Michigan Trip Day 3

So it's Tuesday morning and we are ready for another day. The sunrise from our hotel balcony was gorgeous.

Along the way to Petoskey State Park we stopped and took some pictures here....

because after all, we are the Stutzman cousins. Spelled with a Z. No relation.

 The pastor was very gracious and gave us some history of the church and even consented to take a picture of the whole group. I have a feeling a bus load of people is not an every day occurrence in Stutsmanville.

Leaving Stutsmanville we drove through an area called "Tunnel of Trees" a very scenic and winding drive along the shores of Lake Michigan which reminded me of the forested areas in Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains.

 Petoskey State Park on the north end of  Little Traverse Bay has beautiful sandy beaches. The colors of the lake vary from navy to aqua.

This area is especially known for the Petoskey stone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petoskey_stone
I didn't find any but I think a few in the group did.

Spotted this in Charlevoix when we stopped for lunch.

Heading north from Traverse City we take a scenic drive along the Old Mission Peninsula through cherry orchards and vineyards to see a lighthouse perched on the peninsulas tip. Along the way we make a stop at Chateau Chantal Winery.

Chateau Chantal

Chateau Chantal sits on a hilltop with beautiful views of both east and west arms of Grand Traverse Bay.

Following the winery tour we arrive at the Old Mission Point Lighthouse.

Old Mission Point Lighthouse

This lighthouse was built in 1870 and is located half-way between the North Pole and the Equator exactly on the 45th parallel.   In 1933 that she was decommissioned and replaced with an automatic buoy light just offshore.

Hessler Log Cabin

This cabin located near the lighthouse was built in the 1850s and has been preserved and restored.

Our motel for the night in Traverse City