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Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Lighthouses - Pure Michigan

Pure Michigan is the travel slogan for Michigan. It's used to show just how beautiful Michigan can be. I am learning to really appreciate that. Monday was a bank holiday here in the US too. We planned a day out with some friends of my husband's. We're both about the same age and our kids are all moving out. Their children are a little younger than ours but they are completely empty-nesters. We're trying to get together more and go places.

Yesterday we decided to hit the next lighthouses on our list up in Ludington. It is about 146 miles away so quite a drive. On our way up we decided to stop again at Grand Haven Lighthouse. Last time we were here was back in early April (see below)


We couldn't walk along the walkway at all, the lake was coming up and over. Yesterday was a lot calmer.


What a difference a couple of months make!

The next on our list was Ludington North Breaker Lighthouse. There is half a mile walk out to this one.




This one was open to the public and we walked up to the very top.


I did not like these steps. They were like ladders and quite steep! The view was amazing though.



This one was enclosed at the top so you can see the bugs and reflections!

The final one on our list for the day was Big Sable Lighthouse. This is just a few miles up the road from the last. There is a 1.8 mile walk to the lighthouse. The sights are just beautiful. I didn't realise there would be a lot of dunes around here too.


And finally a peek in the distance!


And around the corner the whole lighthouse came into view.


The tower looked quite intimidating!


But up we went!


These stairs were spiral. There were 137 of them Phew. Quite a climb!


The views from the top were amazing! I don't like heights so I was very pleased with myself.




What a great day out! My foot/ankle was not happy at the end of the day, but it was well worth it. Next weekend is camping. I haven't been camping for about fifteen years and that wasn't in a tent! Should be quite an adventure!

11 comments:

  1. Wonderful lighthouses, Michelle! Loved the gorgeous photos of a state I have never visited, but hope to someday. Thanks for your kind comment about my hubby's illness. He's getting a little stronger each day! All my best.

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  2. That sounds like a day for the memory bank. Michigan is such a pretty state - we would visit when we lived in Ontario and know that it is WAY more than just Detroit! Thanks for dropping by - it's lovely to visit your blog.

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  3. That sounds like a day for the memory bank. Michigan is such a pretty state - we would visit when we lived in Ontario and know that it is WAY more than just Detroit! Thanks for dropping by - it's lovely to visit your blog.

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  4. Love the lighthouses, all those steep staircases not so much!
    bon weekend from Normandy.

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  5. I haven't seen but one lighthouse 'up north' as they say down south. It was on Nantucket. But, I've seen a few farther south... guess it's because that's where I travel the most. duh.

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  6. Wow what a difference in the weather. Marvelous pictures of different lighthouses, I think they are amazing structures indeed.

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  7. Lighthouses are such interesting pieces of history and architecture. I have been in one and found it fascinating. Great photos!

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  8. You had quite a workout walking and climbing, but worth it to see the views from the top of the lighthouses. Some of them look so tall, but there'll be some fascinating history connected with each one. It was good to visit during wonderful weather although seeing the structures when the waves are high must be a dramatic sight. Have a good time when you go camping.

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  9. That's a lot of lighthouses to visit in one day! Great photos of them all. I have a couple of other blogging friends in Michigan, and they have really opened my eyes to see the wild places in your beautiful state. Thanks for stopping by mine, enjoy your day :)
    Wendy

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  10. Great photographs of the Michigan lighthouses, and especially the April picture of Grand Haven lighthouse .... very atmospheric!

    Best wishes, Barbara xx

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  11. I LOVE seeing all your lighthouse pictures! The Big Sable was the first lighthouse I ever climbed and it opened up a whole new world of experiences for me (despite my fear of heights). I spend about an hour sketching the Ludington lighthouse while sitting underneath it a couple of years ago on my way back from a camping trip. The Grand Haven Lighthouse? I didn't enjoy that one as much as I could have. The parking lot was full, so my husband drove around while I ran down the pier to get a picture of the tall ship that was passing! He was kicked out because the area was so packed, and I had to walk around looking for him, never really taking in the lighthouse. Oops!

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