Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt Pleasant MI

On occasion, we enjoy going to the Indian Casinos in Michigan. Firekeepers Casino near Battle Creek is the most convenient and is less than an hour away. Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt Pleasant is on the way "Up North" to Traverse City or Mackinac. It is 2 hours from our house and is in a convenient location for a break on a road trip to Northern Michigan.

Lori likes to play the slots and is able to make a little money go a long way. $50 can last 2 days in her hands and she will still have enough money left to buy me lunch.  She has the ability to create excitement even when she is just watching someone else play the games. It is always fun to hang out with Lori at the casino, or anywhere.

Mike & Lori Venturini

Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper

"Life is good in Jonesville"

Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Wind Farm in Cadillac MI

A 4 hour trip from Jonesville to Traverse City, MI took us through Cadillac--which is the site of a Wind Farm that generates electricity from huge wind turbines that are situated on farmland near the woodlands of Northern Michigan. These power generators are huge--they dwarf a 2 1/2 story farmhouse in Michigan's north woods.

There is a lot of controversy that surrounds the building of these mammoth generators of wind power. Most of the debate is about sight and sound nuisance along with unknown long-term health effects on humans and animals.  The first siting of these giants rising above the tree line makes them a truly awesome vision and feat of engineering.

This form of "green energy" could help curtail our reliance on coal, oil, and nuclear power along with the pollution they produce. Fear of the unknown sight and health effects are the biggest obstacles plaguing the wind power industry. However, in the right location, they could be a savior to an ever increasing pollution problem and could help keep down the cost of electricity.

Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Antiquities Wellington B&B in Traverse City MI

As a long-time board member and officer of the Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association, I am a regular visitor of B&Bs from Lake to Lake for regular business meetings. On this occasion, we met at a Traverse City Bed and Breakfast known as Antiquities Wellington B&B. It is a spectacular property from the first look at the 2 story columns in front of the house to the inner look at the authentic period furnishings, to an excellent not-so-common breakfast.

The property was saved from years of neglect and abuse and renovated to its original stateliness, elegance, and charm. A tremendous amount of natural light was the envy of most of my cohorts. An incredible amount of common area for guests to gather and enjoy time inside or on the porch was a bonus. My extra large guest room included a queen size bed, gas fireplace, sitting area, and an extra large bath room with a jetted tub. A reception for over 30 innkeepers was handled very comfortably in this spacious inn.

Breakfast was superb. I was served a generous portion of a secret recipe quiche (with cherry mustard in the crust) along with al dente asparagus and a pistachio muffin. An elegant glass of fresh cut pears with raspberries and yogurt rounded out a complete, filling, and healthy breakfast along with milk, juice, and coffee.

Mike Venturini

Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper

"Life is good in Jonesville"

Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Day Trip for Tulip Time in Holland MI

We took the 2 1/2 hour drive to Holland Michigan to experience our very first Tulip Time. This festival runs from May 7-14 in a small city on the shores of Lake Michigan. It traditionally brings tourists and tour buses in droves. By the end of the event, over a million people are expected to visit Holland Michigan where hundreds of thousands of tulips are planted throughout the city for all to enjoy. Boulevards are packed with flowers and the streets in historic neighborhoods are lined with tulips of every imaginable shape, color, and size.

With an unpredictable blossoming season, the city has been very successful in predicting when the tulips will be in full bloom. Mother Nature cooperated this year as the majority of flowers are already open. The remaining tulips should be in their full glory by Wednesday May 11.

Holland has become a great tourist city with many city parks, lots of things to do on land and in the water, along with a great assortment of shopping, museums, street art, and restaurants. The festival also attracts carnival rides, food vendors, street performers, and interesting people from down the street, across the country, and around the world.

It is a bonus that my good friend Tim Vagle lives there and was able to spend some time with us enjoying his city and this great festival. This was a perfect day to enjoy the ride from Jonesville to Holland and to spend some quality time with my wife and friends while sampling great food and meeting nice people.

Our trips are not complete without a little time out for goofing. Who knew Lori and Benjamin Franklin were so close?

Mike Venturini

Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper

"Life is good in Jonesville"

Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Fall Colors in Southern Michigan

Michigan fall colors are turning and the weather has been absolutely perfect for about a week straight.  Bright sunshine and warm temperatures are combining for the best time to enjoy Fall Colors in Southern Michigan. The leaves are fast approaching peak color, the fields are being harvested, and right now is a great time to be riding the country roads of Southern Michigan..

I have been enjoying Southern Michigan motorcycle tours on my GoldWing almost every day to take advantage of the beauty of Hillsdale, Branch, Lenawae, Eaton, and Jackson County.  Pumpkin patches are full, farm machinery are harvesting crops, and the Amish are doing it the old fashioned way--with big draft horses.

The roads I like to ride include highway 12 through the Irish Hills. Its big curves and hills at highway speeds are fun to ride on a motorcycle. Litchfield Road on either side of Litchfield has views that change from forests to grain fields and back again.  Fremont Road from Quincy to the Indiana State line has it all--farms, forests, fields, and the flowage of many lakes.  These features combine for an outstanding scenic ride.

In an era of mega farms, there are still many smaller operations throughout Southern Michigan. Some of them are family farms, many of them are Amish farms. It is easy to spot an Amish farm. Clue #1 is a 2 story white farm house with no window shutters. Clue #2 is the absence of power lines, as the Amish in Southern Michigan reject the use of telephones and electricity. Clue #3 is the absence of tractors and other farm machinery and the presence of large draft horses.

We are expecting peak colors in Michigan to last through October and possible into early November.  In the recent past, Fall colors have been enjoyable as late as mid November.  However, the Fall color season typically ends about the first weekend in November. Now is the time to enjoy a Southern Michigan Fall Getaway.



Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Best Way to Garage Sale

Our guests organized a "Garage Sale Rodeo" on Friday.  They went through the local paper, copied the locations of 18 sales, mapped it, and spent the day searching for treasures. This is an annual event that gets the whole family together from all across the United States. Imagine the surprise when a dozen vehicles pull up at once to wheel and deal at each of the selected locations.

John and Julia joined family members from Arizona, Texas, Missouri, and Michigan as they bargained for the best prices while touring garage sales in nearby Jackson, Michigan. Small items will be packed in carry-on bags for the flight home.  Larger items will either be shipped or hand-delivered at a later date.

We finished our household chores and joined up with the group at about mid-day. We enjoyed the beautiful day and found a few items that were too good to pass up.  It became a very fun day because it was extremely well-organized and spent with some interesting new friends.


Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Motorcycles Welcome at this Michigan Bed and Breakfast

T.J. called and said he needed a room for the night. He and his daughter were visiting the area and needed a place to stay near Hillsdale College.  The school is just 7 1/2 minutes away, so I knew that our Jonesville, Michigan B&B was a close, comfortable, and convenient fit. When they pulled in on a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, I knew that they were going to be very interesting guests.

It turned out that this father-daughter team from Milwaukee had been on a road trip for over 2 weeks visiting schools as far south at Tennessee and as far north as Massachusetts. They were happy to finally stay at a homey place instead of the typical hotel or motel. I sent them to Saucy Dog's Barbeque for a good meal and ended up chatting with them on our patio until well into the evening.

His restaurant in Milwaukee has earned him a place in the Hot Dog Hall of Fame.  If I had a Hall of Fame, he'd be on the father-daughter page, the motorcycle rider page, the small businessman page... Yeah, we get some really cool gusts here, and I get to hang out with most of them. That's what makes 'innkeeper' the best job ever.


Mike Venturini
Jonesville Michigan Bed and Breakfast Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

Allen Antique Capital of Michigan

Allen, the Antique Capital of Michigan, is located on highway 12 in South Central Michigan about 5 miles West of the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville. It is a community that is small in every respect except the availability of antique shops.

A town that was once a series of homes transformed into antique stores has expanded to include several antique malls, including Michigan's Largest. Capital Antiques boasts 36,000 square feet and 300 dealers.  Allen Antique Barn has 300 dealers on 2 floors. Hog Creek has 23,000 square feet and is Allen's newest mall. The Primitive Connection is just what it says it is. There is also Allen Antique Mall, Thistle Dew Antiques, Michiana Antiques, Peddler's Alley, and Preston's Gas Light Village.

In addition to traditional antiques, are memorabilia, knick-knacks, and collectibles. There is a booth that just offers Coca-Cola items, one with candles, several with sports cards, and many with glassware, tea sets, and furniture. Arts and crafts, books, games, and toys are also available to provide an eclectic variety of items. Barbie, G.I. Joe, and American Girl are well represented. There are also records, video tapes, magazines, and text books.

Many booths have a collection of cookbooks, kitchenware, and baskets along with cabinets, table sets, and lamps.  Some have bedroom sets, end tables, and victrolas. There is also wall art and table art in surprising quantities. Basically, there is an enormous assortment of valuables within a few minutes of each other.

Many Munro House guests spend a liesure day walking. shopping, and reminiscing at one or more of the Antique Malls in Allen. The malls are open most every day from 10-5, so any day can be a good day to go antiquing.


Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"
Munro House Bed and Breakfast

The Fly Trap in Ferndale Michigan

Being the owner of the Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville, Michigan, is sometimes more than a full time job. In other words, "we don't get out much". The day-to-day business requires for one (or both) of us to be at home almost all of the time. When we do get out, we like to find interesting places for a new experience. We got that at the Fly Trap in Ferndale, Michigan last week.

A year or so ago, I happened upon the Fly Trap while going to a concert at the nearby Magic Bag on Woodward Avenue. It has taken this long to be able to have my wife join me for a most excellent lunch at what is known as a "finer diner". We got there just in time to get the last table before the lunch crowd arrived.

From the blood red walls to the pool table slate (that doubles as a chalk board), this is the most unique restaurant I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy.  The food was unique and very, very good. I had the Charmoula Chicken - North African Spiced Chicken Breast, Jack Cheese, Caramelized Onion on Grilled Sourdough with a Lemon, Garlic Aioli. Lori had Eggs a la Boring--speaks for itself.  This is the kind of stuff you just can't get everywhere, and we found it at a diner in Ferndale, MI!

I mention this place to many of our guests who visit us from the Detroit area. I recently received a couple of bottles of their home-made SWAT sauce as a thank you from people who enjoyed it as much as I did. The Fly Trap is about 2 hours from my house. That's why we don't get to go there very often. When we have the time, we will make another trip to Ferndale to enjoy the finer diner known as the Fly Trap.


Mike Venturini - Innkeeper
"Life is good in Jonesville"