The McKelly’s 29th Anniversary

This past weekend, my wife Karla and I wanted to do something special for our anniversary, and we remembered how perfect previous anniversaries were at Firekeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek.

So, this year we made reservations at one of our favorite places: Nibi, where the cuisine and level of service equals that of the finest restaurants in the country.  And this year we decided to finally stay at the hotel as well.

We arrived a couple hours prior to dinner and checked into the hotel.  Let me tell you about the room.  It was bigger than our first apartment.  We're talking a living room with fireplace, big screen, kitchen and half bath.  Down the hall was a TV room with another big screen. Further down the hall from that was the bedroom with a corner view and another big screen which lifted by remote out of the foot of the bed.  Forget about the bathroom; it was too luxurious to describe.  We wanted to stay for a week.  Without a doubt it's one of the best hotels in the country.

Oh, and I mentioned earlier the level of service... When we walked in the hotel room, there was beer on ice with "Happy anniversary Mike & Karla" on the labels and a huge gift basket.

Of course, we were treated like royalty at Nibi, but so were all the other guests.  That's just how they roll.  And when we got back to the room after dinner, there was champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries waiting for us.

Thanks to long-time friends chefs Michael McFarlane and Tony Kostka and all the food and beverage staff and hotel manager Kathy George. To say that we can't wait to go back again is an understatement.  It's so nice to know that you don't have to go very far to experience the best.