Lake Michigan, Trolleys and Petoskey Stones (#40)

Sparkling Star
Aug 18, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Aug 23, 2024

We started to get our travel routines after leaving Mackinac City, and were going to get to see our first new town in a while.

This Mackinac Suspension Bridge marks the separation between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. We left early in the morning to beat the weather that was supposed to get worse in the day.

We got a great spot at the marina.

We had one full day in Petoskey that we used to go on the local trolley. This stop is in Bay View Association, a community established and owned by the Methodist church. People can own the homes, but not the land in this community. Also, it is only for the summer and all power and water are shut off to the area after the summer season is over.

This is the library and center of the community.

This is another view of the Bay from the library. Most all of the homes have beautiful views of Lake Michigan.

The Perry hotel was built in 1899, and seems almost more ornate that the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Ernest Hemmingway would take the train here and stay here.

We came back later in the evening with our friends from Ginny to enjoy the Happy Hour here. The appetizers were delicious.

Another stop on our trolley tour was this beach which is good for finding Petoskey stones. I met a local who told me she searches here an hour a day and has found over 100.

I didn't find time to search, so I bought three in the local store. This is a great description of the stones.

These three better show the patterns.

There also is a lovely waterfall that our Trolley guide highlighted and we walked back to later in the day.

We went here twice to the Backlot Food Truck area. Ted didn't go to the long line the first time, but when we went back we had the most delicious Smoked Potato Tacos.