Mack-in-what?

Mackinac Island and the UP (Upper Peninsula)

July 11 to 15

After our adventures with camping in northern Wisconsin, we decided to hit the road and go on to Mackinac a day early.  So, with everyone else sleeping, I left the beautiful Camp Walmart and headed east - but not before some much needed coffee.  

My reward for a night of almost sleep was a cup of surprisingly good coffee from the grocery next door.  No, there wasn't a Starbucks anywhere near.  That's okay. 

Arriving in the Mackinac area, we set up camp and started enjoying the cool evenings and all there is to see.  The kids?  They wanted to know about important things like - 

"Can we go wade in the water?"

                                             "When can we ride our bikes?"   and the perennial -  

                                                                                                         "Is there a playground to play on?"

Sunset on our first night in town.

Our view of the bridge from the campground.

A fossil stone - see the shell imprints?

 Getting ready for our ferry ride to the island. 


And we're off!

 Annie wasn't so sure she liked this ride!

 Our first view of the Harbor.

Fort Mackinac on the hill overlooking town and the harbor.  This fort was built by the British during the American Revolution.

Much of the island has undergone extensive historical preservation and restoration; as a result, the entire island is listed as a National Historic Landmark. More than 80 percent of the island is preserved as Mackinac Island State Park.

It is well known for its numerous cultural events; its wide variety of architectural styles, including the famous Victorian Grand Hotel; its fudge; and its ban on almost all motor vehicles. There are three primary modes of transportation on the island.

Horse drawn carriage. Bicycle. And Foot power.

Street scenes from the village.

The island is approximately 3.8 square miles.  Its eight miles to rid all the way around.  On our first attempt to ride around the island, I had all four grand kids and the two youngest gave out at about the three-mile mark.  I tried to convince them that we were only one mile from being half-way, but they would have nothing to do with it.  We turned around and went back three miles.  Oh well.  

Donna, Emi, and Lizzie (and Annie) decided to go back to the campground earlier that we did.  Justin, Abi, and I decided to stay for a while and take a later ferry back.  Then we decided that we WOULD ride all the way around the island.  And we did.  So we ended up riding a little over 14 miles!

Some scenes from our ride.






These houses are on the 20% of the island that are not state park!

My cohorts in fun!


Our reward for staying and taking the later ferry.



Next up - the Shipwreck Museum and the Edmund Fitzgerald.......just as soon as my legs recover from that ride!