Weekend Getaway

We spent this weekend at the Raterink family cottage. It's pretty self-explanatory why we would come here in the summer, but maybe not for a winter weekend getaway. Snowmobiling up here is a blast. I can't go this year, but was happy that the others could have a nice afternoon out on the trails. I think Jon really enjoys driving the snowmobile without me on the back. I can only imagine it is a very different experience for him. There's plenty of snow up here and lots of trails. The boys are still finding trails and places we haven't explored which keeps things interesting.


We can't deny that we do have our favorites though. The Brown Bear is one of them. It is one of our favorite places to stop while on the snowmobiles or head to for dinner. We had dinner here Saturday night. The food is just great, and it's quite an experience. It's a local hangout with famous burgers. You can find the Brown Bear in Shelby and in Pentwater, Michigan. It can get smokey on the weekends because it is a bar, but they're open during the day for lunch too.

A trip to this area would be a great family excursion later this year during warmer months. You could keep busy for a whole day without even visiting the amazing Silver Lake Sand Dunes or make it a weekend and do it all. Also in Shelby is, the Country Dairy. Your kids will love this! You can take a tour, have lunch, or get ice-cream. The dairy products are awesome. You can buy their milk here in town too, and although it's a bit more expensive, Jon and I can really tell the difference. Another fun spot is the Lewis' Farm Market. This place is a smaller version of Crane's Orchard. They have lots of fun stuff going on, great food, and a petting zoo. We find ourselves here several times a year. 

You can find yourselves at these great spots in just over an hour from Holland or Grand Rapids. It's worth the trip! Id' be happy to share more details if you're looking to plan a getaway later this year. Don't hesitate to ask.


Hope you all had a great weekend too!