(906) 847~3295 Issue 1 | Spring 2010 Quick Links mackinacbayview.com Rooms and Rates Wedding Info Gift Certificates A Special Treat For You We'd love to offer you special promotions and information that perfectly suit you. Take a few minutes to tell us more about yourself, and we'll send you a special gift to thank you for your time. Click here to update your profile. Make A Surprise Reservation   Surprise your loved one with a romantic getaway full of personal touches that let her know you're thinking of her.  From custom food orders to flowers to special music, we can make you the hero on your next vacation. Visit Our Sister Inn  Brigadoon Bed & Breakfast Mackinaw City, MI Double your pleasure by visiting this sprawling, magnificent Victorian home has breathtaking gardens, period-perfect furnishings, private baths with heated marble floors, whirlpool bath, individual fireplaces, wet bars, and more. Visit MackinawBrigadoon.com  or call (231) 436-8882 for more details. Take advantage of discounted rates when you visit both Bed & Breakfast  jewels! Getting More For Less Make reservations for May or October and enjoy a 50% discount on your second night's stay. See details by clicking here. Calling All Cooks...  Have a great family recipe that has dazzled your friends? Share it with us for a chance to be included in the Best of Bay View Cookbook to be published this fall. Listen for more information as the season progresses.   Throw open the windows and doors! The sunlight is tossing abstract shadows on the walls through the branches of the ancient Lilacs. The birds are twittering (the old fashioned way). "Clop-clop" go the horses hooves. The dancing breeze is filling the rooms and hallways with the aromas of spring blossoms, and fluttering the edges of the lace curtains. How invigorating! It's Spring time on Mackinac!  Greetings! This is the first of what we hope will be several newsletters from Mackinac Island's premier bed and breakfast. Lydia and I are excited to be opening the doors of our home again for our 19th season! Our staff is looking forward to your return, and to the visit of our first-time company. Rose is eager to get back in her kitchen and bake pans full of cinnamon rolls and blueberry muffins. The coffee pots have been scrubbed and are ready for their first batch of Bay View Blend coffee, which so many of you love. The furniture on the veranda has been freshened and the walkways swept. Welcome back! Welcome back to restful nights lulled to sleep by the gentle lapping of water kissing the shoreline. Welcome back to mornings spent at your leisure: rising when you wish, dawdling over endless cups of coffee and your favorite book, conversing with friends and guests. Welcome to Mackinac Island's only waterfront B & B with a seated, full breakfast of made-from-scratch, hot, fresh delights. We are gearing up for another season of special celebrations - weddings, anniversaries, reunions, and birthdays. Likewise, we are gearing down for those who come to us to rejuvenate, relax, and repair their souls from too much work, too much stress, or too little time together (this couldn't be you, could it?). We welcome you to Bay View and encourage you to bring your family and friends to experience the magic of Mackinac. The lifestyle of our Island, courtesy of our staff, and catering to your whims and needs will make your experience here unlike any other. Share it. And enjoy!  We look forward to seeing you! Doug and Lydia Yoder Your InnKeepers www.mackinacbayview.com  Mackinac or Mackinaw? Settling the confusion over our island's name. Mackinac... Have you ever wondered, "Who made up that name?" or  "Who was named Mackinac and what does he/she have to do with the island?" Well, let us tell you. French-Canadian courieur de bois Jean Nicolet is believed to be the first white man to see Mackinac Island during his explorations on behalf of Samuel de Champlain, governor of Canada, in 1634. Mackinac Island was then settled by the French fur traders in the early 1700s while the English traders occupied the small city on Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Both considered their land Mackinac (properly pronounced Mack-in-NAW), but the English maintained the more phonetic spelling of "Mackinaw". Since that time, Mackinac Island has been at the center of a battle between the American and French, a haven for sport fishermen, and, finally, the prized gem that it is today. Because 80% of Mackinac Island is in public hands, there is little development which preserves it as the timeless treasure that it is. Make sure to read our next newsletter where we'll explore the history of the bed and breakfast concept on the island! A Rose By Any Other Name... Would be Hospitality Diva!    Rose, far right, with our other marvelous service staff Our Jamaican-born Rose Grant is the Culinary Queen and Go-To Lady of Bay View. For nearly 20 years, Rose has been creating daily from scratch, Bay View's signature Peach French Toast, fresh quiches, rolled vegetable omelets, and our own southern fried apples to jump start our guests Mackinac mornings. Those who have been privileged to indulge in one of Rose's super-sized complimentary desserts understands decadent. Whether it's her fluffy cheesecake with tangy raspberry sauce with whipped topping, Amish Oatmeal Pie with ice cream, or melt-in-your-mouth strawberry shortcake, our Rose wrote the book on culinary art. Rose Grant is synonymous with all that's exceptional about our bed and breakfast - gracious, charming, easy-going, accommodating, and lovely inside and out. We love her. Many of our returning guests consider Rose and her staff joyful spirits and broad smiles "unparalleled amenities" at Bay View. To Order, Call Us* at (906) 847~3295 Bay View Blend Coffee to go... Think about it. On those easy going Sunday mornings when the rain's pounding or the snow is swirling, wouldn't it be especially nice to reach back to summer and pour your Bay View memories into a mug? Single bags of Bay View Blend regular, decaf, ground or whole bean coffee are just $10.95. Five pounds - $59.95. And we ship, so there is no need to exceed the weight limit with your carry on. Hint: Bay View Blend makes a great present for any coffee lover on you list!  *And don't forget to ask about our famous Peach French Toast Recipe when you call!