Grand Haven, Michigan

Grand Haven is dubbed as Coast Guard City USA and there is a huge festival surrounding it.  We wanted to make sure we got to attend this year and it just so happened that our vacation was able to coincide with this festival.  Once we got there, we learned that my grandmother's condo was being sold.  Though it is necessary, it was a little bitter sweet knowing that we were there for the last time.  Memories of bowls of fresh blueberries on the counter and a bowl of jelly bellies always there... But my grandmother is now in an assisted living so selling the condo had to happen!

All packed up and time to make our first leg of the trip   10 hours from DC to Michigan.

We got into Michigan after midnight but that didn't stop us from getting up and running a quick race together!  It was only a 1 mile fun run race (hence the linen maternity shorts I wore for the race!)  That day, we walked more than 15 miles!!

Took the kids out boating on my uncle's boat.  Don't worry, piper was just floating, not tubing. 

Kids first time tubing -- they loved it!

A walk to the end of the lighthouse pier

Ships coming into the port for us to tour them! 

Piper and I waiting for the ships to dock!

Photo from the navigation bridge of the Macinaw

Taking a ride on the trolley -- The kids absolutely loved it!

Picking blueberries near Spring Lake

The dancing fountains that play every night.  They change colors and play music and you can see them from the balcony at my grandmothers condo -- but we walked down there most nights -- and to Temptations Ice Cream shop to get ice cream to eat while watching the fountains by the water.

Enjoying the fireworks on the last night of the festival

A nasty storm blew in on our last day.  It was so windy and the waves on the lake were big. 

Next up -- the Wisconsin portion of our trip as well as the trip on the S.S. Badger across the lake.  Will post those photos tomorrow!