September 22


A bit overcast today, so no specific travel plans. Did a short run, then returned home for breakfast. Rita did some Yoga at home while I drove over to the fitness place for a work out.

 
 




Incidently, just read an article in Travel & Leisure magazine entitled: “America’s Favorite Beach Cities”. Of 15 reviewed, Traverse City came in at #5, even better than La Jolla at #10. I think this is due the lake being so close to downtown and the beach extending literally for miles along both the Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas.
Had dinner at Bubba’s just down the street, then walked across to the West Bay Beach Hotel and listened to some marvelous jazz by the Jeff Haas trio with Laurie Sears over dessert.




 September 23


As no visit to northern lower Michigan would be complete without a trip to Mackinac Island, that was our excursion today. About a 125 mile trip from Traverse City, we arrived at the ferry dock in St. Ignace a little after noon after driving across the Mackinac Bridge.
 


We bought tickets for the 1 o’clock crossing and had lunch. It was clear and sunny, but a bit chilly as we crossed the lake to the island.






 I have a very distinct memory of a family trip to the upper peninsula in 1954, three years before the bridge opened. We travelled there by car ferry boat.







 We departed the boat and walked along Market Street. As no cars are permitted on the island, transportation is horse-drawn. 




 
 
     








 We enjoyed a walk along the street, passing lovely hotels and a statue of Father Marquette.
















 Finally, we headed up to the iconic Grand Hotel. This unique place was the setting for a 1979 film starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour called “Somewhere in Time”. It is a time-travel fantasy which features the hotel and is quite a fascinating story.





 




We returned to the lower peninsula and drove home, stopping to pick up a lovely cherry pie for our dessert.