Mackinac Island

Ok I have been to visit many places, well not really many really I have been to visit a few places, but this has to be my favorite so far. I could not choose between photos so again there are going to be a million pictures on this post but wouldn't we rather see pictures then anything else really? So for those of you who don't know about Mackinac Island I am going to tell you a little bit about it first and then put the pictures. I never knew there was a place still like this one on the planet let alone in the state that I just found myself living in.... Mackinac Island (said Mackinaw) is in the upper peninsula of Michigan. There are 2 cities that ferry people across the water to the Island St Ignace is up on the upper peninsula and Mackinaw City is on the main land Michigan. The water between the 2 are where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. They are connected by a huge 5 mile long bridge that is beautiful. We stayed on the St Ignace side in a hotel over looking the lake to the island. Our hotel balcony had the perfect view. Saturday Jacob and I celebrated our 7th Anniversary. We got up early before anyone else was awake and watched the sunrise over the water. It was beautiful and the perfect start to our day.

The land on the right is Mackinac Island

On Mackinac Island there are no motorized vehicles allowed. There are horse and buggies or bikes to rent if you don't want to walk around. It was really a sight to see.

The ferry ride over

Mason's favorite part was the boat, Ferry, over and back

Mackinaw Bridge from the Ferry window

we went right under the bridge which was out of the way but a very cool thing to see. You could look up and see the cars driving over the top of us. Kind of made me more nervous when we went back across the bridge the next day but still very cool to see. It is a 4 lane road up there.

waiting to get tickets to go to the fort

the white building behind Mirra is Fort Mackinac.

A bark hut. Everything was bark from off a tree

Inside the bark hut

looking out at the bay on our walk up to the fort

soldiers were all around to answer questions

here they are shoe=wing us how they had to load a gun back during the Civil war

Merrik enjoying his visit to the fort. No sun No walking just sleeping. AAAHHHH this is the life

After the canon demonstration

Kings of the rock

Aylayna is now the Queen of the rock

Mirra loved the beauty of the flowers and all the buildings. She wanted a picture of each one.

Look at this anchor Mom. It is so old.

they really have beautiful buildings

and flowers everywhere

Waiting to get into the butterfly house

These are the cocoon's There are so many of them. There are even some that look like they are made of metal. They were so beautiful. They said most of these would hatch in the next few days. One already had you can see it sitting in the middle.

The pretty flowers were easier to take pictures of then the butterflies that were flying everywhere.

They had  thousands of butterflies surrounding us

This one thought grandpa was sweet

Merrik in his second outfit for the day.

Best buds keeping track of each other  while we are heading to get lunch.

I finally gave Merrik his rattle for something fir him to see. He really liked the look of it.

After walking up the hill to the grand hotel we thought we would get a buggy to take us back down. The grand hotel is in the picture in the background.

Here I am trying to show how clear and beautiful the water is.

Saturday night Mom and Dad had to leave. We went back to the hotel and swam for awhile then watched the Saturday night fireworks from our balcony and went to bed. Sunday we just took our time doing what ever the kids wanted to do.

the kids decided they wanted to see the light houses

This one is on St Ignace. I wish we could have gone in though.

One the Dock out to the light house

This is one of the Ferries like the one we were on the day before

Mackinaw City withe the bridge in the background.

this is behind the Old Mackinaw Fort Lighthouse. I don't know why I didn't get a picture of it though. We could have actually gone in it but Mirra and I were wearing open toed shoes and Mason was to short so we didn't go in.

We went to a place were peolpe were dressed up like old trappers and Native Americans selling things like turquoise, furs and leather pouches

I think they were putting on some kind of pagent later but we didn't stay for it.

I was shocked the whole trip at how interested Mirra was in the history of things. She decided she wants to take her Grandpa Nielsen back there sometime because he was a soldier so he could tell her more about the cool things then I could. I guess we will have to go back but I am not sad about that at all...