Photos of Mackinac Bridge construction added to MackinacBridge.org

MackinacBridge.org has been updated for the first time that I can remember since I first stumbled upon it a few years ago. It has a neat new interface and a lot of extras to boot. I believe the site has been updated to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the opening of the bridge. In addition to the original site features such as "Bridge Conditions" and the "Bridge Webcam" there is plenty more. Photo collections of the construction of the Mackinac Bridge as well as a handful of photos from the heyday of the Michigan State Ferry service that preceded the bridge.

The Bridge Webcam and Bridge Conditions have been moved to the main page so you don't have to hunt them down anymore. Here is a brief rundown of some of the new areas -

• Monthly Bridge Statistics - number of vehicle crossings
• E-Cards - send e-cards to someone using a variety of Mackinac Bridge pictures
• Michigan State Ferry photo album
• Historical Construction photo album

Free Megabus tickets from Detroit to Chicago

The Detroit News is reporting that Megabus.com is currently offering free tickets from Detroit to Chicago. The dates these free tickets are available is Jan. 17 through March 20 of next year. You can reserve your seats today for a $.50 fee. According to the Detroit News:

The promotional seats are limited to two per booking and must be booked at least four weeks in advance.

I previously wrote about Megabus back in April of this year when they were launching this new bus service. Has anyone tried this service out and have any comments on it?

Grand Traverse lighthouse looking for a few good keepers in 2007

Want to take a unique vacation that you will always remember? For $195 for one week for members of the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum - not sure, but I believe that is what they mean by members. Non-members are charged $220 per person for one week. Directly from the Lighthouse Keeper Application -

The primary responsibilities of Keepers are to greet visitors and provide them with historical information about the museum. They also work in the gift shop and help with maintenance of the buildings and grounds. Keepers are required to learn basic historic information about the Lighthouse. They must be energetic, comfortable speaking with the public, in excellent health, able to climb stairs and able to work long hours.

In addition to the above duties, keepers also must perform cleaning and other maintenance work while "stationed" at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse. Consider it a "working" vacation, but one that will certainly provide you and your family a unique learning experience.

View the lighthouse keeper application here.

Via the Traverse City Record Eagle.

Just a Plain Farm in Carp Lake, Michigan

EDIT - I just received an email (10-14-11) that says Just a Plain Farm is no longer in business. If you happen to be up in the Northern Lower Peninsula taking in the breathtaking display of color you should stop in at Just A Plain Farm in Carp Lake. Just off of U.S. 31 take Gill Road at Carp Lake (there is a yellow blinking light and a general store on the corner) west about 1.5 miles. The big barn is on the right and you can't miss it.

Owners Gordon and Judy Tuthill have a lot to offer each fall from September 1 through October 31. They offer pumpkin picking hayrides, a corn maze, and a farm store filled with cider and other assorted goodies. Their u-pick options include popcorn, gourds, pumpkins, and squash.

We stopped in on a frosty morning (it had been down in the 20's the previous night) last Friday and spent over an hour there. Our son had a grand time hiking out to the gourds (even though he was repeatedly tripped up by the vines) and thoroughly inspecting the barn.

From there we went west on Gill Road another mile or so and picked up County Road 81 south to just north of Petoskey where we picked up U.S. 31. I know I mentioned this before (I think it was yesterday), but that was probably one of the prettiest fall drives in recent memory. The sun was shining and the air was so crisp and clear that the reds, yellows, and oranges were so vibrant that pictures would not have done it justice.

If you go:

Monday through Saturday - 10 am to 6 pm Sunday - 10 am to 6 pm

Visit Just A Plain Farm on the web here - www.justaplainfarm.com.

Fort Fright Night

Historic Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City will be transformed into an eerie haunted outpost tomorrow, October 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. Werewolves, witches and other unsavory characters will be roaming inside the fort walls. Voyageurs will be telling stories (I would imagine spooky tales) that will get the spookiness level ratcheted up for what lies, crawls, and creeps within the fort at a bonfire on the lake just outside the fort walls. Overall, this is a family friendly affair that will delight young and old with period treats like molasses cookies, toffee candy, and mulled cider that you can nosh on while listening to ghost stories or fiddle music. There will be a haunted house set up for older kids and adults as well.

Sounds like fun to me. For more information visit www.mackinacparks.com.

If you go: October 7th, 2006 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Location: Colonial Michilimackinac

Family - $15 Adult - $5 Youth (6-17) - $3 Children 5 and under - Free Mackinac Associates (above Heritage level) - Free

Peaceful views of Michigan's fall color display

I found this two-minute video on YouTube that was shot at the West Lake Nature Preserve in Portage, Michigan. Don't you just love the wonderful display of a myriad of colors across Michigan in the fall? At the end of last week we took a wonderful (but short) trip up to the Straits. If you get up that way this weekend or next week you have to take County Road 81. It parallels U.S. 31 to the east and passes through such burgs as Bliss, Heils Corner, and Pleasant View. The view is most definitely "pleasant" and the drive is relaxing.

If the video player does not display you can view it at YouTube right here.