Mackinac Island, Michigan

Welcome to charming Mackinac Island, one of our detours on our road trip around Lake Michigan. For those of you who don't know anything about this tiny island, well, it's very sweet and picturesque. Cars are not allowed, so the only way to get there is by boat or small aircraft. During the frozen winter months, you can get there by snowmobile - if you're brave enough. Once you're on the island, it's easy to get around by foot, bike, or horseback. You can also hire a horse-drawn carriage to transport you and your luggage around. It's very fun and although we only spent the day there, we saw quite a bit and soaked in the colorful atmosphere of this unique yet very popular getaway. I won't fill up this post with all kinds of information about Mackinac; you can find that online. But take a look at some of the photos I took. It is a very photogenic tourist spot!

Island view from the ferry...

Downtown, where all the shops and restaurants are...

Renting a bike is a good way to get around...

There are lots of fudge stores...

There's no shortage of inns and hotels...

The old fort...

The harbor...

The ferry terminal...

A carriage ride around the island...

The Grand Hotel...

The cemetery...

Arch Rock...

The clear waters of Lake Huron...

Heading back to our hotel in Mackinaw City...

Whether you go for a day or spend a few nights, I'm sure you won't be disappointed by this little island gem, which is now a National Historic Landmark. And did you know that the locals call us tourists "fudgies"? One more thing: do you know the difference between Mackinaw and Mackinac? Next post: Chicago.

Lake Michigan

Here are some shots from our wonderful road trip around Lake Michigan. We encircled the lake, but we also made some detours that took us to Lake Huron and Lake Superior. This trip was in June, and I was surprised at how cool it still was. Summer had not yet really arrived. The locals told us that spring had arrived quite late, so that was the reason why summer had not yet fully shown its face. Actually, it turned out to be a good thing for us as we avoided sweltering temperatures, uncomfortable humidity, and violent thunderstorms. Most importantly there were no bugs out! The only downside was that a lot of the summer flowers were not yet in bloom and, oh yes, the lake waters were way too cold to swim in. But in spite of all that, the views of the lake and shoreline were spectacular. 

The Michigan shores of Lake Michigan...

Lake Huron...

Lake Superior...

Lake Michigan from Wisconsin...

In my opinion, Lake Michigan is the most spectacular along the shores of Michigan. The beaches there are clean, white, and inviting whereas the western shoreline is quite rocky and not as tranquil. Wherever you view Lake Michigan from, though, it is a magnificent body of water; I highly recommend a trip to this natural wonder. Coming up next: magical Mackinac Island.