Traverse City: Cherries and Waterslides

A recent health scare in Poogieville has brought the blog updates to a standstill.  With a reasonably strong sense that things are returning to normal, we resume in earnest.

At the beginning of July -- yes, it's been that long -- we made a trip to Traverse City, Michigan for the 2010 National Cherry Festival.

Due to the passage of time, I will keep my reviews brief.

Likes:

• Traverse City, Michigan is Bloomington, Indiana without the college campus.  Thus, I had no trouble falling in love with the place.
• 77 degrees in July for highs, no humidity - perfect.
• Cherry Lemonade at the Cherry Republic - flipping awesome!
• Mackinaw Brewing Company - good eats, good drinks.
• Caroline tackling the biggest waterslide at the GWL without knowing how to swim.  Probably doing things backwards, but the kid has got some chutzpah!
• Joey-sized life jackets.  Seeing half-pint in a swim vest was hilarious.
• Henry as a water bug.
• Mommy texting me through Facebook while sitting in the bed right next to me.  Classic abuse of modern technology.

Dislikes:

• GWL's food prices are ridiculous.  PBR on the menu, but no PBR in the joint.  Black mark for you, Great Wolf.  No one puts a blue jewel in the corner, no one.
• The kid (or adult) who shut down half the waterpark by pooping under the GWL waterfall play area.  Apparently, when 1,000 gallons of water come splashing down every five minutes, it occasionally scares the crap out of people.  The best part was the poor schlep who had to use the rubber gloves and the red hazmat bag to clean the poop from the water drain.  Stay classy, Michigan.
• LeBron James.  Thankfully, the citizens of TC could care less about "The Decision."  It wasn't on the TV when we went out for dinner.  Hopefully, in a few years, either will Mr. James.
• Armband barbed wire tattoos.   Sorry folks, if you have them, I have to wonder about you.
• The dude who plays the old wizard in the Magi Quest game at GWL.  Pretty sure he has to report himself to his neighbors when he moves.
• The Diabolical India Pale Ale from North Peak Brewery - pretty sure it caused a permanent facial tick (see below).

The rest in pictures...   

The Holman kids love Great Wolf Lodge.

The girls on the carny carousel

Henry and Caroline at the Sleeping Bear Dunes

Josie and Caroline put their toes into Lake Michigan -  lake temperature, 65 chilly degrees.

$75 bucks worth of Magis

Dad and the kids rediscover hydro-engineering at the Children's Musuem

The tired parents.

Our wolfpack.