You all can probably tell that I love California, but Michigan will forever be my home sweet home.
I was thrilled to have the time and opportunity to head home for a little summer getaway this past month. Even better, is that I was able to take Chris with me. He had never been to Michigan, but I knew he would appreciate the greenery and laid-back atmosphere. Well, I was right! Cue the extended length blog post… I hope you enjoy!
We started in my hometown, where my best friend from high school was getting married. It was pretty amazing to see all my ladies from back in the day. We had a fun evening of food, drinks, and dancing, all with a woodsy, Michigan scenery in the background.
Chris and I quickly noticed that the sun doesn’t set until 9pm during the Michigan summer (something I had forgotten), so we took full advantage of the long days. This was an important trip, as Chris was meeting my extended family and friends for the first time. Talk about pressure! I think he quickly realized we are a pretty chill bunch, and our time was spent eating my Dad’s fresh caught fish, touring the Air Force base where my Dad used to work, working out in my town’s tiny, old, local gyms (they surely aren’t Equinox with a beach view), experiencing a traditional summer power outage, and hanging along the dock downtown taking in the sailboats.
My home town is famous for ONE night, and one night only… Boat Night. This night marks the celebration before the start of the Port Huron to Mackinac Island annual sailboat race. It was the night I always tried to come home from college, to meet up with my girlfriends and enjoy a night of carnival rides, fried food, and dancing in the beer tent at the Port Huron Yacht Club. We were able to make an appearance this year, to show Chris the ropes, but the best part is that we traveled up to Mackinac Island as the boat race was concluding.
We weren’t thrilled about the long drive to Mackinac Island (about 4 hours), but I knew it would be worth every minute in the car. Chris agreed, as soon as he felt the relaxed vibe on the island. If you aren’t familiar with Michigan, imagine a left-handed mitten. Mackinac Island is off the middle portion of top of the mitten. The island is something really special. There are no cars on the island, and the primary mode of transportation is bicycle, walking, or horse carriages. It didn’t take long for me to find the carriage specific to our hotel. We hopped on for a gorgeous ride through town, and were ultimately amazed when we experienced the welcome to our digs for the next few days, at the Grand Hotel.
Some of you might recognize this hotel from the movie, Somewhere in Time, with Christopher Reeves. The hotel has a classy, old school, yet playful vibe that reminded me of the East Coast. The hotel is quite the attraction for all that visit Mackinac Island. So much of an attraction that, if you’re not a guest at the hotel, you have to pay a small fee to set feet on the grounds. The hotel itself is very historic, and many of its guest rooms reflect the lives of US Presidents, First Ladies, and other prominent historical events. The hotel has a daily schedule that includes three amazing meals, afternoon tea, and activities for children. After 630pm, the guests are dressed to their finest, as men are required to wear coats and ties and women dresses or slacks.
My favorite part of this hotel, was the after-dinner dancing to the sweet sounds of a jazz band. Fun fact about me- I used to play the saxophone… for 8 years! Ironically, Chris played too, so we certainly share a love for music, in particular jazz. We ended every night in the ballroom dancing, and promising each other that the next time we stay at the Grand Hotel, we will be able to ballroom dance like the rest of the guests out there!
On our last night in Mackinac Island, we decided to venture outside of the Grand Hotel, for dinner at The Woods. We were enthralled in the concept of a restaurant housed in a mansion with Bavarian charm, especially because it required a carriage ride (wait for it…) deep into the woods. We enjoyed dishes from soft pretzels with homemade cheese and mustard, to filet mignon and lobster bisque soup. We left SO full, and with plans to go back someday.
The fancy vibe to the Grand Hotel is something I can totally appreciate, but I also love the more casual side of Mackinac Island. If any of you have traveled to the island, you know that it is famous for the delicious fudge shops that line the main street in town. The choices are endless, and in each shop you can sample whatever your little heart desires! Some of our personal fudge favorites were maple walnut, butter pecan, and german chocolate!!
Walking or biking around town, you can really see the beauty and friendliness of the island, where there are only 450 permanent residents. The little family shops and tourist attractions bring something authentic to a vacation experience. Although we wanted to bike around the perimeter of the island (only 8 miles), we unfortunately had a day of rain that kept us from doing so. Lucky for us, there are some pretty happenin’ bars with a relaxed, island vibe, my personal favorite being The Pink Pony. Outside of eating and drinking (which let’s be honest, can pass the time just fine), there are plenty of fun and educational attractions such as Fort Mackinac, The Butterfly House, and Arch Rock.
I had SUCH a fabulous time during this trip to my home state. I don’t think I ever truly appreciated Michigan, when I was growing up. The last time I was even in my hometown, was 5 years ago. This trip meant so much to me; reuniting with all of my high school besties, introducing my family to Chris, and showing him the true beauty that is Pure Michigan 😉
AW! It looks like you had an amazing time! Also, thank you so much for sharing where you got your amazing dresses! 🙂