Fall Trip to Mackinaw and Points North–Day 4

To start the day we drove a short distance to the Soo Locks Tour dock and boarded the boat to go through the locks.

The boat captain and crew did a very good job. The girl on the microphone did the tour guide talking and also hauled the rope for mooring the boat in the locks. We didn’t sink, so I think they did a very good job.

Of course, there were plenty of boats and other things to see throughout the tour.

Finally, we headed into the lock and tied up, the gates closed and the water quickly rose enough to get us through to the other end. The water was filled by natural flow of the water and not pumps. The entire process only took about 20 minutes.

After the boat ride, we returned to Sault St. Marie for lunch on our own. We chose a place overlooking the park and later took a walk through the park enjoying the fall color and items of interest, such as this propeller from the first steam schooner to use the lakes. Unfortunately the boiler exploded blowing the boat to smithereens! I think thing 4 people died in that one, so it could have been worse.

After leaving Sault St. Marie, we went to Iroquois Point Lighthouse. While we were there, made an opportunity to take our group photo.

As is all too often the case, we had a good evening meal at the Lighthouse Restaurant in Mackinaw City.

		Lighthouse Restaurant VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Fall Trip to Mackinaw and Points North–Day 2

This is day 2 of our trip and was a great day of touring the immediate area of Mackinaw City. We visited the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Fort Michilimackinac. We also enjoyed some time shopping and a nice dinner at Nonna Lisa.

Remember: you can double click any photo to see a larger version!

We continue to enjoy the driving capabilities and friendly services of our driver, Marvin Thomas. He has been a lot of fun to tease and we consider him as part of our group.

 

Our first stop was to visit the old lighthouse at Mackinac Point. It isn’t a very high lighthouse but enjoyed service well into the 1950s.

We toured the Keepers Quarters and learned some of the history about this facility. Several of us took the trek up the spiral stairway and ladder to the top.The last five photos above were taken from the top. The next to last photo above is the passenger ferry to Mackinac Island. The last one is looking across to the Mackinac Island and you can see the Grand Hotel in the center of that photo.

Next, we did a little shopping and had lunch. Nancy and I had a famous Michigan Pastie. It is a very good rendition of a pot pie that can be eaten with your fingers without a mess!

After lunch, we went to Fort Michilimackinac. This area saw its first garrison in the late 1600s. Later, a better fort was built and occupied through the Revolutionary war. Then, the fort was burned and the soldiers went to the fort on the island. The current structures are replicas of the original based on archeological findings.

The photo above is inside the chapel.

As the day came to a close, we had dinner at Nonna Lisa. The décor of this place was very rustic with many stuffed animals.

Here are a few examples. Can you tells which is the turkey?

Tomorrow, we visit Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel.