Mackinac Island Sunset

Our day on Mackinac Island ended with this sunset- so perfect.

Grand Island

For the last two nights of our trip we headed over to Grand Island, to do our last bit of backpacking.  The island was wonderfully quiet and provided beautiful views of Pictured Rocks from across Lake Superior.  We stayed a night on either side of the island and saw a beautiful sunset over the water and had the beach completely to ourselves. I think Grand Island is another one of Michigan's beautiful destinations that is a very well kept secret.  We were warned that bears are very friendly on the island, but were lucky enough to keep our campsite bear free for our two nights. 

 I loved this campsite right on the beach.  The night we stayed here we were able to watch a lightning storm over Lake Superior- so beautiful!

More Pictured Rocks

Here are a few more pictures from our hikes.  We hiked anywhere between 4 and 7 miles a day, and each day the scenery got more and more beautiful.  I am still amazed that this beautiful place is tucked away in our wonderful state, so lucky!

We were lucky enough to meet some Northern Michigan students on one of the beaches that were very familiar with the area.  They took us swimming through some of the caves.  We ended up walking through the cave in the above picture, which opened into the most beautiful lagoon right beneath Miners Castle.  It was such a unique experience to see the rocks from the water.

PIctured Rocks

The next day we drove to Pictured Rocks and spent four days backpacking the area.  It was by far the most beautiful place I have ever been.  The trail follows along the edge of the rocks and provides breathtaking views of the water and cliffs.  I could not believe it has taken me this long to visit such a gem in our state.  I highly recommend everyone takes a trip to Pictured Rocks.  There are many options to see the rocks, from boat cruises to weeklong backpacking trips and day hikes around the area.  I still look at the photographs from our trip in awe and wish we could be back there right now!

Tahquamenon Pub and Brewery

After our day of exploring we stopped at Tahquamenon Falls Brewery and Pub for a quick beer.  It was fun sitting around the bar and chatting with everyone else about the sights they had seen during the day and where they were heading next.  Afterwards, we loaded up our camping gear and hiked into the Back Country Campsite at Tahquamenon for the night.  Luckily we only had 2 miles to hike since we had spent more time than expected at the falls.  Our picturesque little campsite was on a clearing right on the river and was just perfect for the night.

Tahquamenon Lower Falls

After exploring the Upper Falls we headed over to the Lower Falls, about a five minute drive from one to the other.  The Lower Falls are equally as beautiful with lots of different waterfalls in the river.  We were a little adventurous and decided we needed to stand underneath some of the waterfalls.  I am sure this is not encouraged, but we had so much fun.  There is something about waterfalls that just pulls your eye and makes you want to sit and watch the water for hours- so that is exactly what we did.  

Upper Tahquamenon Falls

After our delicious lunch we drove to Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Luce County and first explored the Upper Falls.  Upper Falls is the largest waterfall in Michigan and the third largest waterfall east of the Mississippi River.  It is spectacular and a must see in Michigan!  It was also nice that the viewing platform was nearly eye level with the water falling off the rocks, it made for an interesting view of the moving water.

Clyde's Drive In

The first stop we made in the Upper Penninsula was Clyde's Drive-In.  Ted's family has been going to Clyde's since he was a little kid and it was fun to visit a little piece of his childhood that he remembers so fondly.  The restaurant was great, with a eclectic mix of regulars and tourists all sitting on barstools around the grill.  We shared a Big C, an outrageously large burger, along with the most delicious malt I have ever had.

Mackinac Bridge

Our vacation all started with a trip across the Mackinac Bridge.  In all honesty, I haven't crossed the Mackinac Bridge since I walked across it with my family on Labor Day when I was about 6 years old.  The day was gorgeous and all we could see was the beautiful blue of the water meeting the bright blue sky.  I was so giddy and excited to cross over into the Upper Peninsula.  It was like entering an entirely new piece of Michigan that had been completely hidden to me.  I was surprised to learn that the Mackinac Bridge is the third longest suspension bridge in the world.  You can read all about its history here.