The Detroit News: Michigan's Best

sports & recreation: things up north

Best secret summer resort:

Insel Haus Bed and Breakfast

Bois Blanc Island (231) 634-7393

Second place:

Beaver Island Lodge

Beaver Island (231) 448-2396

Third place:

Lac la Belle Lodge

11627 Superior St., Lac la Belle (888) 294-7634

Best bait to catch the prize winning fish:

Nightcrawlers

Second place:

Minnows

Third place:

Crickets

Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark keeps the Boyne area wet and wild.

Best water park:

Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark

One Boyne Mountain Road, Boyne Falls (231) 549-7979

Second place:

Great Wolf Lodge

3575 N. U.S. 31 S., Traverse City (231) 941-3600

Third place:

Thunder Falls Family Water Park

1028 S. Nicolet, Mackinaw City

(231) 436-6000

Best cozy bed and breakfast:

Cottage Inn

Mackinac Island (906) 847-4000

Second place:

Stafford’s

Petoskey (800) 737-1899

Third place:

Metivier Inn

Mackinac Island (866) 847-6234

Best restaurant to stop on your long journey north:

Key Hole Bar

323 E. Central Ave., Mackinaw City

(231) 436-7911

Second place:

Sugar Bowl Restaurant

216 W. Main St., Gaylord (898) 732-5524

Third place:

Schlang’s Bavarian Inn

3917 Old U.S. Highway 27 S., Gaylord (989) 732-9288

Best deer head bar:

Antler Bar

283 N. Hancock St., Pentwater (231) 869-2911

Second place:

Big Buck Brewery

550 S. Winsconsin Ave., Gaylord (989) 732-5781

Third place:

Talley’s Log Cabin

2981 County Road 612, Lewiston (989) 786-2011

Best pasties:

Suzy’s Pasties

1020 U.S. Highway 2 W., St. Ignace (906) 643-7007

Second place:

Albie’s Pasties

5604 W. M-72 Hwy., Grayling (989) 348-2240

Third place:

Bessie’s Homemade Pasties

1106 N. State St., St. Ignace (906) 643-8487

Best antique store:

Joseph’s World of Art & Antiques

2680 Charlevoix Ave., Petoskey

(231) 347-0121

Second place:

Brother’s & Sister’s Antiques

14100 N. Saginaw Road, Clio (810) 687-1294

Third place:

Park Street Antiques

& Custom Renderings

111 N. Park St., Boyne City (213) 582-5802

Best fudge shop:

Jo Ann’s Fudge

200 Huron Road, Mackinac Island

(906) 847-3221

Second place:

Ryba’s Fudge

Main St., Mackinac Island (906) 847-4065

Third place:

Murdick’s Fudge Kitchen

St. Ignace and Mackinac Island locations

Best beef jerky:

Cabela’s

110 Cabelas Blvd. E., Dundee (734) 529-4700

Second place:

Manley’s Fish Market

810 N. State St., St. Ignace (906) 643-8930

Third place:

The Jerky Outlet

7 locations up north

Best county fair:

Cheboygan County Fair

204 E. Lincoln Ave., Cheboygan (231) 627-9611

Second place:

Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair

(231) 347-1010

Third place:

“Upper Peninsula” State Fair

Escanaba County (906) 786-4011

Best demolition derby:

Onaway Motor Speedway

Onaway (989) 733-4644

Second place:

Cheboygan County Fair

204 E. Lincoln Ave., Cheboygan (231) 627-9611

Third place:

Mecosta County Fair

540 West Ave., Big Rapids (231) 796-5378

Best ferry to Mackinac Island:

Arnold Transit Co. Mackinac Island Ferry

(800) 542-8528 or (906) 847-3351

Second place:

Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry

(800) 828-6157 or (231) 436-5023

Third place:

Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry

(800) 638-9892 or (906) 643-7635

Best lighthouse:

Round Island Lighthouse

Mackinac Island

Second place:

Whitefish Point Lighthouse

Paradise

Third place:

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

Mackinaw City

Best place for a sandwich in Traverse City:

Sleder’s Family Tavern

717 Randolph St., Traverse City

(231) 947-9213

Second place:

The Sassy Sandwich

104 S. Cass St., Traverse City (231) 995-0030

Third place:

Folgarelli’s

424 W. Front St., Traverse City (231) 941-7651

Best whitefish in Charlevoix:

Stafford’s Weathervane Restaurant

106 Pine River Lane, Charlevoix (231) 547-4311

Second place:

Scalawags Whitefish & Chips

4 locations up north

Third place:

Argonne Supper Club

5534 M-66 N., Charlevoix (231) 547-9331

Best buffet in Petoskey:

China Buffet King

1340 N. U.S. Highway 31, Petoskey (231) 439-5988

Second place:

Days Inn

1420 Spring St., Petoskey (231) 347-9640

Best reason for going up north:

Camping

Second place:

Scenery

Third place:

Mackinac Island

Best place to go sky diving:

Skydive Tecumseh

(517) 423-7720

Second place:

Skydive Harbor Springs

(231) 330-DIVE

Third place:

Skydive Hastings

(877) TO-SKYDIVE

Best place to play disc golf:

Boyne Mountain Resort

1 Boyne Mountain Road, Boyne Falls (800) 462-6963

Second place:

Addison Oaks County Park

1480 W. Romeo Road, Leonard (888) 627-2757

Third place:

Mount McSauba Disc Golf Course

Ellsworth

Best method to attract deer:

Fudge

Second place:

Salt lick

Third place:

Corn

Best charter service for a day on the lake:

Mackinac Breeze Charters

10141 S. Maple Road, Dafter (906) 635-1754

Second place:

Ward Brother’s Boats

106 E. Antrim St., Charlevoix (231) 547-2371

Third place:

Bay Breeze Yacht Charters

12935 W. Bay Shore Drive, Suite 120 Traverse City (877) 941-0535

Best restaurant overall:

Rowe Inn Restaurant

6303 C-48, Ellsworth (866) 432-5873

Second place:

Hotel Iroquois

Mackinac Island (906) 847-3321

Third place:

The Harbor View Dining Room

Chippewa Hotel, Mackinac Island (800) 241-3341