Day 7: More perfect finds

It would seem our luck has returned

(although you could argue it never really left--

it's all about perspective).

There were 2 different KOAs near South Haven.

Mom chose the one closest to Indiana Dunes.

Boy, was it a great choice!

There were huge trees and we could finally hang our hammocks

Now we're camping!

There was a jump pillow,

huge pool,

a great coffee shop,

some cool games (this is carpetball)

and even a donkey for the kids

We were going to chill at the KOA 

and order Hunt's Bros pizza

but seeing a sunset over Lake Michigan

is still on our list.

Turns out Silver Beach,

one of the iconic Lake Michigan beaches,

is not far from our KOA.

Even cooler,

Silver Beach Pizza,

a pizza shop in a converted Amtrak station,

is walking distance from there.

This is all shaping up nicely... 

Pizza and beer

and a sunset.

and a swim

We definitely need a family picture now

But then the sunset got better

so we needed one more.

We played catch,

found a few more Petoskey stones,

swam,

and soaked it all in

We finally got our Michigan sunset

and a campfire to go with it

Perfect ending.

Day 6: Bikes only--no cars allowed!

When we started talking about a trip to Northern Michigan,

everyone said we needed to check out Mackinac Island.

It was supposed to rain again today,

but we took our chances.

 Mom booked us on the fastest ferry to the island

and away we went!

We got to cruise under the Mackinac Bridge,

one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.

Mom and Dad had considered staying on the other side of it

in St. Ignace

but once they saw the bumper-to-bumper traffic on the bridge,

they were glad we were in Petosky

on the other side.

Family pic

Underneath

and now onward to Mackinac!

We got a nice view of the Stanley Hotel

which is this really fancy hotel on the island

known for its HUGE front porch

and fancy luncheon--

girls can't even wear pants in the evenings!

We carted our bikes all the way from Missouri

because there are no cars allowed on the island!

(ok, there are 3--we'll tell you about them another time).

We were psyched to ride M-185,

the only highway in the country

that cars aren't allowed on.

It circles the island for a lovely 8 mile ride.

Totally on our bucket list.

Along the highway,

we stopped to see the sites.

This is Arch Rock from the top

and from the bottom.

Mom randomly saw a good friend from med school here.

Small world!

We continued around the island

with awesome views of Lake Michigan

and Lake Huron.

We needed a family picture at the British Landing

and Devil's Kitchen

After our ride all the way around,

we stopped back in town for 

some shopping and lunch.

We tried out the Seabiscuit Cafe

which was a cute little pub right on the main drag.

Mackinac Island is known for its fudge

(there are ice creams that brag about it).

We couldn't decide which place to buy from

so we went on a little fudge tasting tour.

We tried Ryba's, Joann's and Sander's

(like our favorite Costco caramels!).

We inadvertently missed the original--

Murdick's--so I guess we'll have to go back.

We decided Joann's was our favorite,

both for the flavors

and all the free samples they kept giving us.

When we couldn't eat any more,

it was time to ride some more.

I was really excited to see the forts on the island.

Turns out, Mackinac was a really important part

of Native American history

and a part of the Revolutionary War and War of 1812.

However,

despite refueling on enough sugar for an army,

Tucker was NOT in the mood for more biking.

It took everything they had

for Mom and Dad to get him to the top of the island.

Here we are at the beginning of the fort tour...

...we'll skip the ugly middle...

and here we are at the top of the island

at Fort Holmes

You can see why they build a fort up here--

you can see for miles in all directions,

all the way to the mainland

We took in the Stanley from the street

and heard them shoot off the cannons at Fort Mackinac.

I think we did just about everything

there is to do on the Island.

It's a beautiful island!

(and the rain stayed away again!)

Full of Michigan charm

Day 5: Beaches and Beers in Petosky

Today was a moving day.

Mom originally booked us at the Petosky KOA

but it has since become the Petosky Jellystone.

A new brand of parks to us!

Turns out, it was awesome.

Pickleball courts, all sorts of kids activities,

and some awesome cabins with double-decker decks.

We might have to come back here!

Mom, being Mom,

was determined to make the most out of our day.

So on the road,

she and Dad made a plan.

Turns out our campsite

was just a short ride to the beach.

And there's a BREWERY on the way.

It's like it was meant to be.

So we had lunch

and set out on an amazingly well-maintained bike trail

to land at Petosky State Park.

The weather was perfect.

We could have dug all day.

Jack was relentless.

He LOVES building in the sand.

We splashed and played

and dug

and Mom and Dad spent hours looking for

Petosky stones.

Shockingly, MOM found 3 or 4 little ones

(but forgot the picture--ask her to see them!)

Dad was skunked.

That never happens.

We definitely didn't want to go,

but our brewery is closing soon

so we stopped for one last picture

and one last look at the lake

before we set out for the brewery.

Mom and Dad still couldn't believe

we stumbled upon

this path, this beach, and this restaurant

right next to our camp.

It was a lovely night

for a ride

Mom was so excited to try out all her new bike lights

Not bad for a day planned on the fly!

Day 4: All the Dunes of Sleeping Bear

Check out our blue skies!

Looks like a great day

to take on some sand dunes

in Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore.

Our first hike, The Dune Climb,

 was rated "hard" by All Trails.

We aren't afraid.

but that first dune was a doozy!

We're up for it!

We sprinted right up

and couldn't believe the view

only a mile or so into our hike

but turns out there were lots of ups and downs to go

The sand was hard work

but you don't get to hike barefoot very often

We ran up

and down

and before we knew it,

we were at the lakeshore

and it was breathtaking

I mean, wow.

We spent hours playing in the water

and digging in the sand

Definitely a spot

worth a family picture

We hiked the 2 miles back

with Glen Lake in view,

glad we had lunch in the truck.

Now we just need a lunch spot...

I think this will work!

Mostly the Littles

(but maybe a bit of all of us)

were rather grumpy about any more hiking.

We wanted to swim back at the KOA.

But Mom and Dad got us going on the short, 

much less sandy hike

out to Pyramid Point.

Turns out we were mostly hangry.

We were better after this amazing stop for lunch.

We headed to the Ranger Station

for our important swearing in

(gotta love a Junior Ranger badge!)

Mom and Dad let us have Shipwreck ice cream BEFORE dinner,

let us swim until dark,

and then fed us dinner while we watched our new favorite show,

South Park.

Then there was this sunset

We may have not had our sailboat sunset,

but Michigan is otherwise definitely not disappointing.