Summer Weekend Getaway Reminiscing

I live in a very touristy area of Northern Michigan.  You can find small town quaintness just about everywhere.  I guess that's one reason we don't often travel away from the area in the summer.

As the weekends approach we decide if  Saturday or Sunday will be the better weather day and we take off to some place usually within 50 miles of home.

In July we went to visit the 

Point Betsie Lighthouse in Frankfort

 Built in 1858

Located next to Lake Michigan in an area known as the southern end of the  Manitou Passage.  It was once a vital shipping lane but is no longer used.

 Backside

 Tourist shop

 Of course I had to go in

 A fog rolled in

 It was interesting to see these sailboats floating out there.  I bet it's really eerie to be out in that big body of water and suddenly be surrounded by fog.

 Some of the sand dunes around the area

 A pair of very old rock covered planters

I was intrigued with all the stone work here. 

 A pathway to the beach area next to

the lighthouse

 More of the Dunes at the Sleeping Bear Dunes

National Park

 After we left there we headed to Glen Arbor and I took this picture as we crossed over the bridge in an area known as the narrows off of Crystal Lake.  

Here is an interesting video you can watch if you like about the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park 

--click here--

In 2011 Good Morning America nominated it as the most beautiful place in America

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In August we visited this little town called Alden which is located by Torch Lake

It has one main loop that goes through the town and we always visit the Alden Mill House.  They offer a terrific variety of custom mixed spices and herbs and they also sell a lot of fun decorative and functional things for the kitchen.

I quickly shot these pics with my cell phone.

Some of these places are funny about you taking pictures so I had to be discreet.

The weekend before Labor Day we drove up to Mackinaw City.  They have a ton of small tourists shops.  We mosied around and had lunch at our favorite spot called The Depot, which is at a historic building.

 Inside is interesting.  There is a train that runs around on a track all the way around the inside.

 We always eat outside under the awning and watch the tourists moving about.

 This is a bronze feature I love of children playing.

I would love to own something like this but I know they are terribly expensive.

I found a neat item for the nautical room and we bought some fudge.

  Lake Michigan and the boats to Mackinaw Island arejust through this area!  We opted not to go to the island this year.

It was a beautiful day up there.

We are lucky we can get to so many nice places so easily.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

September and things are winding down and I'm thinking about fall.  We made a trip to  Frankfort to Crystal Gardens with a stop over at a favorite spot in the little town of Beulah.

Dan loves a warm meal with gravy. He got a hot turkey plate which he scarfed down.  I am always amazed at how fast he can eat!

Mine was a chicken salad croissant- yum!

This little place called the Cherry Hut will close later in October until next spring.  Some of these towns just aren't busy enough through the winter months and a lot of stores literally close up.

On to Frankfort

 This barn is a store called the Barn Swallow located at Crystal Gardens

I snuck a few more pictures

Rusticated pumpkins

They sell a combination of new and old items and a lot of it is in on consignment.

Every nook and cranny is filled with gems

I amazed myself and didn't buy anything but

I had my eye on plenty!

Over to the garden center

This place is fun to walk around at. They have Peacocks that wander about too.  

Pretty but very noisy!

  

I found a pair of these plant baskets that were emptied and sitting in a greenhouse.  I grabbed them and took them to the register and asked how much they'd sell them for.   The price was right ($5 each) They are now going to be a part of a project I've dreamt up.

It will involve these... 

Hope you enjoyed my summer weekend get-a-way reminiscing!  
Sorry it was a long post!

I'm joining  

Kathe With an E  for

"You're Gonna Love It"

and
Jann at Have A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson for
Share Your Cup Thursday

The Tablescaper for
Oh The Places I've Been