We made the trip out to Mackinac Island yesterday and had a fantastic time.  The shuttle picked us up right outside our front door and we headed to the Ferry.  The ride was short, about 17 minutes, and seeing the lighthouses as we approached the Island was a really nice view.

We had already planned on doing the carriage ride around the island since I knew we wouldn't be able to walk the entire way or bicycle it.  The line for the carriage rides was a long one, so we decided to start the day on Main Street, having breakfast.  We happened upon Huron Bar and Grill and headed in for a great breakfast.  Anthony, our server, was amiable and a great conversationalist.  After we discussed the cons of the Island carriage rides and how touristy they seemed, Anthony told us about a different stable, Jack's Livery and Stable.  A short walk towards the middle of Island brought us to the stable where we learned that Jack's was totally self-guided, which meant that we drove the buggy around the island.

I have to admit that I was a little leery about Dave driving a buggy when he had not been around horses before.  But we were told that the horses knew the Island and were totally safe, so we took the chance.  What a great adventure it was!  We drove the shoreline and its fancy houses for several miles before heading inland to see the forest of the State Park, as well as seeing the part of the island where the locals live year round.

We started down the big hill towards the Grand Hotel and it was as majestic as I had thought.  Just absolutely beautiful.  A few more turns and we were back at the Stables.  Some pictures of an ecstatic hubby and we were done.

We headed back to Main Street, wandering through tiny little alleys.  Our first stop was for smoothies - wildberry for Dave and banana/strawberry for me.  I then left Dave seated in a little alcove while I perused through some of the Island shops and picked up a few things.  Back to pick up Dave and we ended up, at his urging in a couple of fudge shops.  I had no idea that Mackinac Island was well known for its fudge.  There were fudge shops every few hundred feet and we got to watch them make it.  I got some coconut clusters and Dave his salted caramel.

At this point, it had been six hours and we were tired.  So, we headed back to the Ferry landing, hopped on, met our shuttle and headed home.  We had two little doggies that were really mad us for leaving them for so long.  We had debated whether or not to bring them.  We knew that Mackinac Island was pretty dog friendly, but thinking of crowds, horses, etc., made me think that they wouldn't have enjoyed it.  And we wouldn't have been able to do our own carriage ride with them along, so we made the right decision.

Dave has fallen in love with the horses and carriages and can't wait to do it again.  Guess I'll have to bring him to a dude ranch where he can get up close and personal.

That make a campground fun.  Below is the antique firetruck that takes the kids around the campground, as well as some more totem poles we saw.

Our first sunset over the Mackinaw Bridge

Well, we've landed in Mackinaw City, our last stop before heading over the Mackinaw Bridge and entering the Upper Peninsula.  We'll be here for a week.

Our campground, Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping is huge!  It has everything any camper could ever want.  Large two-story cabins, small one-room cabins, primitive tent sites, and an assortment of campsites ranging from small to housing the largest rigs out there.

The RV sites also range from charmingly rustic, like ours, to waterfront to pretty unkempt.  I've also noticed that the mosquitoes are getting larger exponentially as we head further north.  BY the time we reach the UP, I expect them to be the size of small birds.  The mozzies even like Dave, the first time in his life that he's been bothered by them.

The campground has a park store, bike and surrey rentals, an arcade, pizza, putt putt golf and trolley stops for the ferry over to Mackinaw Island.  As a matter of fact, one of the trolley stops is directly across from our campsite.

I think this week will be fun.

Forgot to add our campsite

We're spending a week in the Petoskey area, which is very beautiful with great views of Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan.  I've said it before, but the Great Lakes are awe inspiring in their grand majesty.

Dave wasn't feeling the tourist thing today, so I hopped in the truck and went exploring by myself, which gives me an opportunity to just stop anywhere that catches my fancy.

My first stop was the township of Charlevoix.  Their town sign says "Charlevoix the Beautiful" and that's very fitting.  It reminded me a lot of Boothbay Harbor Maine, with all the small shops, the harbor and general small town feel.  

East Point Harbor had a small lighthouse and a small beach that seemed to be very popular.

Several of the store fronts had beautiful murals painted, like the one in the pictures below.  The town park by the harbor was very user friendly.  Splash pads for the kids and an outdoor auditorium for concerts.

Another feature I loved was along the main street.  All of the street curbs had colorful flowers planted, which added an extra touch of whimsy.  I could probably spend a week there and not get bored.

My next stop was a little gem.  It was Lavender Hill Farms, and you guessed it, a lavender farm.  Of course, blooming season is not for another month, but I was entranced.  Many years ago, I was fortunate enough to have see the lavender fields of Provence, France and I've loved lavender ever since.   

Lavender Hill Farms has many events throughout the season, from movie nights to barn dances.  It's one of the largest lavender farms in Michigan, and I didn't even know that Michigan had lavender farms.  They have honey bees and make over 23 varieties of lavender honey.  Their gift shop was filled with culinary delights and lavender inspired items handcrafted by local artisans.  The farm is also used as a venue for weddings and other events.

I purchased the kiddies some lavender dog shampoo, hoping it would help their allergy itching.  

One last stop in Petoskey at Little Traverse Bay, and I was done for the day.  I love sightseeing with hubby and  the kids, but sometimes it's fun to go by myself and be totally selfish of how I spend my time.

I stopped at Wal-Mart in Petoskey today for a few items.  They had a clearance shelf at the entrance and I found this sign for $1.  I had been looking for something to put above the bathroom window.  The right color, the right price and the right word.

​Yep, sometimes it just fits...

Guess who got a bath today and wasn't happy about it?

I've always loved seeing the quirky on our travels.  This is one that made me smile.

Our last day in Traverse City was spent meandering around the Bay and the Peninsula, separating the East from the West Bay.

​We drove a bit to the Old MIssion Bay lighthouse, as well as the Grand Traverse Lighthouse.

This time, I actually got into the Lake - with my feet only, but I did step into it!

Next stop - Alpena for a week of R&R and a scenic drive.  Stay tuned!

Although much cooler today, we still had a fun trip to the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.The Scenic Drive was named after Pierce Stocking, who spent his youth working as a lumberman in the northern Michigan forests. He loved the woods and spent most of his spare time there developing a self-taught knowledge of nature. He used to walk the bluffs above Lake Michigan, awed by the views of the dunes, Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands. He wanted to share this beauty with others and developed a road to the top of the dunes. The road, then known as Sleeping Bear Park, was opened to the public in 1967. Stocking continued to operate the Scenic Drive until his death in 1976, and the following year the road became part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Several years later it was named Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.

Glen Lake is famous for its beauty due to the many hues of blue and aqua which show up best on a sunny day. The colors are caused by the varying depth of the crystal-clear water above the light-colored sand. You will see the same effect when you get to the Lake Michigan Overlook. The lake was once connected to ancestral Lake Michigan. Glacial erosion carved out the lake during the last Ice Age.

We enjoyed seeing the perched dunes and the plant life that flourishes on this harsh landscape. The sand dunes here are called “perched” because they are sitting on top of glacial moraine bluffs made of sand and gravel. They are formed by the prevailing westerly winds blowing the sand out of the moraine and depositing it on top of the bluff. The overlook is on the eastern edge of the dunes about 200 feet high. In some places the dune fronts advance a few feet per year, while in other places the dunes are stabilized by plants and show no movement at all.

We headed over to the observation deck and looked down at Lake Michigan 450 feet below. From here you can see that the bluff is made of a mixture of sand, gravel, and rocks. That dark line on the bluff is topsoil created by decayed plants and represents the top of the bluff before the sand was blown up to cover it with a “perched” dune.

Lake Michigan was formed during the last Ice Age when a huge lobe of glacial ice advanced down the continent digging out the basin and then melting. It is the largest lake completely within the United States and is the fourth largest fresh- water lake in the world. It has a profound influence on the region, including the formation of the sand dunes. In recent times, the bluff has been eroding at a rate of about 1 foot per year. Waves wear away at the base of the bluff and sand and rocks slide down to the beach.

The Sleeping Bear Dune is the large dune about 1 mile north of the observation deck along the edge of the bluff. It hardly looks like a bear now, because it has been eroding rapidly in recent years. Around 1900, it was a round knob completely covered with trees and shrubs. 

The Sleeping Bear Dune is estimated to be about two thousand years old and has a fascinating history. It is classified as a “perched” dune because it is perched on top of a plateau, high above the lake. When the dune was forming, it was somewhat inland – not at the edge of the bluff, as it is today. Wind carried sand from the upper portion of the bluff and deposited it to form the dune. Over time, the bluff eroded away and the dune is now on the edge of the bluff and is beginning to erode away itself. For many years, Sleeping Bear Dune was about 234 feet high with dense plant cover, but by 1961 it was only 132 feet high and it continues to erode away. The major cause of its erosion is wave action wearing away at the base of the bluff on which the dune rests. As the west side of the dune loses its support, it cascades down the hill to the beach. The wind is also a major factor in removing sand and destroying the dune’s plant cover. It is only a matter of time until the “Bear” disappears completely.