Nick Helmholdt

So much fun that I went there twice in my two hour visit to Cleveland. Found collector cards from the Andy Griffith Show, Gremlins 2, and New Kids on the Block. This store lives up to its name!

Stayed in a hotel nominally in the ‘old louisville’ neighborhood. It was actually off I-65 and barely connected to this cool district. Next time I visit I would like to find a B&B near fourth and hill.

That really says it all – if you want a pimento cheese burger this is the place to get it.

I just returned from the Twin Cities for a conference (American Planning Association). Blew away my expectations and it feels like there is still a lot more to see.

I stayed in the tiny and remote Little Beaver Lake campground. It was wonderful! Lake Superior is a 1.5 mile hike away, 2 more miles to the West and you can see Spray Falls. The walk I took along the lake there was magnificent and exhilarating. The stair climbs and cliff edges make it really unforgettable.

This place was a very relaxing stopover on my recent vacation that I’m glad I made. A few gift stores, restaurants, and cafes make up the small town. I ate a really tasty hamburger at the Anchor Inn.

Words can’t describe the bizarre nature of Gordon’s Park. First off, I was told to arrive before 7PM to check in. “Okay, fine.” I think to myself.

Once I got there I realized that the whole place shuts down at 7. The pool, the mini golf the little store. My girlfriend and I were the only people in the whole park and we still had two full hours of daylight. Mind you, that Gordon’s Park is not located on a lake or scenic overlook.

The cabin was comfortable enough: a sturdy mattress and four solid walls. The light was dim but serviceable. The pit toilets, sink and “eco showers” were located about 200 feet away. In order for the luxury of having a bag of hot water drip on you, Gordon’s Park expects you to pay $2.

Manitoulin Island is supposed to have excellent night sky conditions for astronomers, a fact that Gordon’s Park advertises for everywhere. Not having a clear sky I didn’t get the chance to enjoy that feature.

Plan on hiking.

I wish I had scheduled in more time to hike around the Bruce. The Park is the head of an extensive trail network that winds around rocky shoreline and some rugged terrain. While the visitors center and the lookout tower are nice, I wish I could have spent a whole day hiking around the area.

The visitors center had some really fascinating stuff, too. There were large displays on beavers and fishers (the porcupine’s only predator!)

It felt like we were traveling alone on the island. We were the only group in our campground. Everything was far away. Although, I got two good meals on the Island. One at Anchor Inn in Little Current and another at Carol & Earl’s in S. Baymouth.

Manitoulin Island is part of the Niagara Escarpment, which is cool.

For those unfamiliar with the Niagara Escarpment, it is a line of rocks and such that indicates the furthest that glaciers came during the last ice age. It goes from the Niagara Falls up the Bruce Peninsula, over to Manitoulin Island, around the southern part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and then finally ending at Wisconsin’s Dorr Peninsula.