The sun burned the edge of Lake Michigan as it sank into the serene, shimmering waters of Little Traverse Bay. The radiant orange sphere ducking out of sight produced bursts of yellow and red to splash over the passing clouds, illuminating the sky in an attempt to conserve the final dwindling moments of another summer’s eve. Our family has escaped in our surroundings. In the distance, yachts and sailboats skimmed the horizon and were the only evidence of life and reality in my panoramic view.

Perched on the shores of the crystal clear blue water I watched my four year old son, Cash rummage through the smooth and odd shaped rocks that bridge land and lake. He was in search of a particular type of rock, something new and enchanting to him: fossils – the remnants of ocean life from an ancient sea predating the Great Lakes.

“I found another magic rock, dad”, Cash shouted from the shoreline. I sat on the manicured lawn and praised his latest discovery. “Good job, buddy!” I replied as I watched my son’s face glow with excitement. Cash proudly held up his fossilized seashell for my inspection. As he turned to face me his eye caught the mesmerizing flicker of fire from the beachside fire pit. Groups of children meandered along the immaculate concrete boardwalk and across the lush grounds to find their spot on the stone benches that surrounded the fire.

“Cash, would you like to go make some s’mores?” my wife called as she casually walked from the terrace of our lakeside master suite.

“Yes!” Cash enthusiastically answered without hesitation. Running toward his mother my son handed me his rock and declared, “This place is full of magic.” I gazed down at the fossil, and then out at the dancing sunset. I glanced back at our grand-historic lakeside escape – The Inn at Bay Harbor.

“This place is full of magic,” I thought to myself.

The Inn At Bay Harbor has always been a special place for my wife and I. It was a place of pure romance where we spent many days and nights falling in love when we first started dating; it was the place where we were happily married among family and friends in the most idyllic setting; and, it is a place where we continue to celebrate life’s occasions and anniversaries. The Inn At Bay Harbor is the place we have trusted our cherished moments with.

This summer my wife and I decided to entrust our favourite Northern Michigan escape with the most precious person in our lives, our four-year-old son, Cash.

And The Inn At Bay Harbor did not let us down.

Our family vacation began with a short, scenic hour and a half drive from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Our journey saw the crossing of the Straits of Mackinac over the historic Mackinac Bridge where ferries, yachts, shipping and fishing vessels passed beneath us. We drove on picturesque tree lined highways and through quaint communities nestled on small inland lakes.

Arriving at The Inn At Bay Harbor we were pleasantly greeted by polite and professional staff that unloaded our luggage, toys and bikes from our SUV. “Welcome back”, a kind gentleman addressed our family with a smile, tending to the door as we entered into the grand foyer.

Glistening above our heads a luxurious chandelier created a feeling of enchantment. The foyer was bustling with vacationers in their bathing suits and golf attire, many with their laughing children eager to move forward in their daily adventure. I had never noticed how family oriented The Inn at Bay Harbor was. I suppose having a child of my own put me in tune with the care the staff took to create a positive experience for children and adults.

Upon checking in at the front desk a curious sign caught my eye. “Kid’s Club”, it read. The weekly itinerary was full of activities for children and offered a selection for varying interests. Face painting, pet rocks, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, culinary classes, and t-shirt tie dying were all part of the Inn At Bay Harbor children’s program. Cash was thrilled with the opportunity to paint and create with the other children at the resort.

From that first instant, there was no idle moment for our son – just pure, innocent adventure and playful enjoyment.

Our mornings consisted of bike rides at dawn along the lakeshore to the nearby East Park where an elaborate playground stands like a beacon of fun overlooking the calm bay. The Inn at Bay Harbor kindly supplies bikes at no additional charge to their guests so they can take advantage of the routes around the grounds.

Our family enjoyed complimentary breakfast on the beachside terrace at Sagamore’s Dining Room. Sagamore’s generous buffet offered delicious and healthy options for each of our unique tastes.

During the day my wife and I relaxed on comfortable, shaded lounge chairs on the tranquil shores of Little Traverse Bay while Cash dug in the sand, played with beach toys and searched for unique stones to collect. As the day heated, we cooled ourselves in the fresh blue water and took frequent trips to the clean and energetic resort pool that lay steps from the shoreline. If we needed a drink of water or wanted to enjoy a cool cocktail, we didn’t have to look further than the poolside Cabana Bar.

During the early evenings we could unwind by playing croquet on the lawn or checkers on the oversized checkerboard. Or we could simply pick up a bike and cruise the boardwalk, past the volleyball court and to the Bay Harbor marina to watch the yachts return after a day on the lake.

Dinners were casually spent at Vintage Chophouse | Wine Bar. The restaurant is an all-American steakhouse that is complimented with an upscale bar but recognizes the needs of dining families. Vintage offers a charming kids menu with classic favourites such as pasta, burgers, chicken bites, grilled cheese sandwiches and hot dogs. Cash happily dined, hungry from his full day of adventure as my wife and I decompressed over delicious entrees and a glass of wine.

As a nightly tradition we strolled along the waterfront, making our way back to our walkout suite, searching for rocks and fossils, stopping at the beachside hammocks to watch the sun begin to fade in the horizon. And our night wasn’t complete until we dropped in at the fire pit to raid the Inn’s wicker basket full of chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows to make s’mores with the other families at the resort.

At the close of our evenings, we all walked happily to our suite, hand-in-hand, blissfully tired from our daily adventure. We said, “good evening” to the passing resort guests who made their way to the 9 p.m. family movie shown poolside under the Northern Michigan sky. In our suite, Cash cooperatively settled himself in each night as he longed to recharge for the next day. My wife and I sank into our lush king sized bed, contently exhaling. Leaving the blinds and windows open we watched the sun disappear and the sky come alive with clusters of sparkling stars. We drifted off to sleep to the tranquil swishing of waves rolling onto shore.

Now that our vacation is over and our family has returned home, the beach toys, bathing suits and sun hats have been packed away and stored. Among our summer items is Cash’s magic rock collection, which he plans to grow next summer when we return to our special family escape – The Inn at Bay Harbor.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the Inn At Bay Harbor, however the opinions and experiences expressed here are my own.