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Hey Guys!

This post continues our time exploring all 5 Great Lakes!

We are currently in Traverse City but will be making our way to Port Huron, MI which is a 4 hr drive.

Before checking out of our hotel, we took a few minutes to enjoy the views from our balcony.

A shot of the hotel

We then packed up and headed to a local  restaurant called, The Cottage for some much needed breakfast.

After being seated, we took a few minutes to look over the menu.

I settled on an omelet with hash browns and a side of pancakes while the hubby went with the cherry covered pancakes and a side of sausage.

The food was delicious and those pancakes were out of this world!! The cherries were so good!

Read reviews here 

After breakfast, we headed out to find the world’s largest cherry pie pan!

It was about a 10 min drive from the restaurant.

This cherry pie pan was used in 1987 to make the world’s largest cherry pie!

The pie tin for the record-setting pie was 18 feet wide and 26 inches deep. It was built by the Jacklin Steel Supply Company of Traverse City.

The pie weighed a whopping 28,350 lbs!

The record was short lived ….on July 14, 1990, the city of Oliver, British Columbia, baked a 37,721 lb cherry pie and officially unseated Traverse City as the home of the “World’s Largest Cherry Pie”….however, the Canadian bakers didn’t save their pan, leaving Traverse City still the leader in the plus sized pie tins.

You can really tell just how big it is when you. stand next to it!

Read reviews here

After checking out the pie pan, we began our 4 hr drive to Port Huron.

We passed through Grayling where you will find Camp Grayling , a multi purpose training center for the National Guard and other military units and Grayling Army Airfield that includes two 5,000 ft runways that support training exercises.

Arriving to Port Huron

Our first stop in Port Huron was the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse.

Fort Gratiot was built in 1814 during the War of 1812 to guard the juncture of the St. Clair River and Lake Huron. Named after the engineer who supervised construction, Charles Gratiot, Fort Gratiot would be occupied on and off  by the United States Army until 1879.

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was built in 1829 to replace a tower destroyed by a storm. It is the  oldest operating lighthouse in the Great Lakes and is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Michigan.

The 86 ft light stands above the lake level in a conical stone tower, overlaid with red brick that has been painted white.

The keeper’s cottage and fog whistle house are red.

Tower climbs and tours are available during business hours for approximately $10 pp.

Near the lighthouse is the USLSS, the United States Life Saving Service that was established in 1871.

This organization was responsible for saving the lives of shipwrecked mariners and passengers.

In 1939, the Coast Guard merged with the Lighthouse Service and took over the operation of the lighthouse station.

Scattered around the property were plaques filled with interesting facts about the lighthouse’s history and the vital role the Coast Guard played along the coast.

One of the nearby buildings had been turned into a small gift shop…this is also where you would purchase tickets if you waned to tour the lighthouse.

Next to the lighthouse was a public beach called Lighthouse Beach..

Read reviews for the lighthouse here & click here for reviews of the beach

We then headed to the Thomas Edison Park.

Here you will find the one mile Thomas Edison Parkway Boardwalk.

The “boardwalk”, which is a paved walkway, runs along the St Clair River.

From the boardwalk you will have views of the Blue Water Bridge ….on the other side of the bridge is Canada.

Port Huron sits on Lake Huron at the southern end where it connects to the St. Clair River. The city is located on the U.S. side of the border, directly across the river from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

We came here to see the Huron Lightship Museum.

Lightships are floating lighthouses that are anchored in areas where it was too deep, expensive, or impractical to construct a lighthouse. Lightships displayed a light at the top of a mast and, in areas of fog, also sounded a fog signal and radio beacon.

The Huron Lightship was the last operating lightship on the Great Lakes, and served for over 50 years when she was retired in 1970. She was permanently moored in sand, along the banks of the St. Clair River.

The museum has an extensive collection of artifacts, including many model ships. It was dedicated in 1990 as a National Historic Landmark.

The cost to tour the ship was $12 pp.

The tour was a guided tour but we got stuck with a young boy who didn’t seem to know very much about the ship.

He took us all through the ship and showed us the living quarters, kitchen, bathrooms, steam room and much more.

It was very interesting.

The family of Robert J Gullickson had donated some of his belongings to be showcased on the ship.

Mr. Gullickson was lost at sea in 1958 when the boat he and another sailor were riding in was capsized by a wave as the two were delivering mail to the Huron Lightship.

The lightship was stationed in Lake Huron about two miles offshore.

The two sailors held hands and talked in the water before a wave separated them. Mr. Gullickson tried to swim to shore but never made it. His body was never recovered.

He was the only crewman lost during the 35 years the Huron was in operation.

A few more shots of the ship.

Read reviews here

After the tour, we continued our walk along the boardwalk.

We spotted this heart shaped art installation and couldn’t pass on having our pictures taken in front of it! 😉

We then noticed a huge freight liner going up under the Blue Water Bridge so we walked over to take a few pictures.

The bridge is a twin-span international bridge across the St. Clair River that links Port Huron, and Point Edward, Ontario, Canada.

The first bridge was fully opened to traffic on October 10, 1938 and the second three-lane bridge, just south of the first bridge, opened on July 22, 1997.

The Blue Water Bridges are jointly owned and maintained by Canada and the United States.

There are many statues scattered along the boardwalk with one of those being of Thomas Edison.

Thomas Edison and his family had moved to Port Huron in 1854 when he was about 7 years old. He spent much of his formative years here. His family settled in Port Huron after his father’s lumber business in Ohio had failed.

Our next stop was just a few minutes walk from the statue called the Thomas Edison Depot Museum.

The Grand Trunk depot is where 12 year old Thomas Edison departed daily on the Port Huron-Detroit run.

The museum occupies the historic railway depot originally built in 1858 by the Grand Trunk Railway.

This building is the actual depot where young Thomas worked from 1859 to 1863.

In 1859, the railroad’s first year of operation, Thomas persuaded the company to let him sell newspapers and confections on the daily trips.

He became so successful that he soon placed two newsboys on other Grand Trunk runs to Detroit. He made enough money to support himself.

After paying our $12 admission fee, we started our self guided tour.

Thomas Edison had attended school briefly in Port Huron but was largely homeschooled by his mother after being labeled “difficult” by his teachers.

At around 12 yrs old, he started working as a newsboy and candy vendor on the Grand Trunk Railroad. He even created his own small publication, The Grand Trunk Herald, which he printed in the baggage car.

He set up a small chemical lab and printing press in the baggage car of the train and also conducted experiments in the basement of his home. These early scientific experiments laid the foundation for this future work as an inventor.

The museum was so interesting….it told about Edison’s early life story, his family move from Ohio to Port Huron, his homeschooling, his youthful curiosity, his early jobs, and how those years laid the groundwork for his future inventions.

Shots of the inside of the museum

There was a restored baggage car that recreated Edison’s mobile chemistry lab and printing shop.

There were hands on and interactive displays throughout the museum.

Thomas Edison held 1,093 patents in his name…he also held several hundred international patents, bringing his total number of patents worldwide to well over 1500!

Some of the things he invented were incandescent light bulb (not the first but the most practical and commercially viable), electric power distribution system, electric meter, phonograph, kinetoscope (early motion picture viewer), alkaline storage batteries, and so much more!

The museum was very educational and engaging.

Read reviews here

After visiting the museum, we decided to go check into our hotel.

We would be staying at the DoubleTree and unbeknownst to us, we could have walked there from the museum!

After getting checked in, we headed to our room.

The room was very nice and spacious.

We had a small patio with views of the bridge!

Read reviews here

After getting settled into our room, we decided to head back out to find something for dinner.

My hubby had found a place in the nearby town of Marine City, MI called Marine City Fish Company.…so, we decided to try it out.

Tip: The restaurant was a 30 min drive from our hotel in Port Huron.

Driving through downtown Port Huron

The downtown district was full of old, colorful buildings!

We then drove through Old Town Port Huron and spotted lots of beautiful, historic homes!

The whole drive was basically a parade of gorgeous old houses….total eye candy for architecture lovers!

Arriving to Marine City

Where we spotted even more incredible homes!

After getting parked, we made our way to the restaurant.

The restaurant has a prime river front setting on the St. Clair River …it offers an upstairs with indoor/outdoor seating and a patio that offers scenic views.

Its building has historical roots—-from log construction tied to the 1800’s lumber trade…which definitely adds to the charm of the restaurant.

The restaurant was really cool on the inside!

We asked to be seated on the second floor so we could have views of the river.

The views were awesome!

Their menu focuses on fresh local fish and seafood plus smoked specialties, sandwiches, pastas and steaks.

We started out with an appetizer of smoked fish & cheeses…..it was really good!

Then came our salads and bread…..that bread was so delicious!

For our main entrees, we both ordered the cedar planked white fish….the fish comes right out of Lake Superior!

The food, service and views were all excellent!

Read reviews here

As we were eating dinner, we spotted a huge freight liner passing by.

After dinner, we decided to walk through the town and check out the nearby lighthouse that we had spotted from the balcony of the restaurant.

The Peche Island Lighthouse was a historic lighthouse “off Peche Island in the entrance to the Detroit River from Lake St. Clair. Located in American waters just north of the border to Canada. It was moved to Marine City, Michigan upon its deactivation.

Erected on a crib in open water, by 1908 it had developed a severe list to one side, and in 1983, the 60ft tall lighhouse was replaced with a skeletal tower. The old tower was installed in lighthouse Park in Marine City where it still stands.

Marine City is a charming small town that offers unique blend of French heritage, maritime history and small-town charm.

It was founded by French settlers in the late 18th century and was originally known as Yankee Point due to its early American settlers.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Marine City became a hub for shipbuilding, with many wooden ships constructed here for the Great Lakes.

The town’s maritime heritage is evident in the grand architecture of homes once owned by shipbuilders and captains .

Click here for things to do in Marine City

One of the attractions is the Riverwalk & Parks.….Marine City boasts eight parks along Water Street that offer scenic views of the river.

After spotting this massive chair, leaving without a picture was simply not an option! 😉

Continuing our walk through town

We loved all of the old, historic buildings!

After checking out the town, we decided it was time to head back to Port Huron.

More historic homes that we passed along the way

We passed the historic Wilbur Davidson home.  The house was built in 1890 for Wilbur Davidson who was born in 1852. He had established a dry goods store in Port Huron around 1882. In 1883, his store installed the first electric light plant. He lived in this house until his death in 1913. His daughter lived here until 1951.

Driving through the Desmond District in Port Huron.

We passed this old Firestone building…the building was constructed in the 1950’s.

After arriving back to Port Huron, we decided to park and walk the boardwalk at the Thomas Edison Park….the park we had been at earlier in the day.

Passing the Thomas Edison Museum

We took a few minutes to check out the nearby statues and historical plaques that were scattered along the boardwalk.

A shot of the bridge

After spending a few minutes walking the boardwalk, we decided to head to the hotel and call it a night.

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for Day 9!

Read Day 1 here, Day 2 here, Day 3 here, Day 4 here, Day 5 here, Day 6 here, Day 7 here & Click here to see links to all of my blog posts

 

 

 

 

Hey Guys!

This post continues our trip exploring all 5 Great Lakes.

Read Day 1 here, Day 2 here, Day 3 here, Day 4 here, Day 5 here & Day 6 here ….Click here to see links to all of my blog posts

We are currently in Mackinaw City, MI and will be making our way to our next destination, Traverse City, MI.

The drive will take approximately 2 hrs.

Last night we stayed at the Beach House Lakeside Cottages.

One of the employees had mentioned that the sunrises here were stunning, so we made sure to wake up early and catch it.

With coffee in hand, we sat for an hour as the sun climbed above the lake, casting golden light across the water.

It was one of those moments you just want to pause and hold onto.

A shot of the lakeside cottages

Looking out from our front door

After getting packed up, we checked out and headed to our first stop of the day.

Our first stop would be the McGulpin Point Lighthouse just 10 mins from our cottage.

After getting parked, we spotted a sign that showed all of the other lighthouses in the area.

McGulin Point Lighthouse was constructed as a navigational aid through the Straits of Mackinac. The light began operation in 1869, making it one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in the Straits.

The lighthouse was built in 1869 at a cost of $20,000. The living quarters were built as a vernacular 11⁄2-story brick structure. The lighthouse operated during the Great Lakes navigation seasons from 1869 until 1906.

In June 2008. the governing board of Emmet County voted to purchase the McGulpin Point Lighthouse and 11.5 acres of surrounding lakefront property, including 336 feet of Lake Michigan footage, and some adjacent property for visitor parking, for $720,000.

There is a self guided tour that you can do that includes informational plaques & a short trail to the lake.

James Davenport was the only lighthouse keeper at this light, and served for 27 years.

You can also tour the lighthouse daily from 9:30 – 5 for a small cost of $3.

A couple more shots of the lighthouse

After leaving here, we continued our drive to our next stop which would be Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.

On our drive, we passed through several cute towns with one of those being Bayview, MI.

This Historic Victorian community of nearly 500 public and private buildings is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The homes here were incredible!

I wished we would have had time to stop and explore this cute, historic town!

Just 10 mins after driving through Bay View, we arrived to another cute town called Petoskey.

This town also had some beautiful, historic homes.

Click here for 10 must see things to see /do while in this area

A few minutes later, we spotted a sign for a pullover called Big Rock Point so we decided to stop and stretch our legs.

Big Rock Point is named for a large boulder used as a landmark by Native Americans.

It was also the site of the Big Rock Nuclear Power Plant. It was the world’s first high-power density boiling water reactor and the fifth commercial nuclear power plant in the US.

It opened in 1962 and closed in 1997. It is now a Nuclear Historic Landmark. When it closed, it was the longest running nuclear plant in the nation.

The views at this stop

After this short stop, we continued our drive and soon found ourselves driving through the beautiful town of Charlevoix.

Tip: I have since learned that this place is home to the famous mushroom houses….read more about it here & book a tour here.… So sad we missed seeing them!

Charlevoix was full of gorgeous, historic homes!

This was another town that I wished we would have had more time to explore.

The streets were lined with hanging baskets that went on for miles!

After driving for a few minutes, we spotted a fruit stand called King Orchards that advertised they had sandwiches so we decided to stop and pick up something for our lunch.

This orchard is family owned and been in operation for 45 years.

We walked inside and couldn’t believe all the yummy looking baked goods they had….we wanted one of everything!

If you don’t know, Michigan is the top producer for tart cherries in the US!

Michigan produces on average 90,250 tons of cherries. Tart cherries are smaller than sweet cherries and also more red.

And look at these prices! Yikes!

They had so much to choose from!

We finally decided on a sandwich, a bag of chips and a yummy homemade dessert.

After leaving the orchard, we passed many other orchards along the way.

We also passed the Archangel Gabriel Greek Orthodox Church.…the dome on this church weighs 42k pounds!

After 2 hrs of driving, we finally arrived to Traverse City, MI.

Traverse City is nicknamed “the Cherry Capital of the World“, as the area surrounding Grand Traverse Bay is a hotspot for cherry production.

The city hosts the National Cherry Festival, attracting approximately 500,000 visitors annually.

The festival was actually going on when we arrived but our first stop was Sleeping Bear Dunes so we still had another 40 min drive to get there.

However, we would be staying our next night in Traverse City and attending the Cherry Festival later in the day so I’ll write more about that later.

Tip: There are also lots of vineyards in this area for those who are interested in that

We passed beautiful farms on our drive to Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Click here to see animal farms & petting zoos in this area

The drive was so pretty

As we neared Sleeping Bear, we spotted an eagle!

Our first stop in Sleeping Bear was the Dune Climb.

Click here for 50 things to do at Sleeping Bear Dunes

The Dune Climb is the most famous attraction at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The dune is a 284-foot-high wall of glistening white sand that tourists climb for fun.

The Dune Climb is different than almost all other dunes along the Lake Michigan shore. Most dunes are created when the wind takes sand from Lake Michigan beaches and piles it up.

But the sand at the Dune Climb has never been in Lake Michigan or on a Lake Michigan beach, and the wind has actually piled it down.

The sand at the Dune Climb came from dunes higher up on the Sleeping Bear Plateau.

Before tackling the 284-foot wall of sand, we figured it was best to fuel up first….we’d need the energy for the climb ahead! 😉

After our delicious sandwiches, we tried some of the cherry pie that we had purchased…..it was so good!!

Tip: There are restrooms & a visitor center located here

It was now time to attempt the 284 ft wall of sand!

It was a struggle!

They warn you, but you never really understand until you’re halfway up the Dune Climb —calves burning, shoes full of sand, heart pounding as if you’ve just sprinted up a skyscraper made of sugar!

At first glance, it looks like a big sandy hill, but the Dune Climb is a full body challenge disguised as a beach day!

Every step forward felt like two steps back, thanks to the soft, shifting sand that erases your progress just as you find a rhythm!

But turn around and you are rewarded with an incredible view of Glen Lake sparkling behind you like a postcard.

Once you reach the top, you will feel like you’ve just conquered a small mountain…well, because basically you did!

The views from the top are beautiful!

We spent several minutes at the top soaking in the panoramic views and snapping photos from every angle!

After taking way too many pictures, we started our descent..

So much easier!

Read reviews here & here

Next, we headed to the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.

You will have to pay the park fee to enter this area. It’s $25 for a 7 day pass.

The Pierce Stocking Scenic drive is a 7.4 mile one way loop through forests, dunes and overlooks.

There are 12 numbered stops along the route, many of which include spectacular overlooks of Lake Michigan, Glen Lake and the dunes.

The highlights of this drive include the Lake Michigan Overlook, Sleeping Bear Dune Overlook, Dune Overlook, Glen Lake Overlook and the Covered Bridge stop.

Tip: This drive is seasonal…it’s usually open from late May through Oct.

The first thing you will see as you begin your drive is the covered bridge…there is a small pullover for this stop but I just snapped a few pictures as we were driving through it.

The next stop was the Glen Lake Overlook.….we didn’t feel the views were worth the stop as it was mostly obscured by the trees.

The next stop you will come to is the Picnic Mountain/Dune Overlook. We didn’t stop at this overlook.

Next was the Cottonwood Trailhead.….

I had this on our itinerary to hike but we decided to pass.

The hike is a 1.5 mile loop with views of the dunes and Glen Lake.

We didn’t stop at stops 5, 6, 7 & 8 as they were more like drive by areas. (Leaving the Sand Dunes, Dune Ecology, Beech-Maple Forest & Changes Over Time).

Our next stop would be stops number 9 & 10 as they are both located at the same stop…these stops are the Lake Michigan Overlook & the Sleeping Bear Dune Overlook.

To be honest, I was very disappointed with the views on this drive until we got to these stops!

So, if you do this drive, do not miss this area!

This was by far the busiest stop….it was a challenge trying to find a parking spot!

After getting parked, we headed to the overlook and after we arrived, I could not believe my eyes!

This overlook steals your breath!

You are greeted with panoramic views of Lake Michigan, dunes & bluffs!

The vastness and the deep blue expanse of Lake Michigan stretched out as far as the eye could see, meeting the sky in a seamless horizon.

The colors of the lake were surreal, almost impossible to describe —like something painted on a canvas but too real to be art.

The water shimmered under the sunlight, changing shades from emerald to turquoise to deep blue.

It’s moments like these that remind me of how small we are in this vast, beautiful world — and how important it is to take time to pause,  breathe and appreciate it.

One of the most popular things to do here is to take the very steep hill down to the lake.

I’m not sure why anyone would want to do this as we literally saw people trying to climb back up on all fours!

It looked exhausting and it is …….there are warnings posted that if you go down and can’t get back up, you will be charged as much as $3,000.00 to be rescued!

As we stood at the edge of the overlook, staring down at the steep drop, we quickly decided that we would be taking our pictures from the top of the hill….the views were stunning enough without risking the climb back up….or worse, needing to be rescued!

There are many viewpoints located here so take your time and explore the dunes and the “ghost trees”! (which we missed)

More amazing views of this area

Tip: The sand is very hot so keep your shoes on!

After leaving here, we continued our drive along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.

Our next stop would be the North Bar Lake Overlook & Picnic area.

This stop offered views of North Bar Lake and Lake Michigan.

There were a few informational signs at this stop along with a Sleeping Bear Dunes wooden “picture frame”  positioned just right to perfectly capture the landscape behind you.

After this stop we decided to bypass the last stop called, Pine Plantation as you can see it as you are driving along the scenic drive.

Read reviews for this scenic drive here

Next, we headed to a nearby lighthouse called Point Betsie.

The lighthouse was closed when we arrived but we were still able to take pictures from the fence.

The lighthouse is located at a very popular beach area so we walked down to the beach to check it out.

It was incredible!

The water and sand were so clean….once again, I thought I had somehow been transported to a Caribbean island!

As you got closer to the lake, the sand gave way to a rocky shoreline.

The rocks were so colorful!

We spent about an hour here just taking in the views and searching for rocks!

From the beach, you had much better views of the lighthouse. 

The lighthouse was completed in 1858 for a cost of $5,000.00.

This was the last staffed lighthouse on Lake Michigan and the last Michigan lighthouse to lose its keeper. However, it is still in operation today.

Point Betsie is said to be one of America’s most photographed lighthouses, and the most-visited attraction in Benzie County.

You can tour the lighthouse for $5 pp….you can also book a stay in the keepers quarters.

The concrete in front of the lighthouse protects it from Lake Michigan.

We had a couple offer to take our picture….of course, we never turn down having our picture taken! 😉

More shots of the area

Read reviews here

After leaving here, we headed back towards Traverse City where we would be spending our next night.

On the way, we passed a lavender farm so we pulled over to check it out.

Lavender farms are scattered all throughout Michigan.

After this quick stop, we continued our drive to Traverse City.

Once we arrived, we headed straight to the Cherry Festival!

Thankfully, the festival is open from 10 am to 10 pm because we didn’t arrive until after 5 pm!

The cherry festival has been held since its origins as the “Blessing of the Blossoms” in 1925, with the first National Cherry Festival held in 1933, growing into a major event by 1926.

The festival is an eight day celebration held in July to coincide with the cherry harvest.

Every year the festival also holds a parade.….but sadly, we missed that.

The parade broke the all-time record in 1975, boasting 180 entries and attended by over 300,000 people. President Gerald Ford, a Michigan native and former Congressman, led the parade as Grand Marshal.

At the festival you will find all kinds of food vendors selling all sorts of yummy dishes along with crafts, ice cream, trinkets and of course, cherries!

Of course, we had to take our our picture in front of the National Cherry Festival frame!

We first hunted down the cherry ice cream….that was our first priority!

It was so good!

After walking around for a while, we decided to order food from one of the food vendors that was selling BBQ.

I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with cherry BBQ sauce and a side of beans and the hubby ordered the same sandwich with a side of Mac & cheese.

It was delicious!

After dinner, we headed to one of the cherry vendors to purchase some fresh picked cherries.

Wow, look at these prices!!

We ordered the Momma cup for $10….it was worth it!

They were so good!

The festival also offers amusement rides….

While many festival activities are free, the amusement rides have their own separate ticket or armband system. You can purchase tickets individually or buy all-day armbands for unlimited rides.

After spending about an hour at the festival, we decided to head to our hotel.

I had booked a stay at the Pointes North Beachfront Hotel.

After getting checked in, we headed to our room.

It was very spacious!

We had a king size bed, “mini kitchen”, whirlpool tub, large bathroom, couch, and more!

But the reason I booked here is because of this!

It sits right on Lake Michigan!

That evening we walked down to the “beach” area to watch the sunset.

Views of the hotel from the beach.

The sunset did not disappoint ….it was gorgeous!

I could have sat out here all night!

Later we headed back to our room to sit on our balcony for a while before calling it a night.

Read reviews here

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for Day 8!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Guys!

This post continues our journey exploring the amazing Great Lakes.

Read Day 1 here, Day 2 here, Day 3 here, Day 4 here & Day 5 here.…Click here to see links to all of my blog posts since 2018!

We are currently in the cute little town of Sault Ste Marie, MI but today we’ll be heading to Mackinaw City, MI to catch the ferry to Mackinac Island.

After checking out of the Lockview Hotel, we began our one hour drive to Mackinaw City, MI.

About 45 mins into the drive, we arrived to St. Ignace, MI. This is another place where you can catch the ferry to Mackinac Island.

The ferry service here is called Arnold Transit Co. and it’s usually not as crowded as the ferry in Mackinaw City. An adult ticket on the traditional ferry costs about $40 pp.

Purchase your ticket for this ferry, here  & Read reviews here

As we were driving through St. Ignace, we passed Castle Rock. 

Castle Rock is considered to be one of the oldest lookout points near the city of St. Ignace, and was known as Pontiac’s Lookout by the Ojibwa Tribe.

Clarence Eby opened Castle Rock for tourists in 1929 and it has remained a popular tourist destination ever since.

The rock rises 195 ft above water level and about 183 ft above I-75. It offers amazing views of Mackinac Island, Lake Huron and the city of St. Ignace.

Read reviews here

To continue our drive to Mackinaw City, we had to cross over the famous Mackinac Bridge.

We had to pay a toll of $4 to cross the bridge.

The Mackinac Bridge is 5 miles long and is currently the seventh-longest suspension bridge in the world by total suspended length, and the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere.

The total cost to construct the bridge was almost 100 million dollars! The bridge opened to traffic on November 1, 1957.

Starting our drive across the bridge

And driving over the bridge

Shortly after crossing the bridge, we spotted this hotdog restaurant called, Wienerlicous. 

Atop the restaurant sits a 63 ft hot dog sculpture!

Read reviews here

Arriving to the cute town of Mackinaw City

Since we had arrived about 45 mins before our ferry reservation, we decided to drive around and check out the town.

We passed the Bridgeview Diner that was home to the “Worlds Best Burger”….we had to stop when we saw a huge burger sculpture sitting next to the restaurant.

If it hadn’t been so early in the morning, my hubby would have definitely wanted to try out their world’s best burger! 😉

Read reviews here

We then passed the statue of Hattie Stimpson.…she was one of the founding members of the Womans Mackinaw Club that was formed in 1912.

We decided to check out a nearby lighthouse called, Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse.

The lighthouse was constructed in 1892 along the Straits of Mackinac at the junction of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. It was deactivated in 1957 and currently serves as a museum.

From the lighthouse, you will have views of the Mackinac Bridge.

Besides the lighthouse, you can also tour the keeper’s home, fog signal building, oil house and more.

Read reviews here & purchase tickets here (they are $10.75 for adults)

The tower of the lighthouse stands 58 ft tall.

After checking out the lighthouse, we walked down to the water to take pictures of the Mackinac Bridge.

And of course, we couldn’t leave without taking our pictures in front of the famous bridge!

We then headed back to the dock to board the ferry to Mackinac Island.

The ferry service in Mackinaw City is ran by Sheplers and their basic roundtrip ticket costs approx. $40 pp for an adult.

However, after arriving, we were told we could only park at the dock if we were staying overnight on Mackinac Island!

We had to drive to a nearby parking lot and be shuttled back to the dock.

Click here to read about where to park for the Shepler’s Ferry & Click here to read about where to park if you catch the ferry in St. Ignace.  Read reviews here for Shepler’s Ferry.

Tip: There is a fee to park at the dock and at their offsite parking lot. If you park at the offsite parking, you can purchase your parking ticket online, or at the lot via a QR code using your smartphone or at the kiosk. Click here to read all about parking, ferry tickets and more.

After arriving to the lot and paying our parking fee via the QR code, we boarded the shuttle.

We were back at the dock in less than 15 mins from the parking lot.

Tip: The shuttles run every 15 mins and the ferries run every 15 to 30 mins depending on the season

I had pre purchased the enhanced ferry tickets for $50 pp. This allowed us to skip the regular ferry line and board before other ferry passengers.

We were literally the first passengers on the boat….so, we could sit anywhere we wanted!

We decided to sit inside.

After a few minutes, we were on our way to Mackinac Island!

The ride takes approx. 20-30 mins.

On the way, they take you under the Mackinac Bridge.

The views of the bridge from the boat were awesome!

As we neared the island, we spotted the historic, Grand Hotel!

I’ll talk more about this iconic place a bit later in my blog.

Views of Mackinac Island from the boat

As you near the dock in Mackinac Island, you will pass the Round Island Passage Lighthouse.

The lighthouse was built in 1947 and replaced the original Rock Island Light that was built in 1895.

Sitting near the Round Island Lighthouse, is the original Round Island Lighthouse.

Arriving to Mackinac Island

A shot of one of the ferries

After exiting the boat, you will walk a short distance and get your first view of the iconic streets of Mackinac Island.

As you know, there are no motorized vehicles allowed on the island.

Only bikes and horses are allowed here!

So, after arriving, we headed to the nearest bike rental company to rent bikes for the day.

Click here for best things to do on the island

The nearest place we spotted was Ryba’s Bicycle Rental.

They offered several different kinds of bikes…we decided on the singles bike for $55 each for the day.

Tip: You will hold your bikes with a credit card but aren’t charged until you return because you may decide to only keep your bike 2 hrs or decide to keep it all day…the hourly rate is $12 for a single.

After getting our bikes, they gave us a map of the island. 

I hadn’t ridden a bike in years so I was a bit apprehensive at first but the anxiety faded quickly after I realized how easy it was…..it hardly took any effort at all!

One of the employees at Ryba kindly pointed us in the direction of the bike path that circles the island –M-185, the only state highway in the US where motor vehicles are banned. The bike path is 8.2 miles.

We passed so many gorgeous historic homes along the way.

There are several paths that you can take but we chose the one that runs alongside the lake.

The views were so beautiful!

This was definitely one of our most favorite things we did on our trip!

There are plenty of spots along the path where you can pull over and snap some stunning photos of the island’s scenic views.

One spot we stopped off at was called the Devil’s Kitchen.

The Devil’s Kitchen is a group of small sea caves and are the youngest rock formations on Mackinac Island.

According to the nearby plaque, this large mass of limestone was formed about 350 million years ago.

Continuing our ride along the path

Later, we passed these beautiful houses!

Although a light drizzle started to fall, we didn’t let it slow us down ….we just threw on our rain jackets and kept riding.

Views along the bike path

After a few minutes of riding, we came across a beautiful beach and decided to stop for some photos.

It was so peaceful. This would be a great place for a picnic lunch.

After taking our pictures, we continued our ride.

Just a few minutes later, we arrived to the very popular Arch Rock stop.

Arch Rock is the most famous of the rock formations on the island.

More informational signs near the rock

We parked our bike and began our walk up the steep staircase leading to the rock….there are 207 steps! There are a few benches along the way in case you need to rest.

Tip: You can also reach the rock by foot or bike by using Arch Rock road or even by a horse drawn carriage tour.

After reaching the top, we got our first view of the massive arch rock.

The rock towers 146 feet above the shoreline of Lake Huron and spans 50 ft.

Arch Rock is a natural limestone formation sculpted by centuries of wind, waves and erosion.

In 1875, Mackinac Island became the second national park in the US (after Yellowstone), and Arch Rock was one of the first protected landmarks.

Views of the lake from Arch Rock

Read reviews here

Tip: Also located near the rock is the Milliken Nature Center. You will find restrooms located in the nature center.

Parked near the nature center was a carriage tour being pulled by these beautiful horses!

Heading back down the stairs

Shortly after leaving Arch Rock, we were back in town where we passed old historic churches and buildings.

Read the history of the island here and Read reviews for the bike path here & here

We decided it was time for lunch so we headed downtown where most of the restaurants are located.

This area is the most crowded area on the island!

We parked our bikes and began our search for somewhere to eat.

Everything was super crowded….however, we ended up finding a burger joint called Verde’s Smash Burger that could seat us right away so we decided to eat here.

We were seated at a table with views of the lake.

Trying to decide what to order….so many choices!

I decided on the steak tacos and the hubby ordered his usual burger.

The food was delicious!

Read reviews here & Click here to see more restaurants on the island

After lunch, we walked around town to look for our usual souvenirs.

We then grabbed our bikes and continued our ride through town.

We passed this house that had the most beautiful garden I had ever seen!

Who wouldn’t love to have something like this in their back yard?!

We then passed this gorgeous stone church.

This is the Little Stone Church. The church was built in 1904.

We passed the historical marker for the Bonga Tavern…the tavern was the first hotel on Mackinac Island.

We were on our way to the incredible, historic Grand Hotel.

Tip: There are so many things to do on this island! I would highly recommend you spend a 2-3 days here if you can.

Arriving to the hotel

The hotel is surrounded by gorgeous flowers!

The Grand Hotel opened its doors on July 10, 1887, after just 93 days of construction!

The cost to stay here at the time was between $3 & $5 a night! It had 5 stories and 286 guest rooms.

The most iconic feature of this hotel is the 660 ft front porch — the longest in the world!

More pics of the hotel and grounds

After taking 897 pictures of the hotel and grounds, we headed to the front porch.

You have to pay $12 pp just to access the front porch and hotel.

Tip: Your admission includes a self-guided brochure with QR codes that link to videos to learn more about the areas you can visit. You can also have lunch and/or tea and access their retail stores.

The famous front porch!

Thomas Edison gave the first phonograph demonstrations here, Mark Twain lectured in the hotel’s casino in 1895 and the hotel has hosted several US Presidents including Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F Kennedy, Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

The hotel was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1957, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989!

The hotel starred in the 1947 musical This Time for Keeps starring Esther Williams and was also the setting for the movie Somewhere in Time in 1980.

After checking out the front porch, we headed inside to look around.

Wow was it bougie! This place will cost you anywhere from $600 to over $1000 a night to stay here!

The furniture and decor were so beautiful!

All of the rooms were painted different colors.

They had a picture of John Oliver Plank hanging on the wall….he had the Grand Hotel built.

One of the dining rooms

After checking out the inside, we headed back outside to the porch and grabbed a rocking chair to take in the breathtaking views.

Of course, we couldn’t leave without having our picture taken sitting on the front porch! 😉

Read reviews for the hotel here

After leaving here, we hopped back on our bikes and headed back towards town.

We passed the Stuart House City Museum, the Market Street historical marker, & the historic American Fur Co. Store.

When we spotted the historic Trinity Church, we decided to stop and go inside.

The church was built in 1882.

Its furnishings include an altar of hand carved walnut and two chancel chairs that were made by soldiers at the nearby fort.

The church had beautiful stained glass windows.

Read reviews here

Next, we decided to visit Fort Mackinac. 

After purchasing our tickets ($17 pp), we were given a map of the fort.

There was a list of scheduled events hanging by the ticket booth.

We had to climb 27 stairs to the entrance of the fort.

Once you were at the top, you had sweeping views of Mackinac Island.

Fort Mackinac was built by the British around 1780-82. It was constructed atop a bluff to replace the vulnerable Fort Michilimackinac. Its position secured control over the Straits of Mackinac and the fur trade routes on the Great Lakes.

In 1796, American forces peacefully took control of the fort. The fort then became one of the first battlegrounds of the War of 1812 when British and Native allies captured it in July of 1812.

Despite an American attempt to retake it during the 1814 Battle of Mackinac Island, the British held firm until after the war concluded.

The fort transitioned into the site of Mackinac National Park in 1875 and became Michigan’s first state park in 1895. It officially reopened in 1959 as a living history museum.

There are 14 original buildings that can. be explored including Michigan’s oldest…the Officers’ Stone Quarters built in 1780.

The interior has been restored to depict their original functions: barracks, hospital, guardhouse, and more.

On site there are consumed interpreters that bring the past alive with musket drills, cannon firings, guard monitoring ceremonies, and stories about military and family life at the fort.

Tip: Visitors ages 13 and older can register to fire the fort’s historic cannon in the morning and experience the process first hand.

There is so much to see and do at the fort that you could literally spend all day….from short films, to demonstrations, to shopping at the Sutler’s Museum store and even having lunch at the Fort Mackinac Tea Room.

One of my favorite buildings was the bath house…it was so cool!

The bathhouse was completed in the early 1880’s and was the last building erected at the fort.

The bathhouse contained six private bathing chambers each fitted with its own tub. It was mandated that each soldier took a bath once a week!

After spending about an hour at the fort, we headed back to the downtown area.

On the way, we passed the Missionary Bark Chapel.

This chapel is a reconstruction of the first Catholic chapel built by Jesuit missionaries during their 1670-71 mission on Mackinac Island.

It is made from birch bark and is a simple hut like construction that was commonly used by missionaries in the remote Great Lakes regions.

We then passed the St. Ann’s Church, so we decided to go inside and check it out.

The church was built in 1874. The inside was very simple but beautiful.

Read reviews here

Once we made it back to downtown, we spotted Sanders chocolate store so we couldn’t pass up purchasing some delicious chocolates. 😉

Sanders was founded in Detroit in 1875 by Fred Sanders, starting with a barrel of borrowed sugar, a leased shop and a confectioner’s dream.

Over time, the brand grew to more than 57 stores in the Great Lakes region. In 2002, the Sanders name and recipes were acquired by Morley Candy Makers, Inc, which continues to preserve the tradition and flavor.

Well, I was in candy heaven….the store offered a variety of candies, fudge, ice cream, and lots more!

Now how do you choose with all of this calling your name?!

You can even watch their sweet treats being made right in the store.

One thing I never do, walk into a candy store and not order chocolate covered caramel ….so, I ordered those and lots more!

It was so good!

Read reviews here

Tip: From what I’ve read, the “not to be missed” sweet treat on Mackinac Island is the fudge.

After eating our sweet treats, we turned in our bikes and headed for the ferry.

Heading back to Mackinaw City on the ferry.

We once again passed the Round Island Passage Lighthouse.

Once we had been shuttled back to our car, we headed to our hotel.

I had booked a little cabin on the lake at the Beach House Lakeside Cottages.

After getting checked in, we drove a short distance to our cabin….number 27.

The cabin was so cute!

It was sitting right on the shores of beautiful Lake Huron.

The cabin had two queen beds, a sofa, bathroom and kitchen and a table with 3 chairs in the kitchen.

Read reviews here

After getting settled into our room, we headed back out to find something to eat.

We decided to eat at one of the places my hubby had on the list called, Scalawags. 

Their menu is limited but they are known for their whitefish dinners so we both decided on the two piece whitefish dinner with fries.

After ordering, we headed outside to find a table.

The service was slow but the food was delicious!

Read reviews here

After dinner, we headed back to our little cottage where we spent time walking along the shores of Lake Huron.

Later, we settled into the chairs on our little front porch and watched the sun slowly dip behind the horizon, casting a golden light across the calm waters of Lake Huron.

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for Day 7!