We started the day with a carriage tour around the island. We learned about some of the historic buildings on the island and how some of their current traditions started.
This is a carriage shed for the Grand Hotel. It houses several of their horse teams as well as as the carriages.
Devin & Tate standing in front of the Grand Hotel's Carriage.
As part of our tour, we rode the world's largest horse drawn carriage through the woods at Mackinac State Park. We ended up back at Arch Rock. This time we took a different hiking path and ending up above Arch Rock. Greg was a little upset that he didn't have to climb all 207 steps like we had done the previous day to see Arch Rock.
We just swapped Dad out for Mom. I need to work on my photoshop skills and actually crop us all into a photo together.
Devin & Tate standing in front of our 3 horse team that pulled the carriage through the Mackinac State park.
After our tour, we headed back to our hotel. I had to snap a picture of these all American boys in their patriotic gear. They make quite the pair. We had a laid back afternoon, waiting for fun filled evening at the fort. We enjoyed playing some Frisbee in the park with some of our new toys we found at a local toy shop.
Overlooking our hotel and beautiful city park.
Welcome to Fort Mackinac!
Waiting to watch and learn about the cannon they fire off! It was very loud!
The historians dressed in period clothing explaining what a typical day in the life would have been like, They then explained the steps in firing the cannon.
After watching the cannon, we headed to the courtyard to learn about how the children at the fort kept busy. The first toy we learned about was a Jacob's Ladder.
Devin learning how to make the "Mackinac Bridge" with the Jacob's ladder.
Learning another period game. The goal was to toss the rings using the sticks back and forth between two people.
Devin getting ready to throw his ring.
Getting ready to fire their rifles.
Up next, a wonderful picnic on the fort's courtyard. It doesn't get much more American than a picnic on a red gingham blanket with some amazing food! Our meal was cater by the Grand Hotel. It was a full American spread with all the typically picnic food. The dessert table seemed to go on for miles.
Tate took a great picture!
Thankful for a passerby who took this picture of us at the picnic.
After dinner we explored the fort. Some artsy pictures I took while walking around.
In one building, they had some interactive exhibits for kids. This was a "blue" screen set up, where the kids could participate in a rifle drill. Devin is trying to look serious.
Tate seems to have some great aim.
At dusk they re-enact, the traditional ceremonies that would have been performed on July 4th. They fire off one shot for each of the current states of the union. It was 31.
They even raised the American Flag that would have flown over the Fort while it was still active. It only had 31 stars. It was so patriotic.
This was part of the 31 state salute. After the gun salute, they fired the cannon off 3 more times, with increasing larger black powder blasts.
Preparing for the largest black powder charge.
I caught a great picture of the cannon firing!
It was finally firework time! We were allowed to stay at the fort for the fireworks! We could see fireworks from some many towns and communities along the Lake Huron coast.
We had the perfect angle for the show.
Here comes the grand finale!
