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Whew! This is a rude return.

Our week in northern Michigan saw temps ranging from a low of 50 to a high of 72, mostly under blue skies, with cool breezes off the big lake.

And now this here at home.

You'd think the north woods would be full of people seeking escape.

Apparently not in this economy. Our unscientific observation: There were fewer visitors to the resort town of Harbor Springs this first week in August than we've seen in the past.

But there were plenty of For Sale signs. If you want to own a stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline, or a summer place with a grand view, now is your chance to get a good deal.

Check the listings at Graham Real Estate, a top realty company in the Little Traverse Bay area. (The photo shows the exclusive, private Harbor Point Peninsula, where you will definitely NOT see any For Sale signs. We got a good look from the harbor cruise sightseeing boat, but setting foot on the sand is a no-no. Who lives there? Our guide wouldn't divulge names but said: "That house belongs to a family from St. Louis. If you ever bought a Budweiser, you contributed to it. That house there, if you ever bought a Ford ..." And so on.)

We led the good life ourselves, thanks to my sister and brother-in-law, who hosted our family gathering. And we visited some of my favorite Up North spots, including the awesome Legs Inn in Cross Village, the Native American/Polish establishment where you can dine on kielbasa and pierogis on a high bluff overlooking the lake; the Weathervane in Charlevoix, where I recommend the perch stack on the terrace as yachts pass through the canal connecting the big lake to the Lake Charlevoix harbor; and the M119 "Tunnel of Trees," a winding, wooded 20-mile stretch of coastal highway where 30 mph is reckless speeding and likely to cost you a spectacular view through an unexpected opening in the trees. Find an overlook and see how many lighthouses you can spot on the distant horizon.

You also shouldn't miss the delicious local whitefish -- nicely prepared at Whitecaps in Petoskey, whose dining room overlooks Little Traverse Bay (you can't serve a meal without a view up there) -- and ice cream at Yummies in Harbor Springs, perfectly scooped by my 17-year-old niece, Annie.

And, for fans of one of the greats of 20th century literature, this is Ernest Hemingway country. I posted a blog item about this last year and hope to write more when we resurrect our book pages this fall. Look for it.

Michigan's economy is hurting badly, even worse than North Carolina's. Its auto industry will never be the same, but it's still a terrific vacation destination ... in the summer, and the state is wise to promote it heavily. I'll add my endorsement.

You can even buy some of it ... probably as much as you want.

No charge for the air conditioning.

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Picking up on an earlier post about beach books ...

I was briefly on a Lake Michigan beach, so I'll count this as a beach vacation. My reading list last week was:

"Wait Till Next Year" by Doris Kearns Goodwin

"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

and "Hemingway in Michigan" by Constance Cappel.

None is a new title, but all are good reads while soaking in the sun on a cool, breezy day.