The Ringstrom Family

Wednesday the weather was cool, breezy but sunny, and perfect for a visit to the Island. We took a carriage tour, stopped at the butterfly house as part of the carriage tour, took pictures at Arch Rock and enjoyed some history at Fort Mackinac. (Not a very auspicious military history, considering it was captured twice and later turned into a National Park, where apparently soldier discipline was a real problem because the bored recruits used to get drunk all the time.) We ate at a lame buffet for lunch (lured inside by a girl extolling the virtues of the pizza) and also ended up in a “Maze of Mirrors” which the kids enjoyed, at least. We also ended up searching for ice cream at “The Tea Room” inside the fort itself. Turns out they didn’t have much in the way of ice cream (really?) so we had the most expensive shakes in the history of dessert. The view, however, was spectacular.

Thursday we just hung around the campground, went into town for lunch, a playground, and ice cream, and hung around the campground some more. Friday we decamped and headed out. It was a wonderful time, but we’re sure glad to be home.

This was Avery's first boat ride

We let the kids run around in the park when we first arrived.

A postcard-perfect day

The Grand Hotel from the carriage tour

At the butterfly house

Love the bright colors

Bruce picked up a hitchhiker, which rode with him almost the whole time.

View along the carriage tour

The famous limestone arch rock

View from arch rock

With our carriage tour horses, Team Toy Story. Buzz, Woody and... I forget.

View from a restaurant at the fort, the home of the pricey milkshakes

Cannon demonstration. Was not as loud as I thought it would be.

Sam's keeping an eye out for the British

This rock memorializes a doctor who learned all about digestion because of some guy's stomach wound. Gross story; cute kids.

This was Thursday when we just bummed around the campground mostly. Cool sandcastle.

A fun family vacation!