Niagara Cave, Harmony, Minnesota

Spent an hour touring Niagara Cave near Harmony, Minnesota.  The cave was discovered when some farmer’s pigs fell into it.  The pigs fell about 70’ and were still alive.  So the farmer paid some young boys to go into the cave and retrieve the pigs.  Later some cavers from Iowa explored the cave.  The cave was opened in 1936 to the public.  There is a 60’ waterfall in the cave.  This cave does not have that much to offer.  If you do not like tight or closed in places, this cave is not for you.  We had to walk down 250 steps and back up again.

waterfall

saddle created by swirling water

Soo Locks

Spent a couple of hours watching ships go through the locks.  There is a nice platform for people to view the locks.  There is also a visitor’s center with a couple of movies.  There is a public announcement when a ship comes through telling size of ship.  We got to see 1 of the 13 largest ships that come through the locks.  All in all, a great day.


barge with a tug boat behind it.


took a long time for this large ship to enter and leave the locks.

1000’ long, 150’ wide, 73,000 tons.  Gary was hoping that it would make it under the international bridge that goes into Canada

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Pictured Rocks got its name from the streaks of mineral stain that decorate the face of the rocks.  In order to see them, we took a boat out of Munising, MI.  The boat tour lasted 3 hours.  Very enjoyable day and the rain held off until the end of the tour.

Shipwreck Museum, Whitefish Point, Mi

Whitefish Point light house was celebrating it’s 150 birthday.  Lots of activities going on, tours, walks, music by a civil war band, and a special fish fry.  We enjoyed the short movie, the museum, the light house keepers house, and the music.  Great day.

bell from the Edmond Fitzgerald

Tahquamenon and Munising Falls

One of the tourist sites people talk about is Tahquamenon Falls.  So, Gary and I went to check it out.  Tahquamenon Falls has a lower and upper falls to visit.  We walked to both falls.

lower falls

upper falls

Munising falls is just outside the town of Munising.  This is part of the Pictured Rocks National lakeshore park.  Short walk to the falls.

Colonial Michilimackinac

Gary and I enjoy visiting the old forts.  This fort was first occupied by the French, then the British.  When the French thought heard that George Rogers Clark was capturing other French forts, they decided to move their fort to Mackinac Island.  It took them 2 years to dismantle and rebuild the fort on Mackinac Island.  What they were not able to move, they burned.  The British came along and built a fort on the same location.  The fort was a main part of the fur trade.  Demonstrations include cannon firing, musket firing, a baggatiway game (Indian), and various staff members who cook and work in the gardens.  We got to taste some wonderful pan fried biscuits with homemade butter.  Great day.

cooking scalloped potatoes

wonderful biscuits with homemade butter

firing the cannon

Mackinac Island and Fort

We caught the shuttle from our campground to the Shepler Ferry to Mackinac Island.  We got on the 10:00 ferry which took us under the Mackinaw bridge.  Then off to the Island.  We bought the package that included the ferry, carriage tour, and Fort Mackinac Tour.  Really great day.

view from the Arch stop

the arch

firing demonstration

Gary asked for tabasco sauce for his soup and got his own bottle

cool demo in the hospital comparing medicine of years past to today