After we dropped Cam and Meg off at camp we left for Michigan. We had debated all summer about where to go and the best places to stop off during our three day excursion. I had made reservations in Petoskey for one night and even reread Hemingway's biography about his time on Walloon Lake, but since Doug got rear ended on Friday and my brakes were a little shaky we thought the five hour drive might be too much.
Therefore, we changed plans and headed to Grand Rapids first. They had several different breweries all within walking distance of our hotel that Doug wanted to try. I don't really drink much, but enjoyed walking along and sampling different appetizers and desserts. Our hotel was in the perfect location and we had a great night. The only drawback to Grand Rapids was the multitude of panhandlers. I didn't feel comfortable going out after dark, but the hotel had a bar and delicious desserts so we were able to hang out there for the evening.
Today we found two beautiful Victorian homes to visit in Muskegon. They were on the same lot and shared a barn in between them. The two families were influential in making Muskegon a bustling town on the lake in the mid to late 1800s with their lumber mill. They also donated money back to the town to help build hospitals, schools, firehouses, etc. The two houses were extremely different. The couple who built the first was in the retirement stage of life. Their home was extremely ornate and exactly what I would love to have if I owned a Victorian home. The second was built by a younger couple that had seven children. It was beautiful as well, but more practical in layout and design. We didn't know anything about the Hackley Hume House before our visit, but were extremely glad that we stopped.
After Muskegon we traveled down Lake Michigan to Grand Rapids. I wanted to get Meg and Cam something to send them while they were in camp and I was afraid if I waited it wouldn't get there in time. We found the perfect candy store and bought several different types of candy to try. The post office promised us it would be there no later than Thursday. After shopping we were able to walk out on the pier opposite the lighthouse. It was mostly fishermen, but it provided a great view of Lake Michigan. We found a place to eat at before we left for Saugatuck.
We pulled into our bed and breakfast at 4:30 this afternoon. We picked a suite this time and it was wonderful. It had a little sitting area and a small balcony. We walked down to Saugatuck after we settled in. The town was just as quaint as I remembered and we had a relaxing evening with dinner, shopping and ice cream for dessert.
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