At the dune climb they charged $15 per vehicle and gave us a pass that lasted seven days. After parking we approached the dunes, took off our socks and shoes, I hiked up my pants, and we made our way up digging our feet into the scorching hot sand one step at a time. The climb can take as little or as much time as your stamina and goals will allow. Once you get up the first hill, you have three options. First, you can take in the view of the sand and Glen Lake below, and head back down once you've had your fill. Second, you can head right and take a winding, arduous, up and down trail to Lake Michigan (remember, you'll have to climb your way back). Third, you can head left and climb to the lookout. It's straight up, but then again the entire trek back to the parking lot is all downhill.
Another misconception I'd had was that that since it was the National Cherry Festival, it would be all cherry errthing. All the food and beverages cherry-flavored, everybody and everything outfitted in various shades of red, people dressed like cherries. Turns out, while there was a mascot (his name's Super Cherry, but I only saw posters of him), and plenty of foods with cherries in them, it's not actually all cherry errthing. It's more like any other summer festival, but just so happens to also use the event to highlight its highly renowned and marketable local produce. It was spread out and well-organized, a pleasant way to spend a summer day, but nothing out of the ordinary. Once we got there we ate some food, walked around to see what was what, bought a cup of cherries (16 oz. for $5), and then dipped.
Google Maps had us take a different way back, leading us along Lake Michigan and passing through Charlevoix, where we got to stop and watch them raise the bridge so a ship could pass. For dinner back in Mackinaw City, we had Italian food at Nonna Lisa's. Think excellent Italian food inside of a hunter's lodge. Lots of wood, taxidermy, fake pine trees, and white Christmas lights. Somewhat incongruous with the cuisine, but it's actually pretty on brand as far as northern Michigan interior design goes. I ordered the seafood portofino, which was bomb! I'd just wanted to try something different, but I hadn't realized how much I actually enjoy seafood. And I tasted mussels for the first time, so that was nice too. Ma ordered spaghetti, and for someone who'd insisted she was "not that hungry", she put away more of her dish than I did mine!
NacNaw photos
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