We started our adventure at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire, where we got our brochure and information on what to look for in the park. Before leaving the Visitor Center and heading out, I went through the museum area and took some pictures about the dunes. We did not go south in the park, but north to the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, then north on MI 109 to Glen Haven.
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| Dune Overlook |
I went by myself to the Michigan Legacy Art Park. Jim was not feeling very well and I read that there was some strenuous hills through the park, so it was best that he stayed at home. I did take Lucy, and we had a good walk through the park, while I took pictures of all the art and poems. The donation is $10 and it seems to me that they should use some of the money towards preservation of the art objects. Some of them look dilapidated and coming apart. There are around 50 sculptures in a permanent collection, and some rotating exhibits and poetry stones.
It was another hazy day in northwestern Michigan. I don't know if it was from the Canadian fires or just haze from the weather. We stopped at the Arcadia Overlook aka Inspiration Point to look at Lake Michigan, then we made our way to Point Betsie Lighthouse Museum in Frankfort.
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| Point Betsie Lighthouse |
The Port of Ludington Maritime Museum is located right on the inlet of the Ludington Harbor where the SS Badger comes in and goes in to its dock. We were going to stay until around 7pm to watch the Badger come into port and turn around before docking and the passengers and vehicles unloaded, but unforeseen circumstances delayed it for a couple of hours, so we did not wait for it. The museum is located in the former U.S. Coast Guard Station and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum overlooks Lake Michigan’s wild shoreline, Ludington’s iconic North Pier Light, and the historic carferry Badger.
We went to tour the SS City of Milwaukee, the ship built to replace the SS Milwaukee, which sank in October 1929. The SS Milwaukee was built as the SS Manistique Marquette & Northern I in 1903, for the Manistique, Marquette & Northern Railroad by The American Shipbuilding Company from Cleveland, Ohio. The Railroad was not financially successful and went bankrupt just one month after the ship entered service. The line was then purchased by the Pere Marquette Railroad and the Manistique ran for a short time. In 1905 the Pere Marquette lost control of its route and went into bankruptcy. The Manistique was eventually sold to Grand Trunk Milwaukee Car Ferry Company. She was renamed the SS Milwaukee and was in service for over 21 years as a Grand Trunk ferry.
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| SS Milwaukee |
Windmill Island Gardens is a municipal park located in the city of Holland, Michigan. It is home to the 251-year-old windmill De Zwaan, the only authentic, working Dutch windmill in the United States.
Of course I would find a company that gives tours in a chocolate factory and also gives away free samples during the tour. And that's where the South Bend Chocolate Company comes in. The company was founded in 1991 by Mark Tarner. The company got its start making chocolates under a license from the University of Notre Dame. It's first three products were the Domer, the Rockne, and Nuts for ND. In their store today, there is a whole display dedicated to Notre Dame with their logo. The produce over 500 different chocolates and sweets and ship all over the country.
