More Michigan!

Michigan is such a great state, isn't it?  We decided to take advantage of a free couple of days and explore a little bit more.

First stop: Lansing and the Capitol building.

The stars at the very top are the size of a dinner plate!

We loved the intricate details of the decor.

Furniture was all moved around because of renovations.

Even the Capitol building needs to have its carpet replaced!

inside detail of the door hinges

courtroom with furniture stuffed into it

After our quick tour of Lansing, we headed northwest to Grand Haven on Lake Michigan.

Even cloudy skies can't stop this bunch from having fun!

Grand Haven has a quaint trolley that drove us around the city, highlighting interesting facts.  We learned that several of the homes were mail-ordered from Sears & Roebuck.

Another beach in Grand Haven.

We spied on this beach exercise class.  Hey, ladies, if you need another workout, I've got some firewood that needs chopping!

It happened to be the week of the Coast Guard Festival.

We toured one of the ships and learned its main purpose was to break up ice in the Great Lakes.

We also drove in to Grand Rapids and visited the Frederick Meijer Garden and Sculpture Park.  Wow, those are some serious gardens.

There seemed to be artwork everywhere, even on the ceiling of the museum cafe!

Here we are, enjoying some ice cream at Pfaff's Pharmacy in Grand Haven, one of the oldest soda fountains around.

Back to the beach!

On our way back home, we stopped in downtown Grand Rapids, this time to discover some murals, a war memorial, and the local library.

When the power of love overcomes the love for power, there will be peace.

Oh, Michigan, there's so much to see!

Must. See. Michigan.

This summer, I've been overcome with the feeling that my family needs to get out and explore a bit of our great state.  Rumor has it that my older child will be studying Michigan history this year, so I thought it best that her experience include more than just a couple of trips on Detroit's People Mover and a dip in one of the many Long Lakes.

summer, 2011

Long Lake, near Alpena, MI, July 2012

So we piled in the car and headed north.

First stop, Suttons Bay to see my almost-93-year-old grandmother.  She is Pure Michigan, having left the state only once (to my knowledge) for a grandson's wedding in St. Louis about 15 years ago.  Having been an artist in her earlier years, we thought it would be fun for her to participate in the scheduled craft activity.  She mostly watched

as did my older daughter and Music Man.

These hands have created and cared for so much and so many over the years, but that day, they were still.

After that, we headed to Glen Arbor and the Sleeping Bear Dunes.  Here we are on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.

Who can resist dipping your feet in Lake Michigan?

The next morning, there happened to be a 5K race, so Music Man suited up and joined in.  Luckily, he was one of the few wearing neon orange, so he was easy to spot!

The start and finish lines were at the Cherry Republic, a store devoted to all things cherry.

In the afternoon, we climbed the dunes.  The sand!  The breeze!  The views!  This is Michigan.

We also visited long lost relatives for a little farm tour and dinner at their sweet home in Northport.  Cousins!  Second cousins!  Horses!  Rabbits!  Bantam chickens!  Stop action movies!  Lasagna!  Acres of cherry trees!  This is Michigan.

Next on the itinerary was Mackinac Island, so we drove to Mackinaw City, caught the ferry to the island, and explored the downtown.  Within minutes, we were seeing fudge being made and strolling through the public library.

We decided to rent tandem bikes and spent about an hour training ourselves to maneuver them.

Our efforts paid off and we cruised around the island, viewing the water, the trees, the Grand Hotel, the Governor's House, the hills, the horses, the Arch Rock, the fort, and the little neighborhoods.  This is Michigan.

Tired and happy, we ate a fun dinner, and carried Mackinac Island Fudge ice cream cones onto the ferry towards the mainland.

photo by Josi, age 7

We spent the night in Cheboygan and explored a bit of Lake Huron's shoreline before driving back downstate.  This is Michigan.

can you see the Mackinac Bridge?

We stopped for lunch in Gaylord and I heard myself asking the restaurant's hostess, "We're looking for something to do in the area, and I heard there is ... elk viewing."  "Yes, there is totally elk viewing!" she exclaimed and gave me directions.  It turns out there is a large herd of friendly elk and a few fallow deer a mile or two outside of downtown Gaylord.  Michigan safari!

We were glad to return home after such a fun and unique view of our state!