My Overnight Getaway

Well, for starters, it wasn't long enough!

I traveled w/ my two daughters and granddaughter about an hour north of Detroit to Port Huron, which is home to the Bluewater Bridge which goes to Sarnia Canada. On this side of the bridge is the St. Clair River, which opens up to Lake Huron just beyond the bridge. It's a stunning view to see the river open up into such a grand body of water, and it's easy to see just how this bridge got it's name, as the water is a beautiful turquoise color.

A Great Lakes Tradition Like no Other!

It was an exciting time up in Port Huron, as they are host to the prestigious Port Huron to Mackinac Race, which featured 12 yachts in 1925, and is truly unique, as participants and observers from around the world become a part of the history of this race.

This sailing tradition is the largest fresh-water sporting event in the world. It now includes more than 265 boats, ranging in size from 26 to over 90 feet, and tests the skills of 3,000 sailors.
The yachts begin to arrive along the Black River on Wednesday before the race. The sea of masts, sails and flags provide a colorful backdrop for the celebrations along the riverfront, which attracts more than 75,000 visitors.

ooops, sorry for the double, can't seem to delete it.
Friday night was "Boat Night"and the entire town was in Party Mode. The boats were all lined up along the Black river, and everyone was celebrating. The streets were shut down, and it was one big party!

The Salon on the corner featured live mannequins, and it was amazing to see this gal be so still, the only thing moving were her eyelids to blink, once in a great while.

Of course we stopped to visit w/ the dogs, and they were so sweet, they kept trying to kiss Zoey.....I wonder if it had anything to do w/ that ice cream cone? And what a small world it is, as the guy who had the dogs ended up being a customer of my daughters at Applebees where she tends bar.

Before heading back to our hotel, Zoey spotted the carnival, and had some fun going through the Funhouse! We wanted to have dinner downtown on the riverfront, but as you can imagine, all of the pubs and restaurants were so crowded, we couldn't get in.



We came back to our hotel (The Thomas Edison Inn), where we had a really nice dinner out on their patio (where you see the blue umbrellas), then it was up to our room where we sat on our balcony to watch the boats go by.

We got up early the next morning to see the sailboats parade by on their way out to the lake where the race to Mackinac would begin. The hotel sits right across the river from the Casino over in Sarnia Canada.

Just look at this huge freighter!



and the Coast Guard.

We decided since we weren't able to get into the riverfront pubs the night before, we would try again for lunch on Saturday, and sure enough, there was plenty of seating available out on the riverfront patios.

There were still sail boats leaving the river for the race, so we got to see them pass by to head out to the St. Clair River, and eventually to Lake Huron as we enjoyed lunch. You can see the drawbridge opened up in the background, enabling the boats to go through.

It was a nasty afternoon though, and the rain and thunderstorms sure did put a damper on being able to watch the boats pass by, and I'm sure the sailors and there crews were less than happy as well.

All in all, we sure had a nice time, even considering the weather, it just was not long enough for me, but the good news is, it's a one tank trip from where I live, and I plan on booking the hotel for next year, and hope to stay for the entire weekend.

One of these years, I would like to see the start of the race from Port Huron, then head up to Mackinac Island to see the finish!

Michigan is a beautiful state, and if you love water like I do, the Great Lakes are such a treat to visit!

I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour!