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Relive the golden age of vacationing at the serene and spectacular Inn at Bay Harbor.

WRITTEN BY LYNNE KONSTANTIN

No time for a weekend jaunt to New
England? Here's a runner-up: There's
a glistening jewel just four-and-a-half
hours away that is a gorgeous and
fun-filled destination in itself The
Victorian-inspired Inn at Bay Harbor-A
Renaissance Golf Resort, distinguished
by charming cupolas and a striking red
roof, sprawls along a stretch of Lake
Michigan's breathtaking Little Traverse
Bay three miles north of Petoskey.
Opened in 1998 by Boyne Resorts and
a member of Renaissance Hotels &
Resorts since 2003, the Inn is fashioned
after Northern Michigan's romantic
turn-of-the-century inns — and all the
luxuriously elegant trappings that went
along with them. Named among the
"World's Best Hotels" by the readers
of Travel + Leisure magazine, the Inn
at Bay Harbor truly has something for
everyone, any time of year.

Accommodations Indulge in turn-
of-the-century elegance — from the
pristine, cottage-like rooms, appointed

P 1 2 • AUGUST 2010 • IN platinum

in crisp whites and sea blue and plush,
lofty bedding, to the cheerful requests
to please from every staff member (a
thing of the past in itself). Many of the
84 one-, two- and three-bedroom suites
offer fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs, private bal-
conies and magnificent Lake Michigan
views. Or check out Bay Harbor's
Lakeside Cottages, with expansive
porches and brick sidewalks, and the
Cottages at Crooked Tree, perched high
atop a bluff providing views of Lake
Michigan and Crooked Tree Golf Club.
Both are perfect for larger groups want-
ing all the amenities offered by the Inn.

Family Fun Year round, kids and
adults alike will thrill at Avalanche Bay,
Michigan's premier indoor waterpark at
nearby Boyne Mountain. Summertime
means biking, boating and swimming
— either in the Inn's private stretch
of pristine white-sand beach on Little
Traverse Bay or in its nearby heated
outdoor pool and whirlpool (grab lunch
at the Cabana Bar). The Inn's lakefront

offers a croquet course, life-size chess-
board, Adirondack lounge chairs and
swinging hammocks along the shoreline.
Visit the evening campfire for marsh-
mallow roasting and s'mores. Head to
Boyne Mountain for a scenic chairlift
ride and the brand-new Twin Zip ride
(in addition to the year-round guided
Zipline Adventure). In the winter, of
course, there's world-class skiing. In
addition, many of Boyne's properties
offer horse-drawn wagon and sleigh
rides, dog-sled rides, tubing, ice-skating,
snowshoeing and access to indoor pools.
On-site babysitting services provided
by North Country Daycare and Sitting
Service means Mom and Dad can even
plan an evening out.

Great Getaway Whether you seek a
weekend with your honey or an escape
with the girls, the Inn can accommodate
every detail. A popular pick for desti-
nation weddings and bridal-party spa
retreats, the Inn offers its own wedding
planners to make sure plans go off with-

out a hitch. Come evening, snuggle up
by the in-suite fireplace or hit the South
American Grille &Wine Bar for live
music and cocktails.

Glorious Golfing The Inn stands
alongside resorts in Hawaii, Arizona
and the Dominican Republic as a win-
ner of the 2010 Gold Medal in Golf
magazine's Premier Resorts, the only
Michigan resort ever to earn this award.
Guests can choose from two golf clubs:
the Crooked Tree Golf Club, perched
high above Bay Harbor, offers a chal-
lenging course with unparalleled views;
the sweeping shoreline bluffs, dunes,
rugged rock formations and verdant
woodlands amid Bay Harbor Golf
Club's award-winning 27-hole course
designed by Arthur Hills has earned
the nickname "the Pebble Beach of the
Midwest."
Spaaaaah! The Spa at the Inn at Bay
Harbor offers a serene retreat, even
from the hustle and bustle of vacation.
continued on page P14