Tag: distillery

Weekend in West Michigan

On October 21, 2024

Some of the links below are affiliate links and as such, I earn a small commission from purchases that allow me to continue telling you my stories without costing you anything extra.

If you’re craving an adventure filled with stunning natural beauty, mouthwatering eats, and unique experiences, look no further than the western shores of Michigan. This past weekend, we embarked on a refreshing getaway to some of the area’s most captivating locales, and we can’t wait to share the highlights with you.

The quaint lakeside town of Ludington was our home base for the weekend. We checked into the delightfully eclectic Summer’s Inn Motel. From the brick exterior reminiscent of a cozy ranch home to the tranquil koi pond and waterfall in the courtyard (right), this place oozes laid-back charm. After fueling up with a tasty hot breakfast included in the price, we were ready to dive into our West Michigan explorations.

After checking in to our hotel, we ventured north to Iron Fish Distillery, a true gem nestled amidst the forests and lakes of Thompsonville. This unique establishment grows its own grains and crafts exceptional spirits imbued with the essence of Michigan’s great outdoors. Their Michigan Woodland Gin, in particular, captures the aromatic magic of the state’s woodlands in every sip – an ideal souvenir for those seeking to bottle the Pure Michigan experience.

Back in Ludington, we embarked on a beloved local tradition: the invigorating two-mile hike to Big Sable Point Lighthouse within Ludington State Park’s sprawling dunes and woodlands. Despite the cloudy skies, the solitude and natural splendor made for a rejuvenating escape. We also paid a visit to Stearns Park Beach, where the mercurial Lake Michigan reminded us of its raw power, with crimson flags warning of treacherous currents one day after granting us a serene swimming opportunity the previous afternoon. Shortly after our visit, most of Ludington State Park closed for a year-long renovation, opening back up in July 2025.

Our weekend reached new heights (quite literally) with an exhilarating dune ride at Mac Wood’s Dune Rides in Silver Lake State Park. Strapped into a converted truck with panoramic views, we embarked on a thrilling 45-minute journey over the towering sandy slopes, our knowledgeable guide regaling us with insights into the area’s rich history and ecology. At just $25 per person, this off-road adventure was an absolute steal and a must for adrenaline junkies visiting the region.

We capped off our West Michigan escapades with a sublime lunch at the architecturally stunning BlueWater Grill, where the farm-fresh fare and serene lakeside setting provided the perfect denouement to our action-packed weekend.

If our tales have piqued your wanderlust, start planning your own western Michigan getaway today. With its blend of natural wonders, culinary delights, and one-of-a-kind experiences, this corner of the Great Lakes State promises memories that will linger long after your return home. Lace up your hiking boots, grab your sense of adventure, and get ready to go, see, and explore!

Thanks for stopping by! Check out our Go See Do Explore Podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. To read about some of our previous trips, visit my Trips Page. If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram! For my list of gadgets to make your travels easier, click here. To see inside my camera bag, check out my Gear Page.

Puerto Rico Rum Tour

By Ashleigh

On April 17, 2023

In Travel

Ron del Barrilito Freedom Barrel

If you know anything about Puerto Rico, you probably know the island is famous for its rum production. The most famous Puerto Rican rum is Bacardi. The oldest operating distillery and a favorite among Puerto Ricans is Ron del Barillito. The distillery has been open since 1880 when the Fernández Family began making rum for to share with family and friends. People that tried came back asking for more of the Ron del Barillito (rum from the small barrel) and the name stuck. One thing the distillery is known for is the Freedom Barrel (above). Filled in 1952, Edmundo Fernández gave instructions that the barrel cannot be opened until Puerto Rico gains independence, and then it should be placed in the town square for the people to be able to enjoy.

We chose to do the Heritage Tour where we got to tour the estate, learn the history of the distillery, and got a peek inside the barrel room with a complimentary cocktail. Ron del Barrilito also offers a mixology tour where you learn how to become a master bartender and a tasting tour where you get to taste some of the signature rums.

Ron del Barrilito sign

If you’ve never tried rum from Ron del Barrilito, it is much different from Bacardi and other Puerto Rican rums. The Cinco Estrellas (five stars) is aged up to 35 years and a bottle comes with a hefty price tag. Tres Estrellas (three stars) is aged for 6-10 years, Dos Estrellas (two stars) is aged 3-5 years, and when we visited they also had an overproof rum to be used in tiki drinks. In our travels, we have found that “duty-free” liquor usually isn’t that good of a deal (maybe the prices in Michigan are more reasonable than other places in the U.S., I don’t know), but Ron del Barrilito was much cheaper in Puerto Rico than at home. If you don’t make it out to the distillery, prices weren’t that much more expensive at the duty-free in the airport.

While there are many rum distilleries in Puerto Rico, I am glad we decided to check out Ron del Barrilito as our last stop before heading to the airport. For more information about the tours and their rums, visit Ron del Barrilito. To read more about this trip, check out the Returning to Puerto Rico Trip Report. To read about some of our previous trips, visit my Trips Page. If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram! For my list of gadgets to make your travels easier, click here. To see inside my camera bag, check out my updated Gear Page.

Returning to Puerto Rico

By Ashleigh

On February 13, 2023

In Travel, Travel Tips

Old San Juan from the fort

Last spring we visited Puerto Rico as the embarkation port for our Southern Caribbean cruise and fell in love with the beautiful island. Ever since we got home we have been watching flight prices just waiting to return. When we started brainstorming ideas for a Christmas trip with my mother-in-law, we were looking at a few warm-weather destinations and we were shocked to find flights to San Juan for less than Florida or New Orleans. I’m not going to lie, the flights were awful. They had overnight layovers in both directions at some of the largest and busiest airports that were made even busier thanks to Southwest’s meltdown before Christmas. But, we made the best of it because we got to return to sunny Puerto Rico!

The first leg of our journey had an overnight layover in Orlando and we left security and slept in the Hyatt Regency at the airport knowing we would have to go through TSA again. There were so many people trying to get to their flights in the morning that the sign advertised a 65-minute wait to get through TSA. I am very glad I checked the airport’s website when I got up because we got ready quickly and got in line. At one point, the line stopped moving completely and we thought we were going to miss our flight, but we got to the gate right as they started boarding. We were told it was a full flight but there were only half of the seats filled. I’m guessing we left some people behind in that TSA line. If you have an early flight (I think this one left at 5:55 am), don’t assume the airport will be empty. Most airport websites will tell you how long the TSA wait currently is and if you’re checking a bag, remember to add on time for that line too. Since this was a layover, we didn’t have to worry about that line.

Sunset from our balcony in Fajardo

This was our first time flying Frontier and overall, it was a pretty good experience. We have flown Spirit many times so we are used to budget airlines, but they are not exactly the same. Frontier has more legroom. It is not as cramped as Spirit is notorious for. Everyone we encountered was friendly and each plane has an animal mascot. We liked flying on Max the Lynx. Frontier does not have wifi on their planes. If you need to work while in the air, look for a different airline. Every single flight we had left 10-15 minutes late and they were not good about communicating the delays. When we got to our departure airport, we got a text saying our flight was delayed but when we got to the gate the board said the plane was on time and that didn’t change until after our departure time passed so there were a lot of confused people standing around. For one of the flights, we got a text saying the flight was delayed after we had already taken off. We got to the airport in San Juan early and there was no one at the Frontier desk for probably an hour. The line got very long but we got to the plane with plenty of time. It wasn’t a perfect experience, but the next cheapest flight to San Juan for the same dates was several hundred dollars per person more expensive. Personally, I will take a little bit of hassle to get where I want to go and save money.

Here is an outline of what is to come on this trip report:

Day 1: Old San Juan (San Juan National Historic Site, Christmas lights at Paseo de la Princesa)

Day 2: Drive to Adjuntas (travel fail story), Ponce, to Fajardo

Day 3: La Ruta de Lechon (the Pork Highway) & Biobay Kayaking

Day 4: El Yunque National Forest

Day 5: Ron del Barillito Distillery Tour

Thanks for stopping by! To read about some of our previous trips, visit my Trips Page. If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram! For my list of gadgets to make your travels easier, click here. To see inside my camera bag, check out my updated Gear Page.

Pin This: