Touring Northern Michigan

Beauty from Straits State Park

We left Minnesota and entered Wisconsin, in what seemed to be just a few minutes. Wisconson was pretty as we drove from east to west, but when we started the drive northward along Lake Michigan to the MI Upper Peninsula, it was simply beautiful. We were on a two lane peaceful road that was along the coast. Cherries were for sale here and there, some advertised "not washed" which seemed odd. I found out they don't last as long once washed, but people like to buy them and eat along the drive. I bought light colored washed cherries, I later discovered were used for maraschino cherries. Yum.

Our destination was St. Ignace, a nice, small town on the northern side of the Mackinac bridge which connects the UP to the rest of MI. To the east is Lake Huron, and to the west is Lake Michigan. Later in the week we saw an edge of Lake Superior. I should have thought of this trip as the Great Lakes trip, as we saw all of them, except Lake Ontario. I feel another trip in my future.

So close to the water

Months ago I made reservations at Straits State Park in St Ignace. You never know whether or not the campground you reserve is a really nice place, or, whether you'll be disappointed. Reviews are available, but it still feels like making blind decisions. Well, Straits was beautiful, clean, and filled with families having a great time. We had a great site where we could see Lake Michigan from our little house. We hit the jackpot! Yay!

Pasty fun

We spent a day in St Ignace going to little shops and talking to the locals. We bought a bag of coupons from a nice woman who owed a neat kitchen store. This led us to a local diner were we ate a pasty, that's pasty with a short "a". The closest thing to a pasty we've ever eaten is an empanada. My step-sister, who lived in MI for years said we had to try them. Pretty good, but hold the gravy.

Scene from Mackinac Island

The next day we were back to St Ignace to board another ferry (and used our buy one get one coupon from our bag of coups), without the car, and went to Mackinac Island. Sophie was free, only people pay. The island was a tourist destination. No cars are allowed, and only bikes, horses, and feet are permitted means of transportation. It reminded me of Cape May, but without cars. We did see a UPS truck, hmmmm. We walked for several miles and had a great day.

On a whim we drove to Sault St Marie on the U.S. side. After googling around I discovered there was a set of locks, the SOO Locks, allowing ships to go back and forth from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Superior. We watched a ship go through the locks, as the ship lowered when it slowly moved through the Lock. "Great Republic" was on the side and back, but "Deleware" on the back in little letters. Kind of odd.

SOO Locks

Next up was Traverse City, a town south of St Ignace, but still in northern MI. We camped at another state park, the park was conveniently located, and near a great Lake Michigan beach. The water is so clean---Caribbean clean. The park needed TLC, but was located in the middle of the action so we can't really complain. There was so much to do from this home base. Sophie swam in open water for the first time ever. She loved it! We visited a remodeled asylum, where treatment was based on the theory that exposure to the nature helped patients with mental illness. The asylum was converted into little shops and restaurants----dogs were allowed, Sophie was a good pooch. Also on the campus were private residences and an assisted living facility. Down the street from the campground was a drive-in restaurant with carhops, which was a hoot. We met a couple from Ohio we enjoyed so much. Our new friends, Michelle and Brian, are now part of our Alto group, so we will remain in touch.

Loooong shadow from northern setting sun

I had been reading about things to do in the area, and came across the Lake Leelenau drive. The drive was so beautiful along the Lake Leelanau shore. Finally we saw orchards for all those cherries sold along the road. Why oh why do the cherries at home come from Washington State?

There was a little town, Suttons Bay just prior to the drive around Lake Leelenau. We had lunch there at a dog friendly restaurant--- the waiter was kind enough to bring Sophie an apple. How nice.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

The highlight of our stay in Traverse City was a trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore. I scoped out this park years ago, but it was so far away from home, I thought I'd never go there. But here we were. Entering the park, we went through a covered bridge, and entered a lush woods for several miles. The drive was so refreshing, but then came the dunes and the desert, quite a change. Seemed pretty weird to see a dessert in MI. We walked on a loop that was all desert until the trail markers stopped. We turned around and headed back to the car. The trip ended up being twice as long as we thought, over three miles, as the day kept getting warmer and warmer and the sand kept getting hotter and hotter.

When we first saw THE Dune, I just couldn't believe how steep it was. The people seemed to roll down to Lake Michigan, and crawl like ants back up. There were warnings that a fee was charged to rescue climbers. At the end of the downhill, climbers/rollers could take a dip in the lake. On the uphill crawl, nothing refreshing, not even a water fountain. We didn't do the Dune! It was humid, 88 degrees, and besides we knew we would need to be rescued. Oh and the sand was soooo hot. But there were those determined individuals who did it. Their nervous parents or spouses or friends stood at the top waiting for their person to make it. Some had binoculars to get a closer look. Fun to watch, awesome to see the Dune.

The Dune

 

The rest of the trip was pretty ho hum, just driving back home. We'd been gone for 3 weeks, and honestly if we didn't have commitments we would have enjoyed traveling to more places. But there is a next trip already scheduled, so more places, more things to see and do.

Proud Grandpa and Britta after our trip

Just before the end of the trip we got the news that our seventh grandchild was born! Britta Davis. Britta is the third child for Natalie and Jimmy. Congratulations, and welcome Britta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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