Congratulations! You’ve made one of the best decisions in your wedding planning journey: a destination wedding in Michigan! There are a myriad of opportunities for fun whether your guests crave a palate-pleasing-foodie experience, a trek into the outdoors or an afternoon exploring shops. The Castle Farms Wedding Team has put together our top ideas for things to do for your out of town guests during your wedding weekend. Cheers!
1. Live like American Royalty and Enjoy Castle Farms:
Castle Farms boasts a rich history and offers weekend guests a chance to explore a real American Castle, modeled after the castles speckled throughout Normandy, France. Built in 1918 as a model dairy farm, the castle and gardens underwent a major restoration in the early 2000’s under the watchful eye of new owner, Linda Mueller. Visitors can enjoy guided tours daily, learning the details of one of Michigan’s most beloved historical gems.
Children and Railfans will be tickled to learn that Castle Farms is home to an outdoor model railroad! Not only can your guests gleam a bird’s eye view of the steam engines from two viewing towers, but they will also be able to enjoy Castle Farm’s lush gardens while admiring the trains.
2. Wine and Dine:
Think your guests may fancy a culinary experience during their stay? The Castle Farms event calendar is full of wine tastings and culinary feasts (including the very popular Twinkle Light Dinner).
Along the main avenue and the surrounding areas of Charlevoix, guests will find a plethora of fantastic dining options, micro-breweries and markets. We encourage your guests to try a Michigan favorite; white fish (oftentimes caught that very day!) and chips with a brew while rubbing elbows with locals at The Villager Pub. The best part of the culinary scene in Charlevoix? The incredible freshness of the ingredients proudly grown in the area. Guests can see (and taste) for themselves by visiting one of multiple farms offering U-Pick fresh fruits such as cherries or apples, depending on the season. King Orchards is known for their tart cherry juice and other market fare. Your guests will love the opportunity to bring home their own farm-made goodies.
3. History Lovers and Bibliophiles Rejoice:
Referring to the town as ‘Voix’, great American author Ernest Hemingway used Charlevoix and the surrounding areas as the backdrop for multiple of his early works and Hemingway’s haunts are stamped throughout the area. Your guests will relish in the opportunity to visit real life sites mentioned in his books or view Hemingway’s original marriage certificate to his first wife, Hadley Richardson, at the Harsha House Museum. Also offered at the Harsha House Museum are tickets to tour the renowned Mushroom Houses built by infamous self-taught “Master Builder in Stone”, Earl Young.
4. Get Outside and Get Moving:
There is a reason Charlevoix is nicknamed “Charlevoix the beautiful”. Northern Michigan is blessed with endless natural beauty, scenic waterways and indigenous stones. Your destination wedding guests will be able to enjoy the great outdoors no matter the season! In warmer weather, we suggest pointing your friends and family towards Fisherman’s Island State Park for nature hikes, miles of beaches and a large campground. For old fashioned winter fun, wedding guests are encouraged to grab a sled or ski’s and head to Mt. McSauba Recreational Area. Wedding guests that are less inclined to participate in snow sports will be absolutely in awe of the million dollar views of Lake Michigan from the recreational area.
With something for every guest on your list, your Charlevoix destination wedding will be an event to remember for long after the wedding bells ring.