Fall Break: Part I

Fall Break Vacation:  Michigan

October 11, 2020

Our first day was driving, driving, driving.  We made it to our midway stop for lunch in Holland, MI.  In the distance you can see the windmill.  A beautiful hawk came and visited while we were eating.

Our next stop was Hartwick Pines State Park, where we got to walk among our first colorful leaves, and learn a bit about the history of the logging industry in Michigan.  The park rangers must have had a great tie decorating for Halloween;  skeletons, a grave yard, and even a sasquatch were seen.   An hour later, we made it to our cabin.  It was a lovely place to lay our head, and play games.

 October 12, 2020

Our first day of vacation was spent exploring some of the beauty around us.  We visited Oqueoc Falls, touched Lake Huron, walked along the Maritime Heritage Trail, and saw New Presque Isle Lighthouse.

 

Fall Break: Part 2

We spent the majority of Tuesday, November 13 on Mackinac Island.  It was a fun day.  We started with a ferry ride out to the island.  On the island we took a tour by horse drawn carriage (motorized vehicles are banned), explored Fort Mackinac, and bought some famous Mackinac fudge.

                The Grand Hotel                                      The Arch                      Mackinac Bridge from the Ferry

Panorama taken from Fort Mackinac

Panorama taken from the outlook at Arch Rock

Our horses were Jumbo, and Don.  They did a great job getting us up hills.

An example of the type of carriage we were in                  An island cemetery with leaves                  The cannon we saw shot at Fort Mackinac

Our drive to our next destination took us past a couple of lighthouses that we stopped to take a quick look.

Seul Choix Pointe Lighthouse,                                                     Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

Along with the lighthouses came beautiful Lake Michigan.  The drive also took us into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which has few people but gorgeous scenery.

 

Fall Break: Part 3

 Our small cabin was found by Indian Lake near Manistique, MI.  We spent the rest of the week there taking daily excursion to discover the U.P.

The first morning the  three youngest and I built a fort in the woods behind our cabin.  The rest of the week it was too wet and cold to really play in it, but it was fun making it.

Indian Lake

Just minutes away from our cabin in Palms Book State Park was Kitch-iti-kipi Springs.  This springs puts out 10,000 gallons a minute of 45 degree water gush up and fill a crystal clear lake.  It is about 200 feet across and 40 feet deep.  The depth is deceiving because of how clear it is.  The fist and reflection of trees were fun to watch.  The park has a glass bottom boat that you can take out across the Springs.

The reflection of the shoreline and trees was beautiful.

These pictures and video show where the water is coming out of the ground.  It was so interesting how the ground looked like it was undulating as the sand moved around.  40 feet down but so clear.  

After we visited Kitch-iti-kipi we visited the town of Manistique where we got some groceries, saw the Manistique Lighthouse, and walked along a very choppy Lake Michigan.