Bikes at the Island House Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI
Sometimes the most everyday things become the inspiration for a great photo… I would have loved to spend more than a few seconds on this shot, but we were on a roll, heading out to accomplish something or other… (eating, bike riding, photo taking, shopping, you know…??) Next time! In front of the Island Inn Hotel on Mackinac Island they have a great place where you can rent bikes. It comes in handy because that’s the best way to get around the island. And I do mean AROUND the island. Yep, bikes are great for back and forth running here and there, but what many people don’t do is take the time (doesn’t take that long, it’s only approximately 8 miles) to ride their bikes around the island. You will LOVE IT! The back of the island is very quiet and peaceful, the scenery is unreal. So take some time to enjoy the view!!
Ahhh, San Francisco, CA. A place you can see so much, do so much and totally wear yourself out! This photo was taken in October, 2005 -on the ferry back from Sausalito… after a big day touring Muir Woods. We went on one of those tours (that I was completely against but am so glad we went on) that takes you to Muir Woods and Sausalito. We only had an hour in Sausalito… but it is such a neat place, so we stayed and instead of the tour bus we took the ferry back to San Fran. We had a great time, snapped a few pics on the ferry ride “home”. There is SO MUCH to do in San Fran, and with such great public transportation it’s quick and easy to get around. If you’re headed that way on vacation I highly recommend the CITY PASS… you get free admission to many venues as well as flashing your pass to hop on most all public transportation. It was the perfect way to get around!
Catch you back here tomorrow… boy, could I ever go for breakfast at MAMA’S on Washington Square, owieee what a treat! Haven’t been there in years, but I do remember an omelet called THE CALIFORNIAN, crispy bacon, avocado and jack cheese…. lawd have mercy!
I know “Red sky in the morning – sailors take warning, red sky at night – sailors delight” but what is a pink sky? Beauty! That’s what! This photo was taken several years ago when we spent Thanksgiving at Amelia Island in Florida. The weather was perfect, the meals were to die for, the accommodations… HEAVEN and the sunrise on the beach each morning… WORTH. GETTING. UP. FOR! You can see the silhouette of the big Christmas tree to the right, can you believe that’s just around the corner?! Eek!
Go get your Christmas shopping done, hee hee… KIDDING! Enjoy your week! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Harvest Festival at the Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA
Hey, if you happen to be in the area of San Francisco I certainly wouldn’t miss the HARVEST FESTIVAL going on this weekend (Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23, 2011) at the Ferry Building! It sounds like it’s going to be a great time. Here’s a little info from their website (I urge you to visit it!). Here is a blip from their website, a wee bit of the history, much more on their WEBSITE:
FERRY BUILDING HISTORY
The Ferry Building Marketplace is a people’s marketplace serving residents and travelers alike. Located within the historic Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street, shops large and small celebrate food in all its forms, offering everything from artisan cheeses to the freshest of local fish. Restaurants and cafés serve cuisine representing the quality and cultural diversity of San Francisco’s
The Ferry Building Marketplace is located along the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street. It is the center of a transit hub that connects all of San Francisco’s neighborhoods and the surrounding bay communities. The marketplace is accessible by MUNI, BART and Ferry Boat. The historic trolley cars (Line F Market) stop directly in front of the Ferry Building. For more information about how to get here,visit the parking and transportation page or read our FAQs.
Visiting the porch of the Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI
Like I said yesterday… beauty everywhere you look. There is an amazing water view from nearly everywhere you stand. I love this island! Catch you back here tomorrow!
I love geraniums. They have a way of making something drab come alive. I especially love this salmon color, something a tad different from the typical red. This shot was taken on the way to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI. My mom, sister and I were there for a little R&R in between my mom finishing chemo (YAY!) and beginning radiation… We had the best time ever. We spent a few hours at the Grand Hotel and had so much fun! Bring your camera with you to the island, there are so many photos to be had. It’s difficult for me to focus when there’s so much to photograph, ha ha…
Enjoy your day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!
Magnificent homes on the West Bluff, Mackinac Island, MI
I know I said the East Bluff was my favorite… but… the West Bluff is also my favorite. These homes are impeccable and pristinely maintained, and that can’t be an easy (or cheap) job. It takes a lot of love to keep them looking like they do. The flowers are breathtaking. These are homes to be proud of for sure (as are many on Mackinac Island!). Ironically one of my favorite homes is the second from the left in the photo, the smaller one (which truly isn’t a small house, the others are just very large). It’s the sweetest home I’ve ever seen with a view that’s to die for. I would love to live in this house year round…. Ah, a nice dream for sure! On my Mac I can double click on the image to enlarge… hopefully PC users have that same capability… its nice to be able to see it a little closer! If you ever get a chance to visit Mackinac Island, MI I highly suggest it, it will be unlike anywhere you’ve ever visited in your life!
I love the word “bluff”, it’s such a cool word, I guess because we don’t have any bluffs in our area… the East Bluff on Mackinac Island is one of my all time favorites. The homes are magnificent. In this photo you see the Island House Hotel (the white building with red roof) and the East Bluff the road above. Mackinac Island is an island I could live year around on and be so very happy. It might get a little crowded in the summer, but I think it would be definitely worth it! If you ever get a chance to go to Mackinac Island I highly suggest it. It’s perfect for those who like to hike, bike, walk (no cars), there are horses (for taxi’s), so don’t be put off entirely if walking isn’t your thing! The food (at the Island House… heavens… I cannot get it out of my mind!), the great places to stay… Island House Hotel is my personal favorite, the fudge and now… even Starbuck’s! Check it out if you get a chance!
Mackinac Island, MI… ahhh the memories. It’s one of the most magical places on earth. It’s like you’re back in time (no cars, bikes and horses only) with modern conveniences (AC for the warm months, great coffee shops, fabulous food, amazing scenery everywhere you look… fantastic hiking/biking trails, the list goes on and on)… My mom, sister and I headed out for a three day vacation, something we had never done before. Now I wonder what took us so long?! What a great time we had. Due in great part to the Island House Hotel. We had a fabulous room that overlooked the marina/Straits of Mackinac and wrapped around for views of downtown. It was magical. If you haven’t been to Mackinac Island, MI, it’s a place YOU MUST put on your bucket list. If you want a truly special stay, I would hands down choose the Island House Hotel. With it’s wide sweeping porches full of rocking chairs, a view that simply cannot be beat, the comfortable, clean and beautiful rooms, the dining room (1852 Grill Room) that will make your head spin it’s so good… I’m a bit of a drama queen but not in this case. Trust me. I know a lot of you are artists… this is a beautiful place to paint, it’s a small island with a rocky coast and beautiful views. It’s much like Maine in the way the coast looks, especially on the back side of the island. My sister and I took a ride around the island at sunset… like I said… heaven! A ride around the island is only about 8 miles.
Mackinac Island is situated between the upper and lower peninsula of Michigan. You reach it by ferry, there are three ferry lines, Sheplers, Arnold, and Star Line. Arnold is closest to the Island House, Shepler is the one that we’ve taken since we were kids, and I’m not that familiar with Star Line… but however you get here, you need to!!
Check out the 1852 Grill Room’s MENU – let me just say, there are a lot of restaurants on the island. We had dinner the first night at the Island House, and it was so delicious (out of this world good!) we went back the second night, and again the last night! The whitefish was to die for, as was the Greek Pasta Toss… the desserts, the coffee, oh heavens… and I didn’t even bring up the heavenly breakfast buffet did I? Let me just say, that put a smile on everyones face!
One of my favorite parts of the trip was getting up early each morning, heading to the lobby, pouring a cup of coffee and heading out to the porch to watch the dark sky lighten. I met a lot of nice people and we had a great time! Next trip will be with my husband! We haven’t been to the island together in about ten years!
The Island House Hotel is a beautiful historical hotel that is impeccably managed. Each and everyone was so kind, it was a real treat. Check out their website, it’s a good one! Click HERE to read about the history of the hotel which is fascinating! Here are a few pictures from our trip, the rest will appear on weekends on this blog… catch you back here tomorrow!
Me, Mom and Bridget waiting for the ferry home, ugh…Our gorgeous, comfortable and clean room!A warm welcome with beautiful flowers everywhere!
I am captivated by beautiful sunrises and sunsets. This was one of them. While the sky was not overly dramatic, the brilliance of the golden light from the sun was amazing. We were on bikes on the back side of Mackinac Island as the sun was setting. We pedaled like crazy to get back to civilization, ha ha… because once the sun sets it’s dark. Very dark, no street lights… it was a beautiful bike ride! Photos like this make me want to resume my Almost Daily Pic blog where I could have larger images… I am torn. Ugh!
There is the most fantastic island, Mackinac Island, located between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. This picture was taken from the upper deck of Sheplers ferry as we approached the island. In this photo you see the beautiful Island House Hotel and above it the East Bluff with gorgeous homes. Now THIS is an island I could live on for the rest of my life! There is nothing like the smells of fudge and horse poop, ha… trust me, it’s the best!
I was looking at Katy Elliott’s blog last year and noted that she mentioned going to Owls Head, ME and having the best burger ever… YAY! We found a new place to try, and try it we did, almost daily it seems. (Thank you K.E.!). The OWLS HEAD GENERAL STORE is one of those rare places you find that you just fall in love with. Everything is fabulous, the people are HAPPY TO SEE YOU, and they notice when you come back. It’s like returning home to a loving family. I’m not exaggerating either. This place is the ticket. Food Network TV rated their hamburger MAINE’S BEST BURGER. And. It. Was. Oh. My. Gosh! Check them out on Facebook (Owls Head General Store).
Can you tell I’m missing Maine? I’m just running across photos that are my favorites. This one was a day we walked to Marshall Point Lighthouse, then were walking back to the Periwinkle Cottage. It’s a breathtaking view. It almost doesn’t seem real does it? The loud crashing ocean, the beautiful rocky coast, artists set up everywhere frantically painting before the last light has faded. It’s the most amazing place… Just wanted to share it with you! Happy weekend, catch you back here tomorrow!
We happened upon this unique little shop years ago while in Port Clyde, Maine. STONEFISH is located in the village right next door to the ice cream shop, and EVERYBODY knows where that’s at! It’s a small space that is filled with the most wonderful things. Clothes, trinkets, antiques, unique art object, you name it, if it’s unique and classy Anne has it in her shop! If you happen to be in Port Clyde please stop in and say hello! You will find special things you will treasure forever! We have!
Updated 2025: Sadly, Stonefish is no longer open. The owner, Ann, passed away years ago – she will be missed!
Ahhh, Port Clyde, Maine. It’s the most fabulous place in the world. No glitz and glitter, just down to earth kind people. Friendly people that you can sit with at the general store each morning and talk while you have coffee and toast. Or wonderful strangers that become friends that teach you how to knit! Hard working people who don’t complain. It’s somewhere everyone needs to see at least once. When we were there several years ago I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE. I still don’t. I want to go back… and I can’t wait until that happens… Also can’t wait to see our friends on Monhegan… woohoo, they say it’s healthy to have a vacation to look forward to, woohoo…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
**Note: you can always click on the image for larger photo!
ARTFOODHOME.COM 