From the stunning cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to a harrowing drive through a historic rainstorm, we recount the final leg of our family road trip from Mackinaw City back to Milwaukee. Read about our cruise experience, a pizza detour, and a drive I'll never forget.
Drive to Pictured Rock
After a weekend of island hopping and city strolling, it was time for the final leg of our adventure: a visit to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, followed by the drive home to Milwaukee. Our little one, who had been a trooper all weekend, had her own plans for the morning, waking up early and joining me in my bed for some extra cuddles. It was the perfect start to our last day.
We checked out of our hotel in Mackinaw City, not before noting that "breakfast included" should probably be followed by an asterisk and "muffins only." But it was a small detail in an otherwise lovely stay. We loaded up the car and started our two-hour journey north. The drive itself was a scenic one, taking us through a part of Michigan I had never seen before—a beautiful, secluded stretch of road with hardly any signs of civilization.
We arrived at Pictured Rocks around noon, a little early for our 1 p.m. cruise. The area was under renovation, so we navigated some incomplete parking spaces and put on a generous amount of sunscreen—the sun was scorching! We grabbed our stroller and walked to the dock. The waiting area was uncovered, but with plenty of chairs, we were able to find a spot to sit and have a little picnic for our little one before we boarded.
Cruising the Cliffs
The cruise boat was a three-decker, and despite the heat, the refreshing breeze convinced us to go to the upper deck for the best views. We settled in, and our journey began. For two hours, we were treated to a stunning natural history lesson, with a guide narrating the journey through the magnificent Pictured Rocks formations. The cliffs were massive and breathtakingly beautiful, a true testament to the power of nature. We tried to capture the grandeur with our cameras, but some things are just meant to be seen with your own eyes. Our little one got a bit fussy, possibly from the heat, so we took turns comforting her, but the experience was still worth every second.
As we returned to the dock around 3 p.m., the sky began to change. A cold breeze blew in, and we could see a storm brewing on the horizon. By the time we were inside the gift shop, it was pouring. We did some souvenir shopping and waited for the rain to slow down. When it became a light drizzle, I made a dash for the car, and the ladies joined me at the entrance.
The Long Drive Home: A Storm to Remember
We were hungry, so we stopped at a nearby pizza place, Pictured Rock Pizza. It was packed, but we managed to get a table. After a 30-minute wait, we were enjoying a delicious veggie delight pizza. We filled up on gas, and around 5:15 p.m., we began our long, five-hour drive back home.
The forecast was right—the drizzle turned into a torrential downpour as soon as we left town. For the next three and a half hours, we drove through what felt like a continuous wall of water. Visibility was near zero, and our hazard lights were on for most of the journey. The roads were flooded, and in many places, it felt like we were a boat cruising on a lake rather than a car on the highway. We drove cautiously, watching as other cars were tossed around by the wind and rain. The drive was an experience to remember, and one that I will never forget.
I have to give a huge shout-out to my Nissan Rogue's cruise control and steering assist features. Even though the steering assist was limited by the weather, the system's ability to maintain speed and manage braking made the drive so much less stressful. It felt like I had an experienced co-pilot by my side, guiding the car and helping me stay safe.
We finally made it back to Milwaukee around 9:25 p.m., and the rain seemed to follow us home, starting to drizzle just as we pulled into our driveway. We unpacked, had a late dinner, and I unloaded all our photos and videos from our trip. As I looked back at the incredible moments we had, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the safe and wonderful journey we had. We saw stunning natural beauty, navigated a crowded holiday weekend, and drove through a historic storm. It was an adventure for the books, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Tips
- Take umbrella if possible
- Have sunscreen as much as possible
- Book tickets beforehand
- There is a sunset cruise as well, check if your time suits that
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