Brigadoon in Mackinac City

The minute we saw Brigadoon, we knew we wanted to stay here. It just oozes charm and comfort. Your room comes with cookies and lemonade in the afternoon, a homemade dessert in the evening and a delicious hot breakfast the next day in a sunny room overlooking the downtown area. Owners Doug and Lydia Yoder purchased the 100 year old Victorian home which is on the right side of this picture and painstakingly renovated it and also added the wing to the left with the rooms and suites. It is ever so tastefully done, with a fireplace in each room. They are the same couple that owns Bay View on Mackinac Island.

Cheboygan Opera House

Three cheers for the local group of people who tirelessly worked to save the lovely Cheboygan Opera House and restore it to its days of glory. The first opera building on this spot  appeared in 1877, but a fire razed it in 1886. Undaunted, the people of the city voted to reconstruct an even better one to the tune of $35,000! Although fire struck again in 1903, they were able to reconstruct the auditorium.  Many well known names have entertained people from their stage like Annie Oakley, William S Hart and Mary Pickford.  In the 1960's amd 70's, no longer in use, it was abandoned and condemned. The Cheboygan Area Arts Council was formed in 1972 and they spearheaded the huge effort to save her.  It reopened in 1984 and under the direction of its executive board, it has been going strong. The first floor of the building is occupied by City Hall, the police, a jail and the fire department. The stage and auditorium take up the upper two floors. The gorgeous horseshoe balcony wraps around the stage. There are many exciting events this summer, including an evening with Jeff Daniels. Thank you, Pam Westover, for the great tour.

Icebreaker Mackinaw

You are welcome aboard the Icebreaker Mackinaw which was retired five years ago.  Up and down skinny little ladders you climb, exploring the engine room, the captain's quarters, the heads, the galley --all the way up to the steering room. Is that what you call it? It is a very cool experience. Berthed in Mackinaw City, the self-guided tour let's you explore at your own pace.  Very proud Coast Guard guides are strategically placed and give you more detail about various aspects of the ship built during World War II. You'll be amazed at some of the facts--like at one time, it cut through a layer of ice 35 feet thick!

Mackinaw City Lumberjack Shows

Displaying the great skills of the lumberjacks that forged our state's history, the Jack Pine Show in Mackinaw City will amaze you with their competitive games.  They climb and descend trees at lightening speed, run across logs, play king of the rolling log, show their muscle in hacking the logs in two and way more. They have shows every night at 7:30pm with audience participation!

Doll Museum at Indian River

Back in 1945 Sally Rogalski began dressing dolls in traditional nun habits to preserve a little bit of history of the Catholic Church. In 1964 she donated her collection to the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods. Since then the collection has grown to over 525 dolls and 20 mannequins representing over 217 religious orders of priests, sisters and brothers. You have to see it to believe it. Doreen noticed a couple of Barbies and Kens that joined a religious order.

A Quiet Moment at Indian River

This beautiful sculpture "A Quiet Moment" was created by Canadian artist Timothy P. Smaltz. It stands in the gardens of Cross in the Woods in Indian River. When Suzie and I visited there one Sunday morning, it was quiet and I could almost feel the arms around me, filling me with security, hope and peace. Additional casts of this sculpture are located in Italy and Bethlehem. The artist describes his sculptures as visual prayers and creates works to glorify Christ. Learn more here. There are many beatuiful sculptures at the National Shrine of Cross in the Woods.