Where in the U.P. World did we take the Grandsons next? Well, Mackinac Island of course! When we arrived on the Island the boys were hungry, no surprise there, so we headed to The Doghouse and filled them up with brats and burgers. While we were eating, we noticed a man launching several big kites, so we struck up a conversation with him and he then asked if the boys would help him launch a big kite. They were reluctant at first, but got into it when they saw how big it was and what he was planning to add to it, especially the huge fish at the end. The kite man was Ben Nye, Kite Flyer Extraordinaire, who has Great Turtle Toys, a fun game and toy shop on the Island.

After the kiting adventure, we hoped on our bikes and started the ride to Arch Rock. We took the rode behind Fort Mackinac, so were on the inner streets of the Island. It was a hot day, so there were a number of boats in the clear waters of Lake Huron, along with some people floating on rafts. It was neat to see them from the Arch Rock lookout.

We continued on our bikes, taking the Garrison road in the center of the Island and came up to the Mackinac Island Cemeteries, including the U.S. Post Cemetery. There are two other cemeteries there for civilians, the St. Anne's Catholic Cemetery being the largest and the Protestant Cemetery, which is known now just as Mackinac Island Cemetery. All three are located together there and we were quite surprised as to how big the cemetery area is. There are several impressive stone arches and stone walls surrounding the cemeteries, too.

We continued on and passed by the Mackinac Island airport, which is another site in the center of the Island that many visitors don't get to see unless they fly in, take a carriage tour or ride the back streets like we did. Also along the way, we could hear music in the distance and I wondered where it was coming from. We found the source on a quiet stretch of the road, when we spotted a guy sitting up high in a tree right alongside the road, with his music playing and what looked like some supplies to keep him comfortable for the day. I'm thinking it must have been cooler up in the shade of that tree. No pictures of him, though, as I didn't want to invade his privacy there.

We finished up at the British Landing, where the boys all took a break and I made a circle of the island by myself. You get to see many of the residences, a number of well known sites and beautiful views of the lake and mainland, along Michigan Highway M-185, the main highway around the Island.

Surprisingly enough, there was not one complaint from the boys about the bike riding tour (they road 11 miles) and when asked what they enjoyed the most, their reply was riding around the Island. I'd have to declare our mini tour a huge success. Hope you enjoyed coming along, too!

Thanks 4 sharing. First time I've seen the island's airport. It seems there's always kite flying whenever I visit there.

And a grand tour of some of the high spots of the UP it was. Mackinac Island is always a fun spot. I realize in a limited time you can only see and do so much while you are there. One of my favorite places there is the butterfly house. That is worth seeing. I guess it probably isn't if you don't get excited over a bunch of butterflies, some of which are not so common. I take my hat off to you for entertaining the grandsons in such fine fashion. Thank you for being so gracious and sharing it with us.

Cool trip! Thanks for the pictures, and safe travels back!!

These are FABULOUS!!! I LOVE that stone arch to
the cemetery.

You are the BEST!

WOW, Mary!! What fun!! Those grandsons are so
lucky to have you guys. We took one of our
granddaughters there one year, but we didn't do
the biking thing. Don't think I could have
handled it, though I wanted to. Thanks for
sharing all of these amazing sites which I've
never seen in the times I've visited there.
Supposedly there are some cool waterfalls there
somewhere too. Not sure if that's true or not.

Thanks so much for taking us along on Jim and
Mary's Excellent Adventure!!!!

Mary, those grandkids are going to talk about this
awesome vacation forever you Blessed them with!