One of the many fall activities that make our repeat bed and breakfast guests coming back every fall to our are of West Michigan is the Crane’s corn maze. Just less than one mile from the Inn, it is definitely a draw for many of the visitors to the Saugatuck area as well as a repeat favorite of many local West Michigan folks. With a different theme of the corn maze path each year, it is always new and different each fall season.
Although our weather hasn’t been terrible over the past week, it certainly has been a bit cooler than average for September weather here in West Michigan and the greater Saugatuck area. Our bed and breakfast guests have all been venturing our for their daily activities in pants and coats which isn’t always the case this time of year. So for us to hear that the forecast for this week in West Michigan includes 80 degree temperatures (not every day, but we will take what we can get) is definitely a welcome change. Very odd to think that just a month ago we couldn’t wait to be relieved of the 90+ temps!
Today we once again will be traveling the short distance to our chocolate shop in nearby Allegan Michigan. “Something Sweet” is a great chocolate shop there where we obtain the sweets trays and boxes for our romantic couples at the bed and breakfast who like to add the special chocolate touch to their stay with us. Dianna is wonderful and always helpful at the shop and will go out of her way to help fill any orders with extra special care. You can add the chocolate tray or chocolate boxes by requesting them when making a reservation with us at the Inn.
Today we decorated the bed and breakfast with signs of Michigan’s bountiful harvest. Cornstalks, pumpkins, gourds and yes, our usual scarecrows to ward off the crows during the harvest season. It always is a true sign that the fall season is here when we decorate the bed and breakfast landscape with these true signs of the fall season. But is also is fun to decorate the inside of the Inn too with similar signs that this beautifully romantic season is upon us. Welcome Fall! at the Kingsley House Inn!
This morning we received our fair share of rain, which of course is always welcome to make the crops grow, but seeing the sun shining down on the bed and breakfast this afternoon and more mild and less windy conditions, it makes us want to get out and about today. We don’t really know yet what the actual rainfall was this morning but then we have not yet seen the weather reports for West Michigan. Based on the puddles around the area, I’m guessing it what at least an inch if not more.
It’s that time of year…our friends at many of the area Saugatuck and South Haven outdoor water and sand activites are beginning to reduce their hours of operation now that it is mid September. No worries though, they still do continue to operate through to the end of October, just with reduced hours or operation. So any of our bed and breakfast guests who would like to participate in any of these fun water and sand activities just need to be cognizant of this before they set out for their day.
Around the bed and breakfast and throughout the surrounding Saugatuck Michigan area it is evident that the mums have all budded and are starting to bloom as the late summer and early fall season reminds us of the time of year. The colorful fall mums are always a pleasant reminder of the gorgeous fall colors yet to come to our area. Sol many of our bed and breakfast guests during the later part of September to the early part of November come to enjoy the fantastic color displays that Michigan produces during the fall getaway season.
This past weekend I had to run an errand on a rather rainy and cold Saturday morning. Like most Saturdays during the year, the line of cars heading to Cranes apple orchards and pie pantry restaurant was expected. However, this particular weekend I was reminded of the draw that honeycrisp apples can bring for our local u-pick orchards. The line of vehicles down the road waiting to get into the gate at the 10 am opening was incredible, even in the downpouring rain and unseasonably cold weather we experienced this past Saturday. It is truly amazing what our local West Michigan tourist friends will do for apples!
Driving around yesterday we realized that all the way from South Haven to Saugatuck along Blue Star Highway there were quite a few of the area pumpkin patches now open for selecting that right pumpkin for the fall season. Many of our bed and breakfast guests for the weekend were here hoping for a summer-like getaway weekend, but were just as happy to experience the early fall activities of our surrounding area. Of course, an Indian Summer with warmer temperatures would always be welcome too.
West Michigan weather is always unpredictable from month to month and mother nature hasn’t disappointed this year. After an extremely hot summer our September has been below average temps so far and this morning’s rain seemed to have cooled things off from the start of the morning! Our bed and breakfast guests still braved the cool and damp weather and sat on the wrap around porch this morning for breakfast. But it sure would have been nice to have a sunny and warm breakfast . Oh well, at least everyone is upbeat and out doing fall-related activities today.
