Mackinac Island

We spent a couple of days at Mackinac Island - a 15-minute boat ride from St. Ignace. Mackinac Island has no motor vehicles except for emergency vehicles. So the only way around the island is a bike, a horse and carriage ride or footpower. We did a combination of all three.
The first day we decided to do the 8-mile bike ride around the island. Drew rode behind me in a child seat, and Blake road with Dad on a "tag-along" bike. Blake has never ridden without training wheels, but we figured he'd be fine. He was right behind Scott who was doing all the balance work. No problem. Right? Blake was even eagerly looking forward to riding this type of bike.
Well, after renting the bike, it took us 15 minutes to convince him to get on it. Uncle Don had to run behind him and hold on for the first couple of hundred feet, and then Scott and Blake were off with Blake screaming and crying to "Stop Dad! Stop!" He finally realized he wasn't getting off the bike, but he WASN'T going to pedal. And talk about a backseat driver. "It's w-w-wobbling! Don't get to close to the grass. Watch out for the HORSE POOP!" (We heard that one a lot). "Don't coast. Keep pedaling. Don't go to fast." And on and on for all 8 miles around the island. It was a very pleasant trip for Scott :) Blake did not pedal once! So if our kids tell you they "rode" their bikes around Mackinac Island. They didn't. They should have a T-shirt that reads "My parents toted me around Mackinac Island"
The bike ride did give us an opportunity to see some of the natural limestone formations on the island including Devil's Kitchen and Arch Rock. We also some cannons, which Drew was very fascinated with.
Later, on the boat ride back to St. Ignace Blake told Dad very quietly. "I really liked riding the bike around the island with you." Made it all worth it!
Blake's favorite part of Mackinac Island was a haunted house. He talked about it for hours and hours.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Around Mackinac Island in 2 hours





On our return trip to Mackinac Island we asked Blake if he wanted to ride bikes again. Since the answer was "No!" we rode in a horse and carriage instead and learned a little about the history of the island.
Among other things, we learned that John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich and other famous people have stayed at the Grand Hotel, "the only 5-star hotel without valet service."
We also visited a butterfly house and discovered how to get a 2-year-old to look at the camera with the best smile. Have a butterfly land on your camera of course.





Friday, July 28, 2006
Mackinac Island