We enjoyed a wonderful Labor Day weekend camping trip with friends from church. We all headed up to Mackinaw City, Michigan to camp. We just set up as we arrived and hung out for the day as others arrived on Thursday. The girls really enjoyed helping set up our camp area this time. I think we talked enough about the need to be a helper prior to leaving that they just hopped up and helped with no asking. We were very proud parents. :)
The girls helping raise the top on the camper. We are normally tent campers but this time we rented a pop up since we were headed up to Michigan. We feared really cold nights and did not know what to expect. So we found a deal and grabbed it. The girls loved sleeping and playing in the camper.
Cuddled up for the night. On Friday, we all headed over to the island. Some took their own bikes and took off on a ride as they got there. Others walked through the center of the island. We chose to take a horse drawn carriage ride around the island. The tour gave us a brief history of the island. We really enjoyed it. Of course, Doodle adored that fact that horses were everywhere.
The Grand Hotel
The Miller Girls upon arrival on Mackinac Island 
The carriages lined up on the street looked so pretty!
Arch Rock~ a stop on the carriage tour as well as a sight to see on the bike tour. After the carriage ride, we stopped at Fort Mackinac and enjoyed walking through history there. It was so cool! The girls just loved it. Of course, I loved that they loved it! :)
Fort Mackinac
We ended our visit with walking around the shops and then renting bikes to ride around the island. We rented a tandem bike and two singles. Very fun! I loved watching the girls take turns on the tandem with Daddy. I managed to get a couple fun shots of them.
Sawmill
Very cool! We also went on the Adventure Tour at Mill Creek which takes you across a "rope" bridge and down a zip line. There was also a climbing wall. So, we all, yes, WE ALL went across the bridge and down the zip line! I was in shock, but I did it. The kids and most of the adults climbed the wall and we all enjoyed learning about the sawmill from the 1800's. Very neat.
Doodle climbing the rock wall.
and Bean climbing away on that wall! Way to go Miller's!
After heading back to the campsite for a bit, we then went to the Old Mackinac Lighthouse. That was very interesting as well. I loved the view of the bridge from there.
Old Mackinac Lighthouse
Doodle and Bean in "front" of the bridge
On Sunday, some people headed up to see the locks work in hopes of viewing a large ship. We chose to have a calmer day. So we stuck around the camp until lunch. After lunch, we went to the beach for a couple hours. Then we went on a Vesper cruise as a group. The cruise was cool in that it allowed us to go right under the bridge and really get a good view of it. We did see two very large freight ships while on the cruise. It was a beautiful sunset as well. That night Matt and I took the girls over the bridge when it was lit up so they could see it at night. It is so pretty.
Monday morning came and everyone was up early for the big bridge walk.
Girls walking the bridge....even the grates! AAHHHH!
It only took them two hours to walk the bridge and back to camp. I was very proud of them all. We had a great time and I am so glad we went. We really only knew one of the couples very well and another somewhat. The other couples we enjoyed getting to know better. What a joy! Can't wait to go back and explore more!
Do you think we wore them out on this trip or what? Love it!
1 comment:
Oh so glad you had fun... And SO bummed we weren't there to enjoy it as well. Maybe some other trip! :-) LOVE hearing about all you did. Uh, the zip line? Way to go. And did you or did you not walk across the bridge? I couldn't tell by the way it was written - but since it said "them" I am thinking you hung back? :-) Hugs to you friend. Hope to see you soon!
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