Katie and her husband under Arch Rock on Mackinac Island

For our 1st Anniversary, we decided to go back to Mackinac and maybe hit some wineries and lighthouses while we were at it. We moved to the east coast last winter and so it took us a good 12 hours to get up to Traverse City. After a good night’s sleep, we drove up the Old Mission Peninsula and found the Old Mission Point Lighthouse. It’s apparently one of those that you can apply to be a lighthouse keeper for and our delightful hosts were doing just that! We climbed the tower, got some great photos then started off to the wineries. We hit four delightful vineyards before we finally stopped at Chateau Chantal, a sprawling mansion of a chateau perched on a hillside with jaw-dropping views. My husband later surprised me with a romantic nights stay at their wonderful B&B.

The next day we drove up M-119, aka ‘Tunnel of Trees’ and saw not only the tunnel of trees forming above us, but the forest floor carpeted white with glowing trillium. We stopped to gape at the houses on the bluffs in the ever charming Harbor Springs and continued north to Mackinaw City where we found stellar views of the Straits of Mackinac at McGulpin Point Lighthouse.

Whitefish Point Light Station

The following day we went to Mackinac Island and traveled the 8 mile stretch around it’s perimeter on M-185 – me on my bicycle, and my husband running. Even though it was a snowy, chilly day, the magic of the Island got to us. It’s incredible when you get out of ‘downtown’ and find the secluded parts of the Island that seem to call to you. We spent a few days on the Island, hiking, petting horses, celebrating our anniversary and reminiscing.

Crisp Point Lighthouse

When we got off the Island, we started across the Mighty Mac bridge to the U.P. and went north to Sault Ste. Marie. We were lucky enough to get there just in time to see two freighters go through the Soo Locks. Afterwards, we drove through the quaint town of Paradise to Whitefish Point where we met up with the Whitefish Point Lighthouse. We soaked in the views of the ‘Graveyard of the Great Lakes’ and then went to the Upper Falls of Tahquamenon Falls.  After hiking around and getting refreshingly misted by the updraft of the falls, we went to what turned out to be my favorite lighthouse…Crisp Point.  This was the most fun lighthouse to find, through gravel and dirt roads winding through the U.P. When we finally got there it was so beautiful, secretive and secluded. Certainly as they advertise, Michigan’s Best Kept Secret.

We had such a great road trip to Michigan, now I can only hope to come back again soon and start another adventure!

To read a more detailed account of Katie’s journey, visit her blog, Monday Travels.

Katie Dennis grew up in northern Wisconsin vacationing for years with her family into the U.P. of Michigan. She’s now living on the east coast with her husband and starting up a wedding planning business with a bit of blogging on the side. Share your thoughts and feedback with Katie by leaving a comment below.

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