Beautiful Inn on Mackinac Island

Tuesday July 28
This morning we went to explore Fort Mackinac, located on a bluff 150 feet above Mackinac Island Barbour. Fort Mackinac was built by the British Army under the direction of Patrick Sinclair during the American Revolutionary War, replacing Fort Michilimackinac which had wooden palisades and was located on the shore of present day Mackinaw City.
Fort Mackinac was turned over to the United States in 1796. But the fort and control of the Straits of Mackinac were recaptured without a battle during the War of 1812. British forces in Canada learned of the start of the war before the Americans and surprised the garrison with a much superior force of soldiers, European civilians and Native Americans on July 17, 1812. American forces attempted to recover the fort in 1814, but were defeated. Following the end of the war, Fort Mackinac was returned to the United States. I have enclosed a collage of the fort on the extras. We then walked back down into town, where we strolled around taking more photos, and looking in a few shops - including buying some of the island’s well known fudge (!) - and finishing up at a little cafe by the water for a bit of lunch, recommended to Laura by one of her friends. Then it was time to return to our B&B to pick up our bags, and catch the ferry back to the mainland. Having retrieved our car, we then drove over the Mackinac bridge into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Our destination for the night was Munising, near Painted Rocks National Lakeshore, where we will stay for the next few days. The Upper Peninsula is largely forested, and relatively sparsely populated. It borders three of the Great Lakes, and borders Wisconsin to the west. In summer, it is popular with lovers of the outdoors, and is also home to over 300 waterfalls! I have also added an extra of sunset that evening as we were returning from dinner.