Cruise The Breezeway For Stunning Fall Color In 2023

Autumn in northern Michigan is a magical time of year. The landscape is awash in brilliant red, yellow and orange foliage. Looking for a scenic drive to view the colors? The Breezeway, a rural route that connects Atwood to Boyne Falls, is lined with colorful trees during the fall. So grab your camera, gas up the car and head out for the Breezeway Fall Color Tour!

The Breezeway, or C-48, is a 25 mile rural drive that winds past farms, fields and forests. You’ll journey through the towns of Ellsworth, East Jordan and Boyne Falls. There are plenty of opportunities to explore gift stores, antique shops, farm markets, restaurants, scenic overlooks, parks and hiking trails.

Keep an eye out for mile markers along the roadside. They feature the Breezeway logo and correspond to attractions listed on tourist maps.

The annual Breezeway Color Cruise is always held the the last Saturday in September and the first two Saturdays in October. If you go on an official tour day, you’ll be able to pick up a goodie bag filled with the trail map, travel tips and coupons. (Due to our schedule, we cruised the Breezeway on the last Saturday of September. The colors were just getting started, making us wish we’d been able to take the tour a week or two later) You can travel along at your own pace, stopping as along the way as much or as little as you’d like.

Breezeway Fall Color Tour: Begin At Royal Farms Winery

First stop on your Breezeway fall color tour? Royal Farms Farm Market And Winery, located at the intersection of US-31 and C-48 in the small town of Atwood. This is where you’ll check in between 10:00 am and n00n, pick up your trail map, travel tips and coupons. Plan on spending some time at this family-owned farm market and tasting room before cruising out along the Breezeway.

Royal Farms is popular with locals for miles around. Their market is loaded with seasonal fruits and vegetables. You can pick your own cherries, peaches and apples when in these fruits are in season. Homemade pie is a huge draw, as well as breads, cookies, brownies and other goodies baked on-site in the bakery. We’re huge fans of the focaccia bread and cherry chocolate macaroons.

If you happen to be checking in at lunch time, you can enjoy items like asparagus soup, a cherry chicken salad wrap or white cheddar mac and cheese. In the autumn, top it all off with cider and donuts.

The Cellars of Royal Farms uses fresh fruit right from the farm for making wine and cider. The Tasting Room features assorted hard ciders on tap made from vintage apple varieties. You can even purchase a bottle of semi-sweet white wine named for this famous roadway: The Breezeway!

And don’t miss the gift shop, where a wide array of cherry products, local honey and maple syrup awaits. Not to mention a huge assortment of cherry-related items, including jewelry, towels, puzzles, and candles.

An absolute must: navigating your way through Royal Farm’s five acre corn maze. It’s set up like a scavenger hunt, with six stations hidden inside. Those trailblazers who make it to all six stations in under 30 minutes win a prize! (full disclosure: we did not win a prize. Maybe because we hit the tasting room before venturing into the corn?)

Royal Farms also offers hay rides on the weekends during the fall. It’s great way to take in the orchards and vineyards, topped off with a spectacular view of Lake Michigan.

We drove away with a big bag of Honeycrisp apples, some blueberry scones for breakfast the next day, and two colorful mums for our front porch. And this was only stop one!

Find out all that Royal Farms has to offer on the Royal Farms Farm Market website.

Ellsworth

Continue your Breezeway Fall Color Tour by hopping on C-48 and proceeding east toward Ellsworth.

As you make your way past a patchwork of farms and fields, keep an eye out for a series of rolling, tear-drop shaped hills. These hills, called drumlins, were created by the glaciers that covered Michigan 10,000 years ago. They formed from sediments left behind as the glaciers retreated. Drumlins are parallel to each other, separated by troughs. You’ll know that you’re crossing the drumlin fields when the Breezeway gives you the sensation of riding on a roller coaster!

Ellsworth Community Park

You’ll know you’re in Ellsworth when you spot the huge grain elevator as you come into town. Stretch your legs in the Ellsworth Community Park, right in the heart of the village. This park overlooks Ellsworth Lake and offers an archery range, playground and a picnic pavilion.

The centerpiece of the park is the Ellsworth Labyrinth Garden. Labyrinths are a series of paths laid out in concentric circles and are designed for meditation. First unveiled in 2004, the Ellsworth Labyrinth was the largest labyrinth in Michigan at the time.

Head for the giant Adirondack chair at the entrance of the labyrinth for a great photo op. Then take the time to quiet your mind as you walk the path and breath in the scent of the  fragrant creeping thyme planted between the path’s flagstones.

St. Clair Lake- Six Mile Lake Natural Area

Continue two miles east of Ellsworth. Nature lovers will want to make a quick stop at the St. Clair Lake Six Mile Lake Natural Area. This nature preserve is known for its extended stretch of undeveloped shoreline. It’s a popular destination for canoeing and kayaking. Pull into the small parking lot on the right side of the road.

The short, quarter-mile hiking path alternates between wood chips and boardwalk. Walk through a forest and cedar wetlands to an overlook on the Sinclair River. You may be lucky to spot a great blue heron, belted kingfisher or even a bald eagle.

Riverside Cafe

We so enthusiastically indulged in the goodies at Royal Farms that we weren’t ready to eat again as we cruised through Ellsworth. But we’ve heard wonderful things about the Riverside Café, located right on Main Street within the village. They feature an all day breakfast menu, and riends have gushed about the cafe’s corned beef hash and biscuits and gravy. Check out the menu and current hours on the Riverside Café Facebook page.

East Jordan

Next stop on the Breezeway Fall Color Tour: East Jordan. This quaint town is located at the mouth of the Jordan River where it flows into Lake Charlevoix. It’s a perfect area to view the changing colors of autumn.

The old East Jordan Iron Works foundry has long been a landmark for locals. The company was founded in 1883, shipping its metal grates and access covers throughout the world. The foundry has been replaced by a new plant and the company renamed as EJ Group Inc. Catch a glimpse of this old gem if you can: it’s slated to be torn down in the next couple of years.

East Jordan Sportsman’s Park

Sportsman’s Park is located on the banks of the Jordan River. It includes a lighted boardwalk and a viewing platform. There are also fishing piers, a gazebo and public restrooms. The park is surrounded by natural wetlands, making it a prime location to spot bald eagles and ospreys.

East Jordan & Southern Railroad Engine No. 6 Locomotive

The historic East Jordan and Southern Locomotive Old No. 6 train engine is now on display in Sportsman’s Park. This nearly 200,000 pound steam train dates back to the city’s logging days. The East Jordan & Southern Railroad operated from 1901–1961 and the engine is a historic landmark. 

Jordan Art Walk

East Jordan is known for promoting Michigan artists. There are currently seven sculptures on display in Memorial and Sportsman’s Parks. This is a revolving exhibit, so the current artwork will be rotated out after three years.

Jordan Valley Glassworks

Keep on eye out for the Jordan Valley Glassworks studio as you make your way through the town. This bright yellow building was not on our official Breezeway Color Tour map, but it’s definitely a must-do stop!

Jordan Valley Glassworks is a unique working studio that specializes in blown glass art. Their inventory of beautiful, custom made pieces include ornaments and vases, yard art, stained glass wall hangings and chandeliers.

Glass blown memorials are very popular with customers. The studio takes a small portion of the cremated ashes of a loved one and showcases it in a beautiful glass design. You can honor your loved one with a custom made memorial paperweight, oil lamp, votive cup, pendant or ornament.

We popped in at the right time and were able to watch a professional glassblower as he crafted a beautiful, brightly colored vase. He was kind enough to explain how the furnace worked, and answered all of our questions. Call ahead to make an appointment for a more in-depth demonstration, and even schedule your own glassblowing lesson!

Jordan Valley Glassworks can be found at 209 State Street. Click on the Jordan Valley Glassworks website and check out their beautiful creations.

Foundry Bar And Grill

Ready to find a spot to eat in East Jordan? Look no further than the Foundry Bar and Grill. Their slogan pretty much says it all: “Dammm. Good. Food.”

The restaurant has an industrial vibe which reflects the historic foundry in town, the East Jordan Ironworks. The interior of the restaurant has a rustic, industrial atmosphere, with historical photos and memorabilia paying homage to the town’s historic past.

The restaurant, overlooking the marina on Lake Charlevoix, features pizza, burgers, wings and salads. They also have craft cocktails and ice cold beer.

We still weren’t quite ready for a full meal, so their warm pretzel bites with bar cheese for dipping was the perfect appetizer for us. A patron seated near us insisted that the garlic cheese curds, battered with fresh parsley breadcrumbs and deep fried, are the best thing on the menu!

At the of our Breezeway Fall Color Tour, the Foundry was featuring fall-themed cocktails. We indulged in the Drunken Pumpkin, with pumpkin vodka, pumpkin cream and Kahlua. It was divine: more like a dessert than a cocktail!

Order online at the Foundry Bar And Grill Website. The restaurant is located at 101 Main St. in East Jordan.

Boyne Mountain Resort

The official Breezeway Color Cruise tour ends at Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls. Those who pick up a goody bag at Royal Farms score a free ticket for a chairlift ride to the top of the ski hill for a breathtaking panoramic view. (tickets ordinarily cost $14.00)

Take time to wander around the mountain top. Photo ops abound! There are miles of hiking trails if you are so inclined. You can even opt to try out the mountain top disc golf course. Rent discs and get a scorecard at the Boyne Mountain Adventure Center.

You can get a bite to eat or chill out with a beer at the Eagles Nest Restaurant while you enjoy the incredible views of Boyne Valley. There’s a full bar available, plus a casual menu with hot soup, hamburgers, veggie plates and hot pretzels. There’s also a cozy wood burning fireplace where you can warm up if the day is cold.

Head to the Boyne Mountain Resort website for more information or to check out the menu at the Eagle’s Nest. Lodging is available for those who wish to spend the night.

Boyne City

Technically, the Breezeway Color Tour culminates at Boyne Mountain. However, the charming town of Boyne City is only ten minutes away on M-75 and deserves to be added to your itinerary. This northern Michigan gem is located on the shores of Lake Charlevoix, another great spot for sweeping views of fall color. And Boyne City is home to one of our favorite restaurants: Cafe Santé.

Cafe Santé

After sampling a variety of goodies all along the Breezeway route, we didn’t have room left for a full-fledged dinner. So we headed into Cafe Santé for an appetizer. Cafe Santé is casual, European-style bistro. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a  wood-fired pizza and a Belgian brew. There’s inside seating and dining on the patio with both covered and open-air sections.

I ordered an Italian classic: baked shrimp scampi with garlic butter and bread crumbs. It was absolutely delicious! Equally impressive was Cafe Santé’s sparkling sangria, made with brandy, peach nectar, house-made sour mix, and fresh berries topped with with Cava, the delightful sparkling wine from Spain.

We seriously questioned if we had room for dessert, but hated the idea of missing out on something special. So we opted to share the Pot De Créme, a delightful concoction of Belgian chocolate, espresso and whipped cream. Just how good was it? So good that we dove right in when it was delivered to our table, and I neglected to take a photo!

 Click here to look over the Cafe Sante menu.

Alpine Chocolate Haus

Still have a craving for chocolate? (After our dessert at Cafe Santé, we took our chocolates to-go!) The Boyne City Alpine Chocolat Haus is conveniently located right next door to Cafe Sante. It’s one of the best known chocolate shops in northern Michigan. Alpine Haus has been making high quality chocolates, fudge, brittles and caramel corn since 1985. Each piece of chocolate is made by hand, one at a time! Alpine Haus Chocolat is famous for their pillowy, chocolate covered seafoam and their out-of-this-world chocolate covered potato chips. Their ice cream counters are particularly busy during the summer.

We walked in and marveled at the huge variety of confections available. Particularly impressive was the wide array of jars filled with chocolate covered fruits and nuts.

For me, one of the very best reason to visit a gourmet chocolate shop is to sample their gourmet truffles. And the Alpine Haus rocked this one out of the park! Their truffles are perfectly coated with a simple layer of chocolate, and filled with decadent, silky smooth ganache. The double dark chocolate truffle truly melts in your mouth! The peppermint truffle is high on my list of favorites, closely followed by the sea salt caramel.

Alpine Haus is known for their scrumptious caramel apples. According to their website, these gems are not made from your granny’s Granny Smith apples. They are lovingly made from incredibly huge, incredibly crisp, extra juicy Granny Smith apples grown in Michigan, and then smothered with ” our gooey-licious caramel.” There are over a dozen varieties to choose from.  

Naturally, I went for the dark chocolate sea salt apple. David opted for the peanut covered caramel apple. I definitely agree with the “incredibly huge” description! These apples are incredibly huge and incredibly rich. There’s no way I could ever eat a whole one. You can easily cut them into 8 or 10 slices to pass around and share.

Just as the website claims, these just may be the finest caramel apples that we’ve ever experienced! Mmmm…

The Boyne City shop is located at 1 Water Street. If cruising down the Breezeway doesn’t quite fit into your schedule, you can easily have have some chocolatey goodness shipped right to your door. Place your order on the Alpine Chocolate Haus Website.

When the brilliant reds, yellows and oranges of autumn are at their peak, hop into your car and cruise along the Breezeway Fall Color Tour. Don’t forget your camera!

In the mood for more chocolate? Check out our blog post Searching For The Best Chocolate in Northern Michigan to discover more chocolatey goodness!

Can’t get enough of a Michigan fall in all its glory? Read about another fabulous scenic drive on our Tunnel of Trees blog post.

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