Mackinaw Island, Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes

On Mackinaw Island there are no cars allowed.   Horses were the main source of transportation along with bikes. The Taxi was horse drawn and even the garbage" truck" was drawn by horses. It was nice to have no noise from traffic. Our day started off taking the the ferry onto the island. We rented bikes and rode the 8 mile loop around the island. It was so scenic and we had a great time. Everyone said that was their favorite part of the trip!

Daddy and Kynley all ready to go!

Everyone say hi!

Maggie riding through the town!

Kynley got excited everytime she saw a horse! We took a break on
our ride to do a little hike up to the scenic rock arch.

 

About halfway through our bike ride we found a beautiful rock beach on Lake Huron. Dad and Jake were having rock skipping contests, Kynley went swimming naked, while a girl watching couldn't believe there was a naked person swimming in the water, and the rest of us waded in the cool water!

Our last stop on the bike ride was the famous scene from Somewhere in Time, in case you forgot that scene Jake and I reenacted it for you.

After our bike ride we walked through all the shops and up to the famous Grand Hotel. Only people with suits and dresses are allowed on the premises after six pm!

Kynley got her first "beach" bracelet. We would always get these every year when we went to the beach growing up. Thanks Grandma!

 The next day we drove to Traverse City. We played in Lake Michigan and enjoyed resting our legs from the day before!

 Sleeping Bear Dunes was right by our hotel. This sand dune drops steeply below where we were. People would run down it and then climb back up. It takes most people hours to get back up. We only went down about 100 yards and that was enough! It was beautiful how the sand dunes appeared with forest all around them. They say they are eroding quickly and aren't sure how long they will be there for.

At our quaint hotel in the middle of the woods!