How to Get Laid: The View (Rated G...come on people)

You all know we went to Mackinac Island for our 10th anniversary.  It is a super special place to us because this is where Sir proposed to me.  One thing I have learned in 10 years is that getting up at 3a.m. can be waaaay more fun than going to bed at 3a.m.  Five hours, and a beautiful drive later, you arrive here...Mackinaw City (and yes, the city is spelled Mackinaw while the island is spelled Mackinac PRONOUNCED THE SAME...if you use the c sound I will smack you...you know I will...there is a whole big story about why, but you will have to go yourself to get it!).  When you arrive in Mackinaw City, you have to take a ferry to the Island.  We always use Sheplers.  This is the view from their waiting area.  Beautiful boats.

After a quick ride...we arrived and this is a our hike to our dear Bay View B&B.  A little jaunt past the Yacht Club.

Home...our dearest Home!!!  Why is the Bay View so special???  1.  It is on the water.  Many of the B&B's are across the street.  2. The food....more on that in the next post.  3.  It is small.  Each room is completely unique and beautiful.  If you are staying on the Island without kids...this is where you should stay.  Take my word for it.  If you are staying on the island with kids, please stay at a hotel in town.  4. Rose!  To know her is to love her!

Our room...because I know you voyeurs want to know....

Full of gorgeous antiques.  The island has a strict Victorian policy.  There are not any steel and chrome polished rooms or buildings here. 

Well, it is perfect, what can I say.  At night we open the windows and you wake to hear the clopping of horse hooves on the street in the morning.  NO CARS.  NO Sirens.  Sigh...

Our view from our room.  Did I mention that it was 66 and sunny???  SERIOUSLY!

More view from our room.  The looong building at the top with the line of yellow umbrellas is the fort.  This was a pretty grand view.  The house across the street with the red window umbrellas is the Yacht Club.  The house next to it is privately owned....Brigadoon.  It has super cute boxers that sit on the front porch and watch the people walk by (real, alive boxers with cropped ears).

It was Lilac Festival week.  Due to "global warming" if you know how to read and "just strange but totally normal weather patterns" if you are a Republican (haaa! ok, sorry, just couldn't resist) half of the lilacs were already done blooming...but the other half were in full bloom and it was PERFECT!  We would just be walking along and whifffff...the smell was overwhelming!  The island is covered in lilac bushes and trees.  It has many varieties that are unique to the island itself and do not exist elsewhere in the world.

Some flower gardens.  Totally typical of all properties on the island.

Hello, yes, we are meandering down to lunch...

Lunch with a lighthouse view???  Of course.

 So, a few words...if you have not been to the island.

1.  If you take kids, go to the forts.  There is one in Mackinaw City and there is one on the island.  They are the bomb.  There is also Historic Mill Creek that is a great way to spend nearly an entire day.  Get the three pack pass. 

2.  If you want to ride bikes, take your own.  They are expensive to rent.

3. If you are smart, you will neither rent bikes nor bring your own.  You will see all of the tourists on bikes.  You will also see them walking their bikes for the most part.  The island has a strange anomaly of being completely up hill no matter where you are going.  Big, steep hills.  Just walk.  Trust me.  The island is covered in trails and shortcuts that you cannot use on a bike.  And walking up a hill expends waaaaay less energy than riding or walking your bike up it.

4.  Staying on the island is a completely different experience than visiting for the day.  I would recommend both.  It is only 5 hours away.

5.  The town is full of shops.  PLEASE DO NOT TAKE YOUR KIDS SHOPPING ON VACATION.  No matter what you tell yourself, your kids DO NOT like shopping.  YOU like shopping.  Suck it up.  Go hike and play.  Come back with your spouse or girlfriends and shop.  Put your big girl pants on and resist the temptation.

6.  This is not a bikini, sweat fest.  Please remember to bring a sweatshirt.  If your idea of a dream vacation is sweating, shopping, and putting on clothes that are too small, puh-lease keep your vacation plans in FL, which is probably your FAVORITE place to go anyways...


And next time...How to Get Laid with Food.....