The Open Space

This is the hub of the National Cherry Festival, which is held every year in July. Traverse City goes from a town of maybe 15,000 to around 300,000 during this time.

Grand Traverse Bay

This shot is taken from the Open Space. This is one of my favorite places in Traverse City to just hang out.

Grand Traverse Bay

Another shot from near the Open Space.

The Open Space, Traverse City, Michigan

More from the view at the Open Space. During the Cherry Fesitival and just to the left of here, there will be a large ampitheatre where every night there are bands and entertainment. While I was there, they had a film festival. Something Traverse didn't have when I lived there.

Clinch Park Marina

The smell down here is just intoxicating. A mixture of fresh water, vegitation, sun tan lotion and .... oh yes ... the light scent of gasoline from some of the boats!

Clinch Park Marina

We used to hang out here all summer and many times got to know some of the return tourists that would dock their boats and yachts here every year. If you were lucky, some of them would invite you aboard!

Clinch Park Zoo

The Zoo has been located in the marina area for as long as I can remember. This is the back of it, which faces the marina. The zoo is closing, due to lack of available funding. Very sad.

Clinch Park Zoo

Another angle of the zoo. The zoo is part of the whole package at Clinch Park and I'm sad to see it go.

Clinch Park Beach

This is toward the far end of the Marina looking at Clinch Park Beach just past the catamaran.

Clinch Park Marina

It is not unusal to see families of ducks that just hang out in the Marina also! I think this bunch is trying to claim that dingy!

Grand Traverse Bay

A lonely catamaran out on the Bay. My zoom lens makes the sky look kind of dark and muted as I haven't figured out how to use it most efficiently yet.

Coast Guard Ship

This shot was taken with my zoom from Clinch Park Marina. The coast guard ship is docked at the Maritime Academy, which is quite a distance from where I was.

The Open Space

Take from the edge of the Open Space, this shot includes a HUGE yacht that was docked there. It's called the "Motivation." I guess you have to have some motivation to own that yacht!

Downtown Traverse City

This is taken from one end of the Open Space and is looking at the behind of downtown Traverse City.

Another Grand Traverse Bay Beach

Looking down the beach, the land farthest away from the camera and on the right of the picture, is where the Open Space and Clinch Park is.

West End Beach

The West End Beach is where I mostly took my grandsons to play! I like it because it is mostly locals who use this beach.

West End Beach, Grand Traverse Bay

Another angle from the West End Beach

West End Beach, Grand Traverse Bay

I liked this shot of the beach with the pop of color from the sunbathers umbrella's.

Parasailing

Also taken from the West End Beach

Parasailing

I couldn't decide if I liked the shot of the parasailor next to the clouds or in front of the clouds!

Grand Traverse Bay

A bit of sailing going on in the bay. There were a couple of tall ships at different times out there and I kept telling my grandsons that they were Pirate Ships. One of them was all black and I told them it was Captain Jack Sparrow's Black Pearl!

Grand Traverse Bay

More sailing on the bay. I believe this tall ship is called the Welcome, but I'm not positive. When I lived here the tall ship Malabar was always within sight!

The edge of the Grand Traverse Yacht Club

This is the closest I'll get to the Yacht Club! It's actually to the far left, just beyond the boats.

Grand Traverse Yacht Club

Another view from the edge of the Yacht Club.

Oak Street

This is the house I lived in. It was just a few blocks from the Bay and some of our best memories are from when we lived here.

The Society of Friends

This is the little church that was to the right of my old house. In fact my house used to be the parsonage. The Society of Friends is more well known as the Quakers.

Friends Meeting House

Side view of the Friends Meeting House.

Silver Lake

Silver Lake is an inland lake and this is taken down at the private beach where my son and his family lives.