Towards the end of June, Carolyn came to me with my driver's license telling me she wanted to "go here" pointing to the Mackinac Bridge. And so began our planning for our first real vacation as a family of five.
Day 1: (July 4th): We hit the road at 5am and at 10:30am we rolled into Mackinaw City. We saw the Mackinaw Bridge Museum in the upstairs of Mama Mia's Pizza then had lunch at The Keyhole.
We got our first good view of the bridge and saw the Ironworker monument.
Then across the Mighty Mac to St. Ignace, our home for the next 4 nights.
We climbed the steps to Castle Rock then went back to the hotel for our first day of swimming. Swimming at the pool was a major highlight of our vacation despite our pleading that we could swim anywhere.
It was a very chilling nights, but the girls and I took our blankets out on the lawn to watch some fireworks.
Day 2 (July 5th): After breakfast, we biked to the ferry dock and went to Mackinac Island. But first, the ferry took a little sidetrip underneath the Mackinac Bridge!
On Mackinac Island, we took a beautiful bike around the island. We stopped a couple times to skip rocks and step into Lake Huron.
After and poor choice by mom, and a nearly all uphill interior ride through the island, we made it back downtown for lunch. And once back on the mainland, we concluded day 2 with a swim in the hotel pool (see a theme?)
Day 3 (July 6th): Today is our big travel day. First stop, Tahquamenon Falls.
After an amazing lunch of the catch of the day (truly, Whitefish that was caught that morning) at Brown's, we drove north to Whitefish Point.
Although we were at Lake Superior, the outside temperature was in the 90s, so we were eager to dip our feet in the water. Eleanor immediately took to collecting rocks and Matt skipping them.
On a spur of the moment decision, we then drove to Sault Ste. Marie to see Lake Superior State's sport facilities courtesy of head basketball coach and friend Steve Hettinga.
And then of course, we had to see Soo Locks.
Day 4 (July 7th): Our 'take it easy' day was actually quite fun and eventful. We took a drive up Hwy 12 along the shores of Lake Michigan to Cut River Bridge and Cut River Gorge.
We worked up an appetite, and when in Rome, we had to get Pasties. We found the perfect little place along the highway and there were two options, hot? or cold? We chose hot and took them to Straits State Park to devour them. Though I don't think you can't really say devour when I was only able to eat a half.
And...back to the pool for swim time! The girls got really good. Eleanor did a lot of underwater swimming and is working on swimming above the water. And Carolyn gained the confidence to swim with her floaties. Hank, well Hank just sat in the hot tub :)
And what trip to St. Ignace is complete without a stop at The Mystery Spot?
Then a quick trip to the Museum of Ojibwa Culture which was actually really nice. Me not being a huge museum person.
Finally, the last stop, Murdick's for 5 flavors of fudge and a bag of salt water taffy!
Day 5 (July 8th): Home. We had an amazing vacation and can't wait until our next tip to the U.P.!
