Mackinac City/Soo Locks Vacation

This past weekend, we trekked up the 5 or so hr drive to Mackinaw City and Sault St. Marie, MI for our little summer getaway. It was only overnight, since at this age, it's about all we the kids can handle.

Ready for the road trip!

Thank goodness for snacks and dvds...

We left early Friday morning (around 6/6:30) and finally got up there around 10:30/11. Since it was too early to eat, we let the kids play around on a HUGE play structure on the coast in St. Ignace, just over the Mackinac Bridge. They had a blast! It was perfect since we were the only ones there, which gave them pretty much free rein of the place.
 

Happy boy!

Conversations over lunch

They didn't know where to start!

The family

"Do you see that water over there Ava??"

 After lunch, we went another hour up to Sault St. Marie where our hotel was and walked downtown to the Soo Locks. We tried to see the huge freighters but in the end due to timing, just ended up hanging out, eating ice cream, and walking in all the little shops.

Aiden calls this "the trailer" because it reminds him of a trailer hitch

Hanging Out

This was, unfortunately, the only boat we saw... no big freighters

That night went fine, it was Ava's first time sleeping away from home (other than when she was a little little baby) and she only woke up once crying. With a little Mama cuddling time, she was back asleep for the rest of the night. In the morning, we went to Lake Michigan in the UP before we went over the bridge, and I think both kids could've stayed all day... Ava absolutely LOVED the water, we were waiting for her to jump right in. And again, we were the only ones there, which was perfect!

On Lake Michigan

Water Baby

Building sandcastles

And finally, we walked around downtown Mackinaw City for a bit, then on to the water again for one final look at the bridge. Once we left, ate lunch in the car and finally got home around 5pm. Both kids crashed HARD that night... I think J and I did too... it's exhausting, I can't imagine going for longer than overnight!!

"Hey, get back here!!"