Sailing

Have you ever been on a sailboat? It is one of the most exciting and liberating experiences. You feel one with the sea as you roll across the waves. With only the wind for power, you can hear all the sounds the ocean has to offer.

About a week ago, I was able to go sailing with my family. We were able to see familiar sites from a completely different perspective.

Southport

Oak Island Lighthouse

Bald Head Island

A Ship Coming In

Fishing

A Dolphin swam around our boat for a little bit.

It's nice to see sights that I normally can't view from land. 

~A.E. Keener

Latch Hook

An adventure is an unusual or exciting experience. With this in mind, some adventures aren't big. In fact, for some adventures, you don't even have to leave your home.

Latch hooking is a fun, relatively easy art. Using a special hook, you tie knots. Following diagrams, you can make interesting designs. It's as simple as it sounds.  This is great for some one who can barely draw stick people like me.

You can make:

Unicorn Rug

Wolf Wall Hanging

Future Pillow

I find latch hooking fun and relaxing. The sense of completing a piece is exhilarating. I definitely recommend latch hooking for anyone who likes to craft or who want to create a work of art.  

~A.E. Keener

  

Going Somewhere in Time...

Now a days, when we travel, we believe that we have to go abroad to experience something new and exciting. We forget though, how great our own country can be.  

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to go to Mackinac Island, Michigan. Mackinac Island is located in Lake Huron just off of Michigan.

In order to reach Mackinac Island, I had to fly from Detroit to a small airport in Pellston, Michigan. The airport is reminiscent of the television show Wings. 

Baggage Claim

The airport felt more like a cabin in the woods.

From Pellston, we drove 30 minutes to Mackinac City where we boarded a ferry to Mackinac Island.

Stepping on Mackinac Island, you feel as if you have traveled back in time. 

A Street in downtown Mackinac Island

The houses are Victorian style and cars are not allowed on the island. In fact, you only have two options in transportation.

Either By Bicycle...

Or By Carriage

Also, there is the beautiful Grand Hotel. 

The Grand Hotel

Carriage Topiary in the Gardens

To call it elegant would be an understatement. The Grand Hotel is a piece of art and history of times long past. When you step inside, you feel as if you have stepped into a different era. A time when tea was held daily and five course meals were a must. 

  Afternoon Tea

Five Course Meal Place Setting

What the Grand Hotel has become known for in modern times is the set of the famous cult romance, Somewhere in Time.

A Wall Dedicated to Somewhere in Time

It was fun to relive scenes of the movie as we explored the hotel. 

Of course the hotel, wasn't the only attraction. While there, we also visited Fort Mackinac. 

Fort Mackinac was built during the American Revolution.

West Blockhouse

Through a Peephole in West Blockhouse

The fort sits overlooking the entire island. It also has a tea room and live reenactments of rifle and cannon firings. 

I've always had a fascination with history so being able to glimpse inside this fort and seeing how people lived during such hard times was an eye opener.

Another favorite attraction is Wings over Mackinac, a butterfly conservatory. Butterflies from all over the world are brought to live there.

These little butterflies are friendly. In fact, they'll actually land on you given the chance.

 Just make sure to watch where you are walking. 

Although my experience on Mackinac Island was short, it was an eye opening experience for me. I saw  people horse back riding, playing lawn games, and dancing till late in the night. Even though I didn't have a laptop or other modern devices, I was never bored.  

Mackinac Island is wonderful island and I didn't even have to leave the country to experience it.  

For more information on Mackinac Island:

Mackinac Island: http://www.mackinacisland.org/

Grand Hotel: http://www.grandhotel.com/

Fort Mackinac: http://www.mackinacparks.com/fort-mackinac/ 

Wings over Mackinac: http://www.wingsofmackinac.com/butterflies.htm

~A.E. Keener