Mackinac Island, Michigan - Memorial Day Family Road Trip - A Wholesome Adventure

In keeping with the spirit of the holiday, we set out on a family road trip for Memorial Day weekend to beautiful Mackinac Island, surrounded by clear blue-green water, a clean coastline and no cars.

Located in Michigan’s upper peninsula, this place is a well-guarded secret from non-Michiganers.

I was charged with keeping Layla, nearly 2 years old, content for the journey. This entailed singing captivating songs like “the wheels on the bus”, “the itsy bitsy spider”, “old McDonald”, and watching Ms. Rachel videos if she got restless. Puppet shows were in reserve in case things got dire.

We stayed in St. Ignace, a cute little town opposite Mackinac Island. To our amazement, we were introduced to a species of insect called “fish flies”. It smelled like the Fulton Fish market in a few places where the fish flies had died (or so we were told). Also known as Mayflies, they are aquatic insects that emerge from the water with a foul odor. Yuk

Hampton Inn, St. Ignace

To reach St. Ignace, you need to cross the iconic Mackinaw Bridge, the 7th largest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere. The Mackinaw Bridge appears in every Chamber of Commerce brochure and is painted by a multitude of artists capturing its grace and beauty.

Reaching Mackinac Island requires taking a very pleasant ferry ride for about 30 minutes from St. Ignace to the island. Either Shepler or Arnold Transit ferries are available in St. Ignace. The round-trip ferry tickets can cost approximately $40 - $60 depending on the options you choose.

When you reach Mackinac Island, you are greeted by horse carriages, and bicyclists, but no vehicular traffic. However, you will be met by hoards of tourists on peak summer days.

A big draw to Mackinac Island is the scenic 8-mile bike loop around the perimeter of the island. Sans cars, it is a very user-friendly path for people of all ages where you can take your time, stop at the side of the road, and take in the scenery. Word of caution… this time of year, it is important to keep your mouth closed as you ride to avoid the fish flies from flying in! Gross.

A visit to the Grand Hotel in town is mandatory after the bike ride. It is the world’s largest summer hotel and will transport you to an era reminiscent of the Titanic. The price for a stay is a hefty $500 per night off-season and double that amount at minimum in the summer! (this is not steerage accommodations). If you are interested in seeing historic sites up close, you can choose a self-guided tour for only $12, but we opted out.

Paramount Roasters - Mackinac Island Fudge Coffee

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Back to St. Ignace, we fast-forwarded a few decades for our dining experience at Clyde’s Drive-In, established in 1949. They served burgers worth mentioning. The olive burger was scrumptious. 

Kudos to the hard-working servers.

Next, in furthering the holiday spirit, we stopped by an old friend’s house on the way back for a Memorial Day “cornhole tournament” and barbecue.

I discovered that tossing stuffed bags into a little hole was not as easy as you might think. The tournament lasted for hours. Considering that I played skeeball in arcades regularly as a child, I was ill- prepared for the fierce competition. Thankfully, Daniel honorably made it to the finals.

Here’s to a Memorable Memorial Day.

Until next time.. Adios Mon Ami

Catstudio - Mackinac Dishtowel

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Reykjavík, Sky Lagoon and Blue Lagoon: My Final Days in Iceland

THE SKY LAGOON

With an open day in my schedule and a definite need for some water therapy, I decided to visit the Sky Lagoon . Located just a short drive from downtown Reykjavík, the lagoon sits beside the ocean and offers sweeping views of the North Atlantic. Its setting is very different from the Blue Lagoon, which is surrounded by an otherworldly landscape of volcanic rock.

A very sweet young woman from Hong Kong took my photograph after I politely asked her. Apparently, Gen Z does not worry nearly as much as I do about dropping an iPhone into the water!

I had forgotten that my admission included the spa ritual, so I was overjoyed to discover the sauna, steam room, salt scrub, cool mist, and refreshing drink. The spa area, tucked within the lagoon, felt peaceful, calming, and very Zen.

I actually preferred the Sky Lagoon to the Blue Lagoon. It felt less touristy, and my admission included several spa experiences. That is not to say you should skip the Blue Lagoon—its surreal volcanic setting is unlike anything else and is worth experiencing at least once.

TIP: If you have a car, Iceland has many other geothermal pools and natural bathing areas that can be visited for free or for a modest admission fee. Always check local rules and safety conditions before entering a natural hot spring.

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THE BLUE LAGOON

A few days earlier, I visited Iceland’s world-famous Blue Lagoon . It is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, an area of intense geothermal and volcanic activity. As we approached, steam rose through the dark volcanic landscape, creating an almost apocalyptic scene. Our driver told us that astronauts have trained in Iceland because its rugged terrain resembles the surface of the moon. It certainly made sense to me.

The Blue Lagoon was a unique spa experience, with steam rising above its warm, milky-blue water. It is only a short walk from the indoor facility to the lagoon, which was especially welcome in Iceland’s cold weather. My admission included a silica face mask and a refreshing drink. The changing rooms were well equipped with lockers, showers, towels, and hair dryers.

Be prepared for crowds because the Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most popular attractions. I considered buying some of its skin-care products, but—as with almost everything else in Iceland—the prices were exorbitant. No sale.

There had been considerable speculation about another volcanic eruption as we traveled across the peninsula. About a week after my visit, a fissure eruption sent lava flowing across the region. The Blue Lagoon was evacuated, along with the nearby town of Grindavík. Knowing that I had visited only days earlier made Iceland’s unpredictable volcanic power feel very real.

Volcanic Rock

THE LIGHT CHASERS - TAKE 2

The tour company offers a second chance, free of charge, to see the Northern Lights if the first attempt was unsuccessful. I’d say that’s rare customer service! 

We traveled to two different locations and did not return to Reykjavík until 1:00 a.m. Our patience finally paid off: the lights were faint and sparse, but at least we saw something. After two nights of searching, even a subtle appearance felt like a victory.

In the distance, we could also see the beam from the Imagine Peace Tower, Yoko Ono’s tribute to John Lennon and their shared message of world peace.

It was a fitting way to end my visit to this beautiful, peaceful country—especially during such turbulent times.

SAYING GOODBYE TO ICELAND

My final day in Iceland was the perfect conclusion to a memorable solo journey. 

After relaxing in warm geothermal waters and finally catching a faint glimpse of the Northern Lights, I left feeling peaceful, refreshed, and grateful. 

Iceland challenged me with unpredictable weather, transportation mishaps, and a few disappointments, but its waterfalls, glaciers, volcanic landscapes, and welcoming people made every inconvenience worthwhile. 

I may not have seen everything I hoped to see, but Iceland certainly gave me plenty of reasons to return.

Adios.. until next time.   

Flying home over Greenland...

No sign of JD😭