Day 1: May 14, Sunday
We had a great trip to Michigan with a group from the Club of 50 people. Before we even got started, we had problems with the bus, so we stopped at Rent Right in Lawrenceburg to get the bus fixed.
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| Inside the shop was a barber's chair |
Hubby and I stopped at Jack's for sausage, gravy, and biscuits for breakfast.
We stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel at Oak Hill, Near Nashville, TN. I ordered a kid's grilled chicken with Mac and cheese.
We traveled on a bus to Ohio, stopping every 2 to 2 1/2 hours to rest.
We stopped at KFC in Carrollton, KY, for supper.
I ordered chicken with Mac and cheese.
We spent the night at Comfort Inn in Pique, Ohio, and began our journey the next day.
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| Lobby at Comfort Inn Pique, Ohio |
Day 2: May 15, Monday
We traveled to Mackinaw, Michigan, stopping every couple of hours to take a rest break.
One of our rest stops was at the Ottawa Lake, Michigan Gas Station.
We played bingo and watched the “Somewhere in Time” movie. We also watched Mrs Robertson, a public speaker, she was very funny.
Hubby and I split an Italian Sub for lunch at Jimmy Johns in Flint, Michigan.
We stopped at the Pancake Chef Restaurant in Mackinaw City, Michigan, for a buffet dinner. After we ate, we walked around the town taking pictures, then on to our hotel in Saint Ignace, Michigan.
I took pictures of markers of Mackinaw City, Iron Horse, Chief Wawatam, The Algoma, Mackinaw’s Civil War Dahlgren Cannons, Mackinaw, Mackinac, or Michilimackinac?, the village of Mackinaw City Merchant Directory, Historic Mackinaw City, and Mackinaw’s First Business District.
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| The Gateway to Mackinac Island |
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Mackinaw, Mackinac, or MichilimackinacMichilimackinac?
The Mackinac Straits region derives its name from a French translation of the Ojibway name for Mackinac Island; Missilimakinak, where missi (also Michi or Mishi) means great or many, and Mackinac means turtle. Although it has been spelled many different ways over the years, the most common form is Michilimackinac, which means "the great turtle." With imagination, the island profile resembles a great turtle, partially submerged in the lake, with its outstretched neck and head peering off the west. In the early 1700s, the fur trading outpost on the mainland became known as Fort Michilimackinac, and the island was abbreviated to Mackinac. The Village of Mackinaw City was incorporated in 1883 with an English spelling that suggests the more common pronunciation of Mackinac. Picture 1:Michilimackinac from Round Island by Major Francis Smith Belton, September 1817, from the collection of the Mackinac State Historic Parks. Picture: Jonathan Carver's 1767 map identifies Fort Michilimackinac.
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Day 3: May 16, Tuesday
We ate breakfast at the Budget Host Inn Saint Ignace, MI., and then took the bus down to the ferry dock. Shopped at the gift shop, where I bought a toboggan to cover my ears on the very windy ferry ride to Mackinac Island.
We had a group picture taken at the port after we embarked on the ferry.
Our group loaded into two carriages and was taken for a ride around the island.
We saw the US Post Cemetery, the Little Stone Church, Fort Mackinac, and the Missionary Bark Chapel.
We rode through the state park and visited several shops.
We were told that during the peak tourist season, there were around 500 horses used to carry goods and tourists throughout the city. Thousands of bicycles are there for rent. No vehicles are allowed on the Island.
We walked inside the Grand Hotel & blooming were tulips, & buttercups on the hotel grounds.
We walked to the Surry Hill Carriage House and walked through the Mackinac butterfly house.
Hubby and I split a Mushroom Burger and fries at the Chuck Wagon Restaurant.
We saw the Missionary Bark Chapel, The Little Stone Church, William Backhouse Astor House, Fort Mackinac and the Fort Gardens, Lake View Hotel., Saving Liberty, Marquette Park, The Indian Dormitory, Home of the Ancestors, & American Fur Company Store. As we were leaving, we saw 3 Dalmatians leaving the ferry.
We ate fried fish, baked potato, salad, bread, and white cake with strawberry topping for dinner at The Galley in Saint Ignace, MI.
We loaded back onto the bus that took us to the hotel.
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| Mushroom Burger and Chips at the Chuck Wagon Mackinac Island |
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| The Grand Hotel |
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| State Park Mackinac Island, MI |
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| View from the ferry of Mackinac Island. |
Day 4 May 17, Wednesday
The next day, we rode the bus to Sault Ste Marie, where we saw the Governor Osborn Memorial and several historical markers about Water Street. We saw a giant foot statue. We walked through the US Army Great Lakes Dredge & Locks Site, where we saw markers, birds, & SOO Locks. We walked through The Visitor Center and talked about the building of the Soo Locks. We saw the International bridge that connects the US to Canada.
We ate a big bad breakfast at Franks in Sault Santa Marie, MI. That consists of three fried eggs atop Hash browns smothered in cheese, ham,& sausage, with two slices of toast.
We boarded the bus and rode to the SOO Locks Boat Tour, where we took a boat ride through the SOO Locks on St Mary’s River on Lake Huron and Lake Superior. We saw the international bridge that connected the US to Canada.
We stopped at the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. We didn’t stay long.
Boarded the bus and rode to the Driftwood restaurant in Saint Ignace, Michigan. There, we ate fried Shrimp, a baked potato with green beans, and custard for dessert.
We boarded the bus and rode back to the hotel.
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| Soo Docks & Boat Tours |
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| Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan |
Day 5: May 18, Thursday
Ate breakfast at the hotel, then boarded the bus and across the Mackinaw Bridge to Mackinaw to visit Colonial Michilimackinac Fort. We walked through the historic fort, a visit to the past life of a soldier.
Stopping to take pictures of markers of Michigan’s First Jewish Settlers, Fort Michilimackinac, flags of Michilimackinac, Welcome to Colonial Michilimackinac, Crossroads of the Fur Trade, The Community outside the Walls: Suburbs of Michilimackinac, Bateau, Using the land, Encampment at Pequodenonge, The Anishnaabek, Anishnaabek Home, Michilimackinac State Park & Fort Michilimackinac.
We rode through the Historic Village of Mackinaw City. Hubby and I split a hamburger and fries at the Keyhole Bar and Grill in Mackinaw City.
We walked around the city taking pictures, then loaded back onto the bus and rode to the Old Mackinac Point Light House.
By this time, those swarming insects(MIDGES) were covering everything in sight.
The swarms are midge flies, which look like mosquitos but don't bite. The bugs are incredibly annoying. Look anywhere, and they are there. Open your mouth, and a few will get in.
Most people stayed on the bus, but I got out and went inside the Light House and Museum.
I took pictures of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Winter at Mackinac, Historic Mackinaw City, & Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse made to be seen, Colonial Michilimackinac revolutionary Times, Radio Beacon 1937/38, and Welcome to Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.
Loaded back onto the bus and rode to the Great Lakes Grill in Cheboygan, Michigan. Hubby and I ate a Salad, chicken with rice, shrimp pasta, and butter bread.
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| Lunch at the Keyhole Bar & Grill Mackinaw City, MI |
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| Colonial Michilimackinac Fort |
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| Old Mackinac Point Light House |
Day 6: May 19, Friday
Breakfast at the Golden Anchor Budge Inn, Saint Ignace, MI.
Everyone loaded onto the bus, and we began our journey home.
We Stopped at River Walk Mall, a Bavarian Town in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
We ordered a hamburger and fries for lunch at the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Restaurant. We stayed there for a couple of hours. We saw a covered bridge (Holy Brucke Wooden Bridge).
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| Schmetterling Mural |
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| Holz Bucke Wooden Bridge 1979 |
We saw the Schmetterling Murals of Germany on the walls behind the Covered Bridge Shop. Shopped at the Frankenmuth River Place, where we saw an Enchanted Garden and several unique shops. We saw the Bavarian Belle taking people on a ride up and down the river. We did not have time to take the boat ride, but we would love to return someday. There was a park there called Christmas Place. We did not stop. (I think this would be a great place to visit at Christmas.) We stayed the night at Comfort Inn in Pique, Ohio.
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| Hamburger and fries at the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Restaurant |
Day 7: May 20, Saturday
Breakfast at the Comfort Inn.
We began our final journey home.
We watched Mrs Robertson, the public speaker, watched a movie, and played games on our travel home.
We made several stops along the way one was at the pilot in Pendleton, KY, and another was at the Welcome Center Portland. TN.
We stopped at Cock of the Walk Restaurant in Nashville, TN, where we enjoyed a platter of Fried Catfish, chicken & shrimp served with a pan of cornbread, pickled onions, and a large bowl of Cole slaw.
Several people climbed upon the 10-foot-tall rocker for pictures. I climbed up on the rocker for a picture and leaned back, causing the rocker to move, which caused me to fall into the rocker. I rolled over and over, causing everyone to laugh.
We arrived at the Club, loaded our luggage into the car, and headed for home.
We were home at about 6:30.
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| Platter of Catfish, Chicken, Shrimp, and fries |
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| 10 tall Rocker at Cock of the Walk |
