Brian Confer

What’s for breakfast on this, your personal holiday? Pie—freshly baked, filled with luscious fruit and just steps down the nutritional food chain from toast and jam. You’ll find the cherry crumb–and dozens of other piping hot pies—coming out of the ovens inside the House of Pies (4577 N. U.S. 31, Oden. 231-347-6525).
Snag a plastic fork and enjoy your a.m. pie picnic on the dune-strewn shores of Petoskey State Park (2475 M-119, Petoskey. 231-347-2311). The park is peaceful this time of year, so stretch out in the sand, turn your crumb-sprinkled face skyward and slip into a sugar-induced snore fest.

When you’re rested, roll up M-119 to the bayside village of Harbor Springs. An amble among the antique shops and boutiques is a great way to see the town, but you’ll also want to get on the water. The Outfitter (153 E. Main Street, Harbor Springs. 231-526-2621) will hook you up with a kayak and tote it over to Josephine Ford Park to launch you into Little Traverse Bay. While they tote, you traipse down to Gurney’s Harbor Bottle Shop (215 E. Main Street, Harbor Springs. 231-526-5472), where deli-maestros offer all the best things between sliced bread except for tomatoes (a mysterious tradition even locals have yet to solve). Self-designed sandwich in hand, grab a bottle of wine, travel corkscrew and plastic cup, then portage your goods to Ford Park. Your kayak awaits.

Little Traverse Bay waves are usually tame and the passing sailboats and powerboats slow, so relax–you’re exactly where you want to be. Of course, should you paddle toward the opposing shore, you may find a place you’d prefer: the rambling summer cottages of Harbor Point. Go ahead, dream as you dally past.