Tag Archives: pontoon

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

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