I am in love with a place that is non other than the mitten-shaped Michigan! The smells of pine and water, the familiar and comforting faces of family and friends, and the endless blueberries and peaches that the Michigan fruit belt provides made the trip simply marvelous! Here are a couple famous views and movie stars I saw along the way...
Our first stop was in the Amana Colonies in IA. The Zuber house is a fantastic B&B with unique rooms and a great Fireside winery down the road. The feature I like most about Iowa is the fact that my best friend, Jenna, and her Sig O, Tray, (significant other :-) live in this state. We met up with them for dinner and had the most amazing conversations. I wished 2 am didn't arrive so quickly!
The three women in the middle rocked a contemporary christian group in St. Joseph, MI and have stayed lifelong friends. Lisa and I can't get enough of these fun women!
After St. Joe, we jaunted up to Tawas, MI - the town where my parents were raised. Sadly, our hotel room smelled like old sneakers, but it barely mattered because we spent the majority of our time on the dock, checking out the shops, and eating G's Pizza and Marion's Ice Cream.
The picture above best embodies the pure excitement one feels when taking a ferry over to Mackinaw Island, MI.
A bahama-like view minus the heat, deadly fish and salt water - this is Lake Huron!
Even though Mackinaw Island only has a 9 mile circumference, there are always new things to discover no matter how many times you've been there! This view, for example, was the first time I had seen the island from this angle - that's what you get when you climb an untrodden and steep path on this island - BAM - an incredible lookout!
High class meal for high class people...
A beautiful day concluded on the porch of our B&B Windemere. Then a random lady asked us, "Excuse me, where are the fireworks?" HA - this chick is crazy, the fourth of July was a couple weeks ago! Then all of a sudden - KABOOM! A surprise fireworks display over a great lake never disappoints...
After spending time in Mackinaw, we saw my Uncle Ken, Aunt Lori and Cousin Brian in Cheboygan, MI. We all happened to be hanging out on my Grandpa's Birthday so we shared our favorite memories of him. I'm especially fond of the one I heard about Grandma disciplining Uncle Ken and then she hurt her wrist - so, she had Grandpa come in and finish the job - he ended up hurting his ankle trying to give him a good butt-kicking. This is when they knew Uncle Ken was getting older and bigger. Even though I never lived in Michigan, I always feel at home when I'm here. And every time I see sparklers and eat pumpkin pie (Grandpa's favorite), I think of him!
Our first week of travel was over and the second part of the "Hibbard" vacation was beginning in South Haven, MI!
This is my dear Michigan friend and Angers roommate, Sam! We are standing outside of our South Haven rental - and may I add, the screened-in deck in the background was the most amazing feature of our rental experience, (aside from the close distance to Lake Michigan, of course).
Nuclear fall-out!? Luckily NOT - just the reflection of the sunset on everyone's face while a monstrous storm was brewing in the southwest!
I think that there's no doubt in this belly shot that the baby grew over the vacation. The fruit, fudge, Marion's ice cream in Tawas, and home cooked meals really showed my baby some lovin'!
Ahhhmazing last evening in South Haven - and an amazing end to our two week vacation in Michigan!
