Tag Archives: Long Lake

Our Last Day in Hale

Shelly, Izzy, Erika and Gunnar would be leaving for home today and we were sad to see them go.  It was an overcast day with large billowy clouds so we packed up a picnic lunch and started out for Lumberman’s Monument.  Overlooking the Au Sable River, we arrived at the 14-foot statue and visited the visitor’s center before setting out for a hike.

Grace and Bennett were snuggled safe on the backs of their Mom and Dad, taking in the scenic views and eating snacks.

The sandy trail followed the edge of the Au Sable with stunning views of the surrounding water and trees.

We hiked through lush fern-filled forests where we spotted squirrels and chipmunks. 

Grace had fun picking up small pinecones from the nearby fir trees.

It was time for lunch, so we found a place to have a picnic.

Grace was happy to sit on her Daddy’s shoulders so she could have a perfect view.

Grandpa posed for pictures.

It was our last moments to explore Hale, Michigan and its nearby surroundings.  We thought it would be fun for one last evening on the lake and to have a small campfire for making s’mores.

After a quick swim, we took the pontoon around the perimeter of the lake to enjoy the scenery for our last night on vacation.

The sun was beginning to set and with a perfectly built campfire, we sat around and talked about the highlights of our vacation.

We laughed about how hot it had been in Hale and began planning our next adventure.

I’m not sure if Grace had more fun making s’mores or eating them.

We toasted the remaining marshmallows before putting out the fire and preparing for bed.  The last night was a great way to wrap up such a relaxing day before our long drive back to Ohio.

Have you visited Hale, Michigan or Long Lake?  What was your experience?  I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my family Michigan vacation 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:

Long Lake Bar & Grill
5002 E. Main Street
Long Lake, MI  48743
Telephone:  989 257 2017

Dock your boat at Long Lake Bar & Grill and enjoy some hamburgers and fries.  Check out Uncle Kracker’s “Smile” video which was filmed in this area.

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

Four Days in Hale

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.

Hotter Than Hale – Day Three

After sleeping in and having a carb-filled breakfast, we were all happy to spend the late morning and afternoon on Long Lake.  The kids were so excited to spend time on the water, so they eagerly put on their life jackets and boarded the pontoon.  My brother Mike would be captain for the day and we wanted to find a small cove for swimming.

Mike parked the boat and we carried the kids up to the house.  Walking the lawn, we arrived at the stairs where we dropped off our towels at the balcony.  Most of us washed up in preparation for making dinner while the boys took short naps before the food was ready.

Scott wanted to fish, so he took his tackle box and rods down to the edge of the lake where he could board the boat to throw in his bait.

Grace and Erika played in the sprinkler having a great time playing tag.

Gunnar woke up from his nap in such a happy mood hanging out with Dad.  Joy spent her time in the kitchen making us a casserole for dinner while the rest of us worked on side dishes.

It was time for dinner and Erika crawled up into her seat.  The kids were so hungry from playing outside and couldn’t wait to have dinner so they could play some more.

While most of us had fun taking family photos and capturing the fun moments of our vacation, Gunnar was a little less enthusiastic.

The kids were starting to wind down as the grownups discussed what we would want to do the next day.  Making plans we decided that we would have one more day on the lake because the weather would be more overcast and perfect for swimming and fishing.

Gunnar was trying so hard to stay awake as long as he could in fear of missing out.

It was another amazing day in Hale as we walked down towards the lake to take in the sights and sounds.  Listening to the bullfrogs and watching a family of geese swim across the water, was a beautiful ending to our relaxing day on Long Lake.

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:

Coach’s Pizza (now Mikey’s Pizzeria Hale)
221 N. Washington Street
Hale, MI  48739
Telephone:  989 218 3333

The pizza and service is what brings locals to Coach’s Pizza.  From great appetizers such as their wings to the yummy pizzas, you will want to come back for lunch AND dinner.

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

Hotter Than Hale, Day 2

It was a great day to sleep in and after breakfast, Grandma brought out the bubbles.  The backyard was perfect for the children to swim in their inflatable pool and play games.  Erika and Grace had a fun time blowing bubble for awhile, but the boys were more excited to watch from the deck.

I guess all of that playing wore Gunnar out as he fell asleep during lunch.

I was excited to venture out and take a drive to Lake Huron.  Only 30 miles east of Hale, my sister Joy and I wanted to find a beach.  The weather wasn’t really all that great for sunbathing, but we thought it would be a great change from hanging out at the lakehouse.  I hopped on 65 south until we reached 55 heading east.

We arrived near Tawas City where we found a beach and boardwalk.  Surprisingly, we had the place all to ourselves, even at 2:30 in the afternoon.

We walked the beach for an hour and met some friendly seagulls before deciding to make our way back to the lake.

We stopped for a few moments to photograph Tawas River.

When we arrived home, we saw Erika on the deck enjoying a predinner snack.  Tonight we were having tacos.

Bennett has been fascinated with his bellybutton lately and with black beans all over his face, he looks like a silly little boy.

One of the kids’ favorite activities was the water table on the deck.  Uncle Scott loved to spray the kids and watch them giggle.

Erika couldn’t resist one last swim in the pool.

Gunner enjoyed every moment of watching all of the kids run around the deck.

With the sun starting to set, the kids were also settling down.  Soon it would be time for bed.

Have you been to Hale, Michigan?  Stayed on Long Lake?  I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my family vacation to Hale, Michigan 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:

Boathouse  Beer Co. & Boozery
450 W. Lake Street
Tawas City, MI  48743
Telephone:  989 984 5233

You must try the Korean fried chicken sandwich made with fried chicken, aioli, napa cabbage slaw served with French fries.  My sister and I split the butter lettuce salad with pork potstickers, oranges, cashews, wasabi vinaigrette and crusty bread.  Yum!

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

Hotter Than Hale, Our Michigan Vacation – Day 1

Each year, it becomes more and more difficult to find a vacation home that will accommodate our growing family.  With nine adults and four young children, we would need some extra space and rooms for sleeping.

My parents found a place on Long Lake in Hale, Michigan for the second week of July.  Since it would be part of the hottest time of the year, we wanted to be near a lake where we could swim and fish as well.

Leaving from Columbus, Ohio, we made a quick stop in the adorable village of Frankenmuth and had finally arrived in Hale towards late afternoon.  We stopped at the grocery for some items that we would be using for the week and learned that the weather had been extremely hot.  So hot, in fact, the cute little town of Hale could not keep their ice cream cold.  We realized that there was no other place hotter than Hale.

After unpacking, we checked out the pontoon boat that we would be using for the week and found the firepit where we would later make s’mores.  It had been a long day of travel, so we found our rooms and slept in until the next morning.

Reflections on Long Lake were our early morning views from our back yard.  There were geese, rabbits, chipmunks and the sound of frogs that kept us entertained.

I decided to walk close to the rental home with a trail around the perimeter of Long Lake.

Happy Gunnar kept us entertained posing for photos and enjoying his toys.

While Erika liked to pose on the balcony.

We had finished unpacking and settled into the house after breakfast.  The kids were eager to blow up the inflatable pool for a late morning swim.

We were able to distract the children for a little while when we promised them a ride on the boat.  Everyone was excited to cruise along the lake, find a great swimming spot and a place for to fish.

Long Lake is 4.5 square miles with an average depth of 26 feet.  With 88, 272 feet of shoreline, its maximum lake depth is 88 feet.   Surrounded by beautiful homes, Long Lake has been a vacation spot for many residents of Michigan.  Nearby, there are thousands of acres of white pine, oak, ash, cedar, maple and beech trees, providing lumber throughout the state as well as Ohio, New York and Canada.  Lumbermen were known to haul wood across Long Lake transporting to various locations.

After we docked the boat, the kids were excited for another swim in their kiddie pool, so we watched them until it was time for dinner.  Of course, Bennett was the last one out of the pool.

Erika snuggled up with Daddy after a long day of vacation.

Gunner hung out with grandpa, while

Grace played one of her games.

Bennett finally came in from the pool and dried off before dinner.

We played a few games before bed and it was time to watch the sunset over the lake.   What a fun day packed with watersports and we’ll be ready for another activity-packed day tomorrow.

Have you been to Hale, Michigan?  Stayed on Long Lake?  I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my family vacation to Hale, Michigan 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:

Long Lake Bar & Grill
5002 E. Main Street
Long Lake, MI  48743
Telephone:  989 257 2017

Dock your boat at Long Lake Bar & Grill and enjoy some hamburgers and fries.  Check out Uncle Kracker’s “Smile” video which was filmed in this area.

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

Hotter than Hale, Our Vacation in Michigan – Travel Day

Our family vacation began with a stop in Frankenmuth, Michigan where we decided to have lunch at Zehnder’s, famous for their chicken dinner.  We took an afternoon stroll to walk off our giant portions of homestyle cooking, exploring the Bavarian architecture of this charming village.  With a deep German heritage dating back to 1904, this is one of Michigan’s most visited towns offering exciting festivals throughout the year.

Within an hour and a half, we arrived at our rental house in Hale, Michigan where we would spend the next ten days of vacation.  Situated on the shores of the lake, we had access to a pontoon boat and a small ramp for fishing.  Grace couldn’t wait to drive us around.

After a long day on the road and settling into our rental house, we were blessed with a beautiful sunset.  We sat around the fireplace enjoying the solitude as the sun slowly drifted behind the lake and tall pines.

What a beautiful way to spend our first evening in Hale after a long day of travel.

What is your favorite family vacation?  I would love to hear about your travel memories if you will kindly provide them in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my family vacation in Hale, Michigan and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

  • Walk the charming town of Frankenmuth

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth
730 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI  45734
Telephone:  844 802 8323

Where to Stay:

Zehnder’s Splash Village
1365 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI  45734
Telephone:  844 330 1715

Where to Eat:

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth
730 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI  45734
Telephone:  844 802 8323

What to Eat:

  • Zehnder’s Fried Chicken
  • Schnitzel
  • Sauerbraten

What to Read:

  • Frankenmuth:  A Guide to Michigan’s Little Bavaria, by Lynn Marie-Ittner Klammer

Photo Guide for Frankenmuth:

  • Bavarian Belle Riverboat
  • Frankenmuth Brewery
  • Illuminated Village Christmas Zehnder’s
  • Lager Mill
  • Old School House Brick