THURSDAY THIRTEEN 4TH EDITION

I'm going to play along with the theme for the week. Thirteen places we've visited. Some of these are places you wouldn't find on your own and although they are not where you would go for a week, they are nice places to stop along the way.

1. Jacob's Falls - this is 4 miles E of Eagle River on MI-26 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Although I like some hiking, this is right on the roadway.


2. The Jampot - is a small store run by monks right next to Jacob's Falls. They sell the yummiest baked goods and jams, of course.


3. Lake of the Clouds - this is a beautiful little hike also in the UP in the Porcupine Mountains.


4. Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland is in Frankenmuth MI. This is the world's largest Christmas store. When we have out of town guests this is the place everyone wants to go to. They have billboards all along the highway all over the country.
5. Warther Carving Museum - Dover OH We happened along this while doing fall camping and just about everything was closed down. It was amazing! "Moonie" as everyone called him carved trains out of everything and anything. The detail was... there are no words. One of the trains was a replica of the train carrying Lincoln in his casket and even the sink was detailed right down to the faucets. The gas lamps on the walls were perfect. The amazing thing about him was that if he needed a different tool to do the carving - he made it. We also bought some great knives there. His wife was a collector of buttons and there was also a button museum.

6. Natchez Trace - 444 Miles from Natchez Mississippi to Nashville TN. This was an interesting drive coming home one year. We thought we'd just get on it for a few miles then get back to the highway. It was such a nice drive and the speed was 55 without any (or little) traffic. We stayed on it the whole 444 miles. American Indians, traders, trappers and missionaries used the trail paralleling the paved road today. They would float merchandise downriver to New Orleans where they sold their flatboats and goods and returned home on foot or horseback using the Natchez Trace. We camped one night on the Trace in Mississippi.

7. Rayne LA - We're talking the Frog Capital of the World. Interesting town with lots of frog murals and sculptures. And who wouldn't want to say they've been to the Frog Capital of the World.

8. Biltmore Estates - Ashville NC. We took a self guided tour of the home using headphones and maps. Everything was beautiful. The second day we toured the winery and gardens. Below is a picture of an interesting garden clock.


9. Myrtle Beach - SC What's not to love. Miles of hard beach in the early morning hours when there few others out. I also got my nerve up once and went parasailing. What a high - literally. You stand on the back of the boat with a harness on and they slowly unwind a cable that lets you rise into the sky over the water. AMAZING!!
10. Woodward Dream Cruise - Ferndale MI. FREE Lots of 50's and 60's auto culture rolling down Woodward Ave for 16 miles through 9 host cities. People line both sides of the street the whole way listening to music of the era. There are parades, sock hops, picnics, Elvis impersonators and of course lots of things for sale. The cruise is in mid - late August.
11. Grand Haven State Park -Grand Haven MI This is a State Park campground that is basically a parking lot (you've packed in that closely). It allows more people to enjoy the beautiful fresh water beach. On Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday morning there is a concert of sorts with a musical fountain. The annual Coast Guard Festival is also in this town.
12. Henry Ford Museum - Dearborn MI This in always a fun day. We went this year at Christmas time. Lots of nastolgia and interesting things. They have old time gas stations, an interesting doll house collection, you name it it was there. A full day.
13. Mackinaw Island - MI We like to go here annually. We camp about a mile from the boat docks. Ride our bikes to the boats and take them over to the island. There is a pleasant 8 mile path around the island where you view fresh water everywhere. There's a fort and plenty of horse drawn carriages. No automobiles are allowed on the island. A day on the island is not complete without getting a sugar fix with their famous fudge.