We are four days into our vacation in Hale and the weather is not cooling down anytime soon.  Instead of leaving the rental home to visit the surrounding area, everyone has agreed that we should take advantage of the hot weather and enjoy another day on the pontoon boat floating along Long Lake.

We woke up early and ate a hearty breakfast.  Bennett entertained us with his silly faces and we loved watching him wear his breakfast on his face and belly.

Grace offered to share her mid-morning snacks of gummy bears.  Soon we would be  ready to make our way outside for more fun on the lawn and the deck, but not until we each had eaten lunch.

Joy made a quick lunch of sandwiches and chips from our stop at the grocery store.  We ate quickly, not really feeling hungry due to the heat, but ready to take a boat ride on the lake after everyone had eaten.

After lunch, Bennett and his cousins enjoy playing with the water table.  It was a perfect way for the kids (and the adults) to cool down.

Eager to find a cove to swim, Grace and Grandpa were the first ones in the boat.

I loved looking at the house from the lake.  The perfect spot to enjoy our vacation the top deck was where we spent most of our time.

The water was so clear when we found a small place to anchor the boat for a swim.

Mike, Emily and the kids enjoyed some family time cooling down in the lake’s water.

Bennett was always the life of the party on our boat rides and meal times.  He and Joy were having a silly conversation with lots of giggles and smiles.

Bennett giving us fish lips on the boat ride home.

Once we docked the boat, we noticed a gaggle of geese walking across the lawn.

It was a long day, but we all had such a lovely day on the lake.  After dinner, the kids were  ready to prepare for bedtime. The big kids stayed up a little to decide what we wanted to do the next day and agreed that some hiking would be fun. The next day would perfect for exploring nearby Hale and the Lumberjack Monument.

Have you vacationed in Hale or Long Lake, Michigan?  What were some of your favorite activities.  I would love to hear about your time in the north if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my family vacation to Hale and Long Lake and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do: 

• Relax on the lake…swimming, boating fishing

Where to Stay: 

• We went through VRBO to find this lovely lake house in Hale, Michigan.

Where to Eat:

The Victorian Cafe
216 S. Washington Street
Hale, MI  48739
Telephone:  989 728 0027

We had a fun time catching up with the lovely folks here at the Victorian Cafe.  We also learned that the ice cream was still soft and due to the heat was not freezing anytime too soon.

What to Eat: 

• Better Made potato chips
• Biggby Coffee
• Chipati – pocket bread stuffed with salad
• Detroit-style pizza where the toppings are under the sauce and loaded with cheese
• Hummer – drink made with kahlua, rum and ice cream
• Pasty – pastry shell with savory fillings
• Vernor’s Ginger Ale

Bennett and Scott having a serious talk about Cincinnati Reds baseball.

Grace picking up stones from the bottom of the lake and putting them in her bucket.

Scott and Joy challenging each other to a game of ping pong.