Mackinac Vacation
Kinda behind on posting, so I will be writing a couple entries today. Last weekend, Hailey, Brett, Kim and I went up north and stayed in Mackinaw City. The trip was pretty exciting. This was the first time I had ever taken the kids on such a long car ride. Amazingly, they never slept the whole way up and there were really well behaved in the car. The first day there, we didn't do a whole lot beyond settling in the hotel and doing some swimming. We ate dinner at the Dixie Saloon. It was very delicious though a bit on the pricey side.
Then on Sunday we made it over to Mackinac Island. We spent pretty much all day over there. Took a carriage tour around the island. It started to rain during that and it was really cold. Midway through the tour we stopped and visited the Butterfly House. The kids seemed to enjoy it. I envisioned it would have way more butterflies, but it was still interesting. The carriage tour continued through the woods and to the cemetery and some other random sights. We got off at Fort Mackinac and walked around there for a bit. Got to see a live firing of a canon. After that we walked around the island, browsed the shops, bought fudge. We had another great meal at the Village Inn. There was a parade going on, so we watched that. That pretty much concluded the second day.
The third day we pretty much just did random stuff. We went to Pirates Adventure water park first. Hailey was bugging to go to this the whole time we were there. It was pretty much like a McDonald's playland, but with water. At first the kids were okay there, but then this huge bucket of water dumped over the whole thing, and Hailey freaked out. She then refused to play there anymore. So, we had some lunch at Big Boy and then we went and played mini-putt putt at this course in Mackinaw City. After that, we headed across the Mackinac Bridge. We went to the Mystery Spot, which the kids really seemed to like. Next to that was the Weird Michigan Wax Museum. This was the stupidest thing of the whole trip. I was picture realistic wax figures like you see of movie stars. Instead, it was people that looked like they were made out of clay. And, it was just depicting events I had never heard of. We were there for about five minutes and saw all the exhibits. I wish I could get my $14 and my five minutes back. We then went to a scenic lookout for a bit to have a nice look at the bridge, and then we went back to the motel for pizza and rest.
On the last day, we got up early and checked out of the hotel. We then made one final trip over the bridge so we could buy some pasties. We also stopped by Castle Rock and climbed up that. The kids barely made it up there. We then departed for home. I was really happy to get away from work and just the generally day to day schedule that I have to live by. It was exciting to be able to just do whatever and whenever. Since most of the trip wasn't really planned out, there was lots of time for just being spontaneous. I hope I can get some money together and do something like this again in the near future.
Also, I have pictures of the vacation. They are currently up on Facebook.
Day 2 on the Island
Day's 3 and 4
Then on Sunday we made it over to Mackinac Island. We spent pretty much all day over there. Took a carriage tour around the island. It started to rain during that and it was really cold. Midway through the tour we stopped and visited the Butterfly House. The kids seemed to enjoy it. I envisioned it would have way more butterflies, but it was still interesting. The carriage tour continued through the woods and to the cemetery and some other random sights. We got off at Fort Mackinac and walked around there for a bit. Got to see a live firing of a canon. After that we walked around the island, browsed the shops, bought fudge. We had another great meal at the Village Inn. There was a parade going on, so we watched that. That pretty much concluded the second day.
The third day we pretty much just did random stuff. We went to Pirates Adventure water park first. Hailey was bugging to go to this the whole time we were there. It was pretty much like a McDonald's playland, but with water. At first the kids were okay there, but then this huge bucket of water dumped over the whole thing, and Hailey freaked out. She then refused to play there anymore. So, we had some lunch at Big Boy and then we went and played mini-putt putt at this course in Mackinaw City. After that, we headed across the Mackinac Bridge. We went to the Mystery Spot, which the kids really seemed to like. Next to that was the Weird Michigan Wax Museum. This was the stupidest thing of the whole trip. I was picture realistic wax figures like you see of movie stars. Instead, it was people that looked like they were made out of clay. And, it was just depicting events I had never heard of. We were there for about five minutes and saw all the exhibits. I wish I could get my $14 and my five minutes back. We then went to a scenic lookout for a bit to have a nice look at the bridge, and then we went back to the motel for pizza and rest.
On the last day, we got up early and checked out of the hotel. We then made one final trip over the bridge so we could buy some pasties. We also stopped by Castle Rock and climbed up that. The kids barely made it up there. We then departed for home. I was really happy to get away from work and just the generally day to day schedule that I have to live by. It was exciting to be able to just do whatever and whenever. Since most of the trip wasn't really planned out, there was lots of time for just being spontaneous. I hope I can get some money together and do something like this again in the near future.
Also, I have pictures of the vacation. They are currently up on Facebook.
Day 2 on the Island
Day's 3 and 4