Delicate & Delightful - Cherry Blossom Time in Michigan

The northwest quadrant of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is famous for its sweet and sour cherries.  One of our favorite things to do in the spring is drive through the Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau Peninsula to see the scenic countryside covered with cherry blossoms.

The sweet cherries are the first to blossom followed by the sour cherries.  Also flowering at this time are trees/shrubs like dogwood, lilacs, and forsythia. 

Generally, the best time to see the cherry blossoms are during the first 2-3 weeks of May (depending on weather conditions).  Our 2016 visit was on May 22-23.  

We spend Sunday afternoon touring Old Mission Peninsula.  Because it is only 19 miles long and three miles wide it is an easy day trip from Traverse City.  The Peninsula may be small in size but it has a lot to offer.  There are ten historic quilt barns on the Old Mission Quilt Barn Trail (see link at the end of this post) and eight wineries on the Old Mission Wine Trail (see link at the end of this post). 

I think it is interesting to note that Cherry wood (like fine wine) is known for its unique color that mellows and deepens as it ages.

Today, we are here to see these beautiful and bountiful blossoms blanketing the peninsula by the bay.  

We begin our drive by heading north on M-37 (aka Center Road).  The first cherry blossoms we see must have peaked about three days ago.  As we drive north, the cherry blossoms are a little farther behind and in peak condition.  So, we still find lots to photograph.

My hubby keeps telling me he has never seen a black bear in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.  So I decide to have a little fun … We do see some other animals too …

Even the roads offer scenic views.

Seven Hills Road

Smokey Hollow Road

We spend the night at the Country Hermitage B&B (near Traverse City).  The B&B is located on a 400-acre working cherry farm. 

Pond & Cherry Orchards at Country Hermitage B&B

The next morning, we drive north on M-22 into the Leelanau Peninsula.  This 116-mile stretch of road is “V-shaped” and roughly follows the peninsula’s coastline.  It also has the unique claim of crossing the 45th parallel – twice!  While the readers of USA Today voted M-22 the "best scenic autumn drive" in the nation (poll taken in 2015), the cherry blossoms in springtime offer an equally scenic drive. 

Beautiful Leelanau Peninsula

We find a forest floor carpeted in white trilliums.  I have never seen such an expansive display of this beautiful wildflower. 

Wildflowers

The Leelanau Peninsula has many small towns and shops, wineries, Leelanau State Park (including Grand Traverse Lighthouse), and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. ABC-TV’s Good Morning America viewers voted Sleeping Bear Dunes to be 2011’s “Most Beautiful Place in America”.  

We ran out of time before we ran out of scenery.  That’s why we keep coming back here. 

Please refer to my blog post for more information on visiting Old Mission Peninsula by clicking on the following link:

Old Mission Peninsula

I invite you to view my blog posts on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore by clicking on the following links:
SBDNLS - Pierce Stocking Drive
SBDNLS - Exploring & Hiking
SBDNLS - Historic Buildings

Other links you might find useful are:

Old Missiion Peninsula Wineries
Old Mission - Quilt Barn Trail Map
Leelanau Peninsula - Wine Trail

Limited lodging and dining options can be found in nearby Empire and Glen Arbor. Traverse City (about 28 miles) offers a wide variety of lodging and dining choices.  Since opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews on eating and sleeping options.