Travel to Michigan and Canada in 2001

In late July and early August, my wife and I traveled to Michigan for yet another family reunion (my mother's side of the family) in Gaylord, Michigan. The trip there and around the north shore of Lake Superior included many stops along the way at various State and Provincial Parks, as well as other sites of interest.

The trip up to Michigan was pretty much a non-stop drive, as we only had one day to get to the reunion (traffic around Chicago was hell due to all the cars on the road and construction - we spent an hour just creeping along). After the reunion, we spent a couple of days in Traverse City at my cousin's place. From there we drove along the Lake Michigan coast in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and made our way around the Leelanau Peninsula. From Traverse City we headed north to Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island and the Mackinac Bridge. A brief stop was made at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie before crossing the border into Canada. We then drove on Highway 17 around the north shore of Lake Superior, with stops at Lake Superior and Sleeping Giant Provincial Parks. We reentered the U.S. and drove along the shore in Minnesota with stops at Finland State Forest, Gooseberry Falls and Jay Cooke State Parks. Finally, we made one day stops at my sister-in-law's and parents-in-law's places in Minnesota before heading home.

The map of the western Great Lakes region shows our travel routes.
Click on the camera to view an image.

Click on the photo icon above, or the link below to view the image.

• Stream in Traverse City, Michigan
• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
• Lighthouse in Leelanau State Park, Michigan
• Petosky State Park, Michigan
• Mackinac Bridge from Mackinaw City, Michigan
• The Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan
• Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
• Lake in Ontario, Canada, inland from north shore of Lake Superior
• Lake in Ontario, Canada, inland from north shore of Lake Superior
• The Sleeping Giant, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
• The Sleeping Giant and the Sea Lion (diabase dike and sea arch in foreground), Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
• Moss covered rocks, Finland State Forest, Minnesota
• Gooseberry Falls State Park, Minnesota
• Jay Cooke State Park, Minnesota
• One dog-tired dog - Cinder