11th Annual Birthday Trip: Another Lighthouse and Some Exploration

 

            We began our first full day of fun in Michigan with a trip to another lighthouse! And for the most part, this was where we ended the regularly scheduled plans for that day – ha! I had a whole itinerary, but we went off script. (That, by the way, is completely fine.) It started because we slept a full eight hours in a row, which never happens. Braeya and Lexi have far too much to do for eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. So that was a real gift, and it also made us start out a couple of hours later than my itinerary planned. Hard to care, though, when you’ve slept that well! So, armed with some Biggby, we made our way toward the Point Betsie Lighthouse in Frankfort, Michigan.

            On our way there, we drove by some beautiful homes that were so fun to appreciate. Also beautiful? The lighthouse itself. This one has attached living quarters, unlike the one we saw the day before, and we did get to tour this one. (No entry fee to the area, and just $5.00 per person for a ½ hour guided tour of the living quarters.) We ended up in a private tour, and our guide was really knowledgeable about the area and the lighthouse. Though Point Betsie isn’t as critically needed as it was back in the 1850s when it was built, it’s still operational. Our guide explained that every lighthouse has its own unique light flashing pattern, so sailors can know what lighthouse they are near based on the light pattern!

            We were able to see the original lens and some home furnishings that would have been common in the years the house was occupied by keepers. (Fun fact: my friend Jody Hedlund wrote a whole series about lighthouse keepers, and I learned a lot about lighthouse life just from reading her writing!) I really loved getting to walk through the house and imagine what it might have been like to live and work right in that space.

            Another fun fact: you can rent the apartment at this lighthouse and stay there while you’re on vacation! It’s a little pricey (even more in peak season) and I don’t believe it has air conditioning, but it has all been remodeled, and you can’t beat the view, for sure! If you’re looking for a fun and unique lodging experience, this would be worth investigating!)

            I was so proud of myself for climbing into the tower. I’m afraid of heights and claustrophobic, so the corkscrew stairs and tall towers are not easy feats for me, but I conquered another one. Much Scripture-quoting and hanging on went into this adventure. Ryan was kind and did all the photography so I could hang on for dear life.

            After we finished our tour, we explored outside and walked the beach a bit. This was a GORGEOUS lighthouse, and I’m so happy we saw it in person!

            From the lighthouse, we went through the little village of Empire, where we stopped at the Shipwreck Café for some lunch. It’s a little local spot, and they had outdoor seating, so it was pretty perfect. Ryan had a sandwich, and I had soup (yes, an odd choice for a hot day, but it was delicious!) and then we capped off the meal with some ice cream. So good.

            Then we went toward Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. I think this was our first time to really explore a national park. I believe the Abe Lincoln historic spots in Springfield are considered a national park, and we visited there a few years ago, but all of that is in town, so it feels different. This was a true park. You do have to pay $25 to enter if you don’t have an annual pass, but they do have self-pay stations if no one is on duty at an entrance point.

            We started our visit by going to Glen Haven Village, which is a preserved cord wood station that gives visitors a glimpse of what life would have been like on the shoreline back in the day. There is an old-fashioned general store, an inn (under construction right now) and a boat museum. They also have a blacksmith shop that gives demonstrations, and we sat in on part of one of those. Learned a few things!

            After our exploration of the little village, we made our way to the beach to hang out for a bit. Ryan took a nap in the sand, and I people-watched and dipped my toes in the lake.

            We had a couple more adventures in this day, but I’ll save them for tomorrow. 😊