As we leave Harbor Springs, we cruise by the cottages of Harbor Point. Harbor Point is a completely private, gated and very upscale community. Homes are handed down from generation to generation and very rarely are offered to anyone outside of the community. Just like Mackinac Island, no cars are allowed on this peninsula. You need to stop at the 24 hour manned gate and a horse and buggy will pick you up. Visiting this community is out of the question, unless you happen to procure an invitation from a resident.
Positioned at the point of the Harbor Point Peninsula, lighting the way into Harbor Springs, is the Little Traverse Lighthouse. Erected in 1884, it was a working lighthouse until 1963 and subsequently sold to the Harbor Point Community in which it stands. Because of its location on private property, the lighthouse is off limits to the public. A view from the water is the only option of seeing this lighthouse, unless you are a resident of Harbor Point.
After a tour of the “old” rich, we cross across Little Traverse Bay to see how the “new” rich are faring in Bay Harbor.
They seem to be doing okay, although slumming with their tiny yacht club.😉
Once our scenic cruise is over, we head out into Lake Michigan and set our course on Charlevoix. The water conditions are good and soon we are at the entrance to Charlevoix.
As the bridge opens on the hour and half hour, not on demand, we will need to wait about 15 minutes idling in Lake Michigan and Pine River. Once we pass through the bridge, we will enter Round Lake, the location of the Charlevoix Municipal Marina, our home for two nights.
Like many visitors to Charlevoix, we sign up for the mushroom house tour ($25 pp).
The mushroom houses, gnome homes, or hobbit homes, as they are called, were all built by architect Earl Young. Earl Young was a peculiar architect as he never followed blueprints. His builds were HIS works of art, created from his inspiration, not the owners, dictated by the natural surroundings. He refused to have landscape be forced to accommodate a design. His builds were primarily made from boulders found in northern Michigan…and wow did he use a lot of them!
For those who really love his designs, it is a lucky day! One of his builds is now listed for sale!
We walk to the pier to see the lighthouse and the beach. We look for our own Petoskey Stones, unsuccessfully.
We also enjoyed some of the local eateries and browsed through the downtown shops.
However, the best is just relaxing on the boat and enjoying this beautiful Michigan weather while it lasts!
It was a great two days in Charlevoix. Next stop will be Northport, MI.
