Michigan

After shoving off the shore of Wisconsin and sailing for 4 hours across Lake Michigan, we landed in Michigan the evening of September 29th.

We had a super-fun time on board the SS Badger, the only coal-fired steamship in operation in the United States. This ferry was first launched in 1952 and has been designated a national historic landmark. Definitely a must-do on our Bucket List, and I would highly recommend it if you're ever up that way.

We stumbled around the deck (record-breaking winds made for a rockin' trip--bless all the seasick people), shopped, napped, read, and played Yahtzee. There were plenty of things to do on board including a theater room (they showed Roman Holiday and Sully on our trip), a video game room, a museum, a gift shop, and a cafe. Once we landed in Ludington, we checked into Nader's Motel for the night. Five stars for Nader's. We loved it and wished we could have stayed more than 1 night--especially when we woke up to freezing temps in the morning! 

In the morning, we hit up the House of Flavors for breakfast and free ice cream cones (we got vouchers from Nader's--I told you we loved it there!). This was the cutest little 50s-style diner you ever did see and as it turns out, they hold a Guinness World Record for the longest ice cream sundae! 

After breakfast, we headed into Ludington State Park and made the 2-mile hike out to Big Sable Point Lighthouse ("sable" rhymes with "gobble"). We climbed the 130 steps to the top of the tower for gorgeous views across Lake Michigan. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. It was a clear, beautiful day and I could have hung out on the beach climbing the sand dunes for hours. But we had an itinerary to stick to so we kept moving on....

...to an elk ranch. You guys. This was really fun. We took a wagon ride through 100+ acres of an elk ranch and fed these sweet creatures by hand. 

We bought some antlers (not the one pictured!) to bring home to Colonel and Major (they love to chew on an antler) and then hit the road again. We stopped at Grandpa's Cider Mill to watch apples being pressed and pick up some fresh cider donuts and then kept beating it south. 

Michigan : done.

To find out the third and final state we checked off our Bucket List on this trip, come back next Monday! Have you ever fed an elk or some other unusual animal? What's the best view you've ever taken in from the top of something tall? Have you been to Lake Michigan or any of the other Great Lakes?