Category Archives: 2015

What a great day we had in and around Holland!  In fact, I broke every dietary rule I have been following and I know I will pay for it tomorrow.

We started off at the Saugatuck Dune Rides just south of Holland.

This is a privately owned company that owns a piece of property that was once a huge lake reported to be very deep.  In the middle 1800’s the trees were all harvested from around the lake and before long, all the sand blew into the lake bed.  Now it consists of high sandy hills and wooded valleys used by this company to give 40 minute jeep rides to tourists.  Each jeep holds between 20 and 25, depending on the size of the children, and takes these hills at high speeds creating a roller coaster without the tracks.  This apparently is very popular because we had to wait over an hour for our turn to come up.  It was lots of fun and worth the wait even though I ate a small popcorn while we waited.

Now it was time for lunch and we found the Salt and Pepper Grill with two menu items that caught our attention.  I had Artichoke chicken with sun dried tomatoes, artichokes and capers in an olive oil –garlic sauce.  Yum!  Jim had an olive burger made with beef patty with green olive cream cheese, sugar-cured bacon, stone ground mustard and more olives.  He said he would order it again which is a rousing recommendation for him.

Our next stop was the Windmill Island Gardens with the only imported Dutch working windmill in America.

Windmill Island Gardens

It was originally built in 1761 and shipped to the US in 1964 because of the negotiations between the City of Holland, MI and the government of the Netherlands.  A stipulation of the agreement was that it continues to be a working windmill and to this day, it is used to grind wheat into flour for local restaurants.  In fact, the city of Holland employs the only Dutch-certified miller in the US, Alisha Crawford, to do the grinding and maintain the windmill.  The building itself is 7 stories high and we were able to go up the first 5 stories.

We learned two things we didn’t know before we stopped here.  The first is that each windmill has a single purpose.  They are used for power, irrigation, grinding, and other things but each mill has only one job.  The second thing we learned is that the turret rotates 360 degrees at the top to be able to position the blades into the wind.

In April, the grounds are covered in tulips which are replaced by summer flowers and just as beautiful.

Gardens around Windmill

Drawbridge found in many Netherland communities

They have added a traditional drawbridge over a waterway, just like in the Netherlands and a miniature model of a traditional Dutch village from the late 1800’s complete with animals and people all hand carved. 

We were treated to some traditional Dutch dancing and music from an Amsterdam Street Organ.   Before we left we went into the gift shop and bought something called Mini  Stroopwafels.  This Dutch cookie appears to be thin round waffles with maple syrup cream in the middle.  I had to have one, or two, or three.

Next was the “Big Red” Lighthouse.  After driving some distance through a community of large lakefront homes, we arrived at a gated community with a sign that said the lighthouse was only accessible on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  The guard at the gate told us that since we were from out of state, we could go in but we had to park just inside the gate and walk the rest of the way bearing in mind that everything other than the lighthouse itself is private property.  So we walked, I would guess a little over a mile, but it felt like 5 miles this late in the day.  Can’t really tell you why they call it “Big Red” because I didn’t think it was so big but hidden in the rocks at the base was a family of ferrets playing and having fun.  Still not worth the long walk there and back.

Boats entering Lake Macatawa from Lake Michigan at Big Red Lighthouse

Downtown Holland is another quaint vibrant street filled with shops and restaurants.  Most of the restaurants had outdoor dining because of the perfect weather up here in the Spring, Summer and Fall. This is where I lost my dietary resolve.  We were not very hungry, either because of the late lunch and the stroopwaffels, but we shared some calamari and something called The Ludwig.  This dish is spaetzle dumplings with spinach, bacon, and melted Swiss cheese.  Both were excellent and just met our appetite needs.

Back to our campground and to my dismay, we have been invaded.  The park is filled with other campers with RVs and tents.  Every available spot is taken.  So much for peaceful!  Did I mention we were next to the basketball court which hadn’t mattered until tonight.  Remember it doesn’t get dark until almost 10 p.m..

Saturday is stay at home and relax day!

When we left to explore Grand Haven, we were a little hesitant to leave our relaxing, peaceful campsite.  In the morning, the river is just like glass with a perfect reflection of the trees until the first boats stir up the water.  We saw a wild rabbit searching for some food and its just hard to leave.

By the way, the Park Hostess at this campground was right when she said that  dusk is very late.  It is actually at 9:45 pm.   Plenty of time to play 18 holes of golf even if you start at 6 p.m.  (This would be for you, Carl).  Sunrise is about 6:30 a.m. so there is lots of daytime to fit in plenty of activity.

Anyway, back to Grand Haven.  We drove into this charming town with a bustling downtown district filled with shops and restaurants of every liking.  We stopped at the Chamber to get the lowdown on activities and found out just how big the Coast Guard Festival is.This is the welcome area at the center of town.

This is the 225 Anniversary of US Coast Guard so you can imagine its going to be big.  Every year it is held here in Grand Haven and they call themselves the Coast Guard City.  We will only be here for the first few days but the festival will last a full week ending next Sunday, August 2nd, with a gigantic fireworks display.

Coast Guard Station – Grand Haven, MI

We had lunch at Snug Harbor Restaurant on the upper deck on the riverfront.  Spectacular view (below) and weather for eating outside which is probably why everyone else in town was there as well.

Entrance of Grand River from Lake Michigan

We decided to return on Sunday to see the Musical Fountain show at nighttime and wander through the shops.

We drove over to the beach, which was where all the other people were.

Beaches at Grand Haven

 The sign said the water temperature was 65 degrees so I have to question the sanity of all these people.  It’s interesting to see the State has an RV Park right at the edge of the beach with camp sites that looked like zero-lot-line housing.  But how else do you fit all those campers into such a limited space.

The beach was beautiful whitish soft sand and thousands of people slicked with sunscreen.  Within walking distance was a long walkway leading to the old lighthouse.  During stormy weather, the walkway is often underwater so there is an elevated walkway used by the lighthouse keeper to service the light.  Today,  the lower level is a promenade for walkers and runners.  On this walk we saw confirmation that the teen brain is not fully developed yet.  There were groups of teens running and jumping into this 65 degree water.  I know that doesn’t sound that ridiculous until I tell you that the spot they chose to do these gymnastics had two levels of seawall and if you didn’t get out far enough to avoid the lower level, well suffice it to say the damage would not be pretty or temporary.

Tomorrow we plan on taking in the sights and sounds of Holland.

This morning we left Lakeville, Indiana and headed to our first stop in Michigan, staying at the Conestoga campground.  Thanks to Jim’s planning we found ourselves with our rear window of the RV facing the Grand River just up the road from Grand Haven touted as having the best beaches in Michigan.  The campground sits high above the water level providing beautiful vistas of shoreline, water and trees and is incredibly peaceful and quiet.

The humidity is 34 percent and the temperatures are in the high 70’s.  There is also a mild breeze most of the day making the weather as perfect as you can get it.  For the first time in a long time, we are functioning with the windows open and no air conditioning.  Our plan is to stay here for six days and I am loving the idea.  Starting on Saturday there is some sort of Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven and we think it should be fun and interesting to visit along with some of the other sites in the area.

One negative is the remoteness of all this peace and tranquility.  We had to drive ½ hour to find a restaurant and grocery store.  I guess we will be doing more cooking while we are here.  On the way back from our excursion, we saw a large fruit and vegetable market on the corner of the road.  It was already 7:40 p.m. so I didn’t think it was still open but you know optimistic Jim.  He pulled in and found a nice lady who said, “we just sell on the honor system.”   “Just take what you want in a plastic bag and put the money in the cash box”.  We found the most delicious black cherries and blueberries I have ever seen.  Of course, we did our part to help the local economy.

By the way, in this part of the country sundown is not until after 9 p.m.  In fact, the hostess at the campground says it should be around 9:45 p.m.  No wonder at 8:40 p.m. there are still people boating and fishing on the river.

Tomorrow begins the Michigan part of our trip.  We have spent the last 5 days experiencing Nashville, Tennessee again with the California branch of our family.  Unfortunately, the temperatures all this time have been record-breaking.  Right now, at 4pm in the afternoon, it is still 97 degrees with a heat index of 104 degrees.  Fortunately, though, our grandchildren are all part fish and we got our RV campground fees worth of swimming pool time and our share of air conditioning.

Early in the week we took them to see the Nashville replica of the Parthenon.  It was really fun watching them put this replica into perspective with the photos of the real deal in Greece and the concept of Greek gods versus the One True God.  If you have never seen it, inside this massive building is a HUGE statute of Athena.  Although James is only 9 and Rebecca is 11 years old, they were very interested in what they were seeing and asked lots of questions.

On another day, we did the Country Music Museum, and a live show at Opryland.  Larry Gatlin and Vince Gill were two of the performers I recognized and we were there to hear Home Free (new acapella group) make their Opryland debut.

Country Western Museum in downtown Nashville

On Saturday, James and I got to set the agenda because this was the official celebration of our July 11th birthdays.  As my friends all know, this is keeping in step with my personal philosophy of celebrating my birthday the entire month of July.  James picked brunch at Cracker Barrel and a trip to the toy store, followed by swimming in the pool.  I picked a trip to the awesome hotel, Gaylord Opryland to walk through the lobby, take a boat ride and then have dinner in one of their restaurants.  I chose the Ravello Italian restaurant and it was not a mistake.  Most of the restaurants in the hotel feel like you are dining “al fresco” but it is perfectly monitored 70 degrees everywhere in that lobby.  If you have not seen this hotel, it is worth the trip. Waterfalls in the lobby of Gaylord Opryland

Think Gaylord Palms Hotel in Orlando times four and then add a little more.  It was interesting to see how high the water damage from the 2010 flood had gone and all they had to do to reopen.
The family left this morning for Atlanta, we went to church and then lunch at the restaurant at Belle Meade Plantation, one of our favorites.  Jim and I just woke up from a long overdue nap and now, Let the Trip Begin!!!!!

This morning we left for our 2015 adventure which includes a week with family in Nashville, Tennessee and then on to explore Michigan for six or seven weeks.

We are driving up the west coast of Michigan, taking in Mackinac Island and the U.P. and then back down the east coast.  We have lots of interesting stops planned along the way and hope you will follow along with us.  You don’t want to miss the mushroom houses in  Charlevoix, Ford Museum, Grand Hotel and other stops we think will be fun.

Right now we are spending the night in a campground in Perry, Ga where it is hotter than …….(you know the place).  The only consolation is it’s just as hot back home.