The votes have been counted and the results are in for your Red Hot Best winners in Kalkaska, Gaylord and Grayling. Explore the full winners list below or view our full 2023 RHB list for all winners across Northern Michigan.
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ART GALLERY
1) AuSable Artisan Village Art Center
2) Main Branch Gallery
3) Gaylord Area Council for the Arts
BAKERY
1) Goodale’s Bakery
2) Sweet Shannon’s
3) Cops & Doughnuts Jay’s Precinct
BANK/FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
1) Forest Area Federal Credit Union
2) Union Home Mortgage, The Huber Lending Team
3) 4Front Credit Union, Kalkaska
BEACH
1) Lake Margrethe
2) Log Lake
3) Manistee Lake
3) Otsego Lake State Park
BREAKFAST SPOT
1) Moose & Stella’s Cafe
2) Yankee Boy Restaurant
3) Grayling Restaurant
BREWERY
1) Rolling Oak Brewing Co.
2) Paddle Hard Brewing
3) Big Buck Brewery
Photo by Jesse Green
CHIROPRACTOR
1) Peter Jenema, DC, The Chiropractic Center
2) Brian Herron, DC, Gaston Family Chiropractic
3) Brandon Suchey, DC, Suchey Chiropractic
COFFEE SHOP
1) Moose & Stella’s Cafe
2) Biggby, Kalkaska
3) Michigan Brew
DENTIST
1) Ralph Oppermann, DDS, AuSable Family Dental
2) Robert Stobert, DDS, Stobert Dental
3) Carrilyn Stobert, DDS, Stobert Dental
DISC GOLF AREA
1) Log Lake Park Disc Golf
2) Hanson Hills Recreation Area
3) Gaylord Disc Golf Course
EVENT
1) National Trout Festival
2) AuSable River Festival
3) Alpenfest
FINANCIAL SERVICE ADVISOR
1) Larry King, Edward Jones
2) Dawn Moses, Sensible Financial Solutions
3) ATS Advisors, A Certified Public Accounting Firm
FLOOR COVERING (TILING, CARPETING, WOOD FLOORING)
1) Jarrad’s Carpet Direct
2) McLean’s Home Center
3) Dunckley Floor Covering
GYM OR HEALTH STUDIO
1) Kaliseum Recreation Complex
2) Grayling Fitness Center
3) FitNorth
HAPPY HOUR
1) Kal-Ho Lounge
2) Rolling Oak Brewing Co.
3) The Iron Pig Smokehouse
HEATING & COOLING BUSINESS
1) Kalkaska Plumbing & Heating
2) Air North Heating & Plumbing
3) Dan’s Plumbing & Services
HIKING TRAIL OR AREA
1) Hartwick Pines State Park
2) North Country Trail & Sunset Trail Road Loop
3) Hanson Hills Recreation Area
Photo by Dave Weidner
HISTORICAL LANDMARK
1) Hartwick Pines Logging Museum
2) Gaylord Elk Park
3) Call of the Wild
LOCALLY MADE HARD BEVERAGE
1) Rolling Oak White, Rolling Oak Brewing Co.
2) Fall Harvest Cider, Big Buck Brewery
3) C1 Cider, Rolling Oak Brewing Co.
LODGING: HOTELS, MOTELS & RESORTS
1) All Seasons Resort
2) Gates Au Sable Lodge
3) Treetops Resort
LODGING: NO HOTELS, MOTELS OR RESORTS
1) Hanson House Bed & Breakfast
2) Borchers Bed & Breakfast
3) Otsego Lake County Park
NONPROFIT
1) 22 2 None
2) Friends of the Kalkaska County Library
3) AuSable Valley Animal Shelter
OUTDOOR DINING
1) Billy Bob’s Boneyard
2) The Dig’s Food Truck
3) Ray’s BBQ, Brews & Blues
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
1) Pursuit Physical Therapy, Kalkaska
2) Dynamic Physical Therapy, Grayling
3) Northsport Physical Therapy, Gaylord
PIZZA
1) B.C. Pizza Kalkaska
2) G’s Pizzeria & Deli
3) Kal-Ho Lounge
PLACE FOR A WEDDING
1) Mill Pond Event Center
2) Sonshine Barn Wedding & Event Center
3) Sojourn Lakeside Resort
PLACE TO BUY A BOOK
1) Hidden Treasures
2) Tip’n the Mitten
3) The Shopping Basket Gifts & More
PLACE TO BUY A GIFT
1) Cherry Street Market
2) Hidden Treasures
3) Rooted
Photo by Cherry Street Market
PLACE TO BUY HOME FURNISHINGS
1) Woodland Creek Furniture & Gallery
2) Great Rooms Furniture & Mattresses
3) Past to Present Emporium
PLACE TO BUY JEWELRY
1) Hidden Treasures
2) Hogan’s Jewelers
3) Kay Jewelers of Gaylord
PLACE TO BUY ORGANIC & NATURAL FOODS
1) Earth’s Garden Natural Foods
2) Nature’s Nest
3) Jo Jo’s Natural Market
PLACE TO BUY PET ITEMS
1) Natural Farm Store/ Lodi Trading Company
2) Pets & Things
3) Tractor Supply Co. Gaylord
PLACE TO GET ACTIVE/ OUTDOOR WEAR & GEAR
1) Natural Farm Store/ Lodi Trading Company
2) Northbound Outfitters
3) Jay’s Sporting Goods
PLACE TO KAYAK/CANOE/SUP
1) Shel-Haven Canoe Rental
2) Au Sable River Public Access
3) Penrod’s Au Sable Canoe & Kayak
PLACE TO WALK YOUR DOG
1) Kalkaska Area Recreational Transportation (KART) Trail
PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER
1) Andrew J. Long, DO
2) Natalie Okerson-Sparks, MD
3) Vincent E. Schultz, MD
PROJECT HANDYPERSON
1) RV Doctor of Grayling
2) Jerry Stapleton, Rapid City
REAL ESTATE AGENT
1) Michael McGuire, Century 21 Northland
2) Chet Wheeler, RE/MAX of Grayling
3) Laura Grezner, Coldwell Banker Schmidt, Realtors
RESTAURANT
1) Trout Town Tavern & Eatery
2) Moose & Stella’s Cafe
3) Yankee Boy
SALON
1) Timberlie’s Salon Studio
2) Las Vegas Tan & Salon
3) From Head to Toe
SPOT FOR PICKING (THRIFTING/CONSIGNING)
1) Hidden Treasures
2) Past to Present Emporium
3) St. Francis Thrift Shop
TEACHER
1) Ms. Kirchofer, Birch Street Elementary
2) Tawni Deike, Forest Area High School
3) Ali Bridson, Cherry Street Intermediate
THERAPIST/COUNSELOR
1) Annette Goodyear, LPC
2) Marne March Olli, LPC, MA
3) KaLeigh Shepard, LMSW
WINTER HIKE OR SNOWSHOE TRAIL
1) Upper Manistee Headwaters: The Milock Family Preserve
2) Michawyé Cross Country Ski/Hiking Trails
XC SKI TRAIL OR AREA
1) Hanson Hills Recreation Area
2) Upper Manistee Headwaters: The Milock Family Preserve
3) Twin Birch Golf Course