My dear friend (and neighbor!) Martina and I spent a long weekend at their wonderful cottage in Empire, Michigan. Empire is a small village of about 400 people, located on the Lake Michigan side of the Leelanau Peninsula in northwest lower Michigan. A short drive (26 miles to the west) from Traverse City. Empire is home to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
I'll let the photos tell the story for now, and update with comments as possible.