To the east of Traverse City, on Lake Michigan, there is a small town I like to visit to do a little shopping – I always know just what I want. The town is Leland and the shopping area I go to is Fishtown. Fishtown is the commercial fishing district, just a couple of big docks, that has provided a living for the resident of Leland for over a century through fishing, lumbering, and iron smelting.
On our last visit I learned its current history. A few years back a developer was interested in buying up the property to tear down the buildings for some high-end condos. Some local residents got together and bought up the property to preserve the building by using them for small shops and charter fishing companies.
Our visit this spring was a couple of weeks before high tourist season began so we had a leisurely stroll around and then ate the picnic lunch we had packed. I can share the stroll with you but I’m sorry to say lunch is finished up.
And I bought what I needed from Fishtown – some fish sausage and smoked whitefish. So good with cheese and crackers and beer or wine.
A New Day: Living Life Almost Gracefully 
Not acquainted with fish sausages… sounds like something I would like.
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I like it a lot – especially with cheese and crackers. It is a smoked sausage that is milder in flavor, less garlic but not really fishy.
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It’s good when local history can be saved from large corporate interest.
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What a great way to preserve history. I can’t imagine tearing down those lovely old buildings and erecting a bunch of soulless condos.
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Oh, I agree! And I did my part by spending some money to support the merchants. 🙂
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I was only in Leland once, but remember my visit and the smoked fish vividly! We had a lovely lunch there.
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The smoked fish is so good that it is impossible to forget.
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You simply must pack more. I ‘ll bring the beer and wine. Cheers.
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I will remember that – and let you know when and where the picnic is. We also had the sausage and smoked fish with the cheese and crackers – and apple slices and grapes.
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