September in the District

Oh, September. We love you. The weather is still warm, but there’s definitely a hint of fall in the air. The lake and rivers are a bit cooler, which frees us up to explore all of the other things Leelanau County has to offer. So this month, we’re highlighting our favorite ways to take advantage of September in the District.

First up, wine tasting! There are 26 wineries, plus two satellite tasting rooms, sprinkled throughout the county and two of them are right here in Glen Arbor. Our own M22 Glen Arbor features 15 distinctive wines custom blended for us by Black Star Farms. It’s just $5 for five pours of wine and you get to keep the M22 stemless tasting glass. After you finish up with us, head down to the Stomphouse at Cherry Republic!

This year we were excited to introduce two new wines, Crystal River Bubbly and Overlook Red. Crystal River Bubbly is sweeter than our traditional bubbly and the perfect way to celebrate our Indian summer September days. Overlook Red gets its name from all the scenic overlooks you can find throughout the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It’s soft and fruity and perfect for game-day grilling.

And speaking of the Crystal, September is one of the best times to paddle. We love our summer guests, but by September, the majority of them have gone home and it feels like we have the Crystal all to ourselves. September also means salmon on the Crystal! At CRO, we’ll stay open for rentals seven days a week through Columbus Day weekend in October. And now is also a great time to purchase a used canoe, SUP, or kayak from our rental fleet at a great price. Give us a call or stop by the shop for more information about our used boat sale.

If water isn’t your thing, now is the time to go ride along the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. The leaves are just starting to turn, and soon fall colors will be in full effect. The Heritage Trail now extends from Empire through Glen Arbor to Bohemian Road/CR-669. It’s a little tricky there around Port Oneida Rural Historic District because of ongoing construction, but if you’re feeling adventurous it’s still a great ride. At The Cyclery, all summer cycling clothing and accessories are now 40% off. We also carry gear that is perfect for those shoulder seasons. We have Pearl Izumi cycling capris for warmer days, plus conversion jackets with zip off sleeves for the mornings that start off chilly then warm up.

So tell us, what’s your favorite way to experience Leelanau County in September? Leave a comment and let us know!