S. Nicole Lane

From gorpcore to coastal gran, the internet’s favorite aesthetics have been standard issue Up North for generations.
By Nicole Lane and Cara McDonald
We hate to break it to the internet, but Northern Michigan didn’t just dabble in “gorpcore” or flirt with “old money.” We invented the vibe, often with a Thermos in hand. What’s trending now has been hanging in mudrooms, stuffed in beach totes and passed down between generations for decades. Here’s your cheat code.
Gorpcore
We’ve been doing gorp...

Our editors’ best picks for plates worth the trip.
By Matthew Dursum, Nicole Lane and Cara McDonald
Breakfast Sammy, Ames Street Café, Elk Rapids
Fried egg, sharp cheddar, pesto mayo on house-made focaccia that has its own fan following—this is savory set on slabs of bread heaven. In fact, the word is so out on the focaccia here that there’s always a batch in proof, and most orders head out of the kitchen with it riding plate-side on any breakfast option. The quality is par for the course wit...

Vintage retail expert Carla Weaver shares how to shop smarter, style better and give old pieces new life.
If you’ve ever brought home a vintage find only to have it feel off—you’re not alone. What looks effortlessly curated in a shop can read as mismatched in your living room. That’s where Traverse City vintage retail expert Carla Weaver comes in.
During her 20-year tenure as an elementary school teacher, she spent her free time painting furniture and selling it in different stores in town. E...

NoMI marks Earth Day with a week of hands-on events that celebrate community and conservation.
As winter finally thaws, spring rushes in and communities across the tree-lined, water-rich landscape come together to celebrate and honor the land, lakes and wildlife that define life Up North. It’s also a chance for us to pitch in, make a difference or simply breathe in the fresh spring air. Here’s where to start.
Cadillac Earth Day, April 19, 1–3 pm
Cadillac kicks off Earth Week at The Market at ...

We selected seven must-watch features and short films rooted in the outdoors and driven by curiosity at the very first Fresh Coast Film Festival in Traverse City, where indie cinema, nature stories and trailblazing characters come to life.
Fresh Coast Film Festival has always been more than a film festival. It’s a celebration of wild places, big ideas and people who chase both. Launched in 2016 in Marquette, the grassroots gathering carved out a niche in the Midwest by spotlighting independen...

At Traverse City Guitar Company, customers can fully customize handmade instruments that they can linger over, discovering the art behind every strum.
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 an unassuming stretch of Cass Rd. in Traverse City stands something increasingly rare: a storefront whe...

Guide Julie Den Uyl helps people slow down and reconnect with nature—revealing the quiet landscape of Sleeping Bear Dunes and how it can offer healing, memory and meaning. This article first appeared in the March 2026 edition Traverse Northern Michigan as part of our North Stars feature, highlighting local changemakers who heal through the power of nature and the land. It’s one installment in a five-part series—read them all here.

Julie Den Uyl’s relationship with nature began the day she cam...

Native herbalist and healer Nathan Wright transmutes communication with the natural world into medicine, activism and a living legacy of land-based healing.
This article first appeared in the March 2026 edition Traverse Northern Michigan as part of our North Stars feature, highlighting local changemakers who heal through the power of nature and the land. It’s one installment in a five-part series—read them all here.
One of Nathan Wright’s earliest memories begins in a patch of clover, where h...

Renters face soaring prices, fleeting listings and fierce competition in Northern Michigan. Here’s how to still find ways to make it work.
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.
When I decided to move to Traverse City, I didn’t resort to leaving flowers or baking cupcakes to prove we were ideal ...

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...