If you talked to us before we left, you know we had the mushroom houses of Charlevoix on our “must do” list in Michigan. Sunday was the day and we were not disappointed. If we did not tell you about our plans, these are houses designed by Architect Earl Young with natural materials used on the roofs and exterior walls with natural curves and rounded corners that make them resemble a mushroom. He designed 37 in all but there are 7 immediately available on a walking tour to see from the road. I’m sure these homeowners get tired of all the attention some days, but I guess they knew what they were signing up for when they bought the house. Here are some pictures.
Stone Fence at Mushroom House
Then we saw this one still under construction.
Mushroom House under construction with thatched roof
The amazing thing about this one is the roof is actually a 7-8 inch thick thatched roof. Jim and I both thought it was concrete made to look like thatch until we got out of the car and actually touched it. We peeked in the windows and this is going to be one beautiful home.
We walked the town and visited some of the shops,
Downtown Charlevoix
stopping at the Weather Vane Restaurant for an early dinner. This building is one of the mushroom houses listed on the tour but I think it is more popular for having a outdoor eating deck that overlooks the channel between Lake Michigan and Round Lake.
Weathervane Restaurant in Charlevoix
There is a drawbridge on the road leading into town and it opened every 1/2 hour to allow the large yachts and sailboats under the bridge. While we ate this fabulous meal, we had an endless parade of boats and ships, and near-perfect weather.
Drawbridge at Charlevoix
Great way to end the day.
goneagainblog.com 
The houses are amazing but the rock wall caught my attention. Love that you share pictures of your food. So far, I like Jim’s picks. Have fun and stay safe.
Those houses are real cool. You’ll have to tell us about them.
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