A Break From Society It was an early October morning; the sun was still hiding behind hills and clouds of darkness. All seven of us woke with excitement and cheers. Everyone sprang from their beds and chaotically packed the car with luggage and snacks. The minivan could hold a family of seven, but it was not easy packing our belongings along with the seven members in the car. These members included my two sisters, two brothers, my parents, and I. As soon as everyone was stuffed into the van, we began our journey to the greatest destination on Earth: The Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I had never been to the Upper Peninsula, which was bizarre for a Michigander of sixteen years. Everyone in Michigan has been to the U.P. at least once in their life, and for me it took sixteen years to accomplish this goal. The five­hour car ride seemed like a curse. There was barely any leg room, and the duels between siblings never ceased. My seven year old brother, Joey, is famous for starting fights and making car rides miserable. And my other brother and sister act and fight like twins, even though there are two years separating them. “haha you’re so ugly, it’s a wonder how you have so many friends,” Jimmy, the twelve year old, says with a cocky attitude. Ellie, the fourteen year old, replies, “ You’re an idiot!” Then my mom would intervene by saying, “Knock it off, or we will go home right this instant!” Which usually does the trick, but bickering would start all over again almost every hour. Eventually we made it to and mighty Mackinac Bridge, whose enormous steel frames and

cables held the pathway to the Upper Peninsula. In the middle of the bridge path there are green grates that would allow one to see below, down to the Great Lakes. Also, one could look on both sides of the bridge and see two different lakes. We pay the toll of $1.50 and within minutes, we are in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Miles and miles of trees and rocky shores lay upon Lake Michigan. The terrain is more rough than the lower peninsula; the air is so crisp. I have never inhaled cleaner oxygen in my life. As I take in the magnificent beauty of Michigan, we arrive at Sheapler’s Ferry Co. We unload our luggage on to the ferry and set off for our first destination, Mackinac Island. After fifteen minute ride along the raging waves of Lake Michigan, we arrive to the loading docks of the island. Pollution is scarce here, due to the fact that cars were not allowed on the island. Our luggage is brought to the hotel by a carriage, so we could explore the island more. There were little shops lining the dirt roads of the town. The smell of Mackinac Island fudge fill our noses with sweet, mouth­watering scents. The town is like a cluster of many different boutiques. It is a beautiful October day for a tour. The air is a little chilly, but the rays of the high­noon sun keeps us warm. Trees have just began to change into their coats of reds, yellows, and oranges. We took a private carriage ride throughout the town, and learn a little more about the history of Mackinac Island. There is a lot of history in regards of Mackinac Island. What many people do not know is that fort built on Mackinac Island played a big role in winning Michigan’s upper peninsula’s territory. Without it, there would not be any ‘yoopers’ or the typical Michigan accent that all Michiganders get mocked for. There would not be any Mackinac Island fudge or be named the state with the longest freshwater coastline in the world. The next day we pack everything onto the carriage, and make our way back to the boarding docks. The air is colder than the day before, and wearing two coats is a trend. We reboard the ferry, and set off on the trip back to Sheapler’s. Our next destination is Whitefish Point.

The drive this time is only a few hours. We brought everything to our hotel and got back into the van. In exploring the town, we went to a beach at Whitefish Point. This beach is along the shore of the deepest of all the Great Lakes, Lake Superior. Not only was this lake the deepest, but it’s always the coldest. I strolled along the shore, which was mostly covered in smooth rocks and pebbles. On some days, people along the shore are able to see Canada. After spending some time on the rocky shore of Lake Superior, we set off to Tahquamenon Falls State Park. We arrive to the park, put on our two coats, and set off on the trails to see the waterfalls. The trails were covered in crunchy leaves and dirt. Hoots of owls and howls of wolves fill the ears of our fellow tourists exploring the state park. After a mile or two, we found what we were looking for: Tahquamenon Falls. These waterfalls are the largest east of the Mississippi River. More than fifty thousand gallons per second of water pour over the stony edge into a pool of foam, fifty feet below. The roar of the falls can be heard from all around. After taking in one of nature’s greatest creations, I start to head back to the car and we return back to Whitefish Point. My four year old sister (Allison) asks,” Will we ever get to go see it again?” I reply, “I hope so, it was really cool wasn’t it?” “Yeah, the waterfall was bigger than me!!” She said with excitement. It is nice to finally arrive at the hotel, because after walking that distance at the park and riding around in the minivan, I was exhausted. The next morning we decide to visit my boyfriend’s cottage. His summer home is located in the small town of Escanaba, which is about two hours away from the Mackinac Bridge. It took only an hour to get there from our hotel, so the drive did not drive anyone crazy. Even though it is the middle of October, we walk along the shore of Lake Michigan and watch the many fishermen test their skills at

fishing for salmon. It is not before long that the sun seems to descend into the lake, and create the vivid sunsets that all Michiganders know too well. Even though it is getting dark, we start a fire on the beach and stay awhile. During the fall in the upper peninsula, bands of green and blue stretch across the night sky. We sit by the fire and watch the phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis dancing across the black canvas. As the time dwindles into the early hours of the morning, we arrive back to our hotel. I fell asleep right as I got in bed. The next morning is our last day in the U.P. Today, we are going home. Nobody really wants to leave the Upper Peninsula, but we have to go home sometime. So we jam ourselves into the Toyota and began the journey back to the city of Grand Rapids. After what seems like an eternity, we arrive to the polluted and industrialized town. The air now seems dirty; it is harder to breathe. Upon returning to my home, which is just outside downtown Grand Rapids, I realize how different it is living in the city. Up north there is so much more wildlife and less pollution. And the amount of technology in use there is very minimal. Our generation has become very dependent on the many different uses for technology. Due to the all the technology that we use now, taking it all away would make us vulnerable. We should make ourselves learn how to read maps or begin writing letters to our loved ones instead of sending a facebook message. Also, that if we continue to industrialize and make more cities, younger generations will never see the true beauty of Michigan. So this trip makes me realize that we need to protect the natural world as much as we can,before it’s too late...