Traveling Michigan's Upper Peninsula...
When I was a youngster I had my picture taken standing next to Babe the Blue Ox. I was about ten years old, my brother was five ~ unfortunately I can't locate that photo. That would have been taken in 1947 ~ yes, I am old!
I have climbed to the top of Castle Rock; then and several times later as I would be with people who had not seen the view from that point. It is very picturesque, to say the least. When we were there this past month, we didn't stop there as the grandchildren were sleeping and my son thought it better to take them when they are a couple of years older and they can remember it better. So I am sharing these other photos with you from 'roadsideamerica.com'
Paul Bunyan and Babe - Castle Rock
Castle Rock is an abrupt, geologic protuberance just north of the Mackinac Bridge on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The nearly 200-ft. column of rock was long ago augmented with a man-made ramp and walkway to provide tourists a climb for an unparalleled view of Lake Huron and distant Mackinac Island.
At the base of the Castle Rock lookout is an amusing Paul Bunyan statue accompanied by his mythical sidekick, Babe the Blue Ox. This Bunyan is rare. Instead of standing, ready to deforest Michigan, Paul sits, staring googly-eyed towards the lake.
Paul and Babe are surrounded by a low hurricane fence, to discourage lap monkeys. The statue and lookout are accessed via Castle Rock Curios, a gift shop with a classic neon sign out front and loads of souvenirs to salve that Upper Peninsula itch.
Paul Bunyan and Babe - Castle Rock ...
Address: 2811 Mackinac Trail, St. Ignace, MI
Directions: I-75 exit 348. West side of the road, at the base of Castle Rock. Impossible to miss.
Hours: Daily May - mid-Oct. (Call to verify)
Phone: 906-643-8268
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There are many other Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue ox statues around the country ~ this is just one, but the one that I've seen myself.
06.29.09 (1:22 am) [
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This is for PirateGirl...
I found the ship when I was looking for the rum...
Ahoy me matey ~ let the cruise begin... soon I hope!
06.25.09 (4:25 pm) [
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Ahh, summertime and the living is easy...
Once again the Mighty Mac calls to me…
I am back home again from my most recent vacation. This time I went to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with my son and his family. It was a spur of the moment decision to get away, and I jumped at the chance.
So we loaded up the minivan with six passengers, two in booster seats, and the baby in a car seat. My son was the driver, I rode shotgun, and my daughter-in-law was in the middle seat with the baby, and the 6-y/o and 4-y/o sat in the last row. That was so daughter-in-law could keep tabs on the children. We had a DVD player so they had movies to watch; they also had games to play, coloring books with colored pencils, and it all worked out well. I am so impressed what good travelers the little ones are. The three month old baby just "slept, ate, and pooped" as someone said, and smiled a lot and was such a jewel!
We stayed at Mackinaw City as a base and took daytrips from there. Our hotel had a pool, sauna, and hot tub. There was also a sandy beachfront and so the kids also played on the beach in the sand and waded in the water. There was also a firepit so we could roast marshmallows and made s'mores. And Grammy could sit in the chair and keep an eye on their activity. And Mackinaw City has a lot of things for young families; water parks, museums, miniature golf, etc. We also took a trip to Mackinac Island one day and the kids enjoyed the boat ride to the island and back. It was Lilac Time on the Island and that is such a sweet time ~ also helps to mask the smell of the horse poop ~ peee-ewww! One doesn't want to get downwind of that too often. 
Another day we went to Sault St. Marie to visit the Soo Locks; we were fortunate to be there when a freighter was passing through. We had a picnic lunch on the lawn as we waited for the freighter to arrive at the lock and so we could watch it pass on through the lock. It was a 1,000 footer and filled the lock. We also had a soccer ball and the two youngsters and my son kicked the ball back and forth between each other and it helped to pass the time and burn off some their extra energy.
Another day we took a trip to Tahquamenon Falls. We also went to see The Mystery Spot, which is one of those places where ‘a ball rolls uphill’ and things like that ~ mystifying. The baby was sleeping so Grammy decided it would be convenient for me to watch him sleep and the rest of them could see the site; I've seen it before.
On another day we drove about 45 minutes to the town of Detour, where my mother was raised, and visited the old homestead I vacationed at as a child. On the way to that little town we stopped at a roadside park along the scenic route for a picnic that day. We also waded in the cold water at the sandy beach and my son skipped rocks in the calm waters; it was such a pleasant time.
My daughter-in-law had her camera and when she gets the photos of the kids and us uploaded, I’ll post them later.
I am glad to be back home again. Always glad to get away, but as I’ve said before, “There is no place like home!”
06.18.09 (8:18 am) [
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On the road again ...
Guess what?
I am on vacation again!
Life is grand! more to come later... gotta run... they are calling for me...
*hi bawdy ... was in your neighborhood ~ called out to you ~ but you must have been away because you didn't answer ... saw a freighter go through the locks...
06.12.09 (12:19 pm) [
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