Tag Archives: Great Lakes

The Engineering Marvel of the Soo Locks

I decided to take a long weekend and travel up to Michigan to the region of the Upper Peninsula. By the time I had completed my research, I narrowed my list of sights to include Whitefish Point, Pictured Rocks State Park and the Soo Locks.

While working for the cruise lines, I experienced the Panama Canal passageway, so I was very familiar with the locks system and found it to be fascinating.   The purpose of a lock is to transport ships, boats and vessels from one level of water to the next by raising and lowering a chamber.

Flowers at the Soo Locks, Michigan

As I parked along the street of Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, the beautiful flowers welcomed me to the Soo Locks complex.   I made a stop at the Visitor’s Center to learn more about the history of these Great Lakes locks.  There was a great working model of the locks, educational videos and television monitors that provided a real-time view of ships passing through.

The Soo Locks

There are approximately 11,000 ships that pass through the Soo Locks each year and there is an observation platform to watch the vessels as they transfer 21 feet from one elevation to the next.  There are two canals and four locks within the Soo Locks system that cover 1.6 miles between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes, located in both Canada and the United States.

The Soo Locks are under the jurisdiction of the Army Corps of Engineers who maintain the system as well as the buildings within the park.   There are future plans to automate the current lock system to bring the plant’s technology “into the 21st century”.  There is also a proposal to replace some of the locks with more up to date engineering, similar to the updates that were completed on the Poe Lock to allow larger ships to pass through.

If I have an opportunity to visit again, I would love to plan my trip around the annual Engineer’s Day Open House.  It takes place on the last Friday of June and visitors can cross the lock gates for an up close and personal look at the lock system. It is from here that one can enter the Administration Building into the lock area to watch the vessels up close.
Bridge to Canada from Soo Locks

I completed my visit to Soo Locks and drove west to check out the long bridge in the distance. It looks very much like the Mackinac Bridge that connects the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan.  I learned that it is the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge that connects the United States and Canada and since I did not bring my passport, I will be staying on the US side and making my way towards my next stop.

Have you ever visited an engineering marvel that you found to be interesting?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Many thanks for reading about my trip to the Soo Locks in Michigan!  Wishing you many Happy Travels!!

What to See and What to Do:

Soo Locks 
Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783
Phone: 906 632 3336

  • Admission Fee:  Sightseeing Lock Tour:  $30 for adults, $10 for children ages 5 – 16, $10 and children under5, no charge.
  • Hours:  The Soo Locks will be open late March to mid-October but check their website for the most up-to-date information.  Open daily from 9AM to 10PM. The hours of operation are seasonal so check the website or call before arrival.
  • Guided Tours and Informational Booklets:   Guided tour of the locks is $30 for adults, $10 for children ages 5 – 16 and there is no charge for children under the age of 5.
  • Scenic View:  Watching the ships pass through the locks is extraordinary.
  •  Length of the Tour:  90 minutes (tour) and take an additional hour to watch the ships pass through the locks and explore the interpretive center.
  • Tips for Your Visit:  Wear comfortable shoes for walking.  Metered parking is available near the attraction but just a couple of blocks away there is free parking.   You will go through a metal detector so ensure that you do not have any weapons or alcoholic beverages.  Bring your passport if you want to cross the bridge into Canada.

Where to Stay:

Quality Inn & Suites
13954 M-28
Newberry, MI 49868
Phone: 906 293 3218

Where to Eat:

Wolf Inn Grill and Spirits
18568 Co. Rd 407
Newberry, MI 49868
Phone: 906 658 3355

I stopped at this nearby restaurant for just a small meal until dinner, so I ordered the appetizer size of nachos. Their servings are huge!  I could not eat even half of them, but they were absolutely delicious.

What to Eat: 

  • The Coney Dog from Detroit, Jackson or Flint.
  • Vernor’s Ginger Ale
  • Founded in the Upper Peninsula, the pasty is a pastry pocket with fruit filling
  • Mackinac Island Fudge
  • Apples
  • Cherries
  • Detroit Style Pizza shaped in a rectangle and baked until the edges are crispy.
  • Better Made Chips from Detroit
  • Germack Pistachios 
  • Walleye Fish from the Great Lakes
  • Faygo beverages

What to Read: 

  • Y is for Yooper, by Scott Reddinger
  • U.P., by R. A. Reikki
  • Mystery on Mackinac Island, by Anna W. Hale
  • The Remarkable Tale of Captain Kidd and the Astor Fortune, by Eugene Thor Petersen
  • A Transplanted Yooper, by Tina Lonski

Going Back Somewhere in Time on Mackinac Island, Michigan

It was a gorgeous Michigan day when we decided to make the trek towards the Upper Peninsula.  As we approached the island from the south, we could see the Mackinac Island Bridge in the distance.  A massive suspension bridge measuring over 26,000 feet  connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan and traverses Lake Huron, one of the Great Lakes.  The residents of Michigan call it the “Big Mac” bridge and they refer to  themselves as U-P’ers, living in the Upper Peninsula.  Those living south of (or “under”) the bridge are lovingly referred to as trolls.

1 Big Mac Bridge

I had first heard of Mackinac Island, Michigan when I rented the movie “Somewhere in Time”.  The production starred Christopher Reeve and was filmed on the island in the late-1970’s.  When I began telling my friends that I was going to spend a week-long family vacation in Michigan, my friends highly recommended spending a day on the island.

2 Mackinac Bridge

We paid the toll to reach the upper peninsula side of the bridge and caught a ferry over to the island.

3 43 Mackinac Bridge, UP

The bridge is somewhat reminiscent of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

4 110721 Macinaw city harbor from ferryThe light breeze  off of the lake felt great as we patiently awaited the ferry.   From Mackinaw City Harbor, we boarded the Shepler’s Ferry shortly after our arrival to the pier and took the 45 minute boat ride to the island.

5 Approaching Mackinac Island

The ferry ride was incredibly relaxing and smooth as sea gulls flew above us and the winds began to pick up half way through the journey.  In the far distance The Grand Hotel dominated the horizon and was the first structure visible along the coast.

Mackinac Island has been a popular resort town since the early 19th century.  With a quaint downtown full of shops, we arrived at the dock and disembarked, ready to explore the island.

6 48 Mackinac Island Harbor

We strolled through the downtown area prior to visiting the Grand Hotel.  Admiring the yachts and sailboats in the harbor, we visited charming boutiques, restaurants and a large number of fudge shops.

7 Street Shot of Mackinac

We could not help but notice that there was a fudge shop on every corner, a fact for which Mackinac Island is known.  According to one of the local “fudgies”, some of the shop owners have been making their famous fudge for over a century.

8 110721 Joy and Bikes at Mackinac Island

We had several options for getting around the island to include walking, horse and buggies as well as biking.  No cars are permitted on the island, so this added to Mackinac’s charm and simplicity.

9 St. Anne's Church, Mackinac Island

Among the historical buildings on Mackinac Island was St. Anne’s Church.   Locals had congregated here since 1695, but this building, completed as we saw it today, was built in 1874.

10 110721 Amazing Flowers at Mackinac

Flower boxes adorned the windows of shops as we made our way to the Grand Hotel.   We could not have asked for a more beautiful day to explore the island.11 54 Horse Carriage to Cottages by Grand Hotel

We passed a few horse and carriages that transported visitors to the Grand Hotel.  We continued along the path that led us to the resort, passing beautiful estates and mansions that rest along the roadway.

11 Grand Hotel

The approach towards the hotel was breathtaking.  Sitting atop the hill, the stately resort, with its Victorian architecture, commands attention.  Built in the late 19th century, it has been a luxury vacation spot for celebrities, politicians and visitors from all over the world.  Because we were not guests of the hotel, we were required to pay a $5 charge to visit.

12 The Rocking Chairs on Grand Hotel

The hotel is known for its grand porch lined with rocking chairs that are strategically placed to enjoy the scenery.   We took a few moments to enjoy the scenic view from the rockers before making our way back to the harbor to catch the ferry.

13 54 Horse Carriage of Grand Hotel

We retraced our steps into town with one final view of the Grand Hotel’s horse and carriage.  With our ferry tickets in hand, we couldn’t decide if we should make another fudge stop and after taking a vote, the ran to Murdick’s Fudge for a last minute treat.

From the harbor to the downtown, the fudge shops to the Grand Hotel, the self-guided tour of Mackinac Island would end up being one of the highlights of our vacation.  Even on holiday it can be a rare occurrence to experience a place that maintains its charming atmosphere.  And it was for this reason, that on Mackinac Island, we too most certainly felt that we experienced a moment “Somewhere in Time”.

Have you visited Mackinac Island?  Did you stay overnight or visit for the day?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my day on Mackinac Island and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Mackinac Island Carriage Tours
7278 Main Street
Mackinac Island, MI  49757
Telephone:  906 847 3307

This is the original carriage tour on the island!  The tour takes close to 2 hours with six stops!

Where to Stay:

The Grand Hotel
286 Grand Avenue
Mackinac Island, MI  49757
Telephone: 800 334 7263

Where to Eat:

Bistro on the Green
One Lakeshore Drive
Mackinac Island, MI  49757
Telephone:  906 847 3312

We chose this location to enjoy the scenic view of the putting course.  I started with the crispy calamari, that was perfectly breaded and served with Mission Point’s signature marinara sauce.  I also ordered the grilled kabob, which was served with rice and tzatziki sauce with the perfect amount of garlic.

Murdick’s Fudge
7363 Main Street
Mackinac Island, MI  49757
Telephone: 906-847-3530

Mackinac Island is famous for its fudge and Murdick’s Fudge has been around since 1887!

What to Eat: 

  • The Coney Dog from Detroit, Jackson or Flint.
  • Vernor’s Ginger Ale
  • Founded in the Upper Peninsula, the pasty is a pastry pocket with fruit filling
  • Mackinac Island Fudge
  • Apples
  • Cherries
  • Detroit Style Pizza shaped in a rectangle and baked until the edges are crispy.
  • Better Made Chips from Detroit
  • Germack Pistachios 
  • Walleye Fish from the Great Lakes
  • Faygo beverages

What to Read: 

  • The Legend of Mackinac Island, by Kathy-jo Wargin
  • Somewhere on Mackinac, by Jeff Adams
  • Mystery on Mackinac Island, by Anna W. Hale
  • The Remarkable Tale of Captain Kidd and the Astor Fortune, by Eugene Thor Petersen
  • Mackinac Passage: The Boathouse Mystery, by Robert A. Lytle

Photo Guide to Mackinac Island: 

  • A View of Mackinac Bridge from Mackinaw City
  • The Grand Hotel as you approach the island
  • The charming shops on Main Street
  • Arch Rock on the island

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