I love calling Southwest Michigan home for so many reasons. In addition to being located along the gorgeous shores of Lake Michigan, it's also  one of five American Viticulture Areas in Michigan. The sloping terrain, mild temperatures and variety of soils make it the perfect location for growing grapes and other fruits that serve as the inspiration for a vast array of award winning wines. In fact, our growing season has been compared to noteworthy destinations such as Bordeaux, France and Piedmont, Italy.
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With more than 20 wineries dotting the landscape along the Maker's Trail, you can easily enjoy an afternoon or an entire weekend with a glass in hand. In fact, I've lived here for over six years and still have yet to make it to all of our wineries. But fear not, I have done my fair share of sipping (all in the name of research of course) and am sharing my top picks for planning a tour along the Lake Michigan Wine Trail.

Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase which allows me to keep sharing my adventures with you! 

I'll admit I would have never guessed St. Louis would be such a foodie destination. I knew it was known for the Gateway Arch and some other great attractions but that was about it. Much to my surprise we discovered neighborhoods dedicated solely to a particular culture's culinary style as well as a few dishes which got their start in St. Louis and can be found on almost every menu in the city. Grab your fork, I'm sharing 5 must-eat dishes as well as a couple bonus items which we didn't have the chance to try. You can also read more about our trip to St. Louis, including our full 3-day itinerary here. 

When trying to decide on my travel plans for the summer, I knew I wanted to focus on road trips and discovering new Midwest cities. Located only 5 1/2 hours from Southwest Michigan, and home to a National Park (another one of my travel goals), St. Louis made the perfect choice for a long, weekend getaway. The city is home to numerous attractions and the food scene was unlike anything I'd experienced before with culinary kudos to so many different cultures. Be sure to spend time checking out the city's various neighborhoods which each offer their own unique flare. And of course you can't forget bout the 630 foot arch which in the heart of downtown! 

Keep reading to discover how we spent three days in The Gateway to the West.

Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase which allows me to keep sharing my adventures with you!