Hey Guys!

This post continues our time in Santa Rosa Beach, Fl.

Read Days 1 & 2 here and Click here to see links to all of my blog posts

Once again we woke up to rain so we spent our morning just relaxing at the condo.

At around noon, the rain had finally stopped so we packed up and headed back to Grayton Beach State Park to spend the day.

Read reviews for this park, here

Thankfully, the beach wasn’t very crowded….this is my kind of beach! 😉

Me & my daughter soaking up the sun

I am not a fan of swimming in the ocean but I do enjoy spending a couple of days on the beach.

I am more of a mountains kind of person.

Florida beaches, especially the Daytona Beach area, has a high rate of shark attacks.

However, the beaches in the Santa Rosa Beach area, have only seen a few but just a few is too many for me!

There were 3 shark attacks back to back in this area in 2024 and in 2021 a young adult was attacked by a shark in Grayton Beach State Park!

So, we enjoyed the beach from the shore! 😉

There was a lot of seaweed along the shoreline and in the water!

I sat and watched the ghost crabs going in and out of their underground homes.

After spending several hours at the beach, we headed back to our condo and decided to stay in for dinner.

Later that evening, we headed back to the beach to watch the sunset.

The sky was stunning…filled with soft shades of pink and blue.

We strolled along the shoreline letting the waves roll over our feet.

The moon had risen on one side while the sun was setting on the other.

I felt like we were too far away to get a good picture of the sun setting…

Not to mention, the sun was obscured by the clouds.

Later, we called it a night.

The next morning, I enjoyed my coffee on the balcony.

I loved how quiet and peaceful this place was.

Read reviews here

Later that afternoon we decided to head to a nearby place called, Alys Beach. 

It was a 15 min drive from the condo.

On the way, we made a quick stop at Black Bear Bread Co to purchase a coffee.

It was so good!

Read reviews here

Alys Beach is a stunning, planned community just a short drive from Inlet Beach along scenic Hwy 30A.

It’s famous for its bright white, stucco buildings and Mediterranean inspired architecture.

As we neared Alys Beach, tall palm trees lined the road, swaying gently as if welcoming us in.

Once we found parking, we began exploring the beautiful area of Alys Beach.

You felt like you were walking through a town in either the Mediterranean or Southern California.

With stunning bright white facades and beautiful architecture, it exudes simple elegance and is the most unique of all the towns on 30A.

Alys Beach is a private community so you won’t find any hotels, you’ll have to look for a rental if you’d like to stay here.

There are over 11 green spaces and parks including a playground. All of which are meticulously manicured. The also have a 20 acre nature preserve with a boardwalk at the northern end of it’s property.

We walked up and down the courtyards checking out the incredible architecture!

You felt like you were walking around a small European village!

There landscaping here was just as beautiful as the houses!

Of course, we stopped several times to take pictures …how could you not in a place like this?!

The homes here were incredible!

I couldn’t believe this place was only 15 mins from our condo and I had never heard about it until my daughter told me about it!

After all of that exploring, we were ready for lunch.

We decided on place called, Fonville Press Cafe.

After walking inside, we spent a few minutes looking over the menu.

We both decided on the turkey bacon club with a side of tots.

We had to order at the bar and then they notified you when it was ready….so, while we waited, we went outside to find a table.

This place was so nice!

I loved the vibe….it was very casual and relaxed.

After a few minutes of waiting, our food arrived.

It was so good!

Read reviews here

After lunch, we continued our walk.

There is a small shopping center located here but be prepared to be sticker shocked!

After checking out the shops, we continued our walk.

Taking lots of pictures along the way!

We found so many hidden little areas to check out!

We stumbled upon this area that had a beautiful water feature.

It made the perfect spot for pictures! 😉

Continuing our walk

There were so many incredible water features, statues, green spaces, etc!

We stopped way too many times for pictures!

After spotting a place called, Raw & Juicy, we decided to stop in and check it out.

It was really nice on the inside

They offered organic coffee, smoothies, raw juices, organic teas, smoothie bowls, and more.

I decided to purchase one their juices and my daughter ordered a coffee.

After ordering, we sat outside and enjoyed our drinks.

Read reviews here

After finishing our drinks, we headed to another nearby place called, WaterSound...it was only a 5 min drive from Alys Beach.

It was cool too but very different from Alys Beach…..it was also super crowded so we drove through and headed back to our condo.

On the way back, my daughter wanted to stop at Free People and do a little shopping.

After a few minutes of shopping, we headed to a restaurant called, Steamboat Grill to have dinner.

We were seated at a table outside where we took a few minutes to look over the menu.

We ordered the fried crab balls as an appetizer and the fish and chips as our main course.

The food was not good….it had so much batter on it that I barely even ate half of it!

Read reviews here

Later that evening, we headed to the beach to watch the sunset.

This is one of my favorite things to do when at the beach.

Since this was our last night here, we didn’t want to miss it.

And not to mention, my daughter wanted us to take some pictures on the beach. 😉

While I’m not a fan of being in front of the camera, my daughter happily takes center stage. 😉

The sky was so beautiful!

This sunset was definitely the best we had seen so far!

After taking our pictures, we headed to a place my daughter had wanted to go for ice cream called, Blue Mountain Beach Creamery.

After driving 20 mins to get to this place, we turned around and headed back to our condo after seeing that the line was a mile long!!

The ice cream must be really good!

Read reviews here

On the way back to our condo, we spotted a small place called, Hokulia Shave Ice …they had ice cream too so we decided to stop.

It was a 2 min drive from our condo!

This place was busy too but nothing like Blue Mountain!

They had so many choices …it was hard to choose! I settled on the cookies and cream ice cream and it was very good!

Read reviews here

After our ice cream, we headed back to the condo and called it a night!

The next morning, we headed home.

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for our next adventure!

Read Days 1 & 2 here and Click here for links to all of my blog posts

 

 

 

 

Hey Guys!

My daughter decided she wanted a beach trip for her birthday so, she and I packed up and headed to our favorite beach town, Santa Rosa Beach, FL.

On the way, we made a quick stop at Buc-ees because she had never been before.

This mega gas station has everything….a bakery, hot sandwiches, jerky of all kinds, breakfast, home decor and snacks galore! They also have the cleanest bathrooms you will find at a gas station!

After driving for what seemed like forever, we finally made it to our VRBO property.  The condo is located in the Rollin’ Tide Villas in Santa Rosa Beach.

This is the third time we have rented a property here and I would highly recommend them…they are in a great location. Not to mention, they are clean, quiet and very affordable!

Click here to read about our last stay in Santa Rosa Beach

The property has two bedrooms, one full bath, a full size kitchen and a living room.

Each condo has has either a balcony or a patio that overlooks the private pool.

After getting settled in we headed out to the famous Hwy 30A to eat dinner at a place called, Pickle’s. 

It was only a 7 min drive from the condo.

We had eaten here the last time we visited and the food was really good.

See their menu here & read reviews here

We both ordered a burger since that’s what they are known for…I ordered the cheeseburger and my daughter ordered the fried pickle burger.

This time, we were not impressed…..the food came out in like literally 3 minutes so, we knew it wasn’t fresh. The fries were cold and the burger was very salty!

After dinner, we walked down to the beach…..we entered at the Coleman Pavilion near the Bud & Alley’s restaurant.

Click here for public beaches along Hwy 30A

The beaches in this part of Florida are gorgeous!

The sand is white as snow and the water is a beautiful emerald green!

I’ve been to Daytona Beach many times and the water and sand are both dirty looking….there’s just no comparison to the beaches in the Destin area!

Me and my daughter 🙂

We spent a few minutes strolling along the shoreline, letting the waves roll in at our feet.

Tip: At night, people will go to the beach to crab hunt

Later that evening, we headed  out for some ice cream….ice cream is a must when on vacation! 😉

We found a place called, Pecan Jack’s ….it was less than 5 mins from the condo.

The inside was so cute!

Besides ice cream, they also had pralines, brittle, chocolates and more!

They had an extensive ice cream menu.

I ordered the Elvis….which was chocolate ice cream with peanut butter, bananas and marshmallows.

I thought it was way too sweet and ended up throwing half of it away.

Read reviews here

Later, we called it a night!

The next day, we woke up to thunderstorms…..you just never know what you will get with Florida weather!

We spent the majority of the day at the condo.

When we first arrived to Santa Rosa, we went and picked up a few things at a nearby Publix so we had lunch at the condo.

Tip: The nearest Publix is only 8 mins from the condo.

After the rain finally stopped around 2 pm, we decided to head to Grayton Beach State Park to spend a couple of hours on the beach.

Tip: There is a small fee to enter this park

Besides the gorgeous stretch of beach located inside the park, you can also hike unique trails through the dunes, see rare coastal dune lakes, kayak, fish, picnic, and more! It’s a great place to spend your day!

Click here for 20 things to do while in Santa Rosa Beach

Relaxing on the beach

We spotted this plane flying over the ocean

The one thing I love about this beach, it never felt very crowded! I am not a fan of crowds.

After our beach time, we decided to order dinner from a restaurant that we had eaten at before called, Angelina’s Pizzeria & Pasta.

We decided to order online and go pick it up since we didn’t feel like getting dressed to go out.

The restaurant is located 1 min (or a 5 min walk) from the condo.

I ordered the chicken pesto pasta and my daughter ordered the lobster ravioli.

The food was pretty good.

Read reviews here

After dinner, we headed to a nearby coffee shop called, Turbo Coffee.

This place was beside the Pecan Jack’s ice cream shop that we had visited the night before….so, it was very close to our condo.

The inside of the coffee shop

I ordered the honey nut latte and my daughter ordered the cinnamon toast latte.

The coffees were delicious!!

Read reviews here

Later that evening, we decided to walk to the beach to watch the sunset.

The beach access was about a 5 min walk from our condo.

Click here to read about the best places to watch the sunset

Once we waked outside, we knew it was going to be a beautiful sunset….just look at this sky!

Unfortunately, once we made it to beach, the sun was mostly already set and obscured by the clouds.

But, it was still beautiful nonetheless!

I mean, is there ever a bad sunset when you’re at the beach? 😉

Later, we called it night!

Stay tuned for Days 3 & 4!

Click here to see links to all of my blog posts

 

 

Hey Guys!

In July, I surprised my hubby with a weekend stay at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville for his birthday.

Since we couldn’t check in until 4 pm on Saturday, I had purchased tickets for the General Jackson Showboat.

After getting parked at the Opry Mills shopping mall, we walked over to get in line for the boat.

There are several informational signs along the railing that tell you about the history of the Cumberland River, Nashville, the General Jackson and more.

After a few minutes of waiting, we boarded the General Jackson.

We found a couple of seats towards the front of the boat.

At approximately 12:00 pm, we were called inside the dining room to find our assigned seats….we had to sit at a table with several other people and I was not a fan of that.

The boat ride included a buffet lunch and musical entertainment.

After getting seated in the dining room, you had to wait until your table number was called before going up and making your plate.

The buffet consisted of pulled pork BBQ, chicken, baked beans, potato salad, mixed veggies, macaroni & cheese, salad, rolls and a dessert.

The food was a lot better than I thought it would be.

After lunch, my hubby & I headed back outside to enjoy the views.

The majority of the others stayed inside to listen to the music so it felt like a private boat tour!

The boat headed towards downtown Nashville. 

Arriving to the Nashville skyline

We passed under several bridges along the way.

They were filming for the show, 911 Nashville on this bridge when we were there.

Going under the bridge

After passing under the bridge, we spotted the metal sculpture called, the Ghost Ballet.

It symbolizes the industrial history of Nashville.

It sits near the Nissan Stadium ...Nashville’s premier sports and entertainment destination.

A shot of the “batman” building…..which is the AT&T building that was nicknamed the “Batman Building“ for its distinctive twin spires and sloped facade that resemble the superhero’s cowl.

After reaching downtown Nashville, the boat turned around and headed back.

Of course, we snapped a few pictures along the way. 😉

On the way back, a group of jet ski riders followed our boat, keeping us entertained with their incredible stunts and daring maneuvers!

They were doing all kinds of crazy spins and jumps!

We also spotted a boat in the water called, the Pontoon Saloon. 

The Pontoon Saloon offers all kinds of different cruises.

Read reviews here

The General Jackson is one of Nashville’s most legendary attractions …it was built to echo the elegant showboats of America’s past.

At nearly 300 feet long with four decks and a towering paddlewheel, the General Jackson is one of the largest showboats in the world and a living tribute to the region’s river history.

After about an 1.5 hr ride, we were back at the boat dock.

Read reviews here

A couple of shots of the boat

After the boat ride, we headed to the Opryland Hotel.

The drive is only 5 mins from the Opry Mills shopping center.

Once we arrived, we asked if we could go ahead and check in even though it was an hour before our check in time….thankfully, our room was ready and they let us check in.

Tip: Even if your room isn’t ready, they will hold your luggage and you can walk around the hotel, have lunch, shop etc until it’s time to check in….lots to keep you busy at this hotel!

After getting checked in, we headed to our room.

I love this place….it’s so beautiful!

We stayed here for our anniversary in Dec. 2023….you can read about that stay, here.

Pictures of our room

Once again, I booked a room that had a balcony overlooking the atrium.

We had views of the Delta atrium from our balcony.

The Delta atrium is a massive, 4.5 acre indoor garden featuring a 1/4 mile long river with flatboat tours, tropical plants, waterfalls, shops, restaurants, and a skywalk.

We could sit on our balcony and watch the Delta riverboat float by…

After getting settled into our room, we headed out to walk around the hotel.

The hotel is massive….it’s a resort and a convention center that sits under nine acres of climate controlled tropical gardens, waterfalls, rivers and walking paths, all under a soaring glass atrium.

There is so much to do here ….from shopping, restaurants (like 10 different ones), a spa, an indoor/outdoor pool, the gardens, arcades, fitness center, fountain shows, and lots of different activities throughout the year…..especially during Christmas!

There are 3 plant filled atriums in the hotel….so, bring your walking shoes!

Tip: You can download the hotel’s app to help guide you around the hotel

We passed the Cinnabon bakery and it took everything I had not to purchase a cinnamon roll….we love cinnamon rolls! 😉

The hotel has stores where you can purchase snacks & drinks, an ice cream shop, a Starbucks, and much more!

We walked over to check out the Old Hickory restaurant where I had made dinner reservations for my hubby’s birthday for later that night.

The restaurant sits under the glass dome atrium and looks like an old plantation home.

Continuing our walk around the hotel

The hotel is filled with tropical plants, stone bridges and koi ponds.

Waterfalls, fountains, and lots of hidden spots just begging for photos. 😉

It’s truly a micro-world of greenery and architecture.

You don’t have to stay here to enjoy this hotel….you can visit anytime of the year and take advantage of the shopping, shows, restaurants and more.

After walking around for a while, we headed back to the room to get ready for our dinner reservatioins.

Tip: Be sure to book your dinner reservations well in advance or you may have to wait a while to be seated.

Once we were ready for dinner, we took a few pictures on the balcony.

Then we headed to the Old Hickory Steakhouse…

After arriving, we were seated right away…

We took a few minutes to look over the menu.

We started with a loaf of the sourdough bread and honey butter.

It was delicious!

We then ordered a salad

Tip: Everything you order is a la carte.

For our main course, we both ordered a steak with mac & cheese & potatoes.

We only ordered one side of the Mac & cheese and one side of the potatoes to share because our waiter had told us the sides were enough to feed 2-3 people and he was right!

My hubby was excited about his steak 😉

After dinner, the birthday boy got to pick a free dessert off of the dessert menu.

So, he decided on the chocolate truffle cake that was served with a side of vanilla gelato.

I think he was more excited about the cake than the steak…lol!

After dinner, we decided to walk off some of those calories!

This area is located in the Cascades atrium

There’s the Delta, Cascades and the Magnolia atriums…each have their own unique water features, plants, fountains etc.

We stopped for a quick photo at this beautiful pavilion.

There are lots of waterfalls and fountains along the plant filled paths.

After walking off about 50 calories, we headed back to our room to relax on the balcony.

Later, we watched the light show from our room.

Tip: Each night in the Delta atrium, they have a free, nightly spectacle of dancing water set to music and lights….there are multiple showtimes.

After sitting on the balcony for what seemed like hours, we finally called it a night!

The next morning, we enjoyed our coffee on the balcony.

Later, we got ready and headed down for breakfast at the Cascades Cafe. 

Our stay included a free breakfast so we were definitely going to take advantage of that!

After arriving to the cafe, we were put on a wait list where we waited about 20 mins for a table.

Once we were seated, we ordered our coffee and then headed up to the buffet to make our plates.

We couldn’t believe the variety of food they offered!

You can have pancakes made to order, waffles, omelets and more.

Or you could choose the already fresh made eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, potatoes, gravy, grits, fruit, pastries, bagels, toast, oatmeal, and so much more!!

We filled up our plates and headed back to our table.

The food was delicious!

Tip: If you have to pay for this breakfast, it will cost you $40 pp!!

After breakfast, we headed back to our room to pack up and check out.

I highly recommend this hotel and we have now stayed here 3 times in the last 2 years!

Read reviews here

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for our next adventure!

Click here to find links to all of my blog posts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Guys!

This post continues our time in Double Springs, AL.

Read Day 1 here & Click here to see links to all of my blog posts

After getting up from a great night’s sleep, we started our morning with coffee on the boat dock.

It was so quiet and peaceful.

We had high hopes that the water would eventually clear off but sadly, it never did.

Later, we decided to have a “picnic” lunch on the boat dock.

Y’all know us, we love our “charcuterie boards”.

After lunch, we decided to hike a nearby waterfall called, Caney Creek Falls.

We had tried to hike this falls when we visited in April but couldn’t figure out where the trailhead was so, we decided we would try again.

The falls were only 10-15 mins from our Airbnb.

If you put Caney Creek Falls into your gps, it will get you close to the parking lot for the falls.

We actually passed the parking area 2-3 times before we realized where it was.

You will see this sign on the side of the road….there’s enough space for a few cars to park.

Tip: The waterfall is on private property so be sure that you can still park here.

After getting parked, we followed the instructions on the sign that said to walk up the road to the 3rd driveway on the left.

Once you reach the trailhead, you will see this sign.

This is the spot that our GPS kept taking us to….this is not the parking for the trail.

You will need to go past this gate to start the trail. The hike to the falls is about 1.5 miles roundtrip.

The trail starts out gravel and leads you deep into the woods.

After a few minutes, the trail turned into dirt and became much more narrow.

The trail does have some exposure but is shaded for the most part.

We spotted these mushrooms along the trail.

After walking for about 20 mins, we arrived to the waterfall.

However, it was obscured by trees….that’s when we realized there was a path to the right to get down to the falls.

We had to climb down this bluff to get down to the falls.

Arriving to the falls

The falls has a drop of around 20-30 ft and spills over a rocky ledge into a clear pool below.

It is a gorgeous waterfall and definitely worth the short hike!

No one was at the falls when we arrived so that made it much more enjoyable.

Everything was so lush and green!

One of the most unique features of Caney Creek Falls is the chance to step behind the curtain of falling water.

Of course, we both had to take turns getting our pictures taken behind the falls.

It was such a cool experience!

During the summer, this place is a popular swimming hole.

The water is usually an emerald green, but with so much recent rain, it wasn’t as clear.

We spotted several different varieties of mushrooms near the falls.

After spending a few minutes at the falls, we made our way back to our car.

Read reviews here

Once we made it back to our Airbnb, we headed to the dock to relax.

The water looked even muddier than before!

After relaxing for a while, my hubby fired up the grill……we had decided to grill burgers.

They were so good!

Later that evening, we headed back to the boat dock to stargaze.

The house is in a perfect spot for stargazing, with virtually no light pollution.

We spent nearly an hour under the stars before finally calling it a night.

The next morning, we once again headed to the boat dock to have our coffee.

It was such a peaceful morning….

I could have sat out here all day.

After our coffee, we headed back inside to make breakfast before we had to check out and head home.

Enjoying our breakfast on the deck

After breakfast, we packed up and started our drive home.

On the way, we came across a quaint little coffee shop and decided it was the perfect place to take a break.

The inside was so cute!

The name of the coffee shop was called, The Local Grind and it was located in Moulton, AL.

They had an extensive coffee menu!

The coffee was so good!

After arriving back in Nashville, we stopped and had dinner with our daughter at Little Hats Italian Market.

We’ve eaten here before and the food is always so good.

The turkey and cheese sandwich….yum!

See their menu here & read reviews here

After dinner, we headed home.

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for our next adventure!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Guys!

As you all know, we love to do several short weekend trips throughout the year and this year was no exception!

In August, we decided to go back to Double Springs, AL where we had stayed for my birthday earlier in the year…..you can read about that trip, here.

Our first stop, was breakfast at Chick fil a.…I mean, who doesn’t love Chick fil a?! They have the best breakfast ever!

After breakfast, we started our 3.5 hr drive to our second stop of the day, Dismals Canyon in Phil Campbell, AL.

Dismals Canyon was the reason we decided to come back to Alabama.….this place was closed for repairs when we visited the area back in April.

After arriving, we headed to the country store to purchase our tickets.

Tip: The parking lot is very small so, if you have a bigger vehicle, you will definitely have trouble parking here. Also, the only bathroom available, is located near the parking lot.

From the parking lot, there is a paved path that leads to the country store.

Once you arrive to the store, you will walk through the covered pavilion in order to enter the store.

The pavilion was super nice….

Here you can enjoy a lunch from the soda fountain, watch TV, or just relax by the fireplace.

Tip: You don’t have to pay admission to enjoy the pavilion, country store or eat at the soda fountain.

Entering the country store..

The country store was like stepping back in time….it’s filled with jars of old candy, antiques, souvenirs and much more!

The soda fountain was designed to look like a classic, old fashioned soda fountain from decades past.

See their menu here

Tip: They have cabins you can rent but they are temporarily unavailable

After purchasing our tickets, we were given a map of the canyon and directed to the starting point for our self guided hike…..which is 1.5 miles.

Dismals Canyon is a hidden gem where towering moss covered rock walls, winding streams, and shaded forest paths make it feel like a secret world.

The 85 acre nature preserve features wooden boardwalks and natural trails that guide you past waterfalls, grottos and incredible rock formations.

Dismals Canyon was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1975.

It was used to film a segment for the Discovery Channel documentary When Dinosaurs Roamed America.

We began our hike by walking down a steep set of wooden stairs.

Rainbow Falls is the first thing you will come to after you descend the stairs.

These falls were the source of power for a gristt mill and water wheel that was destroyed by a flood sometime in the 1950s.

As you continue the path, you will approach the swinging bridge.

A shot of the falls from the bridge

Crossing the swinging bridge

Stepping into Dismals Canyon feels like entering another world!

The moss covered canyon walls rise high above the trail keeping the air cool as water flows gently through the rocky landscape.

Tip: At night, the canyon lights up with thousands of tiny bioluminescent Dismalities…an experience found in only a handful of places in the world….book the night tour here. This tour is only available during certain times of the year.

Continuing our walk along the boardwalk

This area is known as the Grotto.

The trail here is absolutely magical. There is amazing rock formations with moss covering almost every inch of the boulders.

There are secret passageways and stunning deadends.

The massive boulders leaned inward, creating the feeling that the canyon itself was closing in on us!

The boardwalk leads you deeper into the canyon…

With every turn, a distinctive rock formation came into view…

Standing among the massive boulders, you couldn’t help but feel small in comparison.

After a few minutes of walking, we arrived to Pulpit Rock.

Pulpit Rock is a winding natural rock stairway.

If you decide to climb to the top, you will be scrambling over large boulders.

At the top you will have a panoramic view of part of the canyon.

At the top

Continuing along the boardwalk

We stopped multiple times to take pictures!

This was called the Kitchen

This covered area was used for cooking and tribal rituals by Chickasaw Indians hundreds of years ago.

Continuing our walk into the canyon floor

Along the way, we spotted this cool looking tree.

At the bottom of the canyon, you are surrounded by woods and a small stream…

It was hard to believe that we were in Alabama….it felt like walking through the mossy forests we’d explored in Washington State!

Exploring the canyon floor

Everything was so green and lush!

About 10,000 years ago this bluff shelter was home to a tribe of Paleo Indians – first man known to inhabit this part of the U.S.

This shelter has never been excavated but samples of Paleo pottery & arrow points have been found in different areas of the Canyon.

Continuing our walk

We spotted so many cool looking trees along the path!

More shots along the canyon wall

We came to a section where we had to walk on rocks to cross the stream.

I just couldn’t get over how every rock and boulder was covered in moss!

Even though there were other people visiting, we rarely ran into anyone else.

There are several points of interest along the canyon floor such as the Witches Cavern, a strange and beautiful labyrinth of moss and fern covered boulders where the largest colony of Dismalites reside.

This place was incredible!

Our walk along the canyon floor took us past moss covered rocks, shallow streams, and towering canyon walls that kept the trail cool and shaded.

I felt like I had been transported to a scene straight out of a fairytale!

Continuing our walk

We passed massive, moss covered boulders.

There have been more than 350 different species of Exotic Flora identified by botanists exploring the canyon.

Walking along the trail

The views from the boardwalk were gorgeous!

We finally arrived to the second falls called Secret Falls.

I really wouldn’t call it much of a falls….more like a trickle.

The water creating these falls flows from an underground mountain stream that opens onto the earth’s surface about 3/4 of a mile upstream.

The area around “Secret Falls” is a natural arboretum. Within 100 feet grow 27 species of native trees.

Our walk led us through narrow cracks and winding crevices carved into the canyon wall.

Like, Fat Man’s Misery…

This narrow opening (16” wide) between the two big boulders was the original entrance to the Canyon floor.

After getting through the tiny opening,  you were surrounded by huge, moss covered boulders!

Looking back at Fat Man’s Misery.

Exploring the different twists and turns through the rocks.

Every path led to another breathtaking rock formation.

We kept discovering hidden corners of the canyon….

Arriving back to the main entrance around Rainbow Falls.

Another shot of Rainbow Falls

Heading back upstairs to the country store

Read reviews here

After spending about 1.5 hrs here, we headed to our next stop called, Rattlesnake Saloon, which was a 45 min drive from Dismals Canyon.

After arriving, we had to get in line at the “Saloon taxi pickup” where we were loaded in the back of the “Rattlesnake taxi” and driven about a half mile to the restaurant.

This was definitely a new experience for us! 😉

This is a super unique restaurant as it’s built right under a massive natural bluff.

The setting feels like something out of an old west movie, with swinging saloon doors, hitching posts for horses and rugged rock walls towering overhead.

The name “Rattlesnake” came during construction, when workers uncovered a rattlesnake den nearby.

Before it was a saloon, the shelter was actually used as hog pen, and a 33 ft hole drilled through the rock to feed the hogs, now serves as a convenient place for running utilities into the restaurant.

The restaurant has been featured on national TV shows such as the Food Network’s Craziest Restaurants...it draws visitors from across the US and beyond.

Since we arrived at such an odd time (3:00 pm), we were seated right away….tbis place does not take reservations.

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

The food here is your classic Southern and pub style fare — such as burgers, sandwiches, fried appetizers, etc.

Tip: Be sure to check out their website before you go because they are closed the months of Dec & Jan.

We both decided to order a burger….they were pretty good.

We didn’t go inside the “saloon” so I have no idea what the inside looks like….

On weekends, the saloon features live music and line dancing.

They were setting up for music as we were getting ready to leave.

Besides the restaurant, they also offer lodging, horseback riding, a campground, hiking trails, all kinds of events, a gift shop and more.

After finishing our meal, we headed to the line for the “taxi” to take us back to our vehicle.

Read reviews here

We then headed to our Airbnb …..the drive would take 1 hr 15 mins.

Tip: This area has no cell service so be sure to download offline maps! You can watch a YouTube video on how to do it, here.

We had stayed in this same Airbnb property for my birthday earlier in the year and we loved it so much that we decided to book it again.

This beautiful tiny home is located in Double Springs, AL and overlooks the Sipsey River..

The Sipsey River winds through the Sipsey Wilderness portion of the William B. Bankhead National Forest just outside of Double Springs.

The Sipsey Wilderness is the largest designated wilderness area east of the Mississippi River and is often called the Land of a Thousand Waterfalls.

Heading inside the house

The house has one king bed, a kitchen, a huge shower, a bathtub and a huge deck overlooking the river.

After getting settled in, we headed back outside to check out the small dock that extends out into the river…..it was closed off for repairs when we visited in April so we were excited to be able to use it during this trip.

However, we were so disappointed when we saw how muddy the river was because this is what it looked like when we visited back in April!

The area had received a lot of rain, which had clearly affected the river.

We came prepared to spend time in the water, but there was no chance we were getting into that muddy river!

So, we decided to admire it from the dock instead. 😉

Later that evening, we called it a night!

Stay tuned for Day 2!

Click here to see links to all of my blog posts

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Guys!

This post will conclude our Great Lakes Adventure!

Read Day 1 here, Day 2 here, Day 3 here, Day 4 here, Day 5 here, Day 6 here, Day 7 here, Day 8 here, Day 9 here & Day 10 here…..click here to see links to all of my blog posts.

We woke up to a gorgeous sunrise!

It’s definitely worth the money to stay in a hotel with a view of the falls!

Another shot of the beautiful sunrise.

My hubby enjoying the views

After getting checked out of our hotel, we headed to our final destination in Ohio.

The drive there would take 2.5 hours.

We had to drive back over the Peace Bridge to get back into the US.

We passed this beautiful church as we were going through Silver Creek.

Our first stop along the way was the Dunkirk City Pier in Dunkirk, NY.

The pier extends out onto Lake Erie.

Here you can launch a kayak, have a picnic lunch, bird watch or just sit and enjoy the views.

Next, we headed a short distance to the Dunkirk Lighthouse.

After getting parked, we spotted this buoy.

It was called the Milk Bottle Buoy…it was built in 1905 and once served as a lighthouse.

The Dunkirk Lighthouse and a beautiful victorian house were built in 1875 to replace another lighthouse that was threatened by erosion.

Bricks from the original keeper’s house formed the foundation for the new house. The old cylindrical tower was moved adjacent to the new keeper’s residence. A square tower was built around the old tower to be more compatible with the keeper’s house.

There was a lot to see and do here such as a museum that had an extensive collection of military artifacts. The large collection of museum pieces are displayed in the Keeper’s Home, Gift Shop and a building on the grounds.

We didn’t have time to do the lighthouse tour or museum so, we just walked around the property.

This building was used to store oil and supplies used in the lighthouse from 1875-1960.

There were lots of old boats scattered around the property.

We spotted a sign that pointed out the original spot of the first lighthouse that stood here in 1827.

This rudder from 1850 was on display.

And this 40 ft pier light from 1939.

This is also a Veterans Park Museum so they had lots of military artifacts on the property.

After spending about 30 mins here, we continued our drive.

We passed a sign for the Lake Erie State Park.

We also passed the Barcelona Lighthouse.

The 40 ft lighthouse was built in 1829 and was the very first natural gas lighthouse in the world.

About 10 mins after passing the lighthouse, we passed over into Pennsylvania.

Of course, we had to pullover and take a quick picture under the “Welcome to Pennsylvania” sign!

As we continued our drive, we passed hundreds of acres of grapevines!

This area is the largest grape-growing region east of the Rockies, famous for concord grapes.

We arrived to Erie, PA around lunch time so decided to find somewhere to eat.

We decided to eat at a place that I had tried to eat at when I went on my girl’s trip to Niagara in 2023. It was closed when I had tried to eat there.

The restaurant was called Smuggler’s Wharf and it sat very close to the shores of Lake Erie.

It was located in Dobbins Landing.

Dobbins Landing was originally known as the Public Steamboat Landing, and then the Public Dock.  It was named after Captain Daniel Dobbins, an early 19th-century sailing master in the U.S. Navy who supervised the construction of a squadron of warships, built here in Erie, that were used during the War of 1812.

The outside of the restaurant is so cool…it’s covered in vines and hanging baskets full of flowers!

We were seated at a table with views of Lake Erie.

Trying to decide what to order….

The moment we discovered that lobster rolls were the special of the day, the decision became much easier …..we both ordered one! We love lobster rolls!

Turned out to be a great decision because they were delicious!

Read reviews here

After lunch, we decided to walk around.

There are a few things to see and do here such as climb the Bicentennial tower, boat tours to Presque Isle, a riverboat cruise on the Victorian Princess, a pirate boat tour and more!

As we strolled along the shores of Lake Erie, huge fish swam alongside us in the clear water.

Tons of ducks dotted the water, drifting together in loose clusters.

After spending a few minutes walking around, we decided to continue our drive.

Shortly after leaving Dobbins Landing, we spotted the Beach Zero souvenir shop so we decided to make a quick stop to look for our usual souveniers, a coffee cup and t-shirt.

After making our purchase, we headed to Presque Isle State Park.

Pennsylvania’s only “seashore,” Presque Isle offers visitors a beautiful coastline and many recreational activities, including swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, bicycling, and in-line skating.

Read reviews here

The drive into the park was beautiful!

Our first stop would be the Presque Isle Lighthouse.

The construction of the Presque Isle Lighthouse began in September of 1872 and was completed in July of 1873 at the cost of $15,000.

Initially, the square brick tower was only 40 feet high, but an additional 17 feet-4 inches were added to the tower in 1896, to direct the projection of the light from the Fresnel Lens out further over the lake.

Over the next few years, the bricks of the tower were painted white, so that the tower would serve as a day mark for travelers.

You can climb the 78 steps to the top of the lighthouse tower. Though the outside of the tower is square, the inside is actually circular.

The attached dwelling had nine rooms and was home to the U.S. Lighthouse Service keepers and their families until 1944.

The oil room is where the keeper prepared the oil lamps each night during the shipping season.

The keeper was responsible for keeping the light shining all night long to alert all of the travelers on Lake Erie.

Read reviews here

Near the lighthouse, was a small path that led to the lake so we decided to go check it out.

The beach was huge!

After checking out the lighthouse and beach, we decided to head to our next destination as the park was so crowded it was difficult finding parking.

Tip: There are 3 lighthouses in this area so be sure to check them all out when visiting this area.

Our next stop was only five minutes from the lighthouse….it was the Smolen-Gulf Covered Bridge.

At 613 feet, it is the longest covered bridge in the United States – a title formerly held by the Cornish–Windsor Covered Bridge in New Hampshire and Vermont – and the fourth longest covered bridge in the world.

This is the 3rd bridge that has been built here. The first covered bridge was built in 1867, the 2nd one was built in 1949 and this bridge was built in 2008.

The bridge is one of 17 drivable covered bridges in the county and cost 7.8 million to build.

We were surprised to see that it looked older than it was as it had  a wooden plank floor.

You can drive or walk across the bridge.

After this bridge, we headed to another covered bridge called, Harpersfield Covered Bridge.

This bridge was built in 1868 and later renovated with a pedestrian walkway in 1991–92.

The double-span Howe-truss structure ranks as the third-longest covered bridge in Ohio at 228 feet. A steel span was added after flood damage in 1913.

The bridge recently underwent a major renovation, reopening to traffic in May 2024.

Our next stop was another bridge called, the Mechanicsville Road Covered Bridge.

Built in 1867, this 156 foot Howe truss bridge is the third-longest single-span covered bridge in Ashtabula County.

The bridge is believed to be the oldest of Ashtabula County’s covered bridges.

It was renovated in 2004 when it was once again opened to traffic.

The bridge sits near the historic Grand River Manor, Ashtabula County’s oldest tavern, established in 1847.

The US is full of historic covered bridges with Pennsylvania having the most with 200+ covered bridges and Ohio has the second most with around 120+ covered bridges.

After this bridge, we continued our drive.

We drove through the very popular town called, Geneva on the Lake.

The small, historic town is known as Ohio’s first summer resort town, drawing visitors for more than a century for beach fun and classic roadside attractions.

It was originally a New England settled area, it developed into a summer resort in the late 1800’s.

The heart of the town is the strip — a nostalgic mile long stretch full of arcades, go-karts, mini golf, bumper boats, classic diners, shops and more.

As we were driving, we passed this gorgeous historic home and this beautiful church.

Before arriving to our hotel, we decided to stop and have dinner.

We found a place called Hil-Mak Seafood Restaurant.

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

We started out with the smoked gouda bites….they were so good!

For our main course, we decided on a steak with the twice baked potatoes.

After dinner, we decided to share a dessert….we ordered the tiramisu and it was delicious!

Read reviews here

After dinner,  we headed to our hotel.

Driving through Ashtabula, OH.

Ashtabula is a small city in northeastern Ohio, right along the southern shore of Lake Erie, near the Pennsylvania border.

It has a strong lakefront identity and a history shaped by shipping, railroads and immigration.

Arriving to our hotel, Riverbend Hotel & Suites.

The hotel opened in 2023 and overlooks the harbor and Lake Erie. It represents the first new hotel in Ashtabula in over 100 years.

The hotel was very nice and modern.

After getting checked in, we headed to our room.

The room was very nice!

The views from our window.

We also had a view of the historic lift bridge.

After getting settled into our room, we headed outside to check out the lift bridge.

There was a small park across from the hotel near the lift bridge.

The city had recently revitalized this area to bring back tourists.

The lift bridge was built in 1925 at a cost of $179,000.00. The bridge is famous for its ability to rise and lower, letting boats pass upstream and downstream while still serving vehicle traffic.

The bridge uses electric motors and a large concrete counterweight to operate the lifting mechanism — technology that was quite advanced for its time.

It replaced earlier river crossings: a pontoon bridge and then an 1889 swing bridge to accommodate larger ships.

It’s one of only two remaining bascule lift bridges for cars in Ohio and the only one still part of the Ohio State highway system.

In 2025, it celebrated its 100th anniversary ….it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

You can also walk across the bridge so, of course, we couldn’t leave without walking across the historic bridge.

Views from the bridge

The bridge typically lifts on the hour and half hour, allowing both large freighters and smaller recreational craft to navigate the river.

It was very cool to watch.

We couldn’t leave without taking pictures in front of the bridge and the Ashtabula sign.

After taking our pictures, we headed back to our room.

The area around our hotel was very nice….lots of historical buildings that had been converted to shops and restaurants.

A shot of the bridge from our hotel window…..At night, the bridge is lit up.

Later, we called it a night…it had been a long day and we were exhausted.

The next morning, we woke up to views of the bridge.

After getting dressed, we headed to have breakfast in the hotel.

We weren’t impressed at all with the breakfast….not many choices.

Read reviews for the hotel here

After checking out of our hotel, we headed to the airport in Cleveland to fly home.

The airport was approximately 1 hr 15 mins from our hotel.

This concludes our 11 night trip exploring all 5 Great Lakes!

I hope this helps you plan your own trip to see all of the beautiful Great Lakes!

Stay tuned for our next adventure….we had several in 2025!

 

Hey Guys!

This post continues our time exploring all 5 Great Lakes.

Read Day 1 here, Day 2 here, Day 3 here, Day 4 here, Day 5 here, Day 6 here, Day 7 here, Day 8 here, and Day 9 here.…..Click here to see links to all of my blog posts.

After a quick bite to eat, we left our hotel and drove back across Rainbow Bridge to the US side of Niagara Falls.

I actually like this side better than the Canadian side but there are no hotels on the US side that have views of the falls like the Canadian side.

After getting parked near the Top of the Falls Restaurant, we made our way down to see the falls.

As we approached, we were greeted with a beautiful rainbow over the falls!

The colors were so bright and colorful!

If you look closely, you can see a double rainbow!

Of course, we couldn’t pass up on taking a selfie in front of the falls with the rainbow behind us!

I took way too many pictures of the rainbow! 😉

A shot of the Canadian side of Niagara.

After leaving this lookout, we began our walk around the state park.

As we were walking we passed a statue of Nikola Tesla.

Nikola Tesla became a consultant to George Westinghouse who won the contract to harness the power of Niagara Falls to produce AC hydro-electricity.

The Westinghouse-Tesla team engineered a water tunnel 2 miles long and 160 feet deep from the Rapids to the Niagara River just past the American Falls. Some 300,000 tons of earth were removed; 20 million bricks were used to line the tunnel.

On our walk, we passed several observation areas along the way.

Here you can see Prospect Point in the background.

Passing the Cave of the Winds

The wooden decking at Cave of the Winds, is removed every fall and rebuilt every spring to protect them from the ice buildup and damage from the freezing winter conditions at the base of Bridal Veil Falls.

I did this tour during my first trip to Niagara but we decided to skip it this time.

Read reviews here

A shot of the Rainbow Bridge

This is the bridge that connects Canada and the United States.

We decided to head to the Maid of the Mist boat tour since this was my hubby’s first time visiting Niagara. This is a must do tour when visiting Niagara Falls!

Tip: Adult tickets are $30.25 each and children ages 6-12 are $19.75….Purchase tickets here

Once you arrive, you will have your ticket scanned and then be put into a line for the elevator that takes you down to the boat.

Make sure you try and get a spot by the boat’s railing so you can get good pictures without a bunch of people in them!

Tip: You will get wet on this tour….I suggest wearing open toe shoes (sandals, flip flops, etc) and shorts or capris so your pants don’t get wet.

On the boat

We were packed like sardines on the boat!

Passing Cave of the Winds  at Bridal Veil Falls.

We spotted another rainbow on the way to the falls!

Passing the American Falls ….it’s much smaller than Horseshoe Falls which is the main falls.

We passed the old Ontario Power Company generating station – a decommissioned hydroelectric plant built in 1905 to harness power from the river.

Nearing Horseshoe Falls

The boat takes you so close that you get drenched from the spray!

A shot of the falls

After the boat did a 360 degree turn so everyone could see the falls, we headed back.

Read reviews for Maid of the Mist here

After getting off the boat, we continued our walk to the different observations points.

Of course, when we spotted the state park sign, we couldn’t resist stopping to snap a photo in front of it.

From here, we decided to head to the Top of the Falls restaurant to have lunch.

Click here for dining options in the park

After waiting for approximately 30 mins, we were finally seated outside with views of the falls.

We decided to order a pretzel as an appetizer, followed by the chicken BLT wrap with fries, which we shared as our main course.

The food is pretty good but the views are amazing!

Read reviews here

After lunch, we headed downstairs to the gift shop to find a t-shirt.

After making our purchase, we decided to hop on the park trolley.

For the cost of $5 pp, this is really the best way to see the park.

The trolley makes several stops along the way….so, you can hop off at any location or stay on the trolley for the entire 3 mile loop.

Read reviews here

At one point, we were the only ones on the trolley! It was like having a private tour!

We passed the Red Coach Inn

The hotel opened its doors for business on August 30, 1923.

Read reviews for the hotel here

After completing the entire 3 mile loop, we hopped off and treated ourselves to ice cream.

We had to place our order on a vending machine and then pick up our ice cream at the window!

We ordered a single scoop of strawberry and a scoop of the Niagara Delight for a cost of $12.00.

After our ice cream, we headed to Three Sisters Islands.

The Three Sisters Islands are a trio of small islands in the Niagara River, accessible from Goat Island via footbridges, offering close up views of the powerful rapids and smaller waterfalls.

We then headed back to our car and drove back to the hotel just to park our car.

On the way, we passed the Hotel Niagara.

The hotel was dedicated on April 8, 1925 and opened for business the following day. It is located 1/4 mile from the Horseshoe Falls.

Once we were back at our hotel, we walked to the nearby Skylon Tower to purchase tickets.

I had wanted to do this during my first visit to Niagara but we didn’t have time to fit it in.

Inside the bottom of the tower

At the top of the tower, there’s a revolving restaurant….I had made reservations to eat here during my first visit but we didn’t have time to make the reservations.

Tip: Tickets are $20 pp

On the elevator going up to the observation deck

The elevators take you up 775 ft in just 52 seconds!

You have amazing views on the way to the top!

Once you reach the top, you will have 360 degree views of all three waterfalls; American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls.

On a clear day, you can see up to 80 miles!

The views were incredible!

There are inside and outside viewing areas….

Of course, we couldn’t leave without first snapping a quick picture at the top!

After spending several minutes at the top, we headed back down to the bottom floor where I spotted a Starbucks so I decided to order one of their refreshers.

This place is huge!

The entire bottom floor has a fun center that includes arcade games, a 3D/4D movie about the Legends of Niagara Falls, a dare devil barrels exhibit where you can see the barrels used by real daredevils who went over the Falls.

They had one of the barrels on display inside the fun center!

Read reviews here 

After our tower ride, we headed back to our room for a while to rest.

We spotted a rainbow over the falls from our hotel window.

We also had a view of the Skylon Tower from our window.

After resting for a while, we headed back outside and took the Falls Incline Railway down to Horseshoe Falls.

The Niagara Parks Incline Railway provides a fast & convenient link between the Fallsview Tourist area and the Table Rock Centre.

We decided to head to another place that I had wanted to tour on my first visit but didn’t get the chance due to our itinerary being so full ….the Niagara Power Station.

Opened in 1905, this power plant was the first major power plant built on the Canadian side of the Niagara River.

The plant operated for 100 years and provided electricity for Canadians and New Yorkers.

It’s Niagara Falls newest tourist attraction.

Tip: The cost for an adult ticket is $32 for self guided and $42 for a guided tour

Inside the station you will learn about the incredible history of the plant as well as those who kept it running for 100 years.

You will also see repurposed artifacts, interactive exhibits and fascinating installations that offer a first-hand look at how this hydropower pioneer harnessed the power of water to generate electricity.

The power plant used Nikola Tesla-inspired designs to send power to Ontario and New York, operating for a century before becoming the Niagara Parks Power Station museum….so, there is a lot of information in the museum about Nikola Tesla.

They had this amazing light show that was narrated ….it told about the history of how they harnessed electricity from the falls!

It was so cool!

The telephone that was used after the plant was built.

Looking out at Niagara River

There was a gift shop and a cafe inside the museum.

More pictures of the museum

Once you are done touring the museum, you will then get in line to take an elevator down 180 feet beneath the halls of the Niagara Parks Power Station.

A side of the elevator is clear so you can see every floor of the power station along the ride down…it was so interesting!

After reaching the bottom, you will exit the elevator and walk through a 2,200 ft tunnel!

This remarkable tunnel was excavated with only lanterns, rudimentary dynamite, pickaxes and shovels!

They had the tunnel lit up with different colors.

It was a weird feeling knowing you were 180 ft below the ground!

Along the walk, there were lots of informational signs and artifacts.

Once you get to the end of the tunnel, you are greeted with a gorgeous view of Horseshoe Falls!

It was so cool!

After taking way too many pictures, we headed back inside the tunnel.

The original door to the power plant.

Read reviews here

We then headed back to the Table Rock Center to find something to eat.

Unfortunately, it was after 8 pm and most of the restaurants inside the center had already closed…..we found one place that had burgers that was still open so that’s what we ended up with…..of course, the hubby was completely fine with a burger. 😉

After eating, we headed back outside to wait for the fireworks.

The place was a zoo! It was so crowded!

At exactly 10 pm, they started the fireworks!

They usually only last for 5 mins but since it was the 4th of July, they lasted 10 mins.

It was cool to see the fireworks over the falls that were lit up in different colors.

After the fireworks, we headed back to our hotel.

Views from our hotel window.

Later, we called it a night.

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for Day 11!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Guys!

I am really getting behind on my blogging….I still have about 5 more trips to blog about once I am finished with this one! So, it’s been hard trying to keep up!

Let’s get back to exploring the 5 Great Lakes! I have two more days left to blog about!!

We are currently in Port Huron, MI but today we will be heading to our next hotel in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side.

Before leaving our hotel in Port Huron, we started our morning with a free breakfast at the hotel.

They had lots to choose from!

After making our plates, we headed to a table that had views of the lake.

I wasn’t impressed with the food at all….it tasted like it had been sitting out for hours!

After breakfast, we headed back to our room where we enjoyed a few minutes of relaxation on our small patio.

At around 9:30, we began the drive to our first stop of the day. The drive would take approximately 3.5 hours.

We had to cross over the Blue Water Bridge into Canada and we couldn’t believe how long the line was to go through!

Tip: Be sure to have your passports ready to show the border patrol agent

After driving for about 3 hours, we made our first stop in Grimsby, ON so we could get our feet wet in Lake Ontario!

We found a small park called Grimsby Beach Park that sat right on the shore of Lake Ontario so that’s where we headed.

It was a tiny park in the middle of a residential area but we were able to find a small parking area so we parked and headed down to the lake.

A shot of the beach area

There was an informational plaque that talked about the history of Grimsby Beach.

Grimsby Beach was used by Euro-Canadian settlers as a religious gathering place in the mid-19th century, which became known as a Methodist Campground.

By the 1870s, canvas and post tents were being replaced with wood-frame cottages, known as permanent tents.

Several of those “cottages” are still standing today…..here’s a shot of one of them.

Walking the path to the lakeshore

We couldn’t get over how clear the water was at all of these lakes ….I never imagined them looking like they do! I mean, in some areas, they looked like Caribbean water!

Of course, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to have our picture taken in front of the lake.

I told my husband I wished we had made little signs for each lake and held them up in our photos. It would have made it so much easier to remember which lake we were standing in front of when we looked back through our pictures later.

We found so many cool rocks while we were here!

After spending a few minutes at the lake, we decided it was time to find something for lunch.

We found a restaurant about 15 mins from the park called the Lake House. 

The restaurant sat right on the shores of Lake Ontario and they had outdoor seating with views of the lake!

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

I ordered the fish tacos and the hubby ordered his usual burger.

The food was delicious and the service was great!….and you couldn’t beat the views!

Read reviews here

After lunch, we continued our drive to our next stop which would be in Buffalo, NY.

We made a quick stop when we spotted some cherry trees on the side of the road!

The area we were in was called St. Catharines, ON.

Tip: To see the cherry blossoms in bloom, click here

As we continued our drive, we entered into the town of Niagara Falls, ON.

We then crossed over the Peace Bridge to make our way back into the United States.

Tip: Once again, have those passports ready to show the border agent

Once you cross over the bridge, you will now be in New York.

At this point, we continued the short drive to Buffalo.

The drive from Port Huron to Buffalo is 4 hours.

Our first stop in Buffalo was the Forest Lawn Cemetery. 

I’m sure some of you may think it’s a bit strange for someone wanting to visit a cemetery while on vacation but this isn’t just some old cemetery, this cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic places due to its stunning landscape architecture and significant monuments.

This 269 acre cemetery was designed after a famous cemetery in Paris called the Père-Lachais.

Opened in 1804, Père Lachaise in Paris is the world’s most visited cemetery. Its 70,000 ornate tombs of the rich and famous form a verdant, 108-acre sculpture garden in the city’s 20th arrondissement.

The Père-Lachais cemetery encouraged people to walk the grounds, admire the funerary art, and commune with nature so the creator of Forest Lawn followed the design of the Père-Lachais.

This cemetery was created in 1849 and the first burial was held in 1850. There are now more than 165,000 burial sites here.

There are also more than 3,500 trees in Forest Lawn, representing 100 different species and varieties and making the cemetery an important arboretum.

Charles Clark, the Buffalo, NY lawyer who created the cemetery, started a policy of providing interesting and appropriate sculptures to the natural setting of Forest Lawn – a continuing policy that has made the cemetery a significant outdoor sculpture museum today.

Read about the history of the cemetery here & click here to download a map of the cemetery

There are so many unique sculptures and headstones ….you could literally spend hours here!

We spent about an hour here checking out as many headstones and sculptures as we could!

Tip: You can also book a tour of the cemetery and they will show you where all the famous people are buried. You can also download their app for a self guided tour.

One of the most impressive features in the cemetery is the Blocher Monument.

The monument was sculpted in 1884 by an Italian sculptor by the name of Frank Torrey.

It was designed by John Blocher.

The center of attention inside the tomb is Nelson Blocher, laid out for viewing, clutching a bible. Looking at his prostrate form are his parents, John and Elizabeth Blocher. Hovering above is an angel, who, some say, bears a striking resemblance to a maid employed by the Blocher family.

It’s said that Nelson died of a broken heart. Accounts of the day say that his mother, Elizabeth, goaded her husband, John into constructing the tomb as a memorial for their heartbroken son.

Where exactly are the Blochers spending eternity? They are underneath a movable slab in the floor of the mausoleum!

Since I took so many pictures, I will share a few of my favorites.

There are several famous people buried in this cemetery.

One of those is the music legend Rick James who died in 2004.

Another one is the 13th President of the US, Millard Fillmore. 

He is buried here along with his 1st and 2nd wife and his son and daughter.

Read reviews for the cemetery here

After leaving the cemetery, we headed to our next stop.

Along the way, we passed the beautiful Saint Mark Catholic Church that was established in 1908.

Our next stop was Parkside Candies.

This candy store has been a tradition in Buffalo since 1927.

Behind the storefront is the actual factory where they produce all of their yummy candy!

Walking inside the candy store felt like walking back in time.

The oval interior of the store and dining area was designed by Buffalo architect Morton Wolfe, finished in the style of the Adam’s period.

Still today, the interior features a beautiful solid walnut soda fountain, tables, and candy cases.

In the center of the store are the original three light fixtures which not only help light the store, but also assist in the heating and cooling.

The store was so beautiful!

But we were here for their yummy candy and trying to choose what to purchase proved to be a challenge for both me and my hubby!

We wanted one of everything!

They are known for their sponge candy……which is a light, airy toffee that’s made by heating sugar then adding baking soda. The baking soda makes the candy foam up, creating a sponge like crystalline structure. Once set, the foamed sugar becomes crunchy and brittle. It’s then covered in chocolate.

The sweet employee, who happened to be from Tennessee, opened a bag to let us try it….it was really good!

They also had an old fashioned soda fountain where you could purchase shakes, sodas, sundaes, cones and more.

Fun Fact: In 1983, the movie “The Natural”, starring Robert Redford and Glenn Close was filmed at the Parkside Candy Store.

After purchasing way too much chocolate, we headed to our next stop.

Read reviews for the candy store here

Our next stop would be the Martin house.

We had wanted to tour the house but it was closed the day we arrived.

Built between 1903 and 1905, the Martin House was designed by acclaimed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright as the city home for Buffalo business executive Darwin D. Martin and his family.

Wright is internationally recognized as one of the most important figures in 20th century architecture and design. His legacy is marked by his vision to create a new form of architecture based on the open landscape of the American Midwest.

Since it wasn’t opened, we just parked and took a few pictures of the outside of the house.

Book a tour here & read reviews here

There was another beautiful house that sat next to the Martin House!

After leaving here, we headed to our next stop where we passed lots of beautiful, old homes!

We also passed the beautiful St. Louis Catholic Church. The construction of the church was completed in 1889.

Shortly after leaving the Martin House, we arrived to our next stop, the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site.

Unfortunately the house was closed when we arrived, so we just took pictures of the outside.

This is the Ansley Wilcox House and it is where in 1901 that Theodore Roosevelt would be sworn in as the President of the United States after President William McKinley had been assassinated that day at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo.

Roosevelt was Vice President at the time and was suddenly thrust into the presidency under tragic circumstances.

The oldest part of the building actually dates back to the Buffalo Barracks, a US Army post built in the 1840’s.

In the latte 1800’s the house was converted into a private residence by Ansley Wilcox and his wife Mary Grace.

The house later became a restaurant before being threatened by commercial development….but thanks to a local preservation campaign, it was declared a National Historic Site in 1966 and opened as a museum in 1971.

Read reviews here

After leaving here, we decided it was time for dinner so we headed out to find something to eat….we passed a restaurant called, Anchor Bar that said it was the home of the original Buffalo wings so we couldn’t pass that up!

After getting parked, we headed inside.

The inside was so cool!

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

I ordered the grilled chicken tenders and my hubby ordered the famous wings.

The food was really good!

After paying our bill, we walked around the restaurant checking out all of the pictures and newspaper articles that were hanging on the walls.

Lots of famous people had eaten here.

As we got ready to leave, I turned around and caught my husband kissing another woman! 😉

Read reviews here

After leaving here, we headed to our next hotel in Niagara Falls, ON.

The drive from Buffalo takes about 30 minutes.

On the drive, we passed more beautiful old houses and a church.

We had to cross back over the Peace Bridge to get into Canada.

The line was forever long to get into Canada!

After arriving to our hotel, the Oakes Hotel Overlooking the Falls, we were told they had to move us to the Hilton because they were having water issues.

I was not a happy camper because I had booked this hotel for the views as I had stayed in this property a year earlier when I had visited Niagara for the first time with my mom and sisters.

You can read about that trip here

We were given no compensation or anything for being moved to a different hotel. I had booked the hotel through Booking.com and will not be using them again after having consistent issues with getting the room types I book…..not to mention, they recently left a fake review for a property under my account and refused to remove it,…I had to file a complaint against them with the BBB….which nothing came out of that!

Click here to book all kinds of tours at Niagara

After arriving to the Hilton, we parked in the garage which costs us like $80 a nite and we were staying for two nights.

Once we made it up to our room, I was even more disappointed because the views were not very good at all!

At the Oakes, you had clear views of both the US falls and the Canadian falls but at the Hilton we only had a view of the US side which is much smaller than the Canadian falls!

The room we were given was nice though but I would have rather had the views I paid for at the Oakes!

Read reviews for the Hilton here & reviews for the Oakes here

After getting settled into our room, we headed back outside to check out the falls.

A shot of the Hilton….it sits across the street from the falls while the Oakes sits on the other side of the street facing the falls. The Oakes is a much closer walk to the falls than the Hilton!

The shortest route to the falls from the hotels is to purchase a ticket on the Falls incline railway.

The railway takes you right down to the Fallsview Tourist area and the Table Rock Centre.

After purchasing our tickets, we boarded the railway and were greeted with awesome views of horseshoe falls. 

After exiting the railway, we made our way through the Table Rock center and exited out the other side to get an up close view of the falls.

Niagara Falls is one of those places that photos can never do justice. Its beauty is overwhelming, and you truly have to stand beside the falls to understand their power and immensity!

Every night they light up the falls with different colored lights….it’s really cool to see!

And then, at 10:00 pm sharp, they shoot off fireworks over the falls!

You definitely don’t want to miss it….it lasts for exactly 5 mins.

Tip: You can book tours to see the falls lit up at night or see the fireworks.

After watching the fireworks, we headed back to our room where we enjoyed our yummy chocolates from Parkside Candy. 

A shot of the views from our room

Later, we called it a night!

Thanks for reading!

Read Day 1 here, Day 2 here, Day 3 here, Day 4 here, Day 5 here, Day 6 here, Day 7 here and Day 8 here

Click here to see links to all of my blog posts

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

Hey Guys!

This post continues our time exploring the beautiful Great Lakes!

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

We checked out of our hotel, the Comfort Inn in Manistique, MI, and headed to Munising, MI for a boat tour of Pictured Rocks National Shoreline.

The drive from Manistique to Munising takes approximately 50 minutes.

Once we arrived to Munising, we headed to check in for our boat tour.

We had booked the 10 am cruise but had to arrive 30 mins prior to departure to check in. You will want to arrive early if you want a good seat on the boat!

Tip: The parking here is very limited…..arrive early for your tour!

On the way, we passed this informational plaque talking about the historical waterfront.

Tip: We had to go through the Pictured Rocks Interpretive Center to check in as the main building was under renovation. Purchase your tickets here.

I had pre purchased our tickets prior to leaving for our trip because these tours can sell out quickly. The cost was $54 pp.

We spotted another informational plaque that talked about the history of the boat cruises.

The first tours to operate along the Pictured Rocks Cliffs was in the 1920’s. The tour ran every Sunday.

A shot of the Pictured Rocks boat

After waiting for a few minutes, we boarded the boat.

I had read that the right side of the boat would give you the best views so we went upstairs and sat outside on the right side.

Tip: Dress warm! It’s cold on the water!

We were prepared for that cold weather! 😉

This cruise lasts approximately 2 hours and I highly recommend it! This area is beautiful and you will not want to miss it!

Tip: You can also do a kayak tour instead of taking the boat…..read reviews here.

There are four different boat tours to choose from but we chose the Spray Falls Cruise which includes seeing the 70 ft Spray Falls waterfall that plunges into the lake.

Click here to see the different tours that are offered

When you take one of these cruises, you will be rewarded with spectacular close-up views of sandstone cliffs that lie within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Not long after we pulled away from the dock in Munising, the sandstone cliffs began to rise in the distance.

The views were unreal—massive walls of mineral streaked rock in oranges, greens, reds and purples.

The onboard narration gave context to the geology, history and the names of the formations —like Lover’s Leap, Miners Castle, and Grand Portal Point.

After cruising past countless natural sculptures and caves, we finally reached the highlight: Spray Falls!

The 70 ft waterfall poured directly off the cliff into the vast, deep-blue water of Lake Superior.

The boat slowed down so everyone could get a picture of the beautiful waterfall.

On the way, we passed the iconic Chapel Rock……aka the Tree of Life.

The tree grows atop Chapel Rock, a sandstone pillar located near the shore.

The tree’s roots stretch across open air to the mainland, where they draw nutrients from the forest soil creating a surreal natural “bridge” of life.

Read reviews here

Tip: You can also see this tree by hiking the Chapel Loop Trail …however, it’s 6-10 miles roundtrip depending on your route.

I decided to head downstairs to get some pictures from the back of the boat on the lower deck.

The views were incredible!

A few more pictures of the sandstone cliffs

As we neared the marina in Munising, we spotted an old wooden lighthouse.

The lighthouse is called East Channel Lighthouse.

It was built in 1868. It is one of the few remaining wooden lighthouses on Lake Superior.

It is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the Upper Peninsula. It is no longer an active lighthouse and it’s privately owned and not opened to the public.

Tip: The boat offers a few snacks, soda and water but it’s cash only. There are restrooms on board as well. No pets are allowed on the boats. You can bring food on the boat.

After arriving back to the dock, we exited the boat and headed back to our car where we had our leftover pizza for lunch.

We had also picked up some of these delicious chips at the gift shop after exiting the boat!

Read reviews here for Pictured Rocks Lakeshore & here for the Spray Falls boat tour

Tip: There is also. a shipwreck boat tour that you can do here…read reviews here.

After lunch, we headed to our next stop.

The town of Munising is so cute!  The population is around 2,000 people.

Click here for things to do in Munising & here for things to see/do in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Our next stop was Miners Falls.….it was a 20 min drive from the boat dock.

Click here & here for a list of waterfalls in this area

The hike to Miners falls is only 1 mile roundtrip.

We saw lots of fungi growing on the trees along the trailhead.

The walk to the falls was really beautiful…..everything was so green and lush!

Once we neared the falls, there were approx. 77 steps that led down to a wooden observation deck where you could view the falls.

Miners Falls is one of the most scenic waterfalls in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

It’s tucked away in a forested corner of Pictured Rocks. The waterfall plunges about 50 ft over a rugged sandstone outcrop into a rocky gorge below.

Tip: You can hike the full Miners Loop and see the falls, Castle rock and beach.

Read reviews here

After leaving the falls, we drove to our next stop.

There is an admission fee for this area…..it was $25 for a vehicle or $15 per person if you walked in….both are valid for 7 days with your receipt.

Click here & here for things to see and do in Pictured Rocks

After paying our admission fee, we headed to the miners castle overlook.

The views were incredible!

Miners Castle rises 75 ft above Lake Superior.

A nearby informational plaque

There were two other overlooks located here but we missed those.

I will say, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was one of our favorite places we visited on our trip and I would highly recommend spending at least 2-3 full days here….there’s just so much to see here…from waterfalls, to hiking trails to cool tours! I hate that we missed a lot of it!

After leaving here, we headed to Miners Beach.

The drive to Miners Beach from the overlook is only 5 minutes.

After getting parked, we had to walk a short distance on a wooden boardwalk to reach the beach.

Wow! We couldn’t believe the color of the lake!

I definitely was not expecting to see a lake that looked like Caribbean waters!

This beach was breathtakingly beautiful!

The sand was so clean and white….I would have sworn that I had been transported to somewhere in the Caribbean!

The beach stretches for about one mile along the Lake Superior shoreline and is framed by rocky outcrops and cedar forests.

Tip: Click here for hiking trails in this area

Not only was the beach beautiful, but there was hardly anyone around! It was so peaceful.

Tip: This is a popular launch point for kayakers heading toward Mosquito Beach, Lovers Leap and Grand Portal Point.  There is also a small waterfall at the eastern end of the beach during wetter weather.

There was a gravel path that ran next to the shoreline, offering scenic views.

Views along the trail.

After walking the trail for a while, we decided to walk down to the beach.

The water was so clear!

It wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be….it was actually very refreshing.

The water temperature of the lake is usually around 60+ degrees.

We decided to sit on a piece of driftwood and just relax and enjoy the views.

We could have spent a lot more time here but we had lots more places to see!

Read reviews for the beach here

So, we headed back to our car and drove back into Munising …..the drive took about 25 mins from the beach.

Our next stop was the Munising Front Range Lighthouse.

The lighthouse was built in 1908 and is located right in the town of Munising.

The lighthouse is set amid a historic park setting, with an adjacent 1 1/2 story brick building that was the former keeper’s quarters.

The grounds are open to the public but the lighthouse is not open to visitors.

It stands 58 ft tall and is still an active lighthouse that has a continuous red light.

Read reviews here & Click here for more lighthouses in this area

After leaving here, we decided to look for some coffee.

We had not seen many coffee shops on our travels thus far….I searched coffee shops in Google maps and found one called, Rustic Grounds Coffee.

It was a short drive from the lighthouse.

The unique coffee shop operated out of a vintage trailer…it was so cute!

They had so many options to choose from!

I ordered the honey lavender latte and I can’t remember what the hubby ordered.

Unfortunately, the coffee was so sweet that I couldn’t finish drinking it. It had a great flavor if only it hadn’t been so sweet.  🙁

Read reviews here

After getting our coffee, we headed to our next stop which would be Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

We passed through the cute town of Newberry on the way to our next stop.

One of the most popular things to do here is the Oswald’s Bear Ranch.

After driving for 1 hr 40 mins, we finally arrived to the state park.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park encompasses approximately 50,000 acres. The park is Michigan’s second largest state park.  The nearest town to the park is Paradise.

We were here to see the Tahquamenon Falls.

So, after getting parked, we walked a short distance to an observation deck to see the falls.

The falls is a 50 ft drop that spans 200 ft across ranking it as one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River!

At peak spring runoff, it surges with up to 50,000 gallons per second, averaging around 7,000 gallons a second annually!

Read all about the falls and the park here

The falls is also known as “Root Beer Falls” due to its color.

The amber brown hue and frothy white foam come from tannins leached from cedar and hemlock swamps upstream.

Tip: There are over 20-35 miles of trails in the park...see a map here. There are also moose, bear, otters, beavers and 125+ bird species that can be found here.

Since the views here were partially obscured by trees, we decided to walk to another observation area.

As we were walking the trail, we spotted this cool looking fungi growing on a tree.

The gorge view observation deck required walking down 181 stairs! That also meant walking back up 181 stairs…..glad I had been working out for 4 mons prior to this trip! 😉

The boardwalk felt endless!

Finally arriving to the observation deck.

This location definitely gave you better views of the waterfall.

Of course, we had to take our picture if front of the falls. 🙂

The park has access to the Upper Falls and the lower falls.

The lower falls is located about 4 miles downstream and has a series of five cascades that wrap around an island. It is accessible from the new Ronald A. Olson pedestrian bridge…..or you can rent a rowboat and visit the island that way.

Tip: The park features a restaurant called Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub, campgrounds, a gift shop and a lodging cabin.

A few more shots of the falls

If you’re looking for something unique to do, the park offers the iconic Tonnerville Trolley train & riverboat tour where they take you on a 21 mile ride downriver to a secluded vantage point near the Upper Falls. – UPDATE: sadly this is closed now.

As we were walking back to our car, we spotted this exhibit that included a black bear and some informational signs that told about the park.

Read reviews for the park here

Next up on our Great Lakes adventure was the place we’d be calling home for the night, Sault Ste. Marie.

It was located approximately 1 hr 20 mins from the park.

We drove through the small town of Paradise on the way.

I actually had tried to book a cabin here because this area has a high concentration of moose but the cabin I wanted had a 3 night minimum.

Tip: Just 10 mins north of Paradise lies the historic WhiteFish Point Light Station, the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior along with the Great Lakes Shipwreck museum and the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory.

Paradise holds the title as Michigan’s wild blueberry capital so every August the town holds a Wild blueberry festival.

The town also has a logging museum that you can visit. It features vintage tools, a recreated logging camp and live demonstrations.

Tip: For best restaurants in Paradise, try the Berry Patch UP North Diner, Brown’s Fish House or the Wheelhouse Diner.

If you stay in Sault Ste Marie, make sure you book a hotel in the right country as one is located in the US and the other is across the bridge in Canada.

Arriving to Sault St Marie, Michigan.

This town is so cute!

Arriving to our hotel, the Lockview Motel.

There were very few hotel options in this area and the Lockview was perfectly situated near the historic Soo Locks so that’s one reason I booked this hotel.

After getting parked, I headed inside to check in.

A map of Sault Ste Marie

After getting checked in, we headed to our little cottage.

Our room had two queen beds, a sitting area, and a small bathroom.

It was an older property but it was clean and they had kept it up so we were fine with it.

Read reviews here

If you stay here, you get a 10% discount if you eat at the restaurant next door called, Lockview Restaurant.

We were hungry so we didn’t care where we ate at…..we walked next door to the restaurant and got seated right away.

The restaurant has been opened since 1945.

It was really big on the inside and had a second floor as well.

We took a few minutes to look over the menu.

I came so close to ordering the popular U.P Pastie because I told my hubby I had read about them during my research. The pasties are dough that has been filled with ground beef, pork and vegetables and then baked to a golden brown.

My hubby convinced me not to order it since I could get those anywhere so we both ended up ordering the Lake Superior Whitefish dinner.

The whitefish comes from Lake Superior and is bought fresh each day from a local fisherman.

We also ordered a side of the cheese curds.

The food and the service were excellent!

Read reviews here & Click here for things to see/do in Sault Ste Marie

After dinner, we walked across the street to the Canal Park to see the historic Soo Locks.

Shots of the cute town

Click here for historic homes you can see in this area

The park is free to visit but we had to be checked by a security guard before we could enter….she even had to look in my purse.

Near the entrance, they had these cool replicas of the locks.

The Soo Locks are a series of parallel locks that enable ships to avoid the treacherous rapids (a 21 ft drop) on the St. Mary’s River — allowing for safe passage.

The Locks have been operating since 1855.

These incredible locks connect Lake Superior and Lake Huron, allowing massive freighters to safely bypass the 21 foot drop in the St. Mary’s River.

The Soo Locks are vital to the US economy, moving 86 million tons of cargo annually, including 95% of the nation’s iron ore. The locks help facilitate navigation for around 10,000 vessels annually, except during the winter closure when maintenance takes place which is Jan. 15 – March 25th.

During World War II, the locks were especially critical – transporting 90% of the country’s iron ore between 1941 and 1943.

The locks were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966.

They are managed by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

There is a visitor center located here and it’s opened from May through October….it was closed by the time we arrived.

Tip: Every year on the last Friday in June, the public gains rare access to walk between the MacArthur and Poe Locks, offering unmatched up-close experiences….we missed it by 2 days!!

You can take a boat tour that lets you cruise alongside passing freighters while guides share tales of the lock’s past and present.

Tip: A massive new lock is under construction and should be open by 2030.

Walking the grounds of the park

There is a very nice observation deck that has 2-3 levels where you can view the locks.

It gave you great views!

You can also call this number and see when the next ship will be going through the locks….we asked a park ranger and he said it would be midnight so we had to pass on that! 😉

In this picture you can see where the water is lower….

How does a 1000 ft ship fit through this?!

Read reviews here 

After checking out the locks, we decided to walk around the cute little town.

It was full of old, colorful buildings.

Read the history of the town here

We spotted Bigfoot and my hubby insisted on having his picture with him! 😉

We spotted this cute mural on the side of a building and of course, since my shirt matched the flowers, I had to have my picture taken in front of it. 🙂

We decided to walk to the end of town and see the Sault Ste. Marie International bridge.

The bridge was opened in 1962 and sees an average of 7-10k vehicles crossing this border bridge every day.

This is the bridge you would drive to cross over into Canada….the town across the bridge in Canada is also named, Sault Ste Marie.

The sun was setting so it made for some nice shots.

As we were walking back to our hotel, we spotted another Bigfoot. 😉

We spotted this old, historic VFW.

Once we were back at our hotel, I spotted the old historic sign that used to sit in front of the hotel so I had to have my picture with the sign! They should have never removed this sign…it’s so cool!

I think the hotel first opened in the late 60’s or around 1970.

Walking to our cabin

After making it back to our room, we called it a night!

Read reviews for our hotel, here

Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned for Day 6!

Here’s a shot of my itinerary….as you can see, we had more things on the list that we never got to.

I’m going to go back to my other posts that I’ve already published and add my itinerary to those days as well so you can see what our itinerary actually looked like!