Been to the Lake Michigan side a few times, but always worth seeing again.
Saturday, August 26th, 2023
Starting with a bakery in rural Stevensville in southern Michigan.
Then up through St. Joseph and Benton Harbor to where the Kalamazoo River meets the Kalamazoo Lake in Saugatuck.
Saugatuck is a tots adorable town.
That has a soda fountain dating to 1913. Had a Root Beer Shake.
A most enchanting town to stroll.
Holland plays up its namesake and attracts a lot of visitors.
The well appointed main drag features boutiques, restaurants, bakeries and ripples of time.
Up to Leelanau Peninsula first for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Didn't see any sleeping bears.
Further up Leelanau is a town I've always fondly remembered.
Fishtown in Leland trades it ramshackle past for tourists.
What was once the fish port is now t-shirt shops and delis.
Down to Traverse City, third time here.
Great dinner of Street Corn and Tacos (shrimp, carne asada, al pastor and pollo).
Third time in Charlevoix because:
Sunday, August 27th, 2023
Harbor Springs made it on my favorite towns list in 2013.
There is a marina.
These shacks over the marina.
And a tidy town begging for relaxing.
Central Street is Mackinaw City's main drag.
Corned Beef Hash at Darrow's.
Always get excited about this engineering marvel.
It's 5 miles long.
From St. Ignace jumped on a ferry.
That took the long route to go under Mighty Mac.
Mackinac Island has been a retreat since the late 1800s.
The bustle of main street.
Strolling along the water.
Grand Hotel opened in 1887.
Just my 2nd time here, just mesmerized to imagine the rich history.
Imagine the Audubon Room back in the day.
Or dancing in the Terrace Room to the orchestra.
Trying to act dignified. Failed.
Main Dining Room serving guests for generations.
World's Longest Porch
Cupola with views of the island and straits.
Back in town on Market Street that was for fur trading in the 1700s.
Then back to Main.
Back in St. Ignace to have a Pasty. Have had these staples for miners all across the Upper Peninsula.
Few hours driving across the UP. Been there. Done that.
See the old Ben Franklin in Manistique?!
Love places like this.
1949. Awesome. And they make hamburger patties to order with freshly ground beef.
