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Ruth Rosenthal | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Michigan - 17 Lighthouses, 5 Casinos and 1350 Miles on the Rental Car! tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Michigan - 17 Lighthouses, 5 Casinos and 1350 Miles on the Rental Car!

I wanted to see lighthouses, and since Michigan has 122 of them, I thought that would be a good place to go for a relatively short, inexpensive trip. For Howard, I found "guy" things like casinos, canal lock systems, and a car show. Every where we went there were cool things going on, and we had a blast - although I think we wore ourselves out a little....1350 miles on the rental car in 5 1/2 days was a bit much!
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After our quick flight to Detroit, Avis manager David Tinsley fixed us up in an HHR with only 2 miles on it!
After our quick flight to Detroit, Avis manager David Tinsley fixed us up in an HHR with only 2 miles on it!		 We drove to the Traverse Bay area and spent the night at a casino in Williamsburg.
We drove to the Traverse Bay area and spent the night at a casino in Williamsburg.		 Despite my dislike of casinos, I have to admit that Turtle Creek was wonderful. Early AM I photographed near by.
Despite my dislike of casinos, I have to admit that Turtle Creek was wonderful. Early AM I photographed near by.		 Drove to Frankfurt, where I saw my first lighthouse on the trip: beautiful Point Betsie (east side Lake Michigan)
Drove to Frankfurt, where I saw my first lighthouse on the trip: beautiful Point Betsie (east side Lake Michigan)
Pt. Betsie from the beach, early AM. It was too early to go inside, so I just walked around.
Pt. Betsie from the beach, early AM. It was too early to go inside, so I just walked around.		 The Frankfort Pier lighthouse was interesting
The Frankfort Pier lighthouse was interesting		 A typical Traverse Bay scene - I loved the Traverse Bay area - so serene
A typical Traverse Bay scene - I loved the Traverse Bay area - so serene		 On Thursday we visited the Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore. It was a beautiful combo of water and sand.
On Thursday we visited the Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore. It was a beautiful combo of water and sand.
At the Lake Mich overlook, some people go down and up the dunes despite don't do it signs. It's a steep and arduous climb.
At the Lake Mich overlook, some people go down and up the dunes despite "don't do it" signs. It's a steep and arduous climb.		 There's a place in Sleeping Bear Dunes where, for a fee, you can do a safe and less strenuous dune climb.
There's a place in Sleeping Bear Dunes where, for a fee, you can do a safe and less strenuous dune climb.		 While Howard checked out a casino in Suttons Bay, I went to nearby Leelanau State Park to see the Traverse Bay lighthouse.
While Howard checked out a casino in Suttons Bay, I went to nearby Leelanau State Park to see the Traverse Bay lighthouse.		 Charlevoix south of Petoskey has a very basic light.
Charlevoix south of Petoskey has a very basic light.
We stayed in Petoskey Friday. Nearby Harbor Springs is scenic. It used to be a Methodist summer community.
We stayed in Petoskey Friday. Nearby Harbor Springs is scenic. It used to be a Methodist summer community.		 The Odawa casino in Petoskey was eye-catching. Their food was pretty good, too.
The Odawa casino in Petoskey was eye-catching. Their food was pretty good, too.		 We drove past St. Ignace up to Sault Ste Marie near the Canada border. It was Engineers Day at the Soo Locks.
We drove past St. Ignace up to Sault Ste Marie near the Canada border. It was Engineers Day at the Soo Locks.		 This once-yearly event allows visitors to view freighters going through the locks between Lakes Huron and Superior.
This once-yearly event allows visitors to view freighters going through the locks between Lakes Huron and Superior.
Then it was over to Brimley, home of a lighthouse and casino. Point Iroquois was gorgeous.
Then it was over to Brimley, home of a lighthouse and casino. Point Iroquois was gorgeous.		 On the road to Pt. Iroquois in Brimley, I found this roadside model of a freighter passing the lighthouse
On the road to Pt. Iroquois in Brimley, I found this roadside model of a freighter passing the lighthouse		 We got back down to St. Ignace just in time to check into the motel and watch the beginning of the Car Parade.
We got back down to St. Ignace just in time to check into the motel and watch the beginning of the Car Parade.		 Cars and trucks had to be 1984 or older. They cruised St. Ignace all afternoon and part of the night.
Cars and trucks had to be 1984 or older. They cruised St. Ignace all afternoon and part of the night.
For 2 nights we stayed at the Bear Cove Inn, with great decor and even greater hosts (thanks, Elaine and Bob!)
For 2 nights we stayed at the Bear Cove Inn, with great decor and even greater hosts (thanks, Elaine and Bob!)		 Bears and raccoons, oh my! In addition to wallpaper, there were parts of birch trees and lots of special touches in the rooms!
Bears and raccoons, oh my! In addition to wallpaper, there were parts of birch trees and lots of special touches in the rooms!		 St. Ignace has a fake lighthouse. I enjoyed photographing cars, ferries, and parasailors from this pier one morning.
St. Ignace has a fake lighthouse. I enjoyed photographing cars, ferries, and parasailors from this pier one morning.		 This looked so fun - I've done a lot of stuff, but, surprisingly, never parasailed!
This looked so fun - I've done a lot of stuff, but, surprisingly, never parasailed!
I took a 3 hr. lighthouse cruise from Mac City, narrated by Terry Pepper, GLLKA. This is the beautiful Round Island lighthouse
I took a 3 hr. lighthouse cruise from Mac City, narrated by Terry Pepper, GLLKA. This is the beautiful Round Island lighthouse		 Round Island Passage Light
Round Island Passage Light		 The 1869 Bois Blanc (pronounced Bob Lo in Michigan!) is privately owned.
The 1869 Bois Blanc (pronounced "Bob Lo" in Michigan!) is privately owned.		 Poe Reef lighthouse was in pretty good shape-except for the mess made by the cormorants nesting there.
Poe Reef lighthouse was in pretty good shape-except for the mess made by the cormorants nesting there.
Fourteen Foot Shoal Lighthouse, 1 1/2 miles off the shore of Lake Huron near Cheyboygan.
Fourteen Foot Shoal Lighthouse, 1 1/2 miles off the shore of Lake Huron near Cheyboygan.		 We passed right by the Cheboygan Crib lighthouse.
We passed right by the Cheboygan Crib lighthouse.		 This is the Coast Guard's new Mackinaw icebreaker in Mackinaw City.
This is the Coast Guard's new Mackinaw icebreaker in Mackinaw City.		 Classic view of Old Mackinac Point lighthouse in Mackinaw City, restored by Great Lakes Lths Keepers Assoc.
Classic view of Old Mackinac Point lighthouse in Mackinaw City, restored by Great Lakes Lths Keepers Assoc.
The light & fog bldg. Howard also took an awesome shot of the light while I was cruising, JIC I was unable to get there.
The light & fog bldg. Howard also took an awesome shot of the light while I was cruising, JIC I was unable to get there.		 The mighty Mackinac Bridge that leads to Michigan's Upper Peninsula
The mighty Mackinac Bridge that leads to Michigan's Upper Peninsula		 I wanted a pair of shoes like this - especially to wear at the car show in St. Ignace!
I wanted a pair of shoes like this - especially to wear at the car show in St. Ignace!		 I took a ferry to Mackinac Island, where there are no cars - but one heck of a lot of tourists!!! This is the Grand Hotel.
I took a ferry to Mackinac Island, where there are no cars - but one heck of a lot of tourists!!! This is the Grand Hotel.
And this is Mackinac Fort, seen from the main road, which is reserved for bicycles and horse-drawn carriages.
And this is Mackinac Fort, seen from the main road, which is reserved for bicycles and horse-drawn carriages.		 I decided a bike would be too difficult, so I just walked around a bit. Here's an old church with water beyond.
I decided a bike would be too difficult, so I just walked around a bit. Here's an old church with water beyond.		 Arch Rock on Mac Island
Arch Rock on Mac Island		 The mightly Mackinac Bridge from the Lower to Upper Peninsula, taken from the viewpoint on the Mac City side.
The mightly Mackinac Bridge from the Lower to Upper Peninsula, taken from the viewpoint on the Mac City side.
On the way back to Detroit Sunday, we visited the 40 Mile Point lighthouse near Rogers City on the eastern side of Michigan.
On the way back to Detroit Sunday, we visited the 40 Mile Point lighthouse near Rogers City on the eastern side of Michigan.		 The Old Presque Isle lighthouse - a couple minutes later, the rain came! There are also a couple range lights near by.
The Old Presque Isle lighthouse - a couple minutes later, the rain came! There are also a couple range lights near by.		 The New Presque Isle lighthouse. It was drizzling, so I just photographed quickly from behind the car.
The New Presque Isle lighthouse. It was drizzling, so I just photographed quickly from behind the car.		 Charming Sturgeon Point light (1870), beautifully restored by the co. historical society, which was selling shortcake nearby!
Charming Sturgeon Point light (1870), beautifully restored by the co. historical society, which was selling shortcake nearby!
For fun, we stayed in Windsor, Ontario, getting a cheap Radisson room (Priceline). Detroit was just across the river.
For fun, we stayed in Windsor, Ontario, getting a cheap Radisson room (Priceline). Detroit was just across the river.		 While Howard checked out Caesars, I tried my hand at artsy pix - hard without a tripod, but this one turned out pretty well!
While Howard checked out Caesars, I tried my hand at artsy pix - hard without a tripod, but this one turned out pretty well!
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