An Island Adventure

A FEW YEARS AGO our family got together for several days at a place of breathtaking natural beauty and stunning architecture. It was an genuine adventure. It was Mackinac Island! Our son planned and provided the special time for his mother and me, his grandparents, and himself. He flew-in from New York; my wife and I picked-up my parents and drove from the Midwest to the Straits of Mackinac where the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan meet. The Island is actually located in Lake Huron at the eastern end of the Straits.

"Mackinac" is the French spelling of an Indian word, and is pronounced "mack-in-awe." The Island is 3.8 square miles in land area, and it has an 8-mile road which follows its perimeter. Eighty percent of the land area is designated as Mackinac Island State Park.

Mackinac Island is a unique place in many ways. First and foremost, however, is the fact that except for emergency vehicles, no cars or trucks are allowed! Travel on land from one place to another is done by walking, biking, horse drawn carriage, or on horseback! Horses are extremely popular on the Island. They are used to provide carriage tours, taxi service, and trail rides. There are 70 miles of paved and unpaved trails on the Island.

Boating, sailing, and kayaking are enjoyed on the water. Most people travel to and from the Island by boat, however some aircraft can use the Island's long paved runway. Commercial flights to the area are available at an airport within a few miles of Mackinac.

The main "season" on Mackinac Island is from May through October. The Island has three golf courses and over 40 places to stay, including the famous Grand Hotel. In total, over 2000 rooms are available for visitors. Various attractions, dining, and shopping opportunities await each and every visitor. Art exhibits, butterfly houses, movies, and Island fudge are favorites for most people. While the Island is "open" all year, goods and services from November through April are limited.

Our family's visit to Mackinac occurred in the summer. We had rooms in a beautiful Victorian hotel close to the marina. We delighted in our frequent views of a small lighthouse on it's own uninhabited island. And, the gorgeous waters of the Straits were always a sight to behold! We enjoyed strolling the sidewalks in the shopping district. All our meals were delicious. Perhaps our favorite dining experience was taking a horse-drawn carriage to a secluded restaurant near the Island's center. Another carriage ride took us on a tour of the Island which included a stop at Michigan's only fort in operation during the Revolutionary War.

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Every day and every activity on Mackinac Island was pure fun for the members of our family. One of the highlights for our son and his 88-year-old grandfather was riding bikes together on an 8-mile journey around the entire Island! For me, playing golf with my son on the course owned and operated by the Grand Hotel was a special time. For my wife and my mom, shopping might have been at or near the top of their lists! Most of our days provided time for rest, relaxation and reflection. However, every day offered choices for activities from morning until night! For all of us, time spent together enjoying each other's company was the best part.

It's not too early to begin thinking and planning for next year's vacation, or to make reservations for accommodations at popular destinations. Mackinac Island would be a great choice. A trip there truly becomes an island adventure!

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-- The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island is pictured above.

Leisure Lines

"LEISURE LINES" are reflections of Dr. Larry Jackson, a practitioner and educator, who served for 44 years in the field of recreation and leisure services. Upon his retirement in 2001, Jackson was named professor emeritus of recreation by Southwest Baptist University in recognition of 27 years of teaching at the SBU campus in Bolivar, Mo. During his years of professional service, Jackson was located in Florida, Kentucky, and Missouri. He and his wife Kay now enjoy expanded leisure opportunities.

A Dude Ranch Vacation

ONE OF THE BEST leisure experiences in my memory, which I enjoyed with my family a few years ago, was a week's stay at a dude ranch located in the beautiful Hill Country of Texas. There were five of us, and we all had a delightful time being together during the Christmas holidays. It was a special treat to observe my father attempting to line-dance, and my mother sitting very still on a horse! My wife and I particularly enjoyed a breakfast on the banks of the Medina River, and our son was always ready to saddle-up for two trail rides every day. It was fun to put on bluejeans and boots, and take full advantage of the cowboy atmosphere for those several days.

During our dude ranch vacation, we found that the experience was both exhilarating and relaxing. As guests at the ranch, we could be as busy or as quiet as we wanted to be. While the ranch had a rustic flavor, it also provided up-to-date facilities and amenities.

The food at the ranch was out-of-this-world! There were three meals each day, and snacks available in-between. There was always more than enough to eat - with plenty of choices - and the food was delightfully delicious. The mess hall was a popular place! However, a trail ride to breakfast and an outdoor Texas-style bar-b-que were additional highlights.

Live music, western dances and games, campfires, a marshmallow roast, hayrides, and staff talent shows were scheduled for all the guests. Tennis, basketball, volleyball, ping pong, swimming, tubing, and fishing treks were also available. Special attractions included fireworks and a international trick-roper.

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We enjoyed riding horses on picturesque trails winding their way from the lowlands to the hills. Along the way we discovered panoramic views of the valleys beyond. As we gathered around campfires and listened to a cowboy singing and strumming a guitar, it was easy to have visions of the Old West. By the end of the first day on the ranch, and throughout our stay, we found ourselves in the midst of a wonderful world of western warmth. The ranch staff liked to say that they offered a special brand of "horsepitality."

Dude ranches can be found all across the United States and in many countries around the world. While some similarities exist among all ranches, yet each ranch is unique. Each ranch works hard to develop and maintain it's own identity, program, and reputation. Current information about ranches is easy to obtain on the Internet.

There are many choices when it comes to getting away and spending time with your family. But for an unusual family get-together, and a unique leisure experience for each individual, our family is happy to recommend a dude ranch vacation!

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--The picture above was taken at the Mayan Dude Ranch in Bandera, Texas.