Today is my birthday June 12th and let me tell you I really wanted to be in another country for my birthday and add another country to my bucket list but it just didn't work out because I was looking after my Mother while she was in hospice this year. My precious Mother died on the 11th of May 2025 (Mother's Day in the U.S.A.) and I had to go to New York State to have her buried next to her parents and after five days in New York State and five days in the province of Ontario, Canada it was time to return back home and to my stressful job.When our dreams don't work out there are alternatives. I adapted and adjusted my plans on the day of my birthday and headed north of where I live and found out that sometimes we can find contentment right in our own backyard. Thanks to my boyfriend, my birthday turned out just fine with impromptu local travel.
My boyfriend did all the driving on this road trip on the 12th of June. Heading north on U.S. 31 our first stop was Charlevoix, the beautiful. In the summer months Charlevoix's population increases a lot because wealthy home owners return in the summer to enjoy all the recreational activities Charlevoix has to offer; boating, concerts, festivals, golfing, picnics, tennis, shopping, swimming, On Thursday's there's a wonderful farmers market on Bridge Street (the Main Street in Charlevoix for shops and restaurants). At the Charlevoix Farmer's Market there's an abundance of treats to purchase from fresh produce to baked goods, handcrafted cheese and wine, made to order French crepes and fragrant soaps....and so much more. Charlevoix is great!
Petoskey is a classy city filled with culture. The downtown area is the ideal place for walking and sightseeing as is Bay View Association a summer colony of gingerbread homes. This is where you can attend a lecture or see a live performance of a ballet, play, opera, or orchestra. In Petoskey you'll find the headquarters of Kilwins Chocolates and see how they make their popular confectionary treats. Grain Train is a food coop known for a variety of products and tasty ready-made food prepared in-house. Petoskey has a pleasant walking trail known as Bear River Valley Recreational Area as well as Bayfront Park that sits along Little Traverse Bay. Skateboarders enjoy the 10,000 square foot skate-park at Riverbend Park. My boyfriend and I stopped at our favorite Indian restaurant in Petoskey called Aamchi Mumbai for lunch and ordered food to carryout. We found a place to park on the edge of North Western State Trail overlooking Crooked Lake. After eating our delicious meal we enjoyed a leisure bicycle ride on the lovely wooded North Western State Trail.
Mackinac Island is a gorgeous island on Lake Huron. No vehicles are allowed on the island. Mackinac Island is home to Arch Rock, Fort Mackinac, the Grand Hotel, the world's best fudge shops, horse carriage rides and ideal bicycling trails. Mackinac Island is an idyllic island where time stands still. In fact some Hollywood movies were filmed on Mackinac Island, one of them being "Somewhere in Time." Ferries run all day long from Mackinac City and Saint Ignace to Mackinac Island and everyone should visit this island at least once in their lives. I highly recommend booking a place to stay on the island. It's quite magical to be on the island for a few days if time allows. There's a good number of bed and breakfasts and hotels on the island that can be booked on-line or directly with the property.
Mackinaw City is another place to enjoy. There are public parks on the shores of Lake Huron with amazing views of one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, the mighty Mackinac Bridge also known as "Mighty Mac." In Mackinaw City you can check out the McGulpin Point Lighthouse and the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. There are shops galore on East Central Avenue. My personal favorite place is Mackinaw Crossings, a Victorian-inspired shopping center. There are arcade games, live musical entertainment, free laser lights shows, a 5-complex cinema, and the intriguing House of Glass. Lots of shops for clothing, fudge, and ice cream too. On June 12th my highlight at Mackinaw Crossings was watching an accordion player perform while his small white dog did tricks for the audience. It was heart-warming to watch.
Although my dream didn't come true to travel abroad for my milestone birthday, traveling locally had its rewards. Sometimes keeping it simple is best. I have no regrets that my birthday was a road trip of adventures only two hours from home by vehicle. Give local traveling a try, sometimes you can find bliss and wonder not far from home.
Before leaving Mackinac City I purchased some good-tasting creamy fudge from Joanne's Fudge Shop on East Central Avenue in Mackinaw City. Joanne's Fudge Shop is located both on Mackinac Island and in Mackinaw City. They give out samples so that you can try all the amazing flavors of fudge they make.
Here's a recipe for fudge: (Mackinac Island style)
Ingredients:
-8 tablespoons of unsalted butter
-1/2 cup milk
-1/2 cup granulated sugar
-1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
-1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
-1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
-2 cups confectioners' (powdered sugar)
In a saucepan combine the butter, sugars, milk, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then simmer on low. Heat constantly for about six minutes.
Remove from heat and let the mixture cool slightly. Stir in the vanilla extract, cocoa powder, and confectioners sugar until smooth.
Transfer the fudge mixture on a baking sheet and let it cool. You can shape the fudge into a log if desired. Wrap the fudge in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for thirty minutes.
After thirty minutes unwrap the fudge and cut the fudge into desired pieces and indulge!
I HOPE YOU FIND A COOL PLACE CLOSE TO HOME TO EXPLORE. GIVE LOCAL TRAVEL A TRY!! HAPPY TRAVELS!
*Adrianna
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