great lakes trip: grand marais and tahquamenon falls

lake superior is really pretty incredible. big, wild, blue, cold, clear, unforgiving but inviting. after our high seas kayaking adventure, we moved eastward to grand marais and immediately hit the sack. but when we woke up in the morning, that big deserted sandy beach and bright blue water and waves and clear blue sky beckoned to us. we got faces full of wind and toes full of sand, and found plenty of rocks to skip into the water. grand marais may be a tiny and hard-to-get-to city in the u.p. that very few people have heard of, but it is worth a visit. it is situated on an inlet, protected by a thin strip of land from the lake. our hotel was out at the tip of that thin strip of land, and the city is settled around the peaceful inlet. it is paradise (at least in the summertime).


there's the pictured rocks shore, waaaay down there....
 


and here is a little sea plane on the inlet bay. we were lucky enough to be there to watch it take off!


after our morning beach time and some very rewarding running and eating and playing, we packed up and headed to tahquamenon falls. we gazed at the big orange-streaked upper falls,




waterfall selfie.


james found an inchworm,


david found some danger,


and these two found something to laugh about. probably danger.


 and then rented a little row boat to get to the island in the river that creates the lower falls. once there, we hopped into the fast moving shallow river and splashed around inside the falls. it was pretty cool. like, very cool.

here is our little row boat,


our adorable crew,


and the brave captain.


upon arrival to the island and lower falls, we found rocks, water, and people. everywhere.


inching towards some falls...


closer...


and in some falls....




back at grand marais, it was more stone skipping and beach frolicking.

 

 

when we woke up in the morning, we found another one of our favorite things: a food truck! yesssss.


that food truck filled our bellies with food and grand marais filled our hearts with happiness, which is the perfect way to set out for the next stop--mackinac island.