It's a Michigan Thing

Second only to watching the Lions lose on Thanksgiving Day, Fall leaf and color tours are a tradition in the mitten. Every September and October my family, armed with salami sandwiches, yogurt-covered raisins and a 35mm camera, hopped into the car in search of, yes, trees. Trees ablaze with burning reds, sunny yellows and vibrant oranges. We would drive hours to see a rainbow of trees reflecting in the turquoise waters of Torch Lake or dotting the hills of Kalkaska. The view from atop Dead Man's Hill would leave us breathless.

It's safe to say that I grew up with a fervent appreciation for the beauty of a Michigan Autumn and it was that appreciation, along with a spectacular birthday present from Nicole, that led the two of us on a color tour of our own this past weekend.

With the sun shining on a unheard-of 75-degree day, we set out for Mackinaw City on Saturday morning. A few trees were turning in the lower half of the state but it wasn't until a few hours north that we really noticed the changing landscape. Every other word was "oooh!" or "look at that!" Reluctant to stick my expensive digital camera out the window for a shot, I tried a few through-the-window photos...



We arrived in Mackinaw City in time to catch the 3pm ferry to the island. The sparkling water, the majestic Mackinac Bridge and the island in all its history and color was an incredible sight. Here are some shots we took on the island.







After two incredible days on the island, we drove west toward Harbor Springs down highway 119 known as The Tunnel of Trees. A barely two-lane road winding along a bluff high above lake Michigan, these pictures don't do it justice, but I think you'll get a pretty good idea how amazing it was.







Ending the day with a lovely lunch on a picnic table at the marina (we highly recommend Cornichons Market in Harbor Springs) we headed home already brimming with ideas for next year.