One evening it P.O.U.R.E.D and we woke up and it was pretty chilly in the morning so we knew the beach was a no-go...so, we opted for some scenic sights. Up first, Pierce Stocking Overlook.
Folks - this may not look like much, but it is a 450 foot bluff looking over Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and the Manitou Islands. It is so high, the temperature is actually much cooler and it is super duper windy (thus the kids are in sweats and John is in a windbreaker).
Here is Papa Dave, me, and the kiddos out on the overlook...
And just for a different angle to fully get the awesomeness....,here's the overlook from across the way a smidge
After walking out on the bluff overlook we opted to do some off road hiking for a bit...
I don't know what I like most about this picture: 1) I'm with John David, and Papa Dave :), 2) John is actually letting me hold his hand (which n.e.v.e.r happens because he is a 10 year old trapped in a 18 month old's body), or 3) the fact that I appear to be pregnant with an iPhone :)
Will of course sprinted ahead of all of us...
And then found a perfect little bluff himself to climb up and sprint down!
AIRBORNE!!!!!! (really though - both of his feet are actually off the ground)...
We took a few family photos...
Standing this close to the edge actually made me nervous...
And here is the funniest picture of the vacation...the sign says "steep eroding bluff, keep off, may cause injury or heat illness, rescue fee will be charged". Nevertheless, folks still climb/fall down the bluff every day and are then forced to make the 450 foot STEEP climb back up.
If they really wanted to deter people from doing this, they should guard the bluff with the half naked man standing/awkwardly bending over in the background and ruining my picture!
Once we were done at Pierce Stocking, we headed down the road a few minutes for round two at the dunes. This time Johnny B. had a whole new attitude!
I LLLLOOOOVVVEEE this photo
And this...
And this...
Before too long we were all heading up...John included...walking (well, not really in this photo) all by himself up the face.
And then it happened...John got up...
And began...
To run down the face!
Lucky for him he ended up on his derrière ... most rookies end up in a face plant.
We literally lounged around on the dunes, walking up, going down, running, rolling, laying on our bellies, laughing, giggling, etc for over an hour...
But then we departed for lunch and...
ICE CREAM :)
We finished up the day with a good old fun card game...War, or high-card.
It actually got pretty rowdy for a few minutes...
Here's Nana and Will, playing double or nothing with two Aces down!
Was the day exhausting? Absolutely.
Would I trade it for a vacation day of relaxation at a spa? Never.
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