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.

Midwestern Towns - Lake Michigan Area

I've fallen for those lovely midwestern towns. Charming. Quaint. Clean. Colorful. Friendly. Welcoming. What more could you ask for? Maybe if I had to live in one during the wintertime, I'd have a different opinion. But for now, I'll remain a big fan of midwestern towns. 

On our circle trip around Lake Michigan, we visited so many small towns that I literally began to lose track of them. Most were situated along the shores of Lake Michigan, but others were in Upper Michigan nestled along the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Huron. I didn't take photos of all, and we weren't able to spend a lot of time in every place that we drove through. There is, of course, unfortunately always a schedule to adhere to. 

Here are a few shots from the towns we strolled around in and got to know a bit better. I'll spare you more words on how impressed I am with this whole Great Lakes region. Just take a look for yourself. 

St. Joseph is known for its fun beach attractions, colorful stores, and delicious fudge... 

 Holland is known for its Dutch heritage, Tulip Time Festival, and beautiful Hope College...

 Manistee is known for its association with the salt industry and its great fishing...

 Arcadia is known for its many summer homes...

 Suttons Bay is known for having no fast-food restaurants, stop lights, or parking meters...

 Fishtown is known for its preservation of the Great Lakes maritime culture and history...

 Traverse City is known for its abundant cherry harvests, picturesque wineries, and outdoor activities...

 Charlevoix is known for having the best natural harbor on Lake Michigan...

Marquette, on the shores of Lake Superior, is known for its ore shipping and in 2012 was listed as one of the top ten best places to retire...

Green Bay, Wisconsin, is known for its devoted fans of the Green Bay Packers...

 Milwaukee is known - of course - for its breweries and isn't really a "small town"...

My favorite towns were Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs; unfortunately, I didn't photograph the latter two. I'll just have to go back to those! Coming next: Small town houses in the Midwest.