Traverse City, Michigan is a fun place to be. It is at the bottom of the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay, and one of the major vacation destination places in Michigan. Lots of water for summer, and snow mobile trails and ski hills for winter. The only downside is the unbelievably bad traffic; we have the car here so it is pretty dreadful getting anywhere.
Kate and Mark are here with Lily and Caroline. Mark’s Mom Pat lives here; Kate’s 20th high school reunion is being held this weekend in Midland; they are busy and three grandparents are taking care of the girls while they are gone for the weekend. The first picture attached is me at the beach with L and C yesterday.
We came here Tuesday. The municipal docks are very nice, and all of downtown T.C., with its great restaurants and shops, is within walking distance. Before Kate’s family arrived we explored Old Mission Peninsula, the arm of land that bisects Grand Traverse Bay into the east and west arms. The Peninsula was settled in about 1850; settlers began planting the orchards that are now everywhere after clearing away the forests.
There are cherry orchards (both sweet and tart cherries) and grapevines all around the Peninsula. If you “blow up” the picture of the cherry tree above you will see how laden with fruit the trees are right now. Cherries are beginning to be harvested and the grapes are growing nicely. New wineries are popping up, and many restaurants serve the local wines. Some of the wines are wonderful.
At the northern end of the Peninsula is a small lighthouse and a relocated log house, both from the 1850-60 timeframe. Attached are pictures of both. There are lots of trails and beaches all around the area and many people, but everything is surrounded by water so nothing seems crowded.
The last picture is of Emery inside a re-creation of the Presbyterian Mission that was the beginning of white settlement in the area. It and the school were the center of Peninsula life for a very long time. The area and the Peninsula are beautiful and there are tons of homes and docks and boats and people, so this is a great stop.
We plan to be in Traverse City till Monday or Tuesday when Kate and Mark will help Emery take the boat around to Frankfort (95 miles by boat, 45 miles by car), and Pat and I will manage the little girls. Should be a fun time. Cheers to all.
Kate and Mark are here with Lily and Caroline. Mark’s Mom Pat lives here; Kate’s 20th high school reunion is being held this weekend in Midland; they are busy and three grandparents are taking care of the girls while they are gone for the weekend. The first picture attached is me at the beach with L and C yesterday.
We came here Tuesday. The municipal docks are very nice, and all of downtown T.C., with its great restaurants and shops, is within walking distance. Before Kate’s family arrived we explored Old Mission Peninsula, the arm of land that bisects Grand Traverse Bay into the east and west arms. The Peninsula was settled in about 1850; settlers began planting the orchards that are now everywhere after clearing away the forests.
There are cherry orchards (both sweet and tart cherries) and grapevines all around the Peninsula. If you “blow up” the picture of the cherry tree above you will see how laden with fruit the trees are right now. Cherries are beginning to be harvested and the grapes are growing nicely. New wineries are popping up, and many restaurants serve the local wines. Some of the wines are wonderful.
At the northern end of the Peninsula is a small lighthouse and a relocated log house, both from the 1850-60 timeframe. Attached are pictures of both. There are lots of trails and beaches all around the area and many people, but everything is surrounded by water so nothing seems crowded.
The last picture is of Emery inside a re-creation of the Presbyterian Mission that was the beginning of white settlement in the area. It and the school were the center of Peninsula life for a very long time. The area and the Peninsula are beautiful and there are tons of homes and docks and boats and people, so this is a great stop.
We plan to be in Traverse City till Monday or Tuesday when Kate and Mark will help Emery take the boat around to Frankfort (95 miles by boat, 45 miles by car), and Pat and I will manage the little girls. Should be a fun time. Cheers to all.
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