2024 Summer Vacation: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

 

We left Mackinack, MI heading to the upper peninsula and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. 

We hiked to Munising Falls and gazed upon the raw beauty of the iconic scenery cradles the south shore of Lake Superior.

 If you read my 2017 WC Vacation posts, you know I visited Isle Royale National Park which is in Lake Superior, so visiting this picturesque landscape was nostalgic to say the least.

After having seen the Ireland shoreline from the water and realizing the view is much mor spectacular from on top, we opted out of a boat tour.

Here's a couple more pics to show you how beautiful this area is...

At first glance, the bathroom at the campground seemed nice enough but a closer look revealed mold and mildew so disgusting I'm not even going to mention the name. Needless to say I definitely wore my shower flipflops and carried disinfectant wipes in this one!

Anyway, we stayed about a day and a half there then headed to Wisconsin Dells. I'll share more about that nextime here on Bathroom Blues travel blog but what I found fun, were the many Big Foot statues along the way and passing through Christmas Michigan.

    

Hope you enjoyed my little trek down memory lane and that you'll check back next time for more 2024 summer vacation memories.

Until then, take care, have fun and be safe in your travels!

PamT

Summer 2024 Vacation ~ Mackinac Island State Park

Since Mackinac Island State Park is...well...an Island, the first order of business was to hitch a ride on a ferry across Lake Huron. We boarded a Shepler's ferry boat with about a hundred (or more) other people and set out across this gorgeous span of crystal blue water.

In my last post, I showed you pictures and a video of the 5 mile bridge that crosses the Straits of Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) so we won't talk about that again today.

But let me tell you the one thing that I love, love, loved the most about traversing this island was doing so in a horse-drawn wagon!

If you know anything about me at all, you know how much I adore horses and these are some beauties.

Matter of fact, the only way you can explore Mackinac Island is by horse, on foot, or by bicycle as they have been auto-free for over 100 years.

There is so much to see in this nearly 4 acre park which is open year-round despite limited access in the Winter. 

Can't imagine why, LOL! I can promise you this much though, you won't find me there in the winter.

Anyhoo, other attractions are The Grand Hotel where the movie Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was filmed. If you've never seen this movie (available in DVD or on Blu-ray) or read the book, you are sorely missing out on a great adventure and a beautiful story of love that trancends time. I loved the movie when it came out and watched it again after we returned home.

While on our wagon ride, we visited Arch Rock, a famous rock formation that is fifty feet wide and towers above the water.

We also visited Ft. Mackinack and many of the other Historic places and Museums. Since we weren't driving anywhere, even to and from the campground, and it was hot, hot, hot, we did a little bar hopping at the Pink Pony Bar & Grill and Great Turtle Brewery & Distillery.

Of course we picked up souviners at one of the many (many!) shops along the waterfront. 

All-in-all, our time on the island was one for the books.

Hope you enjoyed reminiscing with me and that you'll check back next week to see where else we traveled on our 2024 Summer Vacation.

Until then, happy trails.

PamT

Summer 2024 Vacation Continues in St. Ignace, Mackinac/Mackinaw, Michigan!

It's been a busy couple of weeks on the road for our Summer 2024 trip. So far we've been to AL, Lake City, FL, Santee, SC, WVA, Ohio, and Indiana.

June 17th we left Indiana and headed into Michigan.

On the way we stopped at a rest area and upon arrival stayed at a KOA campground. Neither of those bathrooms were anything to sing about so we won't even discuss them. 

What we will talk about is the beautiful city of St. Ignace - pronounced Ignus....yeah the forgave my southern accent and ingnorance of proper pronunciation LOL!

One of the main attractions of this area is the 5-mile bridge crossing the Straits of Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw).

Here is a video from the ferry ride the next day on our way to Mackinac Island...

For more on this iconic structure and some really great pics, visit the Mackinac Bridge Authority Website.

Next time I'll take you along with me on the ferry and around Mackinac Island State Park so check back often!

Until then, safe travels.

PamT

Indiana Dunes National Park ~ 2024 Summer Trip

Kissing the coastline of Lake Michigan, this 15,000 acre National Park has over 50 miles of trails for avid hikers and lush scenery along the drive throughout the Dunes.

Although my traveling partner and I love to hike, and we did do some walking, due to our timeline for visiting all the places we wanted to go, we didn't partake in any of the 19 hikes covering 66 miles of wetlands, woodlands, praries and dunes.

Filled with history and culture, the visitors center is a maze of amazing art exhibits, activities and information about the Indiana Dunes National and State parks.

The restrooms were meticulously clean - which always makes me do a happy dance and the pituresque beauty of the area and the dunes is something to behold.

There are many signs along the way informing you of the various wildlife that might be out and about and warning you not to feed them, but one made me think of home. 

Being from Louisiana where turtles are always crossing the road, especially during egg-laying season, this one made me smile so I just had to take a pic!

Here are a couple more photos for you to enjoy....

Gorgeous Lake Michigan

 

This colorful Bison statue stands guard over the Visitor Center's walkway and provides a wonderful photo op.

Hope you enjoyed this short trip down memory lane with me at the Indiana Dunes National Park and that you'll check back often for updates and adventures with me.

Until next time, happy trails...

PamT

Back on the Road with My Summer 2024 Summer Vacation Trip...

They say time flies when you're having fun. I can attest to that! Too much time has flown by since I shared more of my 2024 vacation with you and it's almost time for my 2025 trip!

The first quarter of the year is alway busy for a tax preparer. Add to that releasing a new book and launching a writing course, well, hopefully you understand why I disappeared for a while.

After visiting the Football and Rock -n- Roll Halls of Fame, we left our campground headed for the Indiana Dunes National Park.

If you've pulled an RV you know how important it is to find truck stops and/or rest areas with adequate space to park. 

The one we found in between Mogadore, OH and Porter, IN was one of the most beautiful and comfortable travel plaza I've ever seen.

Applegreen Travel Plaza's are spread out from Ireland and the UK to the US! Not only do they have beautiful and well maintained restrooms, they have an actual food court and convenience store. Check out this video...

The reason I've never seen these beautiful facilities, is because they are scattered throughout the upper NE US. Although we have traveled in some of those areas, I guess we passed them by unaware as to how nice they really are.

But now we know.

And So Do YOU!

If you're ever traveling and come across a full Applegreen Travel Plaza, stop and enjoy the variety of dining opportunities and lovely restrooms.

I'll share the Indiana Dunes National Park visit with you in my next post.

Until then, safe travels!

PamT

Continuing Summer 2024 Vacation in Cleveland, OH & the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

 

One of my favorite songs of all time is Old Time Rock -n Roll by Bob Seger, so imagine the joy and awe of visiting a place that celebrates Rock n Roll music throughout the decades.

There is SO much here, taking a lot of pictures is virtually impossible! 

This seven-level building is filled wall-to-wall with the lifetime achievements of so many artists we love and appreciate... Elvis, Michael Jackson, The Beatles.... you name 'em and they are probably there.

Of course in a center this large and popular, the bathrooms are cleaned and maintained regularly - which always makes me one happy visitor.

The gift shop itself is huge and filled with so many souviners you could spend hours and lot's of money there LOL!

One thing that really impressed me was the courtesy of gift-shop employees. Despite long lines and some disgruntled guests, they were cordial and personable. Seriously, you really can't be TOO disgruntled in a place like this! Alas, some folks get that way regardless of the magical experience they've just had.

Anyway, our cashier was one of the best and had painted her eyes to look like butterflies!

Needless to say, our visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was worth the hour-long trip there and back from where we were camped as well as the large lines and walk from the parking area to the building.

If you are a Rock & Roll fan, or even just a fan of good music, plan to visit this luxurious place boasting of the best of the best in music history.

Hope you enjoyed my little trip down memory lane today and that you'll check back weekly to travel along with me.

Until next time, take care.

PamT

Day 8 of Summer 2024 Trip ~ Canton, Ohio & the Pro Football Hall of Fame!

In case you didn't know, I'm a football fan LOL! 

My mother, a HUGE sports fan, always dreamed of going to the Football Hall of Fame, so imagine my joy of being able to do this for her!

Yep, I firmly believe she was with me in spirit the entire time we strolled through this amazing maze of football legends and all-time greats! Call me crazy but, I even wore her necklace so that I could feel her presence.

We browsed through aisles and corridors of the museum in awe of the many great players and teams represented here. My favorites of course were the GOAT Drew Brees and the awesome Taysom Hill of the New Orleans Saints.

Several other Saints players are in the Hall of Fame like Archie Manning and Jim Thorpe, but those were before my time as a Saints fan.

If you look closely at the picture, you'll see an overpass boasting of the Pro Football Hall of Fame which I found to be a beautiful tribute to this great sport.

There is a lot more to see in Canton, OH but for us, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was the main reason for visiting this city.

Oh and the bathrooms here? Definitely singing a happy tune!

Hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane and that you'll check back weekly for another adventure.

Until next time, safe travels!

PamT

Countryside Campground in Mogadore, OH

 

Day 7 in our 2024 Summer trip was spent traveling. In last week's post, I shared with you a lovely rest area along the way from WVA to Ohio. 

We arrived at our destination, Countryside Campground in Mogadore, OH in the afternoon and set up on a beautiful site. 

The camp hosts were lovely and the camp store had a nice variety of things one might need during their stay.

Still only a week or so into our trip, we really didn't need anything. 

We didn't do a lot of sight-seeing in Mogadore  and we chose this campground because it is located just east of Akron which is pretty much in the middle between Cleveland and Canton, which were the real reason we stayed in Ohio and our destinations for the next couple of days.

Oh and the bath houses at Countryside?

Nice and Clean. Had me singing a happy tune.

One thing we did do while in Mogadore, was take a drive through Cuyahoga Valley National Park which is turning 50 this year!

Next week I'll share our visit to the Football Hall and Rock 'n Roll Halls of Fame.

Until then, take care and travel safe.

PamT

Day 7 of Summer 2024 Vacation

 

In one of my earlier posts, I promised I would share information on more than RV parks and campgrounds.

Today let's take a trip through the fairy gardens at the Rest Area at Mile Marker 167 - Mineral Wells, WVA.

One advantage of pulling a camper while traveling is that you always have a bathroom with you. A disadvantage is that you don't always have a large enough shoulder in order to get far enough off the highway to use it.

Therefore, you're always looking out for a nice rest area or truck stop.

On our way to Ohio, we pulled in to this rest area, glad to find a nice brick building and neat sidewalks. Everything was well kept and clean. The ladies' room was tile and marble, (or granite), and stocked with toilet seat covers (always a PLUS!).

The facilities were clean which always makes me sing a happy tune but the lovely grounds had me dancing along to that tune.

Walking amongst the flowers and fanciful gnome and other fairy creatures made for a truly restful experience even though we only stayed long enough to take care of our business then get back on the road.

If you're ever in the area, and have time to truly stop and rest, this is a wonderful place to do so.

Hope you enjoyed this little pitt stop and that you'll check back weekly for more travel experiences on Bathroom Blues travel blog!

Until next time... Travel safe.

PamT

Summer 2024 Trip Day 6: New River Gorge National Park

 

Welcome back to Bathroom Blues travel blog!

Today I'm sharing more of our visit to New River Gorge National Park and some of the things we saw while there.

Let me begin by saying this park is absolutely beautiful and those bathrooms had me singing a happy tune. 

There's a lot we didn't do or see due to time restraints, but for those who love to hike, bike, camp or have an adventure white water rafting, New River Gorge National Park is for you!

Although there is no way to walk across as it's a highway with no pedestrian walkway, we explored the area around the New River Gorge bridge and got lot's of pics. This is my best one.

We took a few short hiking trails around Sandstone/Brooks falls, but there are many areas and falls we did not see. Check them out HERE.

That's one thing I'm not crazy about on a long trip is only 2 or 3 days in each spot are never enough!

Alas, this time in West Virginia was lovely. Hopefully I'll go back one day and explore a lot more.

Hope you enjoyed today's trip down memory lane with me and that you'll check back weekly as I reminisce on my Summer 2024 vacation.

Until next time, remember... Spending time in nature is good for the soul, so get out there and find you some!

PamT

Day 5 of 2024 Summer Trip - Thurmond WVA

Good Morning and Welcome to another day down memory lane as I recount my 2024 Summer trip.

We spent 3 days in West Virginia and days 2 & 3 were all about checking out New River Gorge National Park.

First stop was the historic town of Thurmond.

At one time, Thurmond was a bustling boomtown with lots of businesses and a thriving coal mine community for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.

People flocked to Thurmond via 15 passenger trains per day, some for job opportunities. Others as tourists. Either way, the hotels overflowed and businesses thrived.

However, the Great Depression, two major fires and diesel locomotives as well as people's love for travel via the automobile in lieu of trains, shut it down.

The Thurmond depot, restored in 1995 as a visitor center by the National Parks Service, restoration of some of Thurmond's buildings is an ongoing process. The town is still incorporated and hosts an annual reunion for former residents.

Today, Thurmond is on the National Register of Historic Places and sits in the heart of New River Gorge National Park.

If you're into hiking, there are 6 trails around Thurmond that offer beautiful views of nature and wildlife surrounding this historic town.

Hope you enjoyed this peak into Thurmond and if you're ever in the area, you'll stop by and enjoy the scenery and history of this once booming city in the heart of West Virginia.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time, keep traveling.

PamT