Labour Day Weekend 2006

We trekked over to the northwestern part of the lower peninsula for Labour Day weekend and had an amazing time. It is breathtakingly beautiful and serene in that part of the state. We stayed three nights and in one day visited the fine cities / towns / villages of Leland, Maple City, Cedar, Empire, Glen Arbor, Glen Haven, Sutton's Bay and of course, Traverse City.

Folks, if you have never visited the area and are from the Great Lakes State, I highly recommend a visit. We stayed on a corner lot at the Lake Leelanau RV Park in Lake Leelanau, Michigan and were very impressed with the facilities and the events they had for kids (i.e. movies, tractor rides, treats and even an organ concert!)

Without further ado, here are pictures of our adventure! Note: This is a VERY long post!

Here are the kids in front of our home for the next few days.


Some of the sites were accented with plaques with the names of the owners and decorated with plants and flowers. This one was particularly creative.


To the beach! The park's beach was very small, but very nice. It is next to the marina where we would later rent a boat to go fishing.


Yes, the water is really this blue in Michigan! We're looking across to the Dune Climb of the Sleeping Bear Dunes.


The National Park Service helps preserve the memory of this little town with donations from visitors. This former canning factory now houses boats that have been restored or are under restoration. Interesting.


The general store was restored to the way it looked in the 1920's. It sells souvenirs and treats. You can even get a postmark stamp that says you visited the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.


We headed to the Maritime Museum which is close by. The Maritime Museum consisted of the US Coast Guard station and the boat house where the Guardsmen would rush and rescue people who were shipwrecked.

Here is the boathouse itself which has been beautifully maintained inside and out.


Here are three heads on a boat in the boathouse!


This picture displayed how the US Coast Guard rescued folks who were shipwrecked along Lake Michigan's shorelines. We were very thankful for a beautiful sunny day and didn't have to worry about any gales!


The kids are heading upstairs of the US Coast Guard House where the men resided.


The kids are on Bunk #7. All of the men (numbered 1 - 7) were required to reside in the house. If married, they were allowed to see their family one day a week.


A secret room!


Here is Granny sitting on the front porch of the house.


This is sitting on the porch of the former US Coast Guard station at Old Mission Point. Sitting here and looking at this scene reminds me of a Monet print we have at our house. It's just a perfect moment in time. It was at this moment, I truly understood what he and his contemporaries were trying to convey during their lifetime. Amazing.


This beautiful farm is almost directly across from the Dune Climb which is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes.


The kids are getting ready for the climb up! It's 150 feet.


We all made it! Yummer and I at the top of the dune. We didn't feel ambitious enough to continue the three - four hour hike over four or five larger dunes.


After the Dune Climb, we decided to embark upon the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. It was well worth the time and drive. This picture is Stop # 2 of Glen Lake.


Groom Gram, Yum, Minnie and I overlooking Glen Lake.


This tree is fighting to survive in its environment. Look at its exposed roots.


See this sign?


This was Stop # 9 on the P.S.S.D. Note the boat and how small it is. Amazing.


These folks are making the trek back up to the top.


Another view from the deck.


After the drive, we drove to Leland and walked around. It has a very charming little enclave called "Fishtown" as you can see below.


We are sitting at Rick's Cafe and looking directly at this. Next door to this is a hotel.


Sunset at 8.19 PM EST in Leland, Michigan.


On Sunday, we rented a boat and went fishing in Lake Leelanau. Here is Yum with a strange man in the back of the boat.


Minnie steering the boat with Dad's help.


Groom-Gram, Min, Dad and Yummer. We had a few nibbles, but no fish, I'm afraid!


After fishing, we drove over to the Old Mission Peninsula. This is a very (VERY) nice area. We drove as close as we could get to the tip of the peninsula, parked, visited the Old Mission lighthouse and walked to where it ended.
Here is Granny and Yummer hanging out together while we were there.


An arty picture by MJM.


Here is the Old Mission Lighthouse. It is modest in size, but to many a sailor on the rough waters of Lake Michigan, it was a welcome beacon.
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Looking up at the lighthouse with the lake behind us.
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This is the sign outside of the lighthouse. Cool beans!


Minnie!


Yummer!


Michael and I ventured down the well-worn path to the very tip of Old Mission Peninsula. It was not a bad walk at all. Along the way, he took some cool pictures of plants and flowers that grew on this tip. Here is one of them.


There were some interesting rock sculptures left by previous visitors.


The road ends here, and I'm at it ...


so is Michael! (I guess he's looking for another way back!)


You will be surprised to see so many vineyards in this area. Not that I drink wine, of course. We stopped at the Chateau Chantal after our visit at the lighthouse. It was closed by the time we got there, but simply being there to soak in the views was enough for us!


The cash crop!


We went to eat at Dick's Pour House before retiring for the night. It was the end of a long busy day!


On the last day (Labour Day), we went fishing again in the morning. The kids caught a baby perch! See?


Here is video of the 450 foot drop on this sand dune overlooking Lake Michigan. It's # 9 on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.


Here is video of the view from the Chateau Chantal parking lot.