Michigan Trip–Traverse City, Charlevoix and the Inn at Bay Harbor

A year old, when the BYU football schedule came out for Fall of 2016 listed with a BYU/Michigan game, Marilee texted out that we should plan a trip.  And so we did.  It’s been about 20 years since Chris and Adam have been to Michigan – where they served their missions, met and became such great friends.  It was just perfect to take a couple’s trip back to Michigan and roadtrip through the state seeing all the places where Chris and Adam served.  We met Adam and Marilee in Chicago and flew into Traverse City together.  We rented our car, carefully arranged our suitcases and golf bags so that they would fit, and made our way to the GRAND TRAVERSE Resort and Spa.   It was a beautiful resort. 

The four of us ate together in the restaurant and then the boys headed to the golf course while Marilee and I headed to the spa for massages, got ready, shopped and then sat in the lobby – all the while chatting about our kids and especially our new missionaries. 

The week before, just before we took the family to Utah for the BYU game Luke said, “Mom, I’m really excited for our trip, except for one thing.”  ‘Oh, what’s that?’  “Well, you and Dad always kiss a lot on vacation.”   So the picture below is just one we took to send to Luke.  You’re right, Luke.  We do kiss a lot on vacation.

On the way out of town we ate at a fun restaurant for lunch and stopped at the church building that Adam served in.  The drive up to Bay Harbor was beautiful.  We stopped in a little water front town named Charlevoix but a walk and to pick up some Murdick’s fudge to share.  What a great little town.

Next on to our hotel, the Inn at Bay Harbor, which was so incredible.  It was dusk when we pulled in so we headed straight outside to the water for a look around. 

Our hotel room was a quaint two bedroom apartment with a balcony overlooking Lake Michigan.  We sat outside and watched the sun set for awhile before heading to dinner at the Hotel Steakhouse.

Chris and Adam headed to the golf course in the morning and Marilee and I went for a walk along the lake, and then grabbed a platter of fruit from the Breakfast buffet and headed up to our balcony to eat it – which was picturesque.  Then we checked out and headed to the Spa for a facial. 

A few more pictures outside as we checked out…