Day 7 of 30: Mackinac Island

1/15/2025

Harbor Hopping on the Great Lakes: July 2024

Thursday, July 18, 2024: Good Morning Mackinac Island! It feels like we never left as we listen to the bugler play Reveille while they raise the flag; a ceremony that is conducted every morning. The number of horses clopping along the streets is increasing as the island wakes up. I'm mesmerized by the crystal clear water. In 2021, when we were here last, there were sea otters swimming in the harbor. They were so adorable!

We were excited to tour Fort Mackinac again. Larry loves the history and I love the views. Soon after entering through the gates, I noticed a couple walking by and it turned out to be my cousin! We've never met each other's spouse so after introductions and laughs, we went our separate ways. Huh. Two years ago, we had two surprise encounters here. One was with my brother-in-law and the second was with a family friend, and now here's my cousin! I love synchronicities!

I could hardly wait to take a seat on the terrace of the Fort Mackinac Tea Room. Drinking lemonade, while taking in the spectacular views, is my favorite part of being at the fort! We toured the grounds for a couple of hours before making our way to the exit. Just as we get there, guess who else is there? My cousin again! We're standing almost in the exact spot as when we first crossed paths. How is this even possible?! Incredible!

A new discovery for us was Bistro on the Greens at Mission Point. What a perfect outdoor space for drinks and snacks! I noticed this big pitcher with fresh vegetables on the counter behind the bar. When I asked the bartender what it was, he explained they infuse their vodka daily with vegetables and spices to use for their Bloody Mary's. It looked delicious! Since I already had my drink in hand, I told Larry we have to come back so I can try the Bloody Mary for myself!

This is our first time getting to use the dinghy here and we could hardly wait to go for a ride. The wind and water conditions weren't ideal to go very far so we stayed close to shore for a short ride in the late afternoon. We explored a little bit, but staying near the harbor where the ferries are coming and going felt very intimidating to me. Our dinghy adventure will have to wait until tomorrow when the winds settle.