Planning a Summer Getaway includes a few big decisions: where to go, what to do, and how much to spend. The choices seem endless. You could go overseas, across the country, to a neighboring state, or relatively local. You could learn something, have an adventure, or relax. You could spend thousands of dollars, or hundreds of dollars. The choice is yours. The overseas and across the country options are more of a vacation than a getaway. When choosing where to go, 3 hours of travel is near the limitation of places to go for a 2 day Summer Getaway. Step 1 is find a place to go that is 200 miles from home, or less.
Deciding what to do depends on common interests. A museum like The Henry Ford is a good choice for history. Cedar Point is a great place for adventure. Lake Michigan has many resort towns to walk-about. The bad news is that a lot of people go to these places. If you don’t mind waiting in line and finding a place to park your car, any of these places could make a nice Summer getaway. Step 2 is finding stuff to do.
Staying within a budget is step 3. It may be the hardest part of planning the Summer getaway. Weekend getaway meals (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners) might cost $300 for 2 people. 2 days of admissions to museums, shows, and attractions could cost $150 per couple. 2 nights of lodging could cost up to $500 at a nice place. Throw in a tank of gas, and the weekend getaway could be around $1,000 for a real nice time. That might be in the budget, and it might not. You may be good at finding restaurants, attractions, and lodging, and you may not have the time. A travel agent may be able to do the work for you, but you may have to pay 20% more for that service. What to do?
If you live somewhere inside the circle formed by Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Cadillac, you are within 3 hours of Jonesville, Michigan. That is a reasonable distance to drive in a weekend. The Munro House Bed and Breakfast in Jonesville is a great place to call your Romantic Summer Getaway Headquarters. Several packages have already been put together to occupy your days and nights.
Breakfast and dinner is always part of a getaway package. Two of our favorite restaurants are an easy 2 block walk. Several more eateries are within 10 minutes, but it sure is nice to be able to walk to dinner. Saucy Dog’s Barbeque is my favorite restaurant in the whole world, and it happens to be a block and a half from my house. They do ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken, and sandwiches–but I go there for the brisket. Olivia’s Chop House is more of a fine dining experience with steaks, seafood, pork, pasta, and poultry. I go there for the prime rib. It’s 2 blocks away and is the best restaurant in the county. Everywhere, the dress code is casual, so need to dress up for dinner.
Massage is a big part of the Jonesville getaway experience. Experienced massage therapists are often given a world class rating by visitors who have had a lot of massages. Regularly, guests will say something like, “I’ve gotten massages all around the world, but the best one was in Jonesville”. We are proud that our guests feel pampered when they finish their hour on the table.
There is a more relaxed pace in Southern Michigan. The lines are shorter, the crowds are few, and the traffic is rarely problematic. Antique shopping is a popular activity with several antique malls–each the size of a grocery store–within 10 minutes of Jonesville. Several walking paths and parks near water are also a short drive away. The local movie theater shows new releases on 7 screens. Live theater in June and August feature all-time favorites like ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Godspell’.
A 3 day and 2 night romantic getaway with meals, massages, movies, and more–plus bed and breakfast, of course–can be had for around $600. Other package could cost a little more or a little less. Jonesville is the gem of Southern Michigan. It is a progressive small town with quality lodging and attractions. It has a very relaxed pace and great hospitality. Best of all, the Munro House offers a Romantic Summer Getaway Package that could pre-plan an excellent weekend (or weekday) trip with a single 10 minute phone call. Pick a package and all of the details are arranged for you. All you really have to do is arrive to be treated to an agenda to occupy a relaxing couple of days in this great old town near the Ohio/Indiana/Michigan border.
Mike Venturini
“Life is good in Jonesville”