Mackinaw Island

Mackinaw Island is a gem. As a kid, Ian and I both remember going with our parents and thinking, how boring! We never really appreciated the beauty of it, or the nightlife of course, as we weren't old enough to participate. Ian and I had the privilege of filming a wedding on Mackinaw Island in 2009. It was a lot of fun. We took our bikes with us, and did some sightseeing on the little extra time we had. We stayed at The Inn on Mackinaw.
In 2010 we decided we wanted to explore it a little more, so booked a trip for our 5 year wedding anniversary. This time we stayed at the cute little Cottage Inn of Mackinaw. This hotel is just off the main street, near the fort, and has beautiful rooms. We had a wonderful time relaxing, toasting champagne to our 5 years together, and biking. I highly recommend a night away on Mackinaw Island. Take your bikes with you, and explore all day...then relax at night by the live music on main street!

Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Anytime we are able to visit the UP we are amazed by the beauty and the wonder of it. Michigan's upper peninsula is like living in another world. It's quiet, it's uninhabited, it's beautiful. We have taken three trips to the UP since we've been together, and each time was an adventure. Our first trip to the UP we stumbled upon a quiet campground off the beaten path in the middle of the Hiawatha National Forrest.

The campground is on a very small lake, and our first trip there were just a few other sites occupied by other campers. The drive to the campground through the woods is LONG. You feel as if you are going to get lost if you go too far. It's great because there is no noise. No car traffic, nothing but peace and quiet! We ventured back to this campground a year later, later in the season and we were the only campers in the entire campground. Leave your money in the box and camp style! It was cold, and we woke up to snow on the ground one morning. It rained, and the second night we checked into a hotel. We like to think we are hard core campers, but rain/snow mix and cold are no fun for anyone!

Our third trip to the UP we brought our friends the Ziemba's with us, and of course little Ethan. We didn't rough it as much and found a campground closer to town, as we didn't want to scare our new-to-camping friends away! We couldn't stop talking about the beauty of the UP and the Pictured Rocks National Lake shore...we wanted to share with our friends. They loved the sights as well.

If you get a chance to drive up to the UP, don't skip this trip to Munising MI. It is the beauty of God's creation at it's finest!

Zion National Park, Utah

In 2009, and 2007 Ian and I were able to take a trip out west with Ian's parent's and brother Garrin and Liz from California. While visiting, we decided to do as we normally do and go off the beaten path! We rented a Mustang in 2007, and a Jeep in 2009, and both years made the trip to Zion National Park in Utah. On each trip we did hikes we hadn't done before and tried to get in as much of the park as we could. Zion is amazing. There are really beautiful hikes, and so much to see. There is even a hike through a canyon with water flowing called the Narrows. The Narrows is an amazing hike, for the brave who aren't afraid to get their feet wet! It is absolutely beautiful.
The Grand Canyon is obviously the popular tourist spot if you are visiting out west, but time and time again I would recommend Zion National Park to anyone wanting to take in the amazing scenery of this park!

Holland Harbor Light

"Big Red" has earned the title of the most photographed light in Michigan. Holland State Park beach is a popular beach, and for good reason. The location is great, there's a great campground attached, with lots of trees and shade, and a nice beach station with snacks, ice cream, etc. We've never camped at this campground, but for day trips to Lake Michigan, this is usually our first choice.

Big Red sits on a pier just across the channel from the popular beach. Access to the light itself is limited, but if you know your way around Holland and are up for a walk, you can walk out onto the pier the light sits on.

Construction began with a budget of only $6000 in 1870. That tower stood tall until 1902 when it was torn down. Four concrete piers were installed atop the pier to serve as a level foundation for the new structure. The steel tower was then lifted from a barge onto the pier and bolted securely to the concrete piers. Standing 45 feet tall, the lower level of the new tower was of open frame construction, with two rooms.

With the fading of the Great Lakes passenger fleet, Holland Harbor had ceased to serve any real commercial traffic. With the station now serving only as a beacon to guide pleasure boats in and out of Lake Macatawa, the Coast Guard announced plans to abandon the old fog signal building to eliminate ongoing maintenance costs in 1972. Over the years, "Big Red" had become as much of an iconic symbol of tourist-centered Holland as tulips and windmills, and fearing the loss of their beloved landmark, the citizenry of Holland gathered together and circulated petitions in an attempt to save the historic structure. To this end, the Holland Harbor Lighthouse Commission was formed in 1974 to coordinate preservation and restoration efforts, and continues to manage the structure to this day.

Big Sable Point Lighthouse

Big Sable is sort of the "Big Sister" if you will of Little Sable light. Big Sable light has one of the prettiest walks, hikes, bikes out to a light of any that I've been to. It's a sandy/paved trail leading from the Ludington State Park campground out to the light. The keepers dwelling is still attached, and has been renovated, and used as a gift shop. Tours are given daily in the summer. We didn't venture to this light until just a few years ago, but we've now camped there twice, and visted the light three times. Ethan loved putting his toes in the water on this trip!

Construction on this light began in 1867 and only cost about $35,000! Additions were made to the original building in 1909 when a second keepers position was approved. Due to its remote location at the time, access to the light was limited and in 1935 a road to the light was constructed.

Big Sable holds the distinction of being the last Great Lakes light to become electrified in 1949. However, electrification was always a double-edged-sword, in that it paved the way for automation, and the eventual elimination of the need for a keeper in 1968.

In 1983 the light was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Big Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Association formed in 1987, and together the two organizations have worked to restore the station to its original glory.

Little Sable Lighthouse

Anyone who knows us knows this is one of our most visited lighthouses...and for good reason! Ian and I were married under this lighthouse in 2005. It was a perfect mix of sun and clouds, not too hot, wonderful day in August. Ian and I had always loved this beach, and this is where he wrote in the sand, "Will you marry me?". We thought it perfect that we got married here.
Little Sable light was built in 1873. It was complete with a keepers dwelling attached, and every year the light was painted white. It wasn't always the beautiful natural brick that it is today!
In 1955, after the light was automated, it was thought that the maintenance of the building was too much work, and a crew arrived to demolish all but the tower. In 1977 the tower was sandblasted, so not to have to paint it every year, and the beautiful brick was exposed.
The 39 acres of the original station are now part of the Silver Lake State Park. Since December 2005 the Big Sable Light Keepers Association took over the light and you can now take tours of the light in the summer.