Last year, we posted so much due to getting in 40 hikes. This year we have not set any kind of recreation goals so we have not had as much to post. However, that all changed on June 14th. Elisa and Melinda took a road trip to Mackinac Island (pronounced: Mackinaw) in Michigan. We drove through North Dakota on our way there and came through South Dakota on our way home. It took us a week to make the journey. We also did a few short hikes at different destinations.
We made many stops along the way. On the way to Mackinac Island, we first stopped at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We had not been there before and loved all of the green. There were many short hikes, most were less than .5 of a mile. We saw many bison, wild horses, and prairie dogs. One of the prairie dogs decided to cross the road right in front of us. As we came to a stop, he ran partway across the road and then stopped, stood on his hind legs, and waved his arms in the air before continuing on his way. We wished we could have had it on video. After that we stopped in New Salem to see Salem Sue, the World's Largest Holstein, in New Salem, North Dakota. You can see the statue as you are driving down the interstate.
Our next stop was at the Mall of America in Minneapolis. It is amazing how big it is. One of the store employees told us it was a full mile around the outside loop of stores. The amusement park in the center is amazing, plus it seemed like every store imaginable was there too (sometimes twice). We especially liked the Peep Store. (Not pictured was an enormous box of Mike and Ikes that Melinda was very tempted to buy.)
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was our next stop. It is located on Lake Superior and is beautiful. To really see the rocks, you need to get on the water. We chose to take a boat tour. You can also rent kayaks and paddle along the shore, which would be fun if we get the chance to go back. Unlike kayaking on the ocean, you do not have to worry as much about waves (except in bad weather apparently) and so you can get a lot closer to the cliffs. We did the boat tour and then did some hikes to some waterfalls and overlooks. It is beautiful country.
Mackinac Island was the next stop. We took the ferry from St. Ignace to Mackinac. (It seemed like a lot more people had come from Mackinaw City which also has a ferry. We were happy to be on ferries that were less crowded, especially since it rained on the way back. We would not have wanted to be stuck on top of the ferry in the rain.) We rented bikes and rode the 8 mile loop of the island. The loop is relatively flat and you get to see some amazing views from the island and some big houses. On the trip around you can stop at a few different historical sites including Arch Rock. (Apparently, there is a scene from the movie "Somewhere in Time" that was filmed on the island, but we somehow missed the marker for it.) There is a short hike (207 steps) to get to the top of Arch Rock. After the bike ride, we went to Fort Mackinac. You could see (and hear) cannons being fired as well as some of the guns. The views from the different overlooks at the fort are great. (We could have paid to learn how to drive a horse and buggy, but Melinda poo-pooed that idea.) We then visited the shops and bought some t-shirts. We also got some DELICIOUS fudge from Murdick's! We caught a ferry back to St. Ignace just as the rain started to fall.
On our trip home, we stopped the night in Green Bay. We walked to Lambeau Field and were amazed at how big it was. We also looked in the Packers store and were amazed at the prices. A jersey for Aaron Rodgers cost $294. (Some of the less famous players were only $100 or so.) After Green Bay, we stopped at the Field of Dreams Movie Site. It is free to visit and so much fun (especially if you have seen the movie). They have balls and bats you can use and we ran the bases. The corn was not that high, but we could pretend it was. Later in the summer, they reenact the players coming out of the field to play. It was so much fun.
On the next stretch, we stopped at the Corn Palace and Wall Drug. In between those, we drove through the Badlands and did a few short hikes. The Badlands is fun because you can wander amongst the rocks in different spots. You are not restricted to certain trails. (On a side note: we had stopped the night in Mitchell, South Dakota and as we were driving to the Badlands, there were several semi-trucks tipped over in the median of the freeway. Apparently, a tornado, along with softball-size hail, had blown through the area the night before. We were so glad we had not driven any further!) Next we stopped at Devil's Tower. It was an amazing view. There is a number of hikes you can do, so we did the 1.3 mile loop around the base of the tower. You can see people climbing the tower at different spots along the trail. Crazy!
Our final stop was not planned. We decided to stop at the Little Bighorn Battlefield. It is the place of Custer's Last Stand. It had a lot of interesting facts that we were sure we had learned in school sometime but had forgotten.
Overall it was a great road trip. One of the best things about road trips is that you can take unexpected detours (like Little Bighorn Battlefield). We enjoy seeing the different landscapes of the country too. One of our favorite things is to see the national parks in this country.
Our next stop was at the Mall of America in Minneapolis. It is amazing how big it is. One of the store employees told us it was a full mile around the outside loop of stores. The amusement park in the center is amazing, plus it seemed like every store imaginable was there too (sometimes twice). We especially liked the Peep Store. (Not pictured was an enormous box of Mike and Ikes that Melinda was very tempted to buy.)
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was our next stop. It is located on Lake Superior and is beautiful. To really see the rocks, you need to get on the water. We chose to take a boat tour. You can also rent kayaks and paddle along the shore, which would be fun if we get the chance to go back. Unlike kayaking on the ocean, you do not have to worry as much about waves (except in bad weather apparently) and so you can get a lot closer to the cliffs. We did the boat tour and then did some hikes to some waterfalls and overlooks. It is beautiful country.
Mackinac Island was the next stop. We took the ferry from St. Ignace to Mackinac. (It seemed like a lot more people had come from Mackinaw City which also has a ferry. We were happy to be on ferries that were less crowded, especially since it rained on the way back. We would not have wanted to be stuck on top of the ferry in the rain.) We rented bikes and rode the 8 mile loop of the island. The loop is relatively flat and you get to see some amazing views from the island and some big houses. On the trip around you can stop at a few different historical sites including Arch Rock. (Apparently, there is a scene from the movie "Somewhere in Time" that was filmed on the island, but we somehow missed the marker for it.) There is a short hike (207 steps) to get to the top of Arch Rock. After the bike ride, we went to Fort Mackinac. You could see (and hear) cannons being fired as well as some of the guns. The views from the different overlooks at the fort are great. (We could have paid to learn how to drive a horse and buggy, but Melinda poo-pooed that idea.) We then visited the shops and bought some t-shirts. We also got some DELICIOUS fudge from Murdick's! We caught a ferry back to St. Ignace just as the rain started to fall.
On our trip home, we stopped the night in Green Bay. We walked to Lambeau Field and were amazed at how big it was. We also looked in the Packers store and were amazed at the prices. A jersey for Aaron Rodgers cost $294. (Some of the less famous players were only $100 or so.) After Green Bay, we stopped at the Field of Dreams Movie Site. It is free to visit and so much fun (especially if you have seen the movie). They have balls and bats you can use and we ran the bases. The corn was not that high, but we could pretend it was. Later in the summer, they reenact the players coming out of the field to play. It was so much fun.
On the next stretch, we stopped at the Corn Palace and Wall Drug. In between those, we drove through the Badlands and did a few short hikes. The Badlands is fun because you can wander amongst the rocks in different spots. You are not restricted to certain trails. (On a side note: we had stopped the night in Mitchell, South Dakota and as we were driving to the Badlands, there were several semi-trucks tipped over in the median of the freeway. Apparently, a tornado, along with softball-size hail, had blown through the area the night before. We were so glad we had not driven any further!) Next we stopped at Devil's Tower. It was an amazing view. There is a number of hikes you can do, so we did the 1.3 mile loop around the base of the tower. You can see people climbing the tower at different spots along the trail. Crazy!
Our final stop was not planned. We decided to stop at the Little Bighorn Battlefield. It is the place of Custer's Last Stand. It had a lot of interesting facts that we were sure we had learned in school sometime but had forgotten.
Overall it was a great road trip. One of the best things about road trips is that you can take unexpected detours (like Little Bighorn Battlefield). We enjoy seeing the different landscapes of the country too. One of our favorite things is to see the national parks in this country.