Brian, the boys and I have spent the past week up north in Glen Arbor. We couldn't have asked for a better vacation!
I think my favorite hike was the first day on Sleeping Bear Dune Trail because it was challenging but ended at the water, but I also loved the windy, stormy-looking walk on Good Harbor Beach and our last night at Esch Road Beach and the mouth of the lovely Otter Creek. I loved being able to bike with Jack's tag-along on the Heritage Trail because he was so proud of how fast we could ride (we left Brian and Ben in the dust).
Brian also loved the bike ride, and says his favorite hikes were today's Bay View trail and the Empire Bluff trail. He also really enjoyed swimming at North Bar Lake.
With over 100 pictures flagged as my favorites, it's hard to decide what to post here, so I'm going to choose one or two of my favorites from each day to share.
Day 1: Sleeping Bear Dune Trail and Black Star Farms Winery
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| While Brian and I found it hard to trudge through the deep sand of the dunes to reach Lake Michigan, Jack sprinted ahead like the tireless ball of energy that he is. |
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| Our reward for our hike: STUNNING! |
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| Benji and Mommy |
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| Ben's first winery tasting: apparently we're not the only crazy people to take their kids to a winery because they were ready for us -- they gave each boy a sample of sparkling grape juice while Brian and I were sampling wines, and afterwards there were animals on the farm to pet. |
Day 2: Pyramid Point Hike
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| Finally, a family picture! |
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| Daddy and Jack resting after the hike up to the point |
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| Jack befriended a caterpillar. |
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| Ben loved running in the sand on the top of the dune |
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| The hike down through the woods |
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| Sunset from our balcony at The Homestead |
Day 3: Our Anniversary! Empire Bluffs Trail and North Bar Lake in the morning, Old Mission Point and Trattoria Stella at night.
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| Brothers at the top of the bluff |
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| Eight years of married bliss |
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| Freeloader on the way down |
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| Ben got political with his Obama tshirt |
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| North Bar Lake is connected to Lake Michigan by a shallow tidal river. The boys loved playing alligator in the water. |
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| Jack crossing the river with Lake Michigan beyond |
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| The Old Mission lighthouse |
Day 4: Bike ride on the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail and Dune Climb
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| Jack stopped three miles into an eight-mile bike ride to run up and down the dunes -- such a nut! |
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| Where does he get his energy?!? |
Day 5: Traverse City for shopping, putt-putt and lunch at North Peak Brewery; then a walk at Good Harbor Beach
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| Breaking all the rules of golf |
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| The golfers |
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| Looks like rain, but feels like heaven |
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| "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" |
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| Ben loves being picked up and thrown in the air |
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| More gorgeous views and a couple handsome men |
Day 6: Bay View Hiking Trail and Port Oneida Fair; then a Tour d'Sand at Good Harbor Beach and Esch Road Beach
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| The hike to the fair |
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| Ben being bandaged at the Civil War nursing station, including fake blood and SweetTart painkillers. |
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| Brian and Ben at an unnamed beach on Good Harbor Bay, off 651. |
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| Esch Road Beach: I think it's my favorite beach that we've gone to. I'm pretty sure Jack agrees because he and I had a blast playing in Otter Creek where it meets the beach and joins with Lake Michigan. Couldn't have been more blissful. |
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| Last sunset from our balcony |
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