The Best of Mackinac Island

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 downtown.

We were going to spend the day with Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. I had done the tour previously and it’s the perfect way to get a real feel for the island.

The tour had changed some since the last time I took it as it had a stop in the middle for shopping and a carriage change. It still covered all of the highlights of this one-of-a-kind island.

We saw the sites on Market Street as Mackinac’s history came to life. We went to the Parade Ground, and saw some of the town’s Bed & Breakfast accommodations and stores. Then, we went to Mackinac Island State Park and Fort Mackinac for the most breathtaking spots in the Midwest.

After the tour, we checked out a few stores and picked up some fudge. Mackinac Island is famous for its fudge and you can get samples and purchase unique flavors at a dozen different shops.

When we returned to the Grand Hotel, we stopped at Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor, where we enjoyed local flavors, Mackinac Island Fudge and Michigan Deer Traxx (Peanut butter cup and chocolate fudge in vanilla ice cream).

It was time for a rest before another delicious dinner that included pork chops and filet, with all the trimmings and a delicious dessert.

Then, we headed out to the porch, enjoying some wine on our final night on Mackinac Island.

A Day at Tahquamenon State Park and Whitefish Point

It was our third day in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and we were taking a day trip.

When I decided to make the trip to Sault Ste Marie, one of the main attractions I was interested in was Tahquamenon State Park, just about an hour from there. 

The park is nearly 50,000 acres and home to wildlife and birds (including bald eagles, which we did see). It’s second to only Niagara as the biggest falls east of the Mississippi River.

Since I have physical limitations, we decided the best way to enjoy Tahquamenon State Park was to take the Toonerville Trolley RiverboatTour.

The tour is divided into two parts. The first is on land, on the ‘trolley.” It runs along a railroad track for five and a half miles.

While there is an opportunity to see many animals, we just saw a few deer and some birds.

The trolley then stops along the river, where you pick up a boat for a narrated cruise, 21 miles to the rapids of the Upper Tahquamenon Falls.

The falls themselves were not accessible enough for me to walk to. I waited on the boat for the hour it was stopped and enjoyed the tranquility of the river while Jamie and Brittany hiked up there.

Brittany took some great pictures, though they didn’t have time before the boat left to capture all of the beauty of the park.

The boat ride back to the trolley, and then our cars, was equally relaxing, but we then had to hustle to make it the half hour to Michigan's Whitefish Point with enough time to explore.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is actually a complex dedicated to the boats passing through Lake Superior since the 19^th century. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places and definitely a must-see when in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Among the ships who are paid homage to here are the Samuel Mather, which went down in Marquette in 1891; the S.R. Kirby, that sank near Eagle Harbor 1916; and the Edmond Fitzgerald, lost with the entire crew just 17 miles from Whitefish Point.

While Brittany and Jamie climbed the lighthouse, I went through the crews’ quarters.

Inside was set up to depict exactly how the family of a crew member housed at Whitefish Point would live.

The house has been restored by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society with support from the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Michigan Council for the Arts & Cultural Affairs. You can even stay here overnight here.

The lighthouse is the oldest on Lake Superior. We didn’t have long enough before closing time to go through the Museum Store or the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory. We did walk along the peaceful Lake Superior beach.

Before we left Paradise, Michigan, we decided to stop at a local restaurant for dinner. The Inn Gastropub & Smokehouse was a good choice for delicious barbecue.

We were back at Superior Place in Sault Ste Marie in time to crash for the night. We still had one more day to enjoy some time in the city before heading south to the lower peninsula of Michigan.

Spring in Indianapolis

My friend Angela and I were on a short getaway to Indianapolis.

We were staying downtown at the Courtyard Marriott, directly across the street from White River State Park.

Our first scheduled stop of the day was a Segway tour at the park, but it was a bit windy so we decided to put it off for a few hours and head to brunch first.

I usually don’t repeat places when I travel because I like to try something new.

Café Patachou is the exception. Owner Martha Hoover (a fellow former New Yorker) opened one healthy brunch spot 25 years ago and it has turned into a chain of tasty cafes.

Hoover also gives back to local children in need of food through the Patachou Foundation.

The place was packed and we decided to take our food to go and sit outside instead of waiting for a table inside.

Although I usually spend some time skimming the menu filled with delectable dishes, I almost always get the same: the California Omelet (filled with lots of avocado) and a side of their delicious cinnamon toast. Angela couldn’t resist the latter with her oatmeal.

We took an Uber from there to White River State Park. The Segway Tour area is adjacent to the Visitor’s Center.

It had been a few years since I had been on a Segway and I was disappointed to find out I would have to put pressure on my recently operated on ankle.

That was out so I bid Angela farewell as she toured the park on the Segway.

I spent the time walking and taking in the many sites of the park. 

The gondolas were just coming into the park, as were the paddleboats, and kayaks – all on my list for a future trip.

Also within White River State Park is the Indianapolis Zoo, the NCAA Museum, the Eiteljorg Museum, Victory Field, and the Indiana State Museum, which we had visited the previous day.

Angela loved the Segway tour. We headed back across the street to get the car from the Courtyard Marriott and then drove to Conner Prairie Interactive History Park.

Conner Prairie is about a half hour from downtown, in Fishers. It’s a great family attraction which is suitable for kids of all ages.

The park explores the history and agriculture of Indiana, through interactive play and displays. For 2017, there is a new balloon ride at the park.

It was too windy for us to get up in the balloon, so we opted to take the train ride to see more of the park. 

It was a fun way to end another great trip to Indianapolis.