On day 3, we started off by crossing the Mackinac Bridge. This is the first time Chris & Gilly have crossed it, and the first time since I was probably 10 myself that I've crossed it. I have, over the past few years, gotten a bit more scared of heights. I was afraid I might get panicky on the bridge, but I didn't!
The drive across was smooth sailing. Or, driving. It was a clear day, and we could see all around us. The Mackinac Bridge is a gorgeous structure to view, and stands almost larger than life when you see it from some angles. Especially when you are higher up, and can see it above the tree line.
Once we crossed, I promptly realized the directions I had printed up were lost, and I didn't know exactly where I was going. I knew Castle Rock was in one direction, and the Mystery Spot was in the other. I had no idea where Indian Village was.
We choose to go into St. Ignace first, turning right off the bridge. As we drove through town, we came across Indian Village, so we stopped there first. This is little more than a kitschy tourist shop, selling loads of stuff that is themed towards the area, as well as towards Indian tribes of old.
It also has a small room filled with Odawa (Ottawa) Indian Tribe memorabilia, and items from when the Mackinac Bridge first opened. The shop is just as I remember from going in as a child, and the kids enjoyed shopping. Out front, we also posed with a large wooden TP, and the kids put their heads in a wooden cut out.
When we left, I had them walk behind the store to a wooden walk way, so I could take pictures of them on it with the bay behind them.
While I was there, I got directions to Castle Rock, and we were off. Castle Rock is a natural rock formation made of limestone (Limestone is found very heavily in the area, in fact, Mackinac Island is almost entirely made of limestone). You can climb to the top (using stairs), and see the view. It's nerve wracking, because in order to cross the last bit, you cross on a metal gang plank that wobbles. Very nerve wracking in deed!
Castle Rock stands almost 200 feet above the water, and you can see for miles around. The climb is very tiring. I was exhausted by the time I got to the top. I took videos while we climbed, though, so you can see later just how tired I was.
There is also a wooden hand carved totem pole at the base of the climb, and statues of Paul Bunyon & Babe, his blue ox. There is a tourist shop attached, but it had the same stuff Indian Village did. I picked up a few post cards specific to the location, we pressed 2 pennies, and we were on our way.
After leaving, we drove in the opposite direction towards the Mystery Spot. I wanted to find a park to eat lunch in first, but it was a bit before we came across a road side rest stop with a view of the bridge. We stopped there to eat.
My next post will talk about the Mystery Spot, the Fort Maze, and the Mini-Golf we played. These attractions were all together at the Mystery Spot, and I took significantly more photos during that time frame.
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Comments: 7
That looks like a lot of fun! I bet going up Castle Rock was a ton of work. It's funny to me, to see Paul Bunyan in other states...he is pretty big in Minnesota.
Paul Bunyon has his roots in most northern states. However, the earliest known tales originated in Grayling, Michigan. ;)
Paul Bunyan has dozens of towns vying to be considered his home. Several authors, including James Stevens and D. Laurence Rogers, have traced the tales to the exploits of French-Canadian lumberjack Fabian "Saginaw Joe" Fournier, 1845-1875. Fournier worked for the H.M. Loud Company in the Grayling, Michigan area, 1865-1875, where MacGillivray later worked and apparently picked up the stories.
The state of Michigan declared Oscoda, Michigan as the official home of Paul Bunyan because it had the earliest documented published stories by MacGillivray. Other towns such as Bemidji, Brainerd, Shelton, and Westwood, Minnesota; Bay City, Michigan; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and even Bangor, Maine also claim the title.
Kelliher, Minnesota is the home of Paul Bunyan Memorial Park, which contains a site purporting to be Paul Bunyan's grave. Another legend claims that Rib Mountain in Wausau, Wisconsin, is Bunyan's grave site.
Two Boy Scouts of America Order of the Arrow lodges have their original roots tied into the fable of Paul Bunyan. OA Lodge 196, Mesabi, from Hibbing, Minnesota, used Paul Bunyan as its lodge totem from 1941-1995. OA Lodge 26, Blue Ox, from Rochester, Minnesota, has used the Blue Ox (Babe) exclusively as its lodge totem and on nearly all patches and neckerchiefs since 1927.
Wow!!! That's absolutely amazing.
very cool :)
looks awesome.