We had a week off of work and decided to head up to northern michigan to see the sights! The first day we went up the coast to the sleeping bear dunes, and on the way there saw this cool lighthouse. Apparently Michigan has the most lighthouses of any state. Cool!
Here are some pictures near the sleeping bear dunes. On the top right picture notice the huge dunes in the distant shoreline. That was from several miles away. They were huge! We then proceeded to the dunes and to the top of one of them.....
So you cant really tell how big those dunes are, but it was a LONG ways down to the water from the lookout point at the top of the dunes. Apparently people get stuck down there all the time after going to the bottom and not being able to hike back up. They say its 1 minute to get down and 2 hours to get back up. If you get stuck they charge you a bunch of money when they call the coast guard to come and get you.
Maddy looks like she is photo-bombing the top left picture. haha
More dunes
Love my girls!
After the trip to the dunes we headed to traverse city to spend the night, afterwhich we went exploring on a peninsula nearby where we found this lighthouse. We love Maddy's smile in that picture. Also, the one where it looks like the lion king pose is me throwing maddy in the air, apparently she did not leave my hands as much as I thought lol.
Afterwards we went on a drive through the Tunnel of trees, a 30ish mile stretch of road along the coast through tons of trees and beautiful houses. it was so fun! Saw this golf course near the start, along with several great beach stops.
After that, we headed up to Mackinaw City Mi, where Maddy Tried her first french fries, which she sort of liked, but mostly liked throwing them on the floor.
In the next pictures, you can see the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island from our hotel at Mackinaw City. The view of the bridge was also out our hotel window.
Our hotel was also right next to the lighthouse. Cool!
More Pictures from Mackinaw City.
On our way to the boat to the island we saw a Delorean, the back to the future car! Maddy and I had to snap a picture....
The bridge at night from our hotel window
The ferry we took brought us under the bridge. Cool! The bridge, when it was built was the longest bridge inthe world! Now it is te 16th longest suspension bridge.....
Passed a lighthouse on Round Island near Mackinac Island
The Grand Hotel from the Ferry! Pretty!
On the Boat.. We kept getting sprayed by water, so Caitlin snugged up her hood to not get wet! Poor Maddy didnt have anything....except for all of dad and his jacket to block the spray!
The Island was great, we took a carriage tour sinc ethere are no cars allowed on the island. The horses made it feel quaint, but also made everywhere smell like horse poop.
Here we are outside fort Mackinac, involved in the Revolutionary and the war of 1812. Cool! Also, Maddy Chillin by the street and Caity feeding Maddy outside the fort.
Carriage outside the grand hotel, and pictures of the Main Street!
The Arch rock was really pretty, the water on the other side was so clear and blue!
The path through the trees was apparently the firing range in the old days.
More pictures of the Island from Arch Rock
It was a perfect day that day! Weather nice and sunny, just a tad chilly
Views from atop the island
Inside the Fort, the long building is the barracks.
Views of the coastline
More views from atop the fort
Love our little family!
Maddy firing a cannon! Watch out below!
Inside the Grand Hotel. Very pretty, very interesting color schemes.
After sensory overload in the interior, we had to sit on the famous rocking chairs on the porch. Maddy is showing us how cool it is to grab your foot. I dont think I can do that!
Maddy playing on the porch, and the view from the porch. Love it
More Grand Hotel
More Grand Hotel, What is with the crappy painting on the bottom left? It is painted only in the middle, a wave....and the rest is blank? I dont get it.
After the amazing day at Mackinac Island, we took the road north up to Sault Ste Marie, on the Canadian border, and saw the Soo Locks, which is on the St Marys river between Lake Superior and Huron, so we got to see all the big ships pass through the lock. those boats are so big! then they pump the water in or out to raise or lower the boat. Apparently there is a 21 foot difference between the two lakes.
More pictures of the locks, we saw a boat tour come through several times, it was fun to see the people on board dissapear below the edge.
After the Soo Locks, we went to Tahquamenon falls, which had upper and lower falls. The upper falls were much more impressive, but it was a fun hike to see the lower falls.
We saw some color change in the upper peninsula of Michigan,
The water is brown and foamy, reminds me of a root beer float. Yum!
Caitlin at the falls.My Wife is so beautiful!
Ah there is that brown water. Ice cream anyone?
Maddys got special treatment! Pushed or held everywhere. What a life
After we went to the falls we headed up to whitefish point and saw the lighthouse there, and the shore of Lake Superior. Apparently they have had 300+ shipwrecks here, more than anywhere else in the lakes, due to the weather, congestion, etc. This lighthouse is still operational under remote control from Sault Ste Marie.
The Whitefish lighthouse. WE have to do separate pics because maddy cant work the camera yet haha
Fall Colors in the upper Peninsula. I wish we could have waited a few weeks to see more color change, but it is what it is.
Check out the hotdog on that restaurant!
After we got back, we went to the Circus! We got free tickets from my employer, and it was so much fun! Maddy Loved dancing to the music, and even wore a hat for a while! Isnt she cute! The elephants were cool...
Anyways, we have had a great vacation, and recommend a visit to michigan to Everyone! Come visit us!
