and everything was green, except for the trees blackened by a recent fire. It wasn’t me, I wasn’t anywhere near the park at the time of the fire.

As I mentioned, it had rained, and the trails were muddy in many places. No problem – I had brought my hiking boots, which are almost always in my trunk. The trails were well marked and appear well maintained.

Highlands State Recreation Area

The trails were not challenging except for occasionally having to leave the path in search of a dryer route. In many places that are particularly susceptible to standing water, boardwalks have been built to keep our feed dry.

Highlands State Recreation Area

If you live in the metro area, Highlands would be a good option for getting into the woods. Otherwise, there isn’t anything that interesting to draw those from farther away.

Andrea and I arrived in New Zealand at Auckland, where most international flights arrive. We had a two-night stay planned before heading south, and wanted a hotel close to central Auckland because I had no intention of spending much time driving through a large city on the wrong side of the road. And we found what we were looking for at the Duxton Hotel.

Duxton Hotel, Auckland

Parking was a slight challenge. The lot underneath the hotel was narrow and the parking spots were miniscule. Thankfully, our car was small and I had packed a can opener so that I could actually open the door once I found a spot.

The room was simple yet comfortable. It was a challenge to stay awake, as neither of us slept well on the overnight flight from Los Angeles. But we had two weeks in a beautiful country ahead, and we needed to focus on consciousness.

Duxton Hotel, Auckland

Our view was interesting, being able to see downtown and the Sky Tower from our little patio. I had heard a joke from a Kiwi that the value of one’s property went up if they couldn’t see the Sky Tower. Maybe it’s true. In any case, as a tourist, I was happy to see it from our window.

View of downtown Auckland

Greys Avenue, where the Duxton was located, was quiet, except for the occasional fire truck which emerged from the fire station at the top of the hill. Greys Avenue once had an unsavory reputation early last century, lined with opium dens and casinos. Today, plane trees (I’m not judging them and calling them plain, they are actually called “plane trees”) line the avenue providing ample shade and seemingly quiet the surrounding city.

Greys Avenue, Auckland

(As an aside, whenever I walked down Greys Avenue, I would get that Dave Matthews Band song “Grey Street” running through my head. Easy to do, though.)

The narrow Myers Park ran behind the Duxton. Like Greys Avenue which ran parallel to the park, the park sloped downwards from southwest to northeast towards downtown Auckland. It was a small park lined with palm trees, with high banks sloping down to the path that led through the park’s center. The formerly open sewer was transformed into a park, using money donated by former Auckland Arthur Myers in 1914, and there was no residual stench which I could detect while walking through it.

Myers Park, Auckland

The two mornings we stayed at the Duxton, we ate at the hotel restaurant for breakfast. Prices were what one would expect for a hotel restaurant, but the continental breakfast buffet has a nice selection. We were also able to order off the menu, and the banana pancakes were excellent. The porch had a clear plastic screens (it was chilly in the morning) with views of Myers Park.

The web site says that the Duxton is a boutique hotel. When we stayed in 2006, I simply remember it as a hotel, nothing too boutique about it, so the set up may have changed. But in any case, the location hasn’t changed and the hotel is in a quiet spot in busy Auckland.

South of Lansing lies Eaton Rapids. There may be other things to do there, but Andrea and I go there for The English Inn, a stately mansion built by an Oldsmobile executive in the 1920’s and now a bed and breakfast. Behind the house is a long sloping yard and gardens that ends at the river, an often-used spot for weddings. The lawn, not the river. 

The English Inn, Eaton Rapids

(Okay, we have also gone to Eaton Rapids for a cooking class at Le Chat Gormet, but I’ve only done that once. Andrea has done it a couple of times.) 

This was our second trip to The English Inn, and this time we stayed in the Windsor room. Very elegant, very spacious, and very quiet, the perfect room for a night away. Even though we were only a half-hour from home, the refined atmosphere of the Inn made it seem like much farther away. No singing Kai Lan doll’s or talking Wow! Wow! Wubbsy books around, that was for sure. 

Windsor Room, The English Inn

I would rave about dinner were I able to remember what I had. Does that ever happen to you? I remember enjoying it, but I have no clue what it was. And dinner was accompanied by a live piano player. As opposed to a dead one. He even played a Vince Guaraldi tune from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” 

After dinner, we had drinks in the basement bar. The bar is an intimate (i.e. small) space, and I relaxed and watched the Red Wings while drinking vodka martinis. I have no idea if they were shaken or stirred. 

And the breakfasts were good. We had a choice of a half-dozen items, impressive for a B&B. I went with the cheese and bacon quiche and managed to eat some of the fruit as well, just to balance things out. 

And just for April, The English Inn is participating in Restaurant Month. A 3-course meal for $21.95 is a great deal for such a nice restaurant like the Inn. Go forth and partake! 

 And a parting shot of the Windsor room: 

Windsor Room, The English Inn