Michigan's Hudsonville Ice Cream & Historic Grand Hotel Welcome the Return of Seasonal Pecan Ball Ice Cream (and announce an Amazing Contest)

When it comes to developing unique flavors honoring Michigan’s most noted attractions, Hudsonville Ice Cream is a scoop above the rest. During the summer of 2014, Hudsonville added a new seasonal favorite to its portfolio when it partnered with Grand Hotel, America’s Summer Place, for the creation of Grand Hotel Pecan Ball. This flavor is now available again, for your summer enjoyment.

Hudsonville Ice Cream and Grand Hotel are also offering a chance to win a fabulous prize, including a two night stay at the iconic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, free ice cream for a year, and one round of golf at the Jewel Mackinac. You can enter by simply going to http://hudsonvilleicecream.com/grandhotel/ (Hurry, the contest ends on August 15, 2015).

Opened in 1887, Grand Hotel is the world’s largest summer hotel. With 385 rooms, it is a member of Historic Hotels of America, is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, and holds countless other distinctions for its time-honored hospitality.

The esteemed property is known for many things – such as having the “world’s largest front porch” (at 660 feet), its multitude of geraniums (2,500 plants in flower boxes on the front porch alone, with more than 5,200 total plants around the property) and its pecan ball dessert (with more than 50,000 served to hotel guests each season).

Crafted with creamy Hudsonville vanilla ice cream, swirls of genuine Grand Hotel fudge and premium pecan pieces, Grand Hotel Pecan Ball ice cream is a nod to the hotel’s signature dessert. Find Grand Hotel Pecan Ball at your local grocer, or even better yet, enjoy it on Mackinac Island with a visit to Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor at Grand Hotel.

Sadie’s exclusively features 24 Hudsonville Ice Cream flavors including Grand Hotel Pecan Ball, which are served up in dishes, cones, shakes and sundaes. Those looking to share a traditional ice cream experience will enjoy the Grand Sundae. With eight scoops, it is proudly served in a dog bone shaped bowl, and is a crowd pleaser.

Sadie’s is the classic American ice cream parlor – with its white marble topped café tables and twisted iron chairs – was decorated by none other than the hotel’s noted interior designer Carleton Varney of Dorothy Draper & Company in New York. Outside, visitors can sit on benches designed of the same twisted iron, with aqua blue oval backs and 3D ice cream cones painted in the Neapolitan colors of chocolate brown, vanilla and pink.

Located outside the hotel’s east entrance, off of Cadotte Avenue, the parlor is open to all Mackinac Island visitors with no hotel admission fee.

“We are extremely excited to continue our partnership with Grand Hotel in 2015. Their team has been amazing to work with, and the partnership fits so naturally – summer, family and relaxation,” says CJ Ellens from Hudsonville Ice Cream. “A visit to Grand Hotel is an incredible experience and we are so excited to bring a scoop of that experience into families' homes. This is an ice cream flavor that can only be matched by your own visit to Grand Hotel and Sadie's Ice Cream Parlor!”

Sweet Celebration Planned at Murdick's Fudge - The Original Mackinac Island Fudge Shop Celebrates 125th Anniversary on July 26

Visitors to the Original Mackinac Island fudge shop, Murdick’s, will enjoy a sweet celebration this Thursday, July 26, 2012. Murdick’s Fudge Mackinac Island will celebrate their 125th anniversary with free samples, promotions and more!

“We want everyone to share in our excitement as we celebrate our 125th anniversary,” commented Bob Benser, Jr., co-owner, Murdick’s Fudge Mackinac Island. “We are happy to share Murdick’s birthday fudge (You didn’t really think a fudge shop would celebrate with cake, did you?) with all of our visitors on Thursday.”

The first 125 customers in each of the five Straits area stores (Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City and St. Ignace) will receive a free slice of fudge. In addition, visitors to the stores will receive a 1/3 slice of fudge to enjoy while shopping. Customers can also pick up limited-edition treats created for the 125th Anniversary, including Triple Chocolate Espresso fudge as well as Almond Brittle.

While Mackinac Island doesn’t claim to have created fudge, Murdick’s Fudge does claim to have started the tradition and perfected this delicious confectionary treat. Fudge making began as Mackinac Island transitioned from a wealthy fur trading post to a famous summer resort. In 1887, as resorts were being planned and constructed, Mackinac's first candy shop, Murdick's Candy Kitchen, opened. It was here that the marble table was first used to make fudge, a process which gave the fudge a unique texture and also provided a great show for visitors. Over the years, music was added along with large ceiling fans to blow the sweet smell of fudge into the street.

The Original Mackinac Island Fudge, since 1887, Murdick’s has been serving fresh homemade fudge, brittle and confections from the finest all-natural ingredients. For more information, and to order online, visit www.murdicks.com.

To plan your Mackinac Island getaway, including a stop at Murdick’s Fudge Mackinac Island, go to www.mackinacisland.org.