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Closing Grand Hotel for the 2017 Season

November 10, 2017 by Julie Wallace Leave a Comment

Closing Grand Hotel for the 2017 Season

Staying at Grand Hotel is a bit like embarking upon an ocean cruise. You do take a ferry to reach the island, then walk a distance to register.

Then you have to find your room. It’s a little more difficult than you might think. First, the carpeting has geranium patterns. I kept wanting to just stop and stare.

04 geranium patterned carpeting inside grand hotel wordstormcasserole (1)

This particular pattern is actually in the Lobby Level. We’re starting our tour in the Parlor Level.

parlor level of grand hotel wordstormcasserole

There are comfortable chairs for you to sit and chat with friends.

01 parlor level inside grand hotel wordstormcasserole (2)

Those red chairs look comfy, don’t they?

02 parlor level chairs for gathering inside grand hotel wordstormcasserole (10)

Hotel staff are in savvy green coats and black trousers. They are extraordinarily friendly and helpful.

03 parlor level hotel staff inside grand hotel wordstormcasserole (12)

This bright green and red seating area is just outside of the Terrace Room. You’re looking at the main doors on the Parlor Level; the white stairs lead to the first floor of rooms.

To your immediate left is the Audobon Wine Bar and stairs down to the Lobby Level.

To your right is an Art Gallery, the Business Center, and the Theatre. That’s the direction we’re heading in next.

05 seating outside the terrace room inside grand hotel wordstormcasserole (5)

On your way to the Theatre, there are old phone booths. You can still sit down and make a phone call today – either with a house phone, or your cell phone. Just be sure to close the door so your call is private.

06 old phone booths inside grand hotel wordstormcasserole (4)

The theatre is cotton candy pink and white, and has beautiful brass chandeliers.

07 theatre chandelier inside grand hotel wordstormcasserole (3)

Closing Of The Grand Lecture

The Theatre reminded me of a sophisticated circus tent. One of the most enjoyable events of my stay was listening to hotel historian and concierge Bob Tagatz give his annual “Closing Of The Grand” lecture. He shared a lot of facts and figures about the 2017 season, plus some of the funnier questions received by the hotel concierge.

One guest asked if the water went all around the island.

(I’m pausing here for you to let that one sink in.)

Someone else asked, “Who leads the self-guided tours?”

(Pausing again as you’re shaking your head in disbelief.)

A longer story arose from a guest who wanted a whale watching tour arranged. Tagatz replied that that would be difficult because there are no whales in the Great Lakes. The guest was upset and asked, “Why are there no whales- where did they go?” Holding back laughter, Tagatz replied, “There are no whales because the sharks ate them.” The guest was appalled and walked away.

And if you’re confused, there are no sharks in the Great Lakes, either.

08 theatre inside grand hotel wordstormcasserole (9)

Tagatz also told a story about getting stopped by the island police. He’d just ended a long day and was headed home on his bicycle.

To get to town from Grand Hotel, you have guide your bike safely down the steep Cadotte Avenue. The police often wait at the bottom of the hill and speed check bikes. Sometimes riders are clocked at 30-40 miles per hour.

Tagatz didn’t say how fast he was going, but did admit to being mortified at being stopped. But what really bothered him? Not the ticket, but the fact that other Grand employees were also headed home, and saw him being pulled over. No doubt he heard about that incident for years.

Lobby Level

Take the red stairs down from the Parlor Level to reach the Lobby Level. This is where you find the registration desk, the children’s activity area, Astor’s Salon, and several stores.

09 stairs to parlor level inside grand hotel wordstormcasserole (6)

The public areas of the Lobby is where those self-guided tours start in the summer season (spot E in the lower right corner of the map below.)

loby level of grand hotel wordstormcasserole

There is more geranium-themed carpet, and a casual atmosphere. This photo is just outside of Carleton’s Tea Store that offers light lunch and dessert. Many walls in the Lobby Level display photos and other memorabilia from the hotel’s 130-year history

10 parlor level outside carletons inside grand hotel wordstormcasserole (7)

Here’s a view from near the East entrance.

11 parlor level inside grand hotel wordstormcasserole (8)

Even the access to the elevator that lead to my room on the fourth floor was elaborately decorated. Just passing by, you wouldn’t even know there was an elevator here.

12 walking to elevators inside grand hotel wordstormcasserole (11)

You could visit each shop, but we’re late for dinner. Let’s go back up to the Parlor Level and the Main Dining Room.

Grand Hotel Main Dining Room

When you check into Grand Hotel, you receive a card that serves as your “ticket” to enter the various dining establishments. And the king of them all is the main dining room on the parlor level.

Here is a 360 degree view from right outside the main dining room doors. But you and me, we’re going inside – and straight through to the other side of the long dining room to a table for two in the Pontiac Room.

The entrance. This is where you show your ticket, and await the host who will guide you to your seat.

13 main dining room entrance dining at grand hotel wordstormcasserolecom (12)

Once inside, the wonder begins.

14 main dining room dining at grand hotel wordstormcasserolecom (13)

And I do mean opulent decorating.

15 main dining room view dining at grand hotel wordstormcasserolecom (1)

The final night of the 2017, there was a jazz trio playing throughout dinner. And your table? In a room at the far end of the dining room.

16 my seat in the main dining room dining at grand hotel wordstormcasserolecom (10)

The place setting. I hope you’ve brused up on your manners, and especially what forks, spoons, and knives to use for this or that.

17 place setting dining at grand hotel wordstormcasserolecom (2)

A cup with geranium awaits coffee or tea.

18 cup for coffee geranium dining at grand hotel wordstormcasserolecom (3)

And out at the closing buffet, hundreds of matching plates await diners.

19 stack of geranium-themed plates dining at grand hotel wordstormcasserolecom (6)

The fruit and vegetable table is ready for you to build a salad.

21 fruit and salad table dining at grand hotel wordstormcasserolecom (5)

And the seafood table is ready, too.

20 seafood table at buffet dining at grand hotel wordstormcasserolecom (4)

Did somebody say desserts?

22 dessert table dining at grand hotel wordstormcasserolecom (7)

Yes, I ate my fill of all of it: roast beef, shrimp, smoked salmon, chocolate, and then more chocolate. I listened as one of the wait staff talked to another guest that he was leaving for home in Jamaica the next day, and hoped to be back next summer; one of the things I love about dining alone is those overheard conversations.

I visited with a couple from Clinton Township. They’d stopped at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Restort in Mount Pleasant on their way North, stayed overnight at Grand, and were on their way to another casino in St. Ignance.

Then, fully stuffed, I slowly walked my way back through the main dining room. The Jazz band played God Bless America, the Grand’s quintessential end of the evening song, and many guests sang along.

I walked to my room, amazed at the lovely day and evening I’d had. I couldn’t help but think how exclusive the Grand seemed to be – and yet so accessible and friendly. Years ago I never dreamed I’d be able to stay here, yet here I was. And it was already almost ending.

After a refreshing sleep and hot shower, I had a simple buffet breakfast, then walked to the dock. I caught another Shepler’s Ferry to the mainland, and headed home.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Michigan, Travel

My Room With A View at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island

November 9, 2017 by Julie Wallace Leave a Comment

My Room With A View at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island

At Grand Hotel, each room is uniquely decorated by long-time hotel decorator Carleton Varney. My room was pink and green.

01 my room 486 at grand hotel wordstormcasserole

Meet Room 486

On the forth floor of Grand Hotel, Room 486 was just the right size for me. There was a full bathroom (no pictures, sorry) and a variety of typical hotel amenities like a hair dryer, coffee maker, heating and cooling controls, mini-bar, and in room safe.

The carpet was plush and soft to walk on, the bed soothing. There was a large TV, but it hardly competed with the view.

Grand retains charm and does not have those key cards that so many modern hotels have succumbed to. Instead, you get keys – real keys.

02 my room key 486 at grand hotel wordstormcasserole

Grand Hotel Services

And there are many other ameneties to choose from – all highlighted in the luxurious folder. The flowers on the front of the folder are geraniums; they are the hotel flower, and are on the front porch all season. You’ll even see geraniums in carpeting patterns.

03 services for my room 486 at grand hotel wordstormcasserole

If you’re leaving the property to bicycle around the island, Grand Hotel will pack a picnic lunch for you. Just be sure to order from the Maitre’de Hotel in the Dining Room the night before.

04 picnic lunch my room 486 at grand hotel wordstormcasserole

Prices for the picnic lunches start at a modest $14 for a vegetarian friendly spinach tortilla wrap. The lunch includes boursin cheese, hummus, pita chips, fruit, and chocolate granola bar. Other picnic options include a turkey club crossant, buttermilk fried chicken, and shaved roast beef.

But if you’re celebrating a special occasion, why not go for Picnic Box #5 – the Grand Deluxe Basket for Two: roasted turkey on croissant, shaved roast beef on dark rye, fried chicken, shrimp salad, fruit, fresh vegetables and onion dip, camembert cheese, crackers, pretzels, house slaw, Grand Hotel truffle box, chocolate covered strawberries, and a half bottle of wine.

And while the hotel has wireless connectivity throughout, you could write a snail mail letter on fancy stationery:

05 stationery in my room 486 at grand hotel wordstormcasserole

06 stationery again in my room 486 at grand hotel wordstormcasserole

The Room With A View

This was my first time staying at Grand Hotel, so I asked for a room with a view. And Room 486 had a splendid view over Cadotte Avenue, the golf course, and the island.

Who needs a huge flat-screen television when you can watch the clouds roll by? Here’s the view when I arrived in early afternoon,

07 afternoon view my room grand hotel wordstormcasserole

and then later in the afternoon.

08 late afternoon view my room 486 grand hotel wordstormcasserole

A break in the clouds in early evening,

09 early evening view my room 486 at grand hotel wordstormcasserole

Followed by a subdued sunset.

10 evening view my room 486 at grand hotel wordstormcasserole

Luggage

As a guest of Grand Hotel, you needn’t drag your luggage around the island. Instead, your luggage is whisked away when you check into Shepler’s Ferry and magically arrives at the door of your room an hour or so later.

I did say an hour or so. As in at least sixty minutes.

Luggage is delivered to Grand Hotel via horse and wagon. In fact, pretty much everything comes to the hotel via horse and wagon. From my room I did spy a tractor moving around the golf course, but that was definitely an exception.

And how does your luggage get back to the main land? By horse, wagon, and boat. And from this room, I saw the horse and wagon in action all day.

Here’s the view in early morning. The day is just beginning, and the windows are a little foggy. It rained overnight, and the weather is October blustery.

12 raining morning view from my room 486 at grand hotel wordstormcasserole

But down below my room, a wagon and team of horses are waiting while luggage is attached. The luggage is delivered to the Sheppler’s dock, then rolled right onto the same ferry that transports you home. Note that the driver is checking his cell phone.

Another team of horses had just turned around, and was taking a load of people to the docks, too.

13 luggage removal from my room 486 at grand hotel wordstormcasserole

And here, the driver, wagon, and your luggage is on the way to the docks.

14 luggage removal down the street from my room 486 at grand hotel wordstormcasserole

Just like delivery, it will take the luggage about an hour to make its way from the hotel, to the docks, then back to Sheppler’s. When you arrive back at Sheppler’s you gather your keys, then wait for luggage.

The Sheppler’s “cast members” unload each and every one of Grand Hotel’s pieces of luggage into a tent. Then you can claim your luggage, head to your car, and be on your way home.

We’re not quite done with our tour of Grand Hotel, though. Stop by tomorrow when we get to see more of the inside of Grand Hotel.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Michigan, Travel

Grand Hotel Gardens – Mackinac Island

November 8, 2017 by Julie Wallace Leave a Comment

Grand Hotel Gardens – Mackinac Island

After walking around town and up and down to Fort Mackinac, it was nearly 2pm, so I decided to head over to Grand Hotel. It was at least a fifteen minute walk, and I was in no hurry.  I stayed on Main Street, and kept to the coast.

Getting “Lost” On Mackinac Island

Like a complete Grand Hotel newbie, I didn’t realize that I was supposed to take a different street, so I stayed on the same shore road.

It was a gorgeous walk – as I’ve said elsewhere, the weather was amazing. I even got a little sunburned – albeit bundled up in a light winter jacket.

The straights and Bridge were always to the left of me…just over the waves.

 

 

Not too long after this, I saw a couple walking down a side street. The woman was dressed in 1912 attire. This didn’t surprise me much because first, it’s almost Halloween and second, the Somewhere In Time weekend had just ended at Grand. So I figured the couple had been on the island for that.

They walked along the same street, too. Right past the local school yard and there, up above us, was Grand Hotel. I followed that couple right through the open field behind the school to the right road to reach the Grand.

Arriving At the Grand

I actually went in the wrong door. I know, I know.

But I’d never stayed at the hotel, I had no clue where the check-in desk was located. Besides, my last visit to the Island was in 5th grade – how would I know where the registration desk at the Grand was?

So I walked up to the portes-cochère (ie., where the horse drawn carriage stops,) past that horse drawn carriage, and up the front steps. I paused long enough to take in everyone gathered on thev extraordinary porch, then stepped into the posh lobby on the Parlor Level. There was no registration desk.

Eventually I walked down a different flight of stairs and there – on the Lobby Level – and right by a door I’d walked by in my hurry to climb the main stairs to the longest porch in the world – was the understated registration desk.

In a short time I got my room key, visited the room long enough to freshen up a bit, and headed back outside to enjoy more of the day. You’ll see pictures of my room and the inside of Grand later this week. I wanted to walk around the gardens.

Grand Hotel Gardens

First, it’s October in Michigan. Most of the flowers are gone or nearly gone. Still, those of us who live here love the change of seasons.

And on this spectacular day, how could I not go out and wander around the gardens in front of the hotel?

map of grand hotel gardens wordstormcasserolecom

My goal was to walk the labyrinth.

I headed out the main doors on the Parlor Level, and down the red-carpeted stairs.

01 grand hotel outside wordstormcasserole main stairs

If you paused before walking down the stairs, you might see that a team of horses and an enclosed carriage awaits.

Not a bad idea on a chilly Autumn day, but I was here to find the labyrinth and explore the gardens.

Do you see the stair railing on the left? That’s where I headed.

02 grand hotel outside horses and carriage from porch

Half way down those stairs is a lovely spot to sit and take in the view. Or not…that’s salt you see spread on the floorboards.

It had been below freezing the night before, so the Grand put salt down to make the walkway safe. By the time I arrived, any danger of ice was gone, but the salt crystals remained crunching underfoot.

03 grand hotel outside table and chairs and view wordstormcasserole

From the vantage point of table and chairs, you walk down more stairs to the main lawn. The labyrinth was supposed to be just to the right

I passed by the rose walk – with no roses in bloom, of course – wrong season. I walked by the wedding garden, too.

Eventually I deduced that the labyrinth is inside of the pool complex, which was closed for the season.

But I did spy the Esther Williams swimming pool.

04 grand hotel outside swimming pool from a distance wordstormcasserole

And yes, it is named for the actress Esther Williams. She starred in the 1947 movie This Time For Keeps which (just like the movie Somewhere In Time) was filmed at the Grand.

I found bikes racked up for storage.

05 grand hotel outside bicycles wordstormcasserole

And a blue-sky view of the hotel from the bike rack, too.

06 grand hotel outside view from the lawn of hotel wordstormcasserole

Cedar Forest Stroll

In the same area, there’s a grove of cedar trees that during summer would provide much needed shade and cool. My stroll was crisp and sunny with leaves crunched under my feet.

07 grand hotel outside quiet trail in the woods wordstormcasserole

I did meet a few people along the way, and one ivy-covered carriage without horses.

08 grand hotel outside carriage in ivy wordstormcasserole

Fortunately, the team of horses was nearby.

09 grand hotel outside two horses in ivy wordstormcasserole

People walking by said that both are displayed through the season by the fountain. But because I was there on the last day of the season, they had been sent “out to pasture” in the cedar forest.

The same area there was a lovely hidden nook. I adore little spaces like this in gardens.

10 grand hotel outside secret garden corner wordstormcasserole

And then I turned back towards the hotel to see this. Amazing, all over again.

The steep hill on the right is covered with wildflowers during the summer.

11 grand hotel outside hotel from lawn wordstormcasserole

Followed by a short stop at the fountain…

12 grand hotel outside large fountain wordstormcasserole

just long enough to capture a short video.

 

Then I went to the western end of that long, long porch and looked towards out over the straits. I could probably spend an entire day sitting on the porch. With a book and a cocktail or two to chase off the heat of summer, it would be perfect.

13 grand hotel outside view from porch towards mackinac bridge wordstormcasserole

The red geraniums are a Grand tradition. On the final day, guests can even take geraniums home.

Grand Hotel Porch

This is the longest porch in the world. Throughout the summer season it is *the* place to sit and relax in rocking chairs. But on the last day of the season, the guests help carry the chairs inside.

Still, it doesn’t matter if there are a handful of people on the porch,

14 grand hotel outside porch with people wordstormcasserole

or a lucky snapshot with no people on the porch,

15 grand hotel outside porch with no people wordstormcasserole

it’s always a stunning porch to see.

16 grand hotel outside porch with flags waving wordstormcasserole

Be sure to stop back tomorrow to see my room with a view!

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Michigan, Travel

Visiting Fort Mackinac

November 7, 2017 by Julie Wallace Leave a Comment

Visiting Fort Mackinac

Fresh off Shepler’s Ferry at Mackinac Island, I turned right and walked along Main Street. I passed by touristy shops and stopped into a few upscale clothing stores.

While the clothes were just my style, I didn’t buy a thing. And besides, I would think that an “end of season sale” would be better than 40% off original price!

I strolled straight by a couple fudge stores, too, saving that until later in the day. And I’m definitely not the type to buy touristy t-shirts or gimmicky gobbledegook, so I passed by those stores too.

Eventually I made it to the end of the main part of town, and then decided to diverge off the main drag and visit Fort Mackinac. The suprise was on me, though, because to get into the fort, I had to walk to the North Gate. And that was a long hike up a very large hill.

Climbing The Hill

First stop along the trek was the Missionary Bark Chapel. This reconstruction is reminiscent of those built by Jesuit missionaries in the late 1600s.

01 bark chapel fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

In the picture below, the Missionary Bark Chapel is on the left, under that big tree. Normally, you can enter the fort from here – and there is a gently sloped walkway. Many areas of the fort are accessible for people with disabilities.

However, because I was there on the last day the fort was open for the summer season, I had to climb the bluff.

03 walking to the north gate of fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

Further up the bluff, I stopped to take a picture of where I had come from. Can you find the tree and Missionary Bark Church on the left?

04 walking to fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

It really was worth the hike because there were few people, and the views were simply stunning.

05 walking to fort mackinac looking at straits of mackinac wordstormcasserole

There is the Mackinac Bridge with the white of Grand Hotel on the right side of one of the hotel’s golf courses.

05-1 mackinac bridge on the walk to fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

After the climb, the land leveled out and it was just a short walk along a tree-covered road to the fort.

06 trees touch over the road near fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

Fort Mackinac

The climb to the North Gate was definitely worth it, and really only took fifteen or twenty minutes. The $13 admission price seemed a little steep for the last day of the season. But after that walk, I wasn’t about to turn around and go back into town as others had done before me.

07 welcome to the north gate of fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

Normally teeming with vacationers, the fort was peaceful. The parade ground was pratically deserted, save for a demonstration from two actors in period costume. I’m sure they’d both been working all summer.

10 the training grounds at fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

Each building had informational displays. There were even period-specific animatronic displays like this one showing the War of 1812.

08 period costumes on animatronic soldiers at fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

The fort was founded during the America Revolution, and saw active duty until 1895. And throghout that time, officers and their families all lived in the Fort. But I wasn’t really there for the history.

Leave it to me to find a slice of solitude in an otherwise peopled place. The deck of the Officer’s Wood Quarters bustles through the summer season, but now, on the last weekend of October, it was mine. Well, mine and an occasional couple or one of the actors strolling the grounds.

Voices floated up the bluff from town, horses hooves made their last journeys for the summer, and boats toting tourists docked and departed. And on the deck, the warmth of the sun, a cool breeze, and a view that couldn’t be beat.

Let’s Hear It For The Views

The long porch at the Officers’ Hill Quarters provided a shady spot to rest, but the view of the Straits of Mackinac were too enticing.

09 long porch at fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

The view from the West Blockhouse and guard booth included the bridge and Grand Hotel…

12 view of mackinac bridge and grand hotel from fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

…while another overlooked the Straits towards town and docks.

11 view through window to strats of mackinac from fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

A cannon stood watch over the harbor,

14 cannon at fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

and wooden buckets awaited storage for the winter.

13 wooden buckets at fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

I stayed perhaps two hours, barely speaking with anyone. It was lovely.

The exit stairs were steep and reminded me of Peru. I was thankful I didn’t have to walk up

15 exit stairs at fort mackinac wordstormcasserole

After the fort, I walked through town, wandered in and out of shops, bought a book, and topped the day off with three large slices of fudge: chocolate cherry, butter pecan, and maple walnut. Fudge is a tradition on Mackinac Island, so how could I not buy some to take home and enjoy?

Stop by tomorrow to read about my journey to Grand Hotel and walk around the gardens with me.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Michigan, Travel

Mackinac Island & Grand Hotel Getaway – How To Get There

November 6, 2017 by Julie Wallace 3 Comments

Mackinac Island & Grand Hotel Getaway – How To Get There

Happy Monday everyone! This week I’m taking you on an adventure to Mackinac Island in Michigan.

I had a vacation  and wanted to have an adventure. And by adventure, I mean “go somewhere other than home,” not traipsing around mountains in Peru (which I did.)

I considered many things, but settled on a trip to Mackinac Island. What really clinched the deal was a great bargain on a stay at Grand Hotel. And if you don’t know what Grand Hotel is, you’re in for a treat.

This post contains affiliate or referral links. These links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

Grand Hotel

Grand Hotel was built in 1886, opened for the first summer season in 1887, and has been in continuous operation for 130 years. It has served as the setting for two movies, and hosted countless celebrities and dignitaries. It has won innumerable awards, including Travel + Leisure’s 500 World’s Best Hotels and the Best Hotel in Michigan, and Condé Nast Traveler’s Top 5 Midwest Resorts.

The Grand is far more than a fancy place to stay. It’s a sprawling resort with a bewildering array of activities. And – perhaps most charming of all – a stay at Grand Hotel is a nod to another time, a walk into the past. There’s nightly dancing, afternoon tea, and you’re required to dress for dinner.

And staying at the resort is usually way out of my price range.

But October 29-30 was the end  of the summer season, and the price was reduced just a smidge. It included dinner and breakfast, and several special “closing” events, so I jumped at the chance. I texted my cat-sitting niece, packed my bag, said goodbye to Ivan the cat, and headed out the door.

Driving

Mackinac Island is just over a two hour drive from where I live in the center of the lower peninsula of Michigan. The drive starts in flat, farm lands, and goes north into rolling hills. The clouds were spectacular, too.

amazing clouds in michigan wordstormcasserole

I stopped at an overlook and snapped a few pictures.

countryside in northern michigan wordstormcasserole

With a view like this, how could I resist attempting a panoramic photo? The morning had started blustery, and the sun was starting to break through the clouds.

roadside stop in Michigan with a view wordstormcasserole

I even braved and (more or less) succeeded at not looking ridiculous in a selfie.

selfie reflected in a selfie wordstormcasserole

Shelper’s Ferry

Soon enough I pulled into the parking lot at Shelper’s Ferry in Mackinac City. Shepler’s is one of several lines that operate ferrys to Mackinac Island and have been in operation since 1945.

My eBags Convertible Weekender  was whisked away and I found a spot on the Miss Margy. She looked about like the Felicity who was built in 1972 and regularly transports 150 people plus luggage back and forth across the Straits of Mackinac to Mackinac Island.

01 journey on sheplers ferry vessel wordstormcasserole (5)

Here’s a peek at Miss Margy. She is named after company founder William Shepler’s wife, Margaret, and is the second Miss Margie to serve in the Shepler’s fleet. She was built in 2015, is 85-feet long, and transports 281 people.

02 journey on sheplers ferry another vessel wordstormcasserole (2)

There was a narration during the ride explaining about safety and Mackinac Bridge and Mackinac Island – and the history of the Miss Margy. Like the safety presentations given on airplanes, most everyone wasn’t paying attention…except to the outside views.

03 journey on sheplers ferry dock view wordstormcasserole (3)

There were few clouds in the sky, a light breeze, and the Straights of Mackinac were calm. Without a doubt, it was an absolutely perfect autumn day for the short ride to the island.

And then the five-mile long Mackinac Bridge came into view.

05 journey on sheplers ferry view of mackinac bridge wordstormcasserole (6)

The inside of the cabin was warm, and not too crowded. I snagged a window seat, and am delighted this video turned out so well.

 

 

A little later, I saw Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

06 journey on sheplers ferry view of grand hotel wordstormcasserole (8)

After the short sixteen minute ride, my feet were back on Terra Firma – or at least the dock at Mackinac Island.

Meet me tomorrow for another installment of the Mackinac Island and Grand Hotel Getaway. We’ll take a walk around town and explore Fort Mackinac. Later in the week, we’ll walk up to Grand Hotel, check out my room, walk around the gardens, and tour the hotel.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Michigan, Travel

Escape To The Lake Near Grand Rapids, Michigan

May 28, 2016 by Julie Wallace 1 Comment

Escape To The Lake Near Grand Rapids, Michigan

I escaped to a small, private lake earlier this month.

It was the first weekend that we -finally- had warm weather.

I glamped in a 1970s camper surrounded by trees.

Lakeside camper

I had a couple of campfires. I forgot to bring marshmallows.

lake side campfire

I admired the deep blue sky at night as the full moon rose.

night sky through trees

I stared at the scenery. I took a couple of naps and finished a book.

quiet lake

I walked along the trails.

lakeside trail

A statue of Buddha contemplates the tall grass. In another area, a collection of similar statues presides over a simple labyrinth.

buddha statue at the lake

A couple of boats were available, if I was so inclined. I am not.

But staring at that serene lake?

escape to the serene lake

Or gently resting in the arms of a swing seat hung from a tall tree?

Definitely for me.

You can stay in this beautiful spot, too. It’s affordable – even for one person – and convenient to Grand Rapids if you’re interested in city lights.

But for me, a quiet escape to the lake was perfect.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Spirit, Travel

BAM! Bloggers At Midlife Conference

April 26, 2016 by Julie Wallace 13 Comments

BAM! Bloggers At Midlife Conference

When was the last time you felt utterly loved and accepted for who you are and what you do?

For me, that warm, cuddly (and hilarious) blanket happened during the Bloggers at Midlife Conference at the JW Marriott Las Vegas earlier this month. At the same time I was feeling loved and appreciated, I also also felt a bit like a deer in the headlights overwhelmed with information and not quite sure what to do next.

For the most part, I enjoy flying. Most airports have food and shops. And my connecting flight through Detroit Metro Airport meant I got to walk through the tunnel of light and sound:

The early evening flight on Delta Airlines meant that the plane chased the sunset across the country. By the time we landed in Las Vegas, the sun was down and the night life had begun. Thank goodness I had a new friend to navigate the thirty minute drive to the hotel.

flying delta airlines wwwwordstormcasserolecom

I went to my assigned gate A3 at DTW (Detroit Metro.) Met Jesus. Minutes later, gate changed. Thank you, Jesus.

The conference was two days packed solid. Here are snippets of wisdom captured in my handwritten notes:

Bloggers at midlife 2016 words of wisdom wwwwordstormcasserolecom

The conference was sponsored by Domain.ME, Boiron, Nissan, John Hancock Insurance, Osteo Bi-Flex Joint Health, Feedblitz, Lincoln Financial Group, Galderma, Madison Reed, Chico’s, Mother Head, Prudential, Vibrant Nation, Artful Home, She Spark, Cabot Cheese, iBlog Magaine, Hashtracking.com, and Zappos. Each provided exceptional advice and awesome giveaways. There was also ample time to discuss potential business partnerships with the sponsors.

bamCollagewwwwordstormcasserolecom

Hashtracking.com provided a real-time display of tweets. I know I tweeted a lot during these few days. In fact, our conference hashtag of #BAMC16 was tweeted more than 5,000 times, trended on Twitter, and had a reach of about three million people. That’s amazing and positive power in one room of only 150 people.

Of course, the best part of the conference had to be making wonderful new friends, and laughing for hours about the clown car escapade and disco dancing.

What on earth will the 2017 conference bring? I can’t wait to find out.

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Filed Under: Blogging, Travel Tagged With: Blogging, Travel

It’s Maple Syrup Time!

March 24, 2016 by Julie Wallace Leave a Comment

It’s Maple Syrup Time!

Temperatures are rising in mid-Michigan, and crocus are blooming. Well, the crocus were blooming until we got six inches of snow yesterday. Regardless, nights are still cold, days are in the 40s, and the sap in the maple trees is running. That means it’s maple syrup time.

And in the small town of Shepherd, Michigan, the Sugar Bush is busy boiling up maple syrup. Last weekend was Michigan Maple Weekend, and the Shepherd Sugar Bush Co held an open house. I ventured by, joined a tour, and gobbled up some goodies (some came home with me, too.)

Shepherd Sugar Bush sign

First, what the heck is a “sugar bush?” Wikipedia tells me it’s “a forest stand…exploited for maple syrup.” Err. It’s a gathering of many maple trees that creates a gathering of many people tapping said trees for maple syrup. And Shepherd has a lot of maple trees, so they tap those trees to make maple syrup. And for their upcoming maple syrup festival.

The tour started with an explanation of what sap is, and how it gets to be sap: the short answer is photosynthesis. The longer answer, geared mostly towards the kids in the group, involved science and I promptly forgot all of it. I did retain that most of the tapped liquid is actually water. And that, for about every ten gallons sap, you get one quart syrup.

Serious.

The sap/water is collected and brought to the processing facility (aka sugar shack or Shepherd Sugar Bush Co.) There it is run through a reverse osmosis machine, and heated. The water evaporates, and what’s left is syrup. Here’s some bubbling and evaporating:

Maple Syrup evaporation in process

The syrup is filtered, bottled, processed in boiling water, dried, and labeled. The rough cut video below was shot at the Shepherd Sugar Bush, and shows the filtering and canning process. There is no official script, so no descriptions of what you’re seeing, but you can sometimes hear people talking about what they’re doing. I found it fascinating.

The open house offered free pancakes with maple syrup, maple-flavored soft serve ice cream, and plenty of activities for the kids. While I do enjoy coloring, I didn’t stick around long. Instead, I got a small maple syrup cookbook:

picture of the cover of the maple syrup cookbook

(Aside: Those horses look like Haflingers my parents raised. Or maybe the Belgians my dad talked about that helped plow the fields and haul maple syrup from the woods behind the fields to the house. Anyhoo.)

The Shepherd Sugar Bush Co. offered goodies galore. I stood at the counter and drooled in anticipation. Candies. Maple covered peanuts. Maple flavored sugar.

maple syrup treats

In the end I held myself back to a small pot of maple candies (all gone now,)  maple cream/butter, and syrup.

maple cream and maple candies wwwwordstormcasserole.com

The cool thing is that you can purchase this high quality, super-local produced maple syrup on Amazon. If you’re so inclined, please purchase and support a wonderful, all-volunteer maintained local product. (I am not associated with the Shepherd Sugar Bush. Below are affiliate links. If you purchase some maple syrup, I get a couple of pennies, and you get lots and lots of yummies.)

I brought home the 8.45 oz glass jar shaped like a maple leaf

Other sizes include 12 oz, 16oz, 32oz, 64oz (Half Gallon,) or – for the insatiable maple syrup lover, 1 gallon.

I loved visiting the sugar bush, and will definitely be back next spring when the sap is running again.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Travel

Winter Walk in Dow Gardens

February 27, 2016 by Julie Wallace 4 Comments

Winter Walk in Dow Gardens

While this winter has been rather mild, it’s still a challenge for me to get out and go for walks. Not long ago, I wandered through Dow Gardens on a cold day and took pictures.

I thought I’d only be able to tolerate being out for a short time, but -as I got moving- I was able to stay out for about an hour. Most of the time I was walking along cleared paths. A few times I ventured off of those paths, and walking did become more dangerous. But it was totally worth it as I had the entire garden to myself.

It’s truly a blessing to have such a beautiful location nearby, and I enjoy walking through the gardens in any season – even winter!

Tree still has green leaves and red berries in winter.

Amazing to still see some green leaves in January.

A picture of a pond in winter that shows the point at which ice and water meet.

It’s fascinating to be able to see ice, and what’s under the ice.

Even in winter, there is some green under water.

Even in winter, there is some green under the water.

Submerged autumn leaves, ice, water.

Submerged autumn leaves add interest.

Pine needles trapped in ice.

Pine needles trapped in ice.

A snow covered pathway and greenery.

A snow covered pathway and greenery.

red bridge covered in ice

Dow Gardens features a couple of red bridges. Note that the bridge is completely covered in ice: I definitely didn’t walk on this!

A red bridge in the distance.

A different red bridge from a distance.

stairs entering the maze

A different pathway. For those of you who know the gardens, this is near the maze.

stream and boulders

The ‘lazy stream’ is still flowing at Dow Gardens.

tall trees large boulders clear pathway

Tall trees, large boulders, and clear pathways made walking in the gardens in winter easy.

Grass under ice patiently awaits the return of spring.

Grass under ice patiently awaits the return of spring.

warmer water creates designs in ice

The flow of slightly warmer water created this design in the ice. Fascinating!

Rocks border a pond.

This was taken along one of the ponds.

green plants and snow

Yet more promise of spring and summer

And if you’ve scrolled this far, here’s a quick video of the waterfall.

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Filed Under: Gardening, Travel Tagged With: Gardening, Travel

The Sacred Waterfall

February 9, 2016 by Julie Wallace 3 Comments

The Sacred Waterfall

The peak spiritual experience of my trip to the Sacred Valley of Peru was a journey to a waterfall. A simple, everyday walk up a mountain unlocked memories and renewed my sense of self. How is that even possible?

I’ll attempt to explain, but please remember: putting words to experience pales in comparison to the actual experience. Though poets and writers have tried for lifetimes, anything written cannot capture the true essence of what it means to love. Same is true here; it’s nearly impossible to accurately explain everything that happened in any way that will make logical sense.

That’s because it’s not logical. It’s experience. It’s in the moment. And in that brief moment, lifetimes unfurled. For real.

First, the magnificent setting:

Walking to the mountain.
Climbing ancient steps.
Walking along an aquaduct that brings water to the retreat center.

View from the mountain side.
Look closely to see two young girls tending the flock.

Along the spiritual path, it’s not uncommon for people to participate in past life regressions. I did one back in the 1990s, and it helped me make sense of my general fear and distrust of team of horses hitched to a wagon. A memory of the aftermath of an earthquake, and of being trampled by a team of runaway horses definitely put a damper on me enjoying my family’s love of horses.  Of course, that memory isn’t the only reason I didn’t like horses: I was stubborn, moody, and unhappy teenager who preferred books and clothes and music.

The story revealed in the regression made sense to me. It was more than a story, though, the memory fit like a favorite pair of jeans. I knew the story, remembered details of the entire life, and could snap pieces into a puzzle I didn’t know I needed to complete. So why is it that we left-brain, logical-centered humans don’t accept such memories as real?

That’s a big question that you’ll have to answer for yourself. Go meditate on it.

These memories are real to me, as real as an impressionistic painting, as real as a blue sky, as real as the cat sitting on my lap and purring as I type. The spiritual path is one you walk alone. Yes, there are traveling companions, but you re-create your own puzzle of memories.

In Peru I trudged along the narrow, rocky mountain path with friends. I silently sang Om Mani Padme Hum because the rhythm kept my feet moving when every muscle wanted to stop. The mantra also kept me focused and alert, making the journey both a physical and a spiritual walk. By the time we reached the side of the waterfall, I was keenly focused and prepared. I also had a hard time staying balanced. As in, hope-I-don’t-fall balanced.

I wear glasses. While they help me see better, they also inhibit peripheral vision. So unless I kept my eyes mostly on the ground, on the path ahead, I was likely to stumble.  And did I say it was a narrow, rocky mountain path? Yep, and I’m not fond of heights either.

I stripped down to a bathing suit and carefully stepped onto a narrow ledge of slippery stones. I slithered across then sat on the low wall that gathered the cold water and channeled that water to the retreat center. The frigid waterfall mist covered me. Curandanda Wilma Penado placed chumpi stones in my hands and I held on as tight as I could. Wilma doused me repeatedly with the glacial water and quietly chanted words of blessing and cleansing.

Memories and admonitions flooded into my consciousness. In a few brief moments, I knew that I’d been to this area of the world before. I understood why I felt so comfortable in the Sacred Valley: it was home. Not that I’d been there this lifetime, not that I’ll relocate there, but rather the feeling of arriving home after a long trip. It was good to know that the Andes were home.

7a

In seconds, I knew I’d bathed in this waterfall before, and knew that I had to visit more waterfalls. I knew waterfalls were important to me in ways that I still don’t understand. There are more than 200 waterfalls in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan, and I’m going to have to visit a whole bunch of them to unravel more of my life’s mysteries.

On that mountain side in Peru, pieces of my personal puzzle snapped into place. I felt whole and stepped into my power. And all that in only a short hour long walk on a mountain.

My Peru journey was organized and facilitated by Ashera Sefarty at Luminosity Healing Arts. The retreat was co-led by Daina Puodziunas Awakened Potentials for Woman. I’m only getting started with telling you about the amazing spiritual journey to the Sacred Valley of Peru. Subscribe now so you won’t miss a single post.

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Filed Under: Spirit, Travel Tagged With: Peru, Spirit, Travel

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