S. Nicole Lane

Consensual non-consent, or CNC, is a form of sexual roleplay in which partners stimulate scenarios where consent appears absent. Still, in reality, all elements are negotiated and agreed upon in advance. The foundation of CNC is full trust, a mutual understanding of boundaries, and a clear “stop” system that overrides the roleplay at any moment. With CNC sex, consent is always real and ongoing.

Retreat to this NoMI snow globe, where forests replace four walls.
The geodesic dome I’m calling home for tonight is glowing in the hush of the woods. I glance back, dressed in a robe and flip flops I snagged from my real home, then follow the string lights that guide me to the sauna. The trees gather close above me, wrapping me in privacy as I light a fire in the stillness of the night. Out here, the silence is its own kind of welcome.
Swaddled in a pocket of trees in Benzonia, Glamp Michiga...

All this Olympic coverage got you thinking about trying ski jumping? Curling? Hopping on a luge run? Here’s where you can go for the gold (or at least pretend to).
Winter doesn’t slow things down in Northern Michigan—instead, this region turns into a living, breathing winter Olympic training round. Ski jumps rise above forested hills. Ice rinks buzz with evening gliders. Sleds sweep down winding tracks. Here, winter gives you a reason to play outside a little harder.
From Nordic skiing, biath...

With some extra TLC, a dark and dreary Victorian is reborn as a luminous lakeside haven.
Perched high above Lake Superior, a centuries-old home inhales light. In the past, the home faced a rail yard; its rear elevation was never meant to frame postcard views. But the owners longed to pull the light in, to knock down exterior walls and loosen the tight, dark rooms that had been shaped by decades of well-meaning modifications; to let the house finally live the way a modern family would—open, ai...

If you’re looking for pizzas, dips, spreads or beers, we’ve got you covered. Here’s your grab-and-go guide for the Super Bowl party.
Short’s Brewing Company, Bellaire
Get your suds sorted with a pack from Short’s Brewing Company. These drinkable beers make any couch-side kickoff feel like a tailgate. From juicy fruits like Short’s Soft Parade to easy-going pints like Local’s Light, you’ve got options for your crew.
Earthen Ales, Traverse City
Get game-day ready with some serious sip power fro...

Not all whiskeys belong in a hot toddy. The best versions rely on one that finishes smooth, carries notes of vanilla and caramel and holds its own when heat, citrus and spice enter the glass.
Winter announces itself the moment you step into Traverse City Whiskey Co. The air smells faintly of oak; the saloon-style tasting room is warm. On cold Northern Michigan days, this is where locals linger and the hot toddy earns its keep.
When asked what makes the best hot toddy, resident mixologist Elea...

Big wheels, keep on turnin’! Here’s where to rent, plus trails to explore
Instead of hanging up your bike helmet, lean into the season: Fat bikes are the best way to make cycling a year-round gig. When snow blankets NoMI, these chunky rigs thrive, gripping soft terrain and rolling effortlessly where standard bikes spin out. With their wider, low-pressure tires and beefy frames, fat bikes let you float softly across snowy singletracks, frozen paths and groomed trails.
Not a hardcore cyclist? N...

Through the Indigenous Knowledges Project, the Leelanau Conservancy and Anishinaabe are re-imagining what it means to care for the Great Lakes region together.
This article first appeared in Traverse Northern Michigan. Find this story and more when you explore our magazine library. Want Traverse delivered to your door or inbox monthly? View our print subscription and digital subscription options.
On a quiet fall day, Grand Traverse Band elder Hank Bailey sits on a weathered stump beneath a ca...

Forget the ballroom. This couple turned a Traverse City tall ship into the wedding venue of their dreams.
This article first appeared in Traverse Northern Michigan. Find this story and more when you explore our magazine library. Want Traverse delivered to your door or inbox monthly? View our print subscription and digital subscription options.
Cassandra Bonner never dreamed about her wedding dress or the perfect first dance song. She didn’t dream of the cake, the bouquet, the ring or the typi...

In a sunlit kitchen in Northern Michigan, a mother and daughter turn flour and time into something transcendent—bread as art, and love made visible.
This article first appeared in Traverse Northern Michigan. Find this story and more when you explore our magazine library. Want Traverse delivered to your door or inbox monthly? View our print subscription and digital subscription options.
I pull into the driveway, tires crunching over the gravel after a winding drive just four miles beyond downt...

Before the final countdown to 2026, savor pre-fixe menus, festive flavors and exclusive dinners at these dining destinations.
Curious about what’s going on around town? Our weekend event calendar has all the fun lined up for you.
It’s hunker-down season—when unbrushed hair, fuzzy slippers and bedtime by 9 p.m. feel like a well-earned ritual. Sipping bubbly in your plaid pajamas on the couch wins every time over stepping into the cold, snowy Up North night.
But this New Year’s Eve, we’re invit...

Luxe lodging and crave-worthy cuisine make our small towns must-visit destinations.
The small towns near Petoskey and the Straits of Mackinac are brimming with winter charm and endless things to do. You’ll find incredible eats, bountiful shopping and inspiring natural scenery everywhere you look.
This article first appeared in Traverse Northern Michigan. Find this story and more when you explore our magazine library. Want Traverse delivered to your door or inbox monthly? View our print subscr...

The mother-and-daughter duo behind the sourdough microbakery, MorrisMade, offers a levain recipe for anyone eager to fire up their pizza stone. The recipe brings cozy comfort, simple beauty and a warm flavor to cold nights.
Ingredients:
For making the levain the evening before:
50g (2 Tbsp + 1 tsp) sourdough starter
100g (1/3 cup + 4 tsp) warm water
100g (3/4 cup + 2 tsp) bread flour or all-purpose flour
For the next morning:
225g (scant 1 cup) warm water
14g (2 1/2 tsp) salt
250g (All of the...

Situated in a town of a little over a thousand people in Colon, Michigan, is an idyllic and pastoral outdoor dining experience just 250 feet from a main road. Guests are recommended to order a glass of wine, wander the property grounds, and soak in their surroundings before taking a seat at a banquet-style table. It’s become a hub for city folks traveling from Chicago, Detroit and Ann Arbor who are yearning to dine amongst tall timbers.
It’s the escapism of the space that appeals to urbanites...

Riding a chairlift isn’t just for snow days. In fact, you can fly high above the tree line—no lake-effect storms required—to peep the best of our blazing fall colors. Once up there, you’ll see what Northern Michigan autumn is all about. Just you, the open sky and the thrill of dangling legs.
If you’re eager to get out of the car and escape the crowded scenic highways, your best view of Northern Michigan’s seasonal color palette might be from up above. Wide-open vistas, rolling hills drenched ...