Posts

Showing posts from 2018

Hotel Saugatuck is a Hidden Gem

Image
  Lynn and I enjoyed our fresh breakfast of omelets and muffins. It was delivered right to our room at Hotel Saugatuck in Michigan so we got to stay in the comfortable bathrobes a bit longer. We wished we could stay longer, but we did decide to explore before leaving. The suites are quite big and it had a Jacuzzi tub, microwave, and small refrigerator. We brought our luggage down to the lobby. The Inn was inviting with a fireplace and piano and the staff was friendly and helpful. The cottages across the driveway were occupied so I didn’t get to see them, but they looked adorable from the outside. The Michigan town of Saugatuck includes a quaint town and quiet beaches. We decided to take a drive to Oval Beach. Lynn and I spent most of our lives on Long Island in New York so we weren’t quite sure what to expect from a Michigan beach.  Honestly, the water was more inviting than the Atlantic Ocean, without the seaweed and waves, and with the beautiful blue color. The other

Mackinac to Saugatuck

Image
It was a beautiful morning on Mackinac Island , where my friend, Lynn, and I were staying at the Grand Hotel. Fortunately, we weren’t in a hurry to leave and could enjoy the hotel and the island until the afternoon. We went to the main dining room for another breakfast with just about anything you could possibly want. We were always greeted with a fresh, warm basket of baked breads and pastries. Everything was delicious and the service spot on.    We took our time and packed up our room at the Grand Hotel, enjoying a little time on the balcony taking in the spectacular view for the last time. After we checked out, we took the horse drawn carriage to downtown, where our luggage would be store while we walked around. Downtown Mackinac Island is filled with shops for souvenirs, clothing, and fudge. I certainly couldn’t leave without taking some with me. We decided on the Pink Pony, a well-known bar and grill, for lunch before we got on Shepler’s Ferry back to St. Ignace.

The Best of Mackinac Island

Image
It was a beautiful morning on a most amazing island. I fell in love with Mackinac Island on my first trip and this time was no different. My friend, Lynn, and I had arrived at the Grand Hotel the day before and were ready to explore. Most of the people who stay at this resort take the dinner and breakfast package, and that’s what the hotel had provided for us. After taking some time to once again enjoy the view from our balcony, we headed to the main dining room. The buffet at the Grand Hotel , from which I decided to take a little of a few different items to have with a smoothie and coffee, was extensive, as was the menu.  Included were items such as Apricot Cream Cheese Brioche French Toast and steak and eggs. The basket of freshly baked breads was also always on the table. After breakfast, we headed down to the front entrance. Mackinac Island does not have motorized vehicles. Instead of asking the bellman to get a cab, we needed to get a horse drawn carriage to bring us downtow

Welcome Return to Mackinac Island

Image
I was enjoying my time in the UP of Michigan and it got even better when my friend, Lynn, joined me. We have known each other for 30 years and have done many trips together in the last 10. We woke up at the Alger Falls Motel in Munising and got ready to hit the road. Our final stop was one of my favorite places in the world, Mackinac Island. Along the way, we veered off to a few places that had scenic overlooks. I couldn’t get enough of the beauty of the lake and the landscapes, which includes waterfalls everywhere. We stopped for lunch in Grand Marais, once again overlooking the water. It’s a quaint town, home of the Pickle Barrell Museum, I’d like to visit again someday. From there we drove to Ferry from St. Ignace to take the ferry to Mackinac Island . This was my second trip to the Island I had so greatly loved a few years ago. It’s hard to describe Mackinac Island to someone who hasn’t been, though you can get a good idea by watching the Christopher Reeve movie Somewhere i

Birthday Along Pictured Rocks

Image
It was my birthday and I planned to spend it enjoying the beauty of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I was staying at the Alger Falls Motel in Munising. The tourism board had arranged a two boat rides for me the day before and I had another one to go. It was a beautiful day for it too. The Pictured Rocks Cruises is the one I was looking forward to the most because it highlights the most beautiful rock formations in this area. I had the tour scheduled for the morning and it did not disappoint. The sites are just breathtaking, from Miners Castle to Painted Coves and Lovers Leap. It reminded me a lot of some of the things I saw in Los Cabos, Mexico . There were kayakers below us seeing Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from a whole different angle. I have to admit I was a bit jealous that I wasn’t able-bodied enough to join them. After I got off the ship, I decided to take a drive around town. Munising is a fairly small town considering it has one of the most spectacular spots in

Lakes of Beauty in Munising

Image
My first trip up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was in the wintertime. I took a ride to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and, even in winter, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.  I vowed to come back and explore this area more and it seemed like an ideal way to spend my birthday. I left Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee and drove through Wisconsin to the UP. I had decided that Munising was a base for me to start and it was the right choice. It was near sunset when I arrived at the Alger Falls Motel . The Munising tourism board had set me up there for two nights. The rooms were large and the location was central.   I was a bit hungry and decided to go for something local. I drove down to Muldoon’s and had my very first Pastie, a local favorite they were known for.   A pasty is a hand pie looks like a cross between a turnover and a calzone, or for those who have been to the U.K., a meat pie. I decided I was not in a beef mood and got one vegetable, and one apple for de

Gurnee Fun: Great Wolf Lodge to Six Flags

Image
It was the end of the trip to the new Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee,Illinois , but it was far from the end of fun for the weekend. The day started with a farewell breakfast for the journalists and their families. In my case, it was with Brittany, Shaun, and Kyler. The buffet filled with delicious food was in one of the resort’s convention rooms. In addition to the writers, the public relations staff, and the hotel’s management, we were greeted by Wiley the Wolf, who took the time to visit with all the kids. After breakfast, we had a chance to enjoy one of the cabana’s (which guests can rent) as we did our last round in the waterpark. (I stuck with the lazy river.) Then we headed around Great Wolf Lodge to see if there were any spots we missed. We never did make it to Ten Paw Alley. With just two lanes of bowling, there was always a wait and there seemed like so much else to do without waiting. We walked through the Build-A-Bear Workshop without a purcha