Mackinac Island

Aannnnnddddd....here's our Mackinac Island blog! I think I've been hearing about Mackinac Island since Johnathon and I first started dating, and every time we come back to Michigan we say were going to go and then never do. When I say I've heard about it, I mean Johnathon says the same two things every time: there's NO CARS and they have the BEST FUDGE ever!!!  With a teaser like that who wouldn't want to go, right?! So Johnathon and I along with Brad, Deanna, my mother-in-law Karen, Paul, Jenny, Ethan, and Avery all boarded the Arnold Ferry and made our way to Mackinac! I went into the day with a plan to get some quality photos, and I decided the ferry ride was a great place to start! Armed with a quality photographer (Ethan), Johnathon and I made our way to the top deck of the ferry for some photos of the Mackinac Bridge and Lake Huron. Sadly the sun decided at that moment that it needed to come out, and the wind and waves were out of control, so our boat pics are a little sub par, but hey...can't win 'em all. Here are the better of the boat pics:

Ethan and I on the boat...he had better sea legs than I did, and could stand no problem!

It was a little windy...and bright

The Grand Hotel as seen from the Ferry

Mackinac Bridge

After we got to the island our group decided the best way to tackle the island was to divide and conquer. Johnathon, Ethan, Karen, Paul, and myself decided to do a bike riding tour of the island. Seeing as Deanna is 8 months pregnant, she and Brad decided the island was best viewed on a carriage ride with Jenny and Avery, as opposed to huffing it the 8 miles around on a banana seat bike. Probably a good decision all around.

I'll be honest...I was nervous to get on the bike. I know some fool somewhere came up with the  saying "It's just like riding a bike...", but I hadn't been on a bike since probably '99, and I was a smidge nervous I would make a huge idiot of myself. Not gonna like, the first 50 yards were a little touch and go, but I finally got on track and we were good to go from then on!

Ready to start our bike tour!

Feeling more confident post bike ride!

 The weather was perfect for bike riding, and there were so many great houses, nature, and historical sites along the way. I was sad to discoverer when we got home that a house on Mackinac could be yours for a cool $2.9 million. I told Johnathon if he could start inventing something awesome to support my dreams of a summer house there, that would be just great :) He thinks I'm kidding....anyway here are pictures of one of the cool old houses and the British landing beach:

British Landing Beach

my attempt at a selfie with the beach in the background

Karen and I taking in the water/beach

Ethan climbing around on Devil's Kitchen rock formation

Toward the end of the bike tour, we came across these really cool trees that were screaming "CLIMB ME AND TAKE PICTURES!!" So we pulled over for an impromptu photo shoot. Sadly I was way to short to jump up to this one branch, so my husband...ever helpful...decided to give me a boost. Only his "boost" stopped short of getting me completely up the tree, and he found my struggles so funny he left me hanging there...literally.

Please note the look of pure glee on Johnathon's face

Natural tree climber right here

The photo I was originally going for

After the fail attempt at "Tree Climbing 2013", we made it back around the island, and met up with the carriage ride group for lunch. The rest of the afternoon was left for touring the town and visiting the fort at the top of what I can only describe as my personal Everest. Seriously, that was one steep hill, and getting to the top of the fort was a real struggle. I'm gonna blame it on all the fudge consumed. Here are lots of photos of the town (these are for you mom), and the fort (these are for you dad!).

One of many pretty bed and breakfast inns

I could of sat here all afternoon

Street view of downtown Mackinac Island

View of the fort form the bottom of the hill....

the halfway point...looking up

I was in fine form when we reached the top

The views alone were worth the trek!

copyright-Johnathon's photo work

After we got to the top of the fort, we walked around and scoped out the weaponry...

Tried on the traditional clothes....

Kept a lookout for Indians, invaders, and tourists...

 And by the end, we really felt like the soldiers that were stationed there....

After a long afternoon on Mackinac, we took the ferry back and decided to relax and watch the sunset in Petoskey. The whole family went down to the Petoskey pier, and the boys spent their time looking for the mythical Petoskey stones (still not sure they're real Paul!) and skipping rocks on the water.

The boys trying to find just the right stone

As it got closer to sunset, Paul, Jenny, and Karen stayed back with Ethan and Avery to let them play on the shore, and Brad, Deanna, Johnathon and I walked down the pier to catch the sunset.

Petoskey lighthouse at the end of the pier

the sunset was so beautiful I swear we look photoshopped

Brad and Deanna

the love of my life :)

God is so good!

Our trip up North was so much fun...as evident by all the pictures! I loved spending time with our Michigan family, and seeing all the beauty that Michigan had to offer. So many good memories!