Behind the Mitten

SEASON 6, BONUS EPISODE On this weekend’s  Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- we visit Mackinc Island. Our travel mode for the day? A carriage ride with Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. We want to thank our incredible driver Kaitlyn Mann for transporting us from West to East, and to all points in between. We felt like royalty driving around in the rain in the wicker weddin...

SEASON 6, BONUS EPISODE On this special Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez podcast -- Gonzo and Amy sit down with the creators of Soft Parade Vodka, Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville and Short's Brewing Company in Bellaire. Kerry Lynch , directore of sales for Short's, and Richard Anderson , a co-owner of Iron Fish, talk about this Pure Michigan collaboration that is mad...

SEASON 6, EPISODE 18 On this weekend’s  Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez --  We are headed back to the island, Mackinac Island that is, and we couldn't be happier. Mackinac Island is one of our state's very special vacation spots, and we take you behind the scenes and all over the island to share all that is new for the 2024 season.  We would like to thank Mackinac Island...

SEASON 6, BONUS EPISODE Makers Trail Festival, June 8, 2024, Weko Beach in Bridgman On this special Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez podcast, Gonzo and Amy spend some time with friends at St. Joe Today at the Pure Michigan Governor's Conferece in April in Kalamazoo. They were able to get all the details about the Makers Trail Festival, June 8 on Weko Beach in Bridgman, whi...

SEASON 6, EPISODE 17 On this weekend’s  Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez --  This week we travel to Gaylord and visit with our good friends at Treetops, Michigan’s Most Spectacular Resort. They are hosting their annual Grill on the Hill barbecue event this Saturday, May 4, and we got all the details. Plus, lots about golf, equipment, new food menus, and more on this episod...

SEASON 6, BONUS EPISODE On this weekend’s  Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Gonzo was able to catch up with Danny Ranville of Biere de Mac Brew Works in Mackinaw City. The last time he stopped in (March), the award-winning Fleur de Mac - a Belgian farmhouse ale that was introduced in 2020 as a collaboration with Mackinac State Historic Park - was being brewed. Unfortuna...

SEASON 6, BONUS EPISODE On this weekend’s  Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Gonzo covers Short's 20th annual Anni Party with Sales Director Kerry Lynch and good friend/Short's sales rep, Ben Darcie . Kerry and Ben say: "We're celebrating TWENTY YEARS of beer liberation with 70+ beers and ciders for your mouth-holes!" The party in Bellaire is April 26 and 27, 2024 and in...

SEASON 6, EPISODE 16 On this weekend’s  Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Gonzo covers Short's 20th annual Anni Party, as well as Biere de Mac's Beer of the Year, Shepherd's annual Maple Syrup Festival and the popular Beer & Brat Festival at Crystal Mountain Resort. Learn more: Segment 1:  Biere de Mac Fleur de Mac, Beer of the Year! Segment 2: Shepherd Syrup Festiva...

SEASON 6, BONUS EPISODE On this bonus episode of Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Amy and Gonzo talk to Chris Lopez of Black Star Farms. He is a legendary member of the tasting team room, and he is probably one of the most recognizaebale members of the Black Star team. Tucked in the rural farmland and beautiful countryside of the Leelanau Peninsula, you will find Black...

Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival April 26-28, 2024 Michigan's original maple syrup festival since 1940! Parade starts at  3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 . www.syrupfest.org In this podcast, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman interview Mary Ann Hayes about the Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival, which is the original maple syrup festival in Michigan and came about in 1940, when local syrup producers gathe...

SEASON 6, EPISODE 15 On this weekend’s  Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Amy and Gonzo attend the annual Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism in Kalamazoo to talk to industry experts, learn about trends and introduce you to a Pure Michigan Pie! Segment 1: In the show's opening segment, Amy and Gonzo learn a lot about how Europeans view Michigan as a tourism de...

BEHIND THE MITTEN - MICHIGAN DESTINATIONS Sleepy Hollow Beach Resort is South Haven's only beach front luxury resort! Sleepy Hollow Beach Resort in South Haven combines the iconic Art Deco style with 21st century amenities such as our Olympic size heated pool, a variety of sports & recreational activities, and don’t forget our 1,000 feet of private terraced beach with direct stairwell access t...

SEASON 6, EPISODE 14 On this weekend’s Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Amy and special guest host Phil Tower take you to Comerica Park, which just unveiled the second largest video scoreboard in Major League Baseball. They'll tell you want to eat, drink and see at Comerica Park in 2024 as fans flock to downtown Detroit to root, root, root for the Tigers! Segment 1: Amy...

SEASSON 6, EPISODE 13 On this weekend’s Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Amy and Gonzo take you to Traverse City, which is blessed to have about 50 wineries in the region. To prepare for May, which is Wine Month in Michigan, our friends at Travere City Tourism have created TC "Uncorked" ! Our show this weekend is all about planning ahead for a great time in the Grand Tr...

SEASON 6, EPISODE 12 On this weekend’s Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- Amy and Gonzo take you behind the scenes of a typical travel day when they have to travel from Grand Rapids to Traverse City on an assignment. They make stops in Reed City, Cadillac, Kalkaska and Kingsley. Tune in to this fantastic road trip where they find new favorites, visit old stomping grounds,...

SEASON 6, BONUS EPISODE On this bonus episode of  Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez , our dynamic duo chats with BTM webmaster Jeff Bailey, who tells how he got into the hobby of making his own maple syrup. He started from the base of not knowing how to identify a maple tree to actually making something he gives away as gifts to friends. He will make you laugh. This segment...

SEASON 6, BONUS EPISODE On this weekend’s Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez , our dynamic duo travel the state to bring you everything you need to know about Michigan Maple Syrup, including how a newcomer approaches it and how the professionals do it. On this bonus podcast, they stop by the Detroit suburb of Northville, which may seem like an unlikely place to celebrate all...

SEASON 6, BONUS EPISODE On this weekend’s Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez , our dynamic duo travel the state to bring you everything you need to know about Michigan Maple Syrup, including how a newcomer approaches it and how the professionals do it. Their first stop is at  Maple Row Sugarhouse in Jones (Southwestern Michigan) where they are celebrating the Michigan Maple...

“Behind the Mitten” is Michigan’s premiere travel radio show and Podcast with more than 600 episodes. It is co-hosted by veteran journalist John Gonzalez and longtime chef & beer expert Amy Sherman. The show has been recognized by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters as Best in Category. On this podcast, Amy Sherman join the Paul Miller Show (March 22. 2024) on WPHM in Port Huron to previe...

SEASON 6, EPISODE 11 On this weekend’s Behind the Mitten Show with Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez , our dynamic duo travel the state to bring you everything you need to know about Michigan Maple Syrup, including how a newcomer approaches it and how the professionals do it. Segment 1: We stop at Maple Row Sugarhouse in Jones (Southwestern Michigan) where they are celebrating the Michigan Maple Syrup...

SEASON 6, EPISODE 10 Nestled on the shores of our lovely Lake Michigan, most know and adore Grand Haven as a fabulous summer beach destination. And boy, IS IT! Strolling the boardwalk on a warm sunny day, with a breeze off the great lake, maybe a drippy cone in your hand, and thoughts of the Tip A Few Tavern for a cold one later dance across your brain. Grand Haven is truly a Pure Michigan summer...

We are always intrigued to hear what others have to say about our beloved Michigan, whether it is current residents, former citizens, or visitors from afar. We are always especially interested to hear the take that travel experts have on Michigan, what they notice, what they love, what they might see in our future. We were pleased as punch to confirm an interview with Pauline Frommer for our Seaso...

We set out to make a Michigan Bucket List show and ended up with a guest list that is all over the map and book-ended by two well-known names, one in the travel industry, and one for abiding while creating an incredible theatrical destination for all to enjoy. We were pleased as punch to confirm an interview with Pauline Frommer. Yes, of that Frommer family, the kind of kings of travel publication...

Fenn Valley Vineyards has been creating unique Michigan wines and ciders for over fifty years, nestled in the rolling green hills of Fennville in beautiful southwest Michigan. Behind the Mitten made a recent jaunt that way, about 45 minutes south of our world headquarters in Grand Rapids. We sat down with Brian Lesperance, Vice President of Fenn Valley, and winemaker Matt Jannette to get the scoop...

BONUS PODCAST On this Podcast, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman celebrate National Sauna Week (Feb. 18-24, 2024) with executive director of the national Finlandia Foundation , Tommy Flanagan. He tells us all about it, including that the Upper Peninsula is considered part of the U.S. Sauna Belt. He also discusses proper sauna etiquete. Congrats to Debbie Paver of Calumet , who created the winning entr...