Mackinac Island, Michigan

The view from our campsite in JW Wells state park. Fabulous lake front. 

Everywhere we go, the kids venture out on bikes or scooters.  View all around us was water.

Michigan has been gorgeous so far!  We were really looking forward to visiting Mackinac Island, which is the only non-motorized vehicle city in the USA.  They ferry you out there for the low low price of $75/family plus $45 in bikes fees.  Once you get there, you'd think it'd be strangely quiet minus all that motoring, but with the 10 million people getting on and off boats, the air pollution is simply replaced by noise.  It's a very cool idea and truly a beautiful island, but yes, a complete tourist trap.  Once we were there and fought our ways through the crowds, we took off around the island which is an 8 mile trek.

My favorite part was watching the garbage collectors use horse drawn wagons to collect trash.  Every little job from bringing luggage up to hotels to horse drawn tours was done on horses.  It brings great character and a nice horsey smell to the island. Population goes from 5000 in the summer to 500 in the harsh winters, where your only way to the mainland is across the ice packed Lake Michigan on snowmobile.

Arches aren't just in Utah!  

One little known fact (at least in my geography impaired mind) is that Michigan is separated into two peninsula's.  Lower peninsula has Detroit and lots of interesting and sad history (told to us by our camping neighbors in Mackinac).  He warned us the exits to avoid on our way south.  Matt and I now want to see the Eminem movie, "8 mile" as it depicts the "white flight" event that took place after the riots in the 50's (very rated R for obvious reason). There is an 8 mile section from the river north that is crime ridden and remains very dangerous, according to our neighbor.  He and his wife, a nurse and salesman, are both from Detroit but from his descriptions, I often wondered why.

The upper peninsula is connected by the largest suspension bridge in the US.  Toll is $24 for an RV, by the way.  It leads to Mackinaw, MI and to the Mill Creek Campground ( see Matt's funny description).

This great swing set made Alex and Tanner legends on the playground as they figured out the fastest ways to spin. We dragged them off at dusk.