O.K., I admit it, I'm a snob about how northern Michigan is being overtaken by overzealous developers and too many golf courses. If you want to go to a town that hasn't been wrecked yet, and still has an excellent beach on Lake Michigan, with good restaurants nearby (and golf, for those of you who play), then try Arcadia.

Greg & Patrice gave up good paying corporate careers in Grand Rapids to run the Arcadia House B & B. Patrice is also a masseuse as well as a good cook. I've been back to Arcadia House three times now, and the hospitality is always excellent. The house is easy to find, right on M-22, but since there's not much traffic most of the time, road noise is not an issue. The rooms aren't very big, but they're comfortable with good mattresses, and an armchair. Everything is very clean. There's a nice big landing with a window seat upstairs, as well as a living room with a gas fireplace on the main floor, plenty of room to spread out if you want to.

Patrice offers massage at a very fair price, and she's well trained and professional. The packages combining a room, a massage, and a gift certificate for dinner are excellent deals (see the web site). Try the Blue Slipper restaurant in Onekama. They make excellent pasta/salad/bread and good desserts. The Cabbage Shed in Elberta is casual and serves fresh fish and large portions of vegetables, among other things.

Breakfasts at Arcadia House are good, special and unusual. Patrice remembered that I'm diabetic and provided me an appropriate breakfast, including sugar free syrup. Wine is offered in the evening, and tea/coffee are always available. We've never tried the hot tub, since we have one at home.

If you, like me, are sick of what's happened to Leelanau, Benzie, & Grand Traverse counties, then come on down the lakeshore to the north end of Manistee county and try Arcadia House. (The beach in Arcadia is big and beautiful, too!)