With its magnetic color scheme, autumn is bursting its way into 2003. And, as everyone knows, there’s no better place to be in autumn than northern Michigan. The annual pilgrimage of vehicles snaking their way toward northern Michigan has begun. They’re off to catch early glimpses of nature’s show and crispy whiffs of pure air, deliciously scented by our state’s bounty—the Great Lakes. If you’re willing to get off the beaten track, you can enjoy the fall colors, Lake Michigan, unique architecture, rock hunting and apple products at their best in Charlevoix, about 250 miles NW of Detroit.

Autumn and apple season are synonymous in northern Michigan, and Threeolbags happened on a family-run orchard just south of Charlevoix on Hwy 31, with ties to grocery stores all over the nation, including the suburban Detroit area. Friske Orchards, owned and operated by the Friske family for three generations, is a pioneer in the quick frozen fruit market, supplying Meijers, Kroger and Spartan grocery stores with IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) Michigan Balaton Cherries. Available year-round, this special blend of tart cherries combined with the smooth taste of sweet cherries was developed in Hungary and is great for cooking and eating. They also send thousands of gift-boxed apples out each year and maintain a roadside market with café. Visit their website at www.friske.com to learn of educational tours and U-Pick schedules during this Fall Season.

Olga and Richard Friske settled in the Charlevoix area after leaving Germany in 1952. Years of hard work and diligent saving allowed them to buy the orchard, which they quickly turned into a family operation. Today their eldest son, Richard and his wife Wendy, own the farm which continues to be operated by family members. Olga still works every day in the kitchen baking her famous European Balaton Cherry Coffee Cake, helping out in the farm market or tending the strawberries.

Judy, Richard's sister, is continually adding to their thriving business. The Country Haus, a recently acquired gift shop next to the market and café has become a popular stop for travelers. Each of the ten rooms hold gift items with separate themes, like the doll room, the kitchen room or the soap room. The shop itself is decorated like a German Chalet. Plans to add a farm machine museum and more toys and animals to the existing petting farm are in the works.

Hard work and family pride keeps owner, Richard Friske, busy as he monitors profit margins, and oversees the meticulously kept orchard. We were absolutely awed at the orderliness of his enormous barn. There was a place for everything, and yes, everything was certainly in its place. Organization like this doesn’t just happen, but from the smile on his face, Richard is right where he belongs. “I grew up here, and now I’m raising my children here,” he said. “They love it as much as I did,” he added pointing to trees that had just been pruned by his sixteen-year-old daughter.

The beauty of Charlevoix is found in Lake Michigan bordering the west bank and Lake Charlevoix on the east side of town. With all this water you might expect great fishing and boating opportunities. You wouldn’t be disappointed. Inland lake and stream fishing, along with Great Lake fishing makes the area a fisherman’s paradise. Lake trout, brown trout, steelhead, Coho, Chinook salmon and perch are found in Lake Michigan. Charter fishing based in Charlevoix is popular. Lake Charlevoix also holds walleye, northern pike, bass and bluegill. Ice fishing is popular on Lake Charlevoix during the winter months, when it freezes solid.

Majestic sailboats, speedboats and large freighters provide a picture perfect scene as you walk along the downtown harbor. Unique hand-crafted stone and wood "mushroom houses" decorate the shopping district, along with over 50,000 petunias, stretching along five miles of road. “Project Petunia” is a heartwarming tradition in Charlevoix, not to mention its visual splendor. Over 500 volunteers show up each spring to plant the flowers that have become part of the cities charm for the past thirteen years.

Michigan Beaches and roadside parks along U.S. 31, north of Charlevoix are two of the best places for rock enthusiasts to find popular Petoskey stones (Michigan’s state stone). The fossilized rocks are turned up from the bottom of Lake Michigan each spring, providing a continuous supply to visiting collectors. The same parks offer excellent views of the "Million Dollar Sunsets" that helped make the area a prime tourist destination since the early 1800’s.

Road trips around town are a favorite activity, especially if you enjoy architecture. Stylish Victorian homes can be seen from East Dixon Avenue, traveling west to Depot Beach. Beautiful summer homes line Ferry Avenue, and an interesting log church built in the 1850's is three miles east of Charlevoix on Susan Lake just off Boyne City Road. Greensky Hill Mission Church, the oldest continuously operating Indian congregation in Michigan, still holds services here. Perhaps the most interesting structures are Smurf-like mushroom houses designed by the late Earl Young. Young was an architectural designer from Michigan University known for his stonework and rooflines. Be sure to stop by the Charlevoix Chamber of Commerce to pick up a map locating area homes and businesses he designed.

If you’d rather walk than drive, the north pier walk leading from Round Lake to Lake Michigan is an interesting jaunt. Either side of Pine River Channel has a pleasant walking path with quaint, Victorian style electric lights. One of the best ways to see the downtown area is to walk the loop through the shopping district on Bridge Street.

Over twenty bed and breakfasts offer overnight lodging, including The Positive Pea, that honors Earl Young. There are also several motels in the area. Food choices range from a quick bit of fast food to fine dining at specialty restaurants like The Red Snapper featuring freshly caught seafood.

ThreeOlBags never cease to be amazed at the spice and variety of life our Great Lake State offers. With the added bonus of fall colors Charlevoix is just not to be missed