July 2024 Road Trip

I had planned a large road trip in July for us to pick up some new states, including the 49th state for me (Michigan).  So on July 4, Evie and I loaded up in my car with Granna and Grannadaddy and we were off on an 11-day trek.  We stopped in Chicago for a day, checking out the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, and enjoying some deep dish.

Stopped for a picnic on the way to Chicago, Krech road trip style

Evie loves a good science museum and this was a really good one.

On July 6, we left Chicago and went to the Indiana Dunes where we hiked up to a lookout point to see the lake, and then got our feet wet on the beach.  One of my goals for this trip was to make good on my promise that someday we would come back to the lake for a 4th of July trip, after Evie's disappointment in 2020 (she had wanted to go on the beach of the lake but there were way too many people for me to feel like we wouldn't immediate get COVID).

Then we made our way into Michigan (my 49th state and Evie's 39th)

We stopped at Holland, MI for some more beach time before getting into our hotel, where Evie, Grannadaddy, and I played Phase 10.

On July 7, we went to Mackinac Island and enjoyed a horse and buggy ride, ice cream, fudge, a playground, and the quaint surroundings that little island has to offer.

Hiked a bit during our picnic on the way to Mackinac 

On the ferry ride to the island

Ice cream!

Ferrying back

That evening we stayed in my favorite place of the trip, this adorable motel on the upper peninsula, with a patio door leading right out onto the water.  Evie wanted to go swimming (which I thought was nuts because it was COLD).  I asked her how it was and she said, "Except for the rocks, it's like walking on air." 

The next day, we stopped by Sault Ste Marie where we saw a ship move through a lock, and then drove into Toronto.

Checking out the museum at the Locks

July 9, we went to the Toronto Zoo which was a really pleasant experience.  They had a tram to take you around the outside, and they cracked some jokes on the route.  They had some really great exhibits and Evie bought a stuffed animal.  Seth called then so Evie got a chance to talk to him for a bit before we left the zoo.  Then we dropped Grannadaddy off at the Hockey Hall of Fame while Granna, Evie, and I went to the St. Lawrence Market for some shopping, then went to the playground across the street which had a vegetable theme.

Waiting for the polar bear to come by

There he is!

July 10, we headed to Niagara Falls and did what was my favorite part of the trip, the Maid of the Mist boat tour that takes you right up to the falls.

Straddling the U.S. and Canada

Deep in discussion about how the Maid of the Mist boat works

Then we headed to Philadelphia where we were picking up Will who was joining us in advance of Ryan coming to the states to work some shifts.  

Evie's 40th state

Cousins reunited

On the 11th, we started out with a Tour of Independence Hall.  Unfortuntely, Evie wasn't feeling well and Will wasn't feeling so great either after his trans-Atlantic flight so the kids stayed at the hotel while us grown ups went to the U.S. Mint

On the 12th we headed to D.C., but we had to stop at urgent care on our way as Evie was feeling worse and coughing a lot.  Turned out she had walking pneumonia so we got some antibiotics and finished our drive into D.C.  She agreed to come to the National Museum of America History and the International Spy Museum before we went to the hotel for some rest.

The 13th, we turned for home via Greensboro where we had lunch with Annalisa and Mary.  We got to our motel in Asheville with enough time for the kids to swim since they were both feeling better, and then on the 14th we finished the drive to Memphis with a stop at Chuy's on the way, of course.

It was a great trip and gave Evie some time to be surrounded by family during a tough transition.