Garden Orchards
Many apple varieties are grown here, but the unusual Honey Gold is what regular customers love the best. It's a very tasty apple, high in sugar, but with a major marketing limitation. Its skin is so sensitive that it easily shows the marks of pickers' fingers, and it bruises on the grading belt. Gloved workers pick and handle the apples.Orchards were common in the old days. But this large orchard was planted in 1978-79 by Grand Rapids-area fruit grower Ed Mawby and his son Larry, now a celebrated Leelanau vintner. Today, owned by John and Linda Thill, it stands out as U.P. orchard with a significant retail business.
In the 1950s former schoolhouse on M-183 between U.S. 2 and Garden village. Open 7 days, 10-5, in apple season, Sept thru mid-Nov. (906) 644-2140. May open earlier for cherries. Wheelchair-accessible.
Return to Garden Peninsula
POINTS OF INTEREST
Fayette State Park. 5-mile trail system of several loops in this big 711-acre park connects beach, campground, & townsite, winding through a beech-maple hardwood forest. Beautiful, sandy swimming beach, 2,000' long, is backed by low dunes, with an adjacent picnic area. The trail through the townsite has got to be one of the most interesting easy trails anywhere. ... more
Garden Points of Interest. Scattered across the Garden Peninsula are villages and shops worth a casual visit ... more
Threefold Vine Winery. First vineyards for making wine on commercial scale in U.P., now 70 grape varieties, with winery's reds best suited to Garden Peninsula. Wines run $9-$15 a bottle. Most popular: sweet Valentine Creek raspberry honey & semi-sweet Camp 9 red wine. Aattractive gift shop with local products. ... more
Fayette Historic Townsite. The museum-like "ghost town" is the remains of a company town around a charcoal pig-iron smelter serving Union arms manufacturers during the Civil War. The town curves around pretty Snail Shell Harbor on Lake Michigan ... more
Garden Orchards. A general apple orchard especially known for its unusual Honey Gold apple, sweet and so sensitive workers have to wear gloves to handle it. ... more
Portage Bay Beach and Ninga Aki Pathway. Low sand dunes, mature pines, spring wildflowers, and a secluded, sandy beach make these two short loops wonderful walks. Signs tell about 15 important plants in traditional Ojibwa life. ... more
Marygrove Retreat Center and bookstore. Since its beginnings the Catholic Church has had a robust tradition of spiritual retreats – stepping away from the busyness of life. This one is open to anyone interested in taking time away from the bustle of modern life ... more
Hunt's Map Guide to the Upper Peninsula
• 13 detailed U.P. maps
• Full color, on sturdy, water-resistant paper
• Folds out to 12”x38”
• Only $6.95
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