Our goal with this vacation was to take in some states that I have not yet been to in conjunction with attending a dear friend's wedding in Chicago. Our plan was to fly into Chicago via Midway; drive to Indiana, up to Michigan, over to Green Bay, Milwaukee then over to Chicago; thus hitting 3 states I hadn't been to; Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. We were going for the fourth attempting to go to Minneapolis as well but we just didn't budget enough time.
Dave and I left San Antonio on Friday, July 29th. We had a late afternoon flight into Chicago and arrived at 8:30 pm. We rented a car and drove to Chesterton, IN and spent the night there.
In the morning we got up and before heading off to Michigan we decided to explore and drive to the Indiana Dunes State Park. We stopped at the Visitor Information Center to get a map and directions and made our way there. We felt pressed for time so we literally drove the shore line hugging the area. We’ve been to the Sand Dunes at Kittyhawk, NC and expected something similar. This was simply a shoreline and pretty much looked just like every other beach shoreline you may have driven. Kind of disappointing and knowing we had a long day ahead we snapped a picture and took off for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Dave and I left San Antonio on Friday, July 29th. We had a late afternoon flight into Chicago and arrived at 8:30 pm. We rented a car and drove to Chesterton, IN and spent the night there.
In the morning we got up and before heading off to Michigan we decided to explore and drive to the Indiana Dunes State Park. We stopped at the Visitor Information Center to get a map and directions and made our way there. We felt pressed for time so we literally drove the shore line hugging the area. We’ve been to the Sand Dunes at Kittyhawk, NC and expected something similar. This was simply a shoreline and pretty much looked just like every other beach shoreline you may have driven. Kind of disappointing and knowing we had a long day ahead we snapped a picture and took off for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Yup; it's a shoreline!
We drove straight through and got to the UP and took a ferry over to Mackinac Island.
The bridge over the water into Mackinaw City.
Ever since I was a girl I had read a few books in a series by author Phyllis A. Whitney who wrote “The Mystery of the Gulls” and since reading that book as a young teen, I have always wanted to visit to Mackinac Island. Here is the original cover jacket of the book "The Mystery of the Gulls".
However the book jacket version I was enamored by was this one.
Come to think of it I'm pretty sure now that this was my sister's book and I probably put my grubby hands on it as I too liked to read as a kid. Funny how the mind works.
Mackinac is an island and resort area covering 3.8 square miles in land area. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's upper and lower peninsulas. The island was home to a Native American settlement before European exploration began in the 17th century. It served a strategic position amidst the commerce of the Great Lakes fur trade. This led to the establishment of Fort Mackinac on the island by the British during the American Revolutionary War. It was the scene of two battles during the War of 1812.
Mackinac or Mackinaw? The name Michilimackinac, the place of the "Great Turtle", was first given to Mackinac Island for its shape and was eventually given to the entire Straits of Mackinac region. In time, certainly by the 1820s, it was shortened to Mackinac. The founders of Mackinaw City opted for the phonetic "aw" spelling, probably as a way to distinguish their town from Mackinac Island for confused postal carriers. Today Mackinaw City retains the "aw" spelling while the bridge, straits and island steadfastly cling to the "ac" spelling. No matter how it is spelled, however, it is always pronounced Mackinaw!
Mackinac is an island and resort area covering 3.8 square miles in land area. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's upper and lower peninsulas. The island was home to a Native American settlement before European exploration began in the 17th century. It served a strategic position amidst the commerce of the Great Lakes fur trade. This led to the establishment of Fort Mackinac on the island by the British during the American Revolutionary War. It was the scene of two battles during the War of 1812.
Everyone rides a bike on the island; sometimes pets too!
Entrance to our hotel.
After settling in and getting our bags we decided to have our Anniversary dinner at the hotel at the Round Island Bar and Grill. At check in we were given a coupon for 10% off our total bill. Unfortunately it was a disappointing meal. It was a buffet and we felt we would have been better off paying the money and dining elsewhere. After dinner we walked the hotel grounds and sat out on the lawn in Adirondack chairs enjoying the view of Lake Huron.
On Sunday we rented bicycles and made our way on the 8 mile trek around the island. Here are some views from our ride; the Arch Rock, rock formations in the lake and kids playing on the cannon at historic British Landing; site where the British made an amphibious assault on Mackinac Island during the War of 1812.
But that wasn’t enough. We kept the bikes the entire day and worked our way back and forth on the island as well as up and above on the elevated areas. We definitely got our money’s worth. We started our day with breakfast at the Chuckwagon of Mackinac Island, lunch at Seabiscuit Cafe and dinner at Mary’s Bistro. You can check on yelp.com for my reviews of each.
A selection of colorful tees from the Chuckwagon restaurant!
That afternoon went to the Grand Hotel; a timelessly classic American summer hotel built in 1887. They close for the winter. What an amazing hotel!
After walking the property of the Grand and sitting out on the famous porch we walked to the golf course and made tee times for 9 holes of golf on Monday.
We continued riding our bikes for the afternoon and at 2 pm we attended a free concert at St. Anne’s Catholic Church. The performers were a local flutist; Heather May and pianist Peggy Bynoe.
After the concert we made use of our all day rental and got on our bikes and rode some of the interior of the island finishing off just past Fort Mackinac.
That evening our hotel was featuring a "talent show" held at the hotel's theater. The theater is the only theater on the island! You do literally feel like you're going back in time sitting in the theater. Just outside across from the lobby is a game room. Inside they have the original theater equipment.
Needless to say we didn’t last the evening and made our way back to our rooms where we promptly nodded off and slept like rocks.
On Monday we made our way back to the Grand Hotel and had lunch at Carleton’s Tea Store. Since we finished lunch early we continued to walk around the Grand and we went upstairs to the Cupola Bar. At the very top of Grand Hotel, the Cupola Bar offers a panoramic view of the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge.
A view of the Grand's pool area.
We golfed at the Jewel on the Grand and played the Grand nine. The Grand nine was built in 1901! We only played 9 holes because we had a 2pm tee time and the back nine is a 25 minute carriage ride away and is located further inland.
View from the golf course.
After golf we walked back in to town and took a Makinac Island Carriage Tours guided tour. Our guide was a high school graduate and gave us the run down and history of the island while pointing our various landmarks. We made stop for a transfer from a 2-horse carriage to a 3-horse carriage. That guide finished it up and as we were concluding he pointed out a restaurant (The Island House) and said they had the best prime rib on the island.
After our tour we made our way to dinner to the Island House Hotel and had dinner at the 1852 Grill Room. He was correct. It was indeed the best prime rib I had ever had! Dave and I finished our last night in Mackinac with a lovely dinner.
We enjoyed the setting sun and snapped a few last pics of the island. This is the Marquette statue in front of Fort Mackinac. This is Father Jacques Marquette; sometimes known as Père Marquette who was a French Jesuit missionary who founded Michigan's first European settlement, Sault Ste. Marie and later founded St. Ignace, Michigan. St. Ignace is the city you drive through and depart your ferry from to get to Mackinac Island.
A replica of the Statue of Liberty donated by the Boy Scouts of America overlooks the historic Haldiman Bay on Mackinac Island.
Tuesday was the perfect day to leave the island as it actually cooled off and started to rain! Great timing. This was our final view out of Mackinac; a tall ship shooting off a canon.
We took the ferry back to St. Ignace and got to our rental car.
It rained the entire way to Wisconsin from Michigan. We arrived late afternoon on Tuesday and did a little exploring on our own before our dinner with our friend Lissa. We stopped for a drink at Titletown Brewing Company; a Green Bay restaurant and brewery. It’s an old C&NW Railroad Depot that’s been restored into the current restaurant and brewery that it is today. Dave is a beer fan but sadly I am not. He had a glass of the “400” Honey Ale and I had a glass of Wisconsin Riesling.
Afterward we met our friend Lissa for dinner at a Green Bay institution; Kroll’s. Kroll’s West Restaurant to be exact. Kroll’s is a family-owned restaurant that has prospered for over 70 years in the Green Bay area. It is located right smack across the street from Lambeau Field. One of the most awesome things that I had never know about Lissa is that her Dad is Jesse Whittenton; who played football for the Green Bay Packers from 1958 - 1964 and is in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame! How cool is that?
After a great meal of awesome butter burgers and fried cheese curds; mmm...mmm.. we caught up with Lissa and enjoyed our time together. She had to go to work the next day so Dave and I made our way over to the Oneida Casino. The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin is also affiliated with the Oneida Nation of New York; which is where I am from and where it struck me as “Oh hey, there are Oneida’s back home!” So; with that little tie we decided to go over there and play some table games. Hours later and no money in our pockets we made our way back to the hotel.
On Wednesday we spent a large portion of our day touring Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Here is the famous Vince Lombardi statue in front of the stadium.
Here's the Curly Lambeau statue; whom the stadium is named after. He was the founder, player and first coach of the Green Bay Packers, back when they started out as the Acme Packers.
We took a tour of the facility and learned some really interesting stuff about the smallest city in the US to have an NFL team. Here's my favorite shot of the end zone.
We can't step on to the field so this is the closest we got.
Afterward we went to the Farmer’s Market on Broadway and finished up our day sampling goodies and looking for buys. This gal sold the cutest purses and jewelery made from hardback book covers. I just had to snap a picture of her in her handmade tee shirt skirt.
We spent the afternoon sampling and walking and it built up our appetites for some local food so we decided on eating at the Hinterland Brewing Company.
Thursday morning we left Green Bay for Milwaukee. Our primary goal in Milwaukee was to see and catch up with Dave’s Godson, David’s parents Gary & Karen. Dave has been friends with them for many years and it had been at least 15 years since the last time he had seen them. The drive was only an hour and a half.
We arrived mid afternoon and checked in to our hotel the Residence Inn Marriott. I really enjoyed this particular Residence Inn. This hotel is housed in the historic Marshall Fields building. Check out the lobby!
After check in we walked along the RiverWalk and viewed downtown Milwaukee. We had a late lunch at Joey Buono’s Restaurant. Not the greatest of Italian restaurants if you ask me but we were famished and it made due in a pinch.
We finished lunch then walked back via the RiverWalk and saw City Hall, the Pabst Theater and the Bronze Fonz statue of Henry Winkler as Fonzie from Happy Days. I mean come on; who didn't at least once in their life watch an episode of Happy Days or Laverne & Shirley which both shows took place in Milwaukee?
City Hall and the Pabst Theater.
The infamous Bronze Fonz
At the conclusion of touring on foot we came back to the hotel to freshen up then drove to Bayshore Town Center for dinner at Devon Seafood & Steaks. Unfortunately Gary was unable to join us as he had gone to Florida to help David and his wife Kallie move back to Iowa so it was just the three of us for dinner.
On Friday we drove from Milwaukee to Chicago to check in to the hotel and to be there for the weekend to attend our friends Claudette & Darren’s wedding which was on Saturday. Their Friday night rehearsal dinner was held at Greco’s of Willow Springs Fine Italian Restaurant. We had a lovely dinner meeting many of their respective family members and out of town guests.
Our new friend Matt, Claudette the bride to be and Dave.
More importantly, Dave got this at the dinner. "Aren't you the Mayor of Willow Springs?" So here's a picture of the Mayor. What do you think? Yes? No? Kind of so? Maybe in the smaller picture below. I don't see it though.
We awoke on Saturday to an overcast rainy day. Dave and I drove into town so I could get a quick haircut. The wedding ceremony was at 2:30 pm followed by an evening reception at 7 pm. The ceremony was held at St. James Sag Bridge Catholic Church; a lovely historic church in Willow Springs.
We continued riding our bikes for the afternoon and at 2 pm we attended a free concert at St. Anne’s Catholic Church. The performers were a local flutist; Heather May and pianist Peggy Bynoe.
That evening our hotel was featuring a "talent show" held at the hotel's theater. The theater is the only theater on the island! You do literally feel like you're going back in time sitting in the theater. Just outside across from the lobby is a game room. Inside they have the original theater equipment.
On Monday we made our way back to the Grand Hotel and had lunch at Carleton’s Tea Store. Since we finished lunch early we continued to walk around the Grand and we went upstairs to the Cupola Bar. At the very top of Grand Hotel, the Cupola Bar offers a panoramic view of the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge.
A view of the Grand's pool area.
View from the golf course.
We enjoyed the setting sun and snapped a few last pics of the island. This is the Marquette statue in front of Fort Mackinac. This is Father Jacques Marquette; sometimes known as Père Marquette who was a French Jesuit missionary who founded Michigan's first European settlement, Sault Ste. Marie and later founded St. Ignace, Michigan. St. Ignace is the city you drive through and depart your ferry from to get to Mackinac Island.
Tuesday was the perfect day to leave the island as it actually cooled off and started to rain! Great timing. This was our final view out of Mackinac; a tall ship shooting off a canon.
We took the ferry back to St. Ignace and got to our rental car.
It rained the entire way to Wisconsin from Michigan. We arrived late afternoon on Tuesday and did a little exploring on our own before our dinner with our friend Lissa. We stopped for a drink at Titletown Brewing Company; a Green Bay restaurant and brewery. It’s an old C&NW Railroad Depot that’s been restored into the current restaurant and brewery that it is today. Dave is a beer fan but sadly I am not. He had a glass of the “400” Honey Ale and I had a glass of Wisconsin Riesling.
Afterward we met our friend Lissa for dinner at a Green Bay institution; Kroll’s. Kroll’s West Restaurant to be exact. Kroll’s is a family-owned restaurant that has prospered for over 70 years in the Green Bay area. It is located right smack across the street from Lambeau Field. One of the most awesome things that I had never know about Lissa is that her Dad is Jesse Whittenton; who played football for the Green Bay Packers from 1958 - 1964 and is in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame! How cool is that?
On Wednesday we spent a large portion of our day touring Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Here is the famous Vince Lombardi statue in front of the stadium.
Thursday morning we left Green Bay for Milwaukee. Our primary goal in Milwaukee was to see and catch up with Dave’s Godson, David’s parents Gary & Karen. Dave has been friends with them for many years and it had been at least 15 years since the last time he had seen them. The drive was only an hour and a half.
We arrived mid afternoon and checked in to our hotel the Residence Inn Marriott. I really enjoyed this particular Residence Inn. This hotel is housed in the historic Marshall Fields building. Check out the lobby!
We finished lunch then walked back via the RiverWalk and saw City Hall, the Pabst Theater and the Bronze Fonz statue of Henry Winkler as Fonzie from Happy Days. I mean come on; who didn't at least once in their life watch an episode of Happy Days or Laverne & Shirley which both shows took place in Milwaukee?
City Hall and the Pabst Theater.
Our new friend Matt, Claudette the bride to be and Dave.
Claudette being walked down the aisle by her Mom Charmaine.
Immediately after the ceremony as the bride and groom left the church the sun was shining and it was a beautiful afternoon.
Dave had been feeling poorly for a few days following a back muscle pull and we were overly concerned so after the wedding ceremony we drove into town and got him seen by a doctor just to make sure it wasn’t more than a pulled muscle. After the doctor’s appointment we drove straight back to Willow Springs for the evening reception. The reception was held at the Willowbrook Ballroom; a venue celebrating 90 years!
On Sunday Claudette’s Mom hosted a post bridal brunch in her home. They are just the sweetest couple; literally. Especially with frosting all over them!
We attended the brunch and then later on Sunday we drove out to Hammond, IN to go to the Horseshoe Casino. We had a terrific dinner at the Jack Binion’s Steak House.
On Monday we had lunch in Willow Springs at Barone’s of Countryside for a slice of pizza. Since we had a late flight back to San Antonio we decided to catch a movie (Cowboys and Aliens) then drove into the city to grab an early dinner with my friend Cherai at Kroll’s South Loop. The owners of this location are the granddaughters of the founders of the original Kroll’s in Wisconsin.
After dinner we returned our rental car (over 1,200 miles covered this vacation) and checked in to the airport for our return to San Antonio. Although it started to rain in the afternoon and into the evening we were fortunate to have no delay out of Chicago.
This was a great vacation and we had great food, great experiences and great memories!
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On Sunday Claudette’s Mom hosted a post bridal brunch in her home. They are just the sweetest couple; literally. Especially with frosting all over them!
On Monday we had lunch in Willow Springs at Barone’s of Countryside for a slice of pizza. Since we had a late flight back to San Antonio we decided to catch a movie (Cowboys and Aliens) then drove into the city to grab an early dinner with my friend Cherai at Kroll’s South Loop. The owners of this location are the granddaughters of the founders of the original Kroll’s in Wisconsin.
After dinner we returned our rental car (over 1,200 miles covered this vacation) and checked in to the airport for our return to San Antonio. Although it started to rain in the afternoon and into the evening we were fortunate to have no delay out of Chicago.
This was a great vacation and we had great food, great experiences and great memories!
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