With a backdrop of 2.5 acres of natural beauty, Stag’s Leap Farm offers a pastoral wedding location in Metro Detroit. From May to October, couples can choose:

• An intimate, outdoor weekend wedding for up to 50 people, often centered around our picturesque gazebo. Our package includes Rental of the Stag’s Leap Farm grounds and B&B from mid-afternoon Friday to noon Sunday; a two-night stay for up to four people in our well-appointed B&B; use of the inn’s bridal suite for the bride’s party to get ready and of the Stag’s Leap Man Cave for the use of the groom’s party, and more.
• An elopement package for up to 20 persons, available Sunday through Thursday. It includes: a one-night stay for two; the services of an officiant and a photographer; bouquet and boutonniere; use of the Honeymoon Suite before the ceremony; use of the patio and, if wanted, the setup for a sit-down meal.Brett and Steven will oversee every detail of your day to make it exactly what you’ve been dreaming of. Stag’s Leap Farm and romance go hand-in-hand.

Guests are welcome to enjoy drinks by the parlor fireplace and admire the original historic architecture including a built-in desk once used to log stops along the Pony Express. Hand-crafted stain glass windows, beautiful woodworking, a front porch swing and beautiful outdoor patio with a chimenea to keep you warm on chilly nights are just a few of the charming amenities you will find at this elegantly restored two-story farmhouse. Brett and Steven are proud to welcome you into their historic boutique B&B and savor the unique experience. You’ll feel like you’re visiting with friends!

Seven Ponds Nature Center is an adventure highly recommended by your innkeepers Brett and Steven. This sanctuary for native plants and animals is the perfect peaceful retreat.  The center sits on nearly 350 acres of woodlands, wetlands, ponds, and prairie. It includes: The Discovery Room, where visitors can explore nature indoors; The Critter Corner, which houses several species native to Michigan including reptiles, amphibians and fish; the beaver lodge; an observation beehive, and the Hall of Michigan Birds.

Stony Creek Metropark offers 4,435 scenic acres teeming with opportunities for outdoor recreation all year long. At the heart of the park sits the gorgeous 500-acre Stony Creek Lake, where boaters, anglers, and swimmers can spend time enjoying a day on the water. Surrounding this serene lake, you’ll find lush woodlands, gorgeous wetlands, tallgrass prairies, and expansive fields in every direction. With great paved and unpaved trails for hikers, cyclists, in-line skaters and wanderers. In winter, watch the park transform into a world of snowshoeing, fat tire mountain biking, cross-country skiing and more.

Adventure

Bring your bicycle, hiking boots, or cross-country skis when you stay at Stag’s Leap Farm.

The Polly Ann Trail, a well-known scenic hiking trail that travels 20 miles north to North Branch Township, is frequented by hikers, cyclists, cross-country skiers, and equestrians.

Paint Creek Trail is an 8.9-mile linear park minutes from Stag’s Leap Farm. The first nonmotorized rail-trail in the state, it was converted to a trail from a former Penn Central Railroad line. It runs through Oxford, the Village of Lake Orion, Orion Township, Oakland Township, Rochester Hills and Rochester. Walkers, runners, bicyclists, dog walkers, strollers, wheelchairs and horses all are welcome.

After your day of adventure, the perfect end to a perfect day awaits you at Stag’s Leap Farm. On request, Brett and Steven will build a bonfire for you. A little chilly? There are plenty of plush blankets handy to help you stay warm and cozy by the fire as you stargaze.

After your hearty, home-cooked breakfast at Stag’s Leap Farm and a day of adventure around the Oxford area, Brett and Steven recommend a few great eats. Here is their list:

• Do you believe in ghosts? Diners at the Holly Hotel do! The historic two-story Victorian building opened in 1863 in the small railroad village of Holly, where train passengers and transients gathered. Rich in history, the hotel has been restored to its original architecture, elegant furnishings, luxurious lace, leaded glass, fine linens and china. Through the years of restoration and two fires, the ghosts have never left! Ghost sightings are a regular occurrence. In fact, the Holly Hotel has been declared an authentic haunted house. The basement also is home to a comedy club.
• Red Knapps American Grill in downtown Oxford is a favorite for people all over Michigan. The hamburger buns are homemade in Red Knapps’ kitchen, and the burgers are large and thin, exploding with flavor. Want some fries to go along with your burger? You’ll be served a full pound of crispy golden fries, or you can choose homemade potato chips served with garlic dip. Another specialty is Red Knapp’s own chili, served since 1936. The menu is loaded with classics you will enjoy in a friendly, laid-back, cozy atmosphere.
• Looking for a spot that serves great wine? The Wine Social in Lake Orion, just outside Oxford, features many of the world’s highest rated wines you can savor while overlooking the serene Paint Creek. Choose from several food items that pair perfectly with your wine selection — a cheese plate with assorted crackers, a charcuterie board, or chocolate cake with fresh berries.
• A true historical destination full of cultural beauty and charm is the White Horse Inn, located in the famous horse country of Metamora. The inn opened in 1848 as a general store and later became a stagecoach stop. Its latest renovations pay homage to Metamora’s equestrian heritage and the menu reflects that! Stop in for Cowboy Mac and Cheese or Chicken Pot Pie. The menu also contains some old-time recipes with a modern-day twist.
• A visit to Stag’s Leap Farm must include dining at The Laundry in Fenton. This unique restaurant attracts diners from all over Michigan. Its décor will surprise and charm you — mismatched Mid-Century kitchen chairs and tables, and other subtle touches that make the bistro atmosphere casual, yet eclectic. The Laundry is known for its European-inspired cuisine, craft cocktails, and hard-to-find craft brews on multiple taps. Every meal truly is creative, unusual and delightfully memorable.
• Before heading home from your stay at Stag’s Leap, Innkeepers Brett and Steven also recommend a stop at Crust in downtown Fenton. Owners of The Laundry opened a bakery a few blocks away, but quickly learned patrons wanted more. When passersby would stop to look through the large glass windows at the exquisitely designed bakery items showcasing the talents of Crust’s classically trained and talented bakers, they not only wanted to buy several one-of-a-kind items, but they also wanted to eat them right away, so the owners opened a restaurant inside the bakery. Before opening Crust, the owners visited 45 bakeries in their search to be the best in Michigan. They succeeded. Crust received 220 nominations and was declared Michigan’s Best Bakery. It also received Michigan’s Best Bread honors.

Craft Beer

Brett and Steven recommend a few favorites when it comes to finding the best nearby places to enjoy craft beer:

• HomeGrown Brew Co in downtown Oxford is where serving good beer to good people is the mission of its owners and hometown residents, John and Marie Powers. They are proud to offer patrons award-winning beers they carefully cultivated with creativity as the cornerstone of their brewing. Their small tanks, fully visible to patrons, yield big beers for the connoisseur. And you will love the charm of this historic turn-of-the-century brick building with a second level that overlooks downtown.
• GravCap Brewing celebrates Oxford’s heritage as The Gravel Capital of the World that heritage through the down-to-earth naturalness and simplicity of its brews.
• One Drop Brewing Company uses only the finest ingredients to brew their craft beers, which are uniquely served from their custom-built direct draft serving tanks. With an outdoor patio and live music, this is definitely a place to hang with friends on a warm summer night.
• The Oxford Tap is an Irish Pub with a well-deserved reputation for fine food and great fun. The Tap offers a wide range of craft and bottled beers, gluten-free beers, wine by the glass or bottle and a full bar, including a long list of Irish and Scotch whiskies.
• The historic Fenton Fire Hall, built in 1938, is an historic, re-purposed fire station and landmark in the heart of Dibbleville, a quaint village inside downtown Fenton. Its taproom features 48 beers on tap and three floors of fun including the deck bar that provides a scenic view of Dibbleville. In the winter, patrons can sip a beer around a heated igloo.

A national historical landmark, the 110-room Meadow Brook Estate was constructed between 1926 and 1929 for $4 million. Matilda Dodge Wilson, the widow of auto pioneer John Dodge, orchestrated the estate’s construction. It is the fourth largest historic home in the country. During the holidays, visitors can enjoy the renown holiday walk through the mansion, which is decked in shimmering splendor. The Winter Wonder Lights transform the estate at night into a breathtaking light show featuring music and magic. Throughout the year, the museum and cultural center are open for tours.

Meadow Brook Music Festival and Amphitheater is an intimate outdoor pavilion nestled in a ravine on the Meadow Brook Estate site. It is a well-known venue for contemporary music and popular artists.

Ranked among the top amphitheaters in the world for live concerts, DTE Energy Music Theater has a seating capacity of 15,000, one of the largest in the country. The venue features four main seating areas covered with a large, fixed canopy, and a smaller outdoor lawn area. In the winter, the lawn that served as seats for concertgoers becomes the ski slopes of Pine Knob.

Cool City

Our area has more than one cool town to explore:

Oxford. If you are looking for a unique gift, downtown Oxford is the place to shop. Along with the village’s hometown charm, you will find boutiques with jewelry and handbags, one-of-a-kind home décor items, the area’s largest selection of Western and English wear at the Covered Wagon Saddlery Shop, a toy store filled with novelty items not found anywhere else, a shop exclusively for organic products, and much more. And the restaurants are as extensive as your shopping experience.

Holly. Stroll through Holly’s historic downtown, a 20-minute drive from Stag’s Leap Farm. It’s considered a shopper’s paradise with boutiques full of Michigan-made and hand-crafted products, specialty items, clothing and antiques. Holly’s Battle Alley, one of the most historic streets in Michigan, is a brick street lined with unusual shops and restaurants. The village’s history is reflected at the Detroit Model Railroad Club, the Hadley House and the Historical Museum. Holly probably is most known for its world-famous Dickens Old Fashioned Christmas Festival, celebrated every weekend from Thanksgiving until Christmas.
Ortonville. This small village is robust with activities and festivals for the family all year long, including Springtime Garden Show, Food Trucks and Fireworks, Eats in the Streets, For the Love of Local, and Christmas in the Village. You will find plenty of one-of-a-kind shops in the village as well as a country store, Cook’s Dairy Farm and Ashton Orchards. Stag’s Leap Farm Bed and Breakfast is just minutes away.

Just nine minutes away from Stag’s Leap Farm, Sky Adventures offers guests the ultimate autumn adventure –- a hot air balloon ride. Adventurers will capture an aerial view of the spectacular fall colors of northern Oakland County and southern Lapeer County. The experience is nothing short of breathtaking!

Olde Town Canterbury Village, a designated historical Michigan landmark, is an ideal autumn and winter stop for Stag’s Leap Farm guests. The village hosts many events and festivals throughout the year including a fall haunted house, Halloween Stroll and Holiday Stroll. Alridge’s Always Christmas store, on the 21 acre-old town site, is considered one of the most unique Christmas shopping experiences around.

A can’t-miss tradition for the past 90 years, the Metamora Hunt is more than a sport. Seasoned fox hunters will find it one of the best places for foxhunting anywhere. Beginners also can discover the magic of the hunt. Spend a day, a weekend or a week or more at Metamora Hunt Club while enjoying your stay at Stag’s Leap Farm.

Winter fun

Two nearby ski resorts await guests of Stag’s Leap Farm.

Mt. Holly offers 20 trails ranging from beginner to advanced, with a variety of terrains for all ages and levels of skiers. Mt. Holly is the only ski resort in Southeast Michigan to offer a high-speed detachable quad lift. Other resort features include seven chair lifts, three rope tows, two SunKid wonder carpets, a 4,200-square-foot heated patio and fire pit, plus a Bavarian-style lodge for relaxing.

Pine Knob, also a short driving distance from Stag’s Leap Farm, is another skiers’ choice. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or expert, you will enjoy the slopes at Pine Knob, which include an even mix of terrain for skiers and snowboarders. It is known for having the fastest lifts in Southeast Michigan. Pine Knob has 17 runs, three terrain parks and much more.

Minutes away from Stag’s Leap Farm, the Rochester Big Bright Light Show is a winter showstopper! Downtown Rochester shops illuminate the night sky every evening from mid-November through mid-January. Two crews, working seven days a week for eight weeks, decorate the town’s buildings with some 1.2 million lights. Giant snowmen, a Santa train, carolers, nutcrackers, and an ice skating family also line the streets.