Traveling to Mackinac Island

While in high school, my sister and I were introduced to travel when we went with our parents across the Mackinac Bridge. Besides the bridge, one of the sites I especially remember was stopping to see Castle Rock. There were so many steps and we walked up all of the steps and, of course, walked down all of them too. I have never forgotten that. It was so much fun. That trip started my love for traveling. Visiting Mackinac Island was something I dreamed of doing for a long, long time.

It was late July 2017 when my dream was about to come true. John parked our vehicle in the parking lot for passengers taking the Starline Ferry, and we gathered Angel and our things with us. He loves to travel too and is well-behaved. We boarded a shuttle bus, but on the way to the ferry, it broke down. Everyone got out and walked the rest of the way to the ferry. The first building that I took a photo of was the Mackinac City Hall, followed by The Gateway to Mackinac Island, and The Dixie Saloon. (Click on any of the photos to enlarge them and escape to return to the blog.)

Mackinac City Hall

The Gateway to Mackinac Island

The Dixie Saloon  

Angel is riding on the Star Line ferry with us.

Mackinac Bridge to our left with the spray from our ferry boat

Ferry Boat Service

It was the late 1800s when ferry boats first brought tourists to Mackinac Island. The early wood-hulled boats only made a few trips a day and took up to an hour to cross the Straits of Mackinac. Today there are three companies who provide ferry service.  In 1878 Arnold Transit Line launched their service. Shepler's started in 1945, and Star Line joined them in 1978. High speed and efficient service allows these ferry lines to make dozens of trips to the island daily.

Ferry Boat Service

Five sail boats raced up Lake Michigan from Chicago to Mackinac Island in 1898. This inaugurated the now annual longest freshwater sailing race in the world. The Port Huron to Mackinac race on Lake Huron began in 1924 providing racers another challenging event.

The Mackinac Races

As we approached the island, I took a picture of the fort through the open window of the ferry.

The Fort through the open window of the ferry 

The Candymaker Store window was very tempting after we got on the island.

 Candymaker store window

Marquette Park is Mackinac Island State Park

Mackinac Island State Park 

The Missionary Bark Chapel is near the foot of the walkway up to the Fort.

Missionary Bark Chapel with walkway to fort behind it

In my next post, I will post more pictures of the fort and of our self-guided tour of Mackinac Island. If you would like to be notified when it posts, please add your email by going to the bottom of the post to click on web version. Be sure to go to your email to confirm that you want to receive the notification.

Also if you shop online, I will appreciate your using my links as I will make a little and it will not cost you any more.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I have many photos from Mackinac Island, but will divide them into multiple posts for your enjoyment.

Feel free to leave comments in the space below.

This is my last post for 2019, so best wishes to everyone reading for a Happy New Year filled with love and that you enjoy a year of good health, prosperity and be safe.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

After a brief visit with my sister, we headed north toward Traverse City, Michigan. A review of the photos in my archives has reminded me that there are multiple opportunities for many more posts about new places not yet touched on in this blog.

Sleeping Bear Dunes and the National Lakeshore is along the west coast of the state of Michigan with pretty views of Lake Michigan along the route. It is a very scenic drive along the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

Scenic View along Lake Michigan

Pretty scenery ahead

More views of Lake Michigan

Tables for picnics were found along the way compliments of the State of Michigan

We stayed in one of the Campgrounds in Sleeping Bear Dunes.

A beautiful camping site with picnic table where we stayed

Thr Firewood Express trailer full of wood close to camping

Angel resting so he will be ready for a hike

There is a legendary story about a mother bear and her two cubs who found themselves in a forest fire in Wisconsin. She, followed by her two cubs, ran into the water. As the legend goes, the Cubs became two of the islands and the mother who waited for their return became the sleeping bear dune.

One day we hiked a trail to an early cabin.  A board walk that wandered through the preserve via a nature trail was pretty and scenic. It also ran along the water's edge.

Front of cabin

Rear of cabin

Board walk trail through nature preserve

Along water's edge

Angel enjoying his walk with us

There is also a circular drive that shows off multiple points of the dunes in this area with beautiful overlooks.

600 ft - many sites had a number for reference 

Some places of the dunes overlooked Lake Michigan

Large dune which people can climb

Beautiful greenery

More scenery of water and dunes

Sand of a different variety

Beautiful areas of sand in which to play 

Upon leaving the area, we headed further north toward Mackinac. At the edge of Mackinac, we turned off the main road on to a paved road that we also eventually turned off of that led us to some spaces numbered for camping where we boondocked for several nights.

John and Angel checking out our campsite

Lots of shade trees and flat land, 

One last walk before we exit the camping area

Curvy and level road in and out 

Upon leaving there,  we went to Mackinac and parked in the lot designated for visitors taking the ferry. In the next post we and Angel take the Starline Ferry to Mackinac Island for the day

Thank you for visiting my blog. Your comments are welcome in the space below.

If you shop online, I thank you for your consideration in using my links, as I make a little bit when  people do and it does not cost you any more.

Fun Fishing Day with Angel's New Bud, Brad at Van Trekker ...

Summer was already upon us when we decided to visit Iowa. We had heard there are a lot of things to see and do in Iowa. In fact, some of my previous posts talk about one-stop destinations that are interesting places to see in Iowa.

Brad and John have been blogging buddies for quite some time.

Blogging buddies, John and Brad

We headed over to Annamosa, Iowa, hoping to visit with Brad at Van Trekker.While there, he invited us to spend time with him as he fished for catfish. He is a fisherman at heart and an avid blogger who writes about his travels and fishing, and he also shares some awesome recipes. The day we joined him fishing we met and visited with another buddy, Jim and also Steve.

Brad showing the nice catfish catch that day

Occupants of the Pond

Ducks swimming in the pond

Closer view of swimmers in the pond

More ducks

Lone duck

Ducks in the grasses near pond

We had a very fun day hanging out with him and his friends and having a cookout at one of Brad's favorite fishing spots. It was a great day to be out of doors. Brad snagged two catfish that day as we enjoyed watching the ducks on the pond and a crop duster making passes over the nearby fields.

Cooking out

John, Brad, and Jim ready for chow

Angel helping with the griddle

and clean-up

Angel made a new friend!

The Crop Duster

Soon we realized we had a crop duster flying over nearby fields.

Crop Duster

The next photo I took of the crop dusting plane looks like the plane is in the middle of a cloud shaped like an airplane. How unique is that!

Unique photo shows crop dusting plane in a white plane cloud.

Everyone had a relaxing day, even our baby, Angel. He does not normally hold still for any photo, let alone a close-up.

A happy puppy!

There were more places to visit than we had time to see. Some day it would be fun to check out the Farm Toy Museum near Field of Dreams.

Also, having reinstated our Amazon links, if you will shop at Amazon this holiday season or in the future, please visit through our affiliate links. We get a little commission that way -- and you do not pay any extra. Thank you for using our links.

If you would like to be notified when the next post with more travels in Michigan publishes, put your email address in the appropriate box at the top right of this blog. If you are viewing this post on your phone, you will need to go to the bottom of this post and click on view the web version to view the box at the top right where you can enter your email address.  Be sure to go to your email inbox and confirm your request, so you receive notification.

If you would like to visit Brad's latest post, you can find it at:http://vantrekker.com/2019/12/08/between-thanksgiving-and-christmas/