Taking the Scenic Route to Michigan

June 27-30, 2005

There are three ways to get to Michigan from where we live. The fastest way is south through Chicago, and around the southern end of Lake Michigan. It is also the most unpleasant way to get there. A second option is to take a ferry across Lake Michigan. The ferry ride is about 4 hours; we have heard that it is a very nice crossing but we have not yet tried it. The third way is to go north into the upper peninsula of Michigan and then take the Mackinac bridge across the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron to the lower peninsula.  We decided to go this way since it would give us a chance to see the northern parts of the lower peninsula.

Mackinac Island (pronounced "Mackinaw") is in the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. It was our first sightseeing stop on this scenic route to Michigan. The island has a permanent population of about 500 people, but several times that in the summer.

Mackinac Island has no motorized vehicles, except for fire and ambulance. You get around the island by bicycle or horse-drawn carriage. Most of the hotels, resorts, and B&Bs are at one end, so walking is also feasible, and rather pleasant.
 

The elegant hotel on the island is the Grand Hotel, which has an immense colonnaded porch overlooking the lake.
 

We had lunch at the Grand Hotel. They have an excellent buffet, especially the dessert table. It was also very pricey, but you only do it once. For dinner there is a dress code - jackets and ties for men. Fortunately, we didn't have those with us, so I didn't have to worry about springing for dinner. My guess is that, if you have to ask how much dinner costs, you can't afford it.
 

An unusual geologic feature on Mackinac Island is a natural rock arch 177 feet above the lake level. Look carefully and you can see bicyclists below on the roadway which goes around the island.
 

After Mackinac Island we followed the Lake Huron coast south. This lighthouse is in Tawas Point state park
 

Finally we arrived in Lapeer, where our grandchildren are living. Across the road from the house is a state game preserve that offered hiking trails for us to explore with our grandkids, Zack (on the left) and Alex (on the right).