Mackinaw Road

Travel-Inspired Design, One Trip at a Time

  • Travel
    • A 2-to-4-day Vancouver Itinerary
    • 6 Kid-Friendly Christmas Activities in Chicago
    • 6 Kid-Friendly, Rainy Day Activities in Boston
    • Banff: Something for Everyone
    • Chicago with Kids: Can’t Miss Places and Restaurants
    • Islands
      • 007 in the Bahamas
      • Island Travel Interveiws- Australia, Take 1 (Sydney)
      • Island Travel Interviews, Australia (Gold Cost)
      • Island Travel Interviews- Caribbean Islands, Take 10 (St. Barts)
      • MUST SEE Grand Cayman
      • Top 5 Hilton Head Activities with Kids
      • What to do on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
      • A Guide to Paradise Island, Bahamas
      • The Cloisters on Paradise Island, Bahamas
      • Where to Eat When Visiting Paradise Island
    • Michigan
      • 24 Hours in West Michigan
      • An Afternoon in Grand Rapids
      • A Long Weekend in Northern Michigan
      • A Few Hours in Saugatuck
      • Global Christmas and Holiday Traditions in 2 hours or Less
      • Leland Gal
      • Places You MUST SEE in Northern Michigan
      • Traverse City Wineries
      • What to Do in Charlevoix, Michigan
      • What to do in Leland, Michigan
      • What to do in Petoskey, Michigan
      • Where to Eat in Traverse City, Michigan
      • Where to Stay in Saugatuck: Judson Heath Colonial Inn
    • Midwest Christmas Tour
    • NOLA in 2 days
    • Philipsburg, Montana, Philipsburg Blue, and How They are Related
    • Top 6 activities in D.C. with Small Children
    • Top 5 Delhi Attractions
    • Top 4 Best Spring Break Beaches
    • To Plan or Not to Plan
    • A Weekend in New York City
    • Wandering in NYC
    • NYC in 48 Hours
    • What to do in Asheville, North Carolina (in 24 hours)
    • What to do in Monterey, California
    • What to do in New Orleans
    • What to do in San Antonio, Texas
    • What to do in Savannah, Georgia (in 3 hours)
    • What to do in Washington D.C.
    • What to do in Winter Park, Florida
    • Where to Eat in Chicago: Restaurants for Every Kind of Getaway
    • Where to Eat in Denver
    • Where to Stay in Denver: Hotel Teatro
  • Beach Cabin & Home
    • A Hotel-Inspired Guest Room Makeover
    • An Airbnb-Inspired Fridge Obsession
    • Christmas House Tour 2016
    • Cottage Kitchen Nook | ORC Week 8
    • Cozy Autumn Living Room
    • Decorating with Travel Trinkets
    • DIY Design: Cane Console Makeover Look for Less
    • DIY Ottoman for the Beach Cabin
    • Easy, Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient Flooring
    • Entryway Wallpaper : Serena and Lily Wallpaper
    • How to “Tile” A Fireplace with Wall Stencils and a GIVEAWAY!
    • Inexpensive Backyard Patio Ideas
    • Inexpensive Flooring: How to Stencil Concrete Floors
    • Kitchen Styling: Spring Shelves 3 Ways
    • Kitchen Shelf Styling- Autumn Decor
    • Living Room Plans: A Sectional and Accent Chair Options
    • Modern Traditional Laundry Room Makeover
    • Thanksgiving: At Home and Abroad
    • Travel-Inspired Shared Bedroom
  • SHOP OUR HOME & BEACH CABIN
  • SHOP MY CLOSET
  • About Me
    • Let’s Chat
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, and Privacy
  • Travel
    • A 2-to-4-day Vancouver Itinerary
    • 6 Kid-Friendly Christmas Activities in Chicago
    • 6 Kid-Friendly, Rainy Day Activities in Boston
    • Banff: Something for Everyone
    • Chicago with Kids: Can’t Miss Places and Restaurants
    • Islands
      • 007 in the Bahamas
      • Island Travel Interveiws- Australia, Take 1 (Sydney)
      • Island Travel Interviews, Australia (Gold Cost)
      • Island Travel Interviews- Caribbean Islands, Take 10 (St. Barts)
      • MUST SEE Grand Cayman
      • Top 5 Hilton Head Activities with Kids
      • What to do on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
      • A Guide to Paradise Island, Bahamas
      • The Cloisters on Paradise Island, Bahamas
      • Where to Eat When Visiting Paradise Island
    • Michigan
      • 24 Hours in West Michigan
      • An Afternoon in Grand Rapids
      • A Long Weekend in Northern Michigan
      • A Few Hours in Saugatuck
      • Global Christmas and Holiday Traditions in 2 hours or Less
      • Leland Gal
      • Places You MUST SEE in Northern Michigan
      • Traverse City Wineries
      • What to Do in Charlevoix, Michigan
      • What to do in Leland, Michigan
      • What to do in Petoskey, Michigan
      • Where to Eat in Traverse City, Michigan
      • Where to Stay in Saugatuck: Judson Heath Colonial Inn
    • Midwest Christmas Tour
    • NOLA in 2 days
    • Philipsburg, Montana, Philipsburg Blue, and How They are Related
    • Top 6 activities in D.C. with Small Children
    • Top 5 Delhi Attractions
    • Top 4 Best Spring Break Beaches
    • To Plan or Not to Plan
    • A Weekend in New York City
    • Wandering in NYC
    • NYC in 48 Hours
    • What to do in Asheville, North Carolina (in 24 hours)
    • What to do in Monterey, California
    • What to do in New Orleans
    • What to do in San Antonio, Texas
    • What to do in Savannah, Georgia (in 3 hours)
    • What to do in Washington D.C.
    • What to do in Winter Park, Florida
    • Where to Eat in Chicago: Restaurants for Every Kind of Getaway
    • Where to Eat in Denver
    • Where to Stay in Denver: Hotel Teatro
  • Beach Cabin & Home
    • A Hotel-Inspired Guest Room Makeover
    • An Airbnb-Inspired Fridge Obsession
    • Christmas House Tour 2016
    • Cottage Kitchen Nook | ORC Week 8
    • Cozy Autumn Living Room
    • Decorating with Travel Trinkets
    • DIY Design: Cane Console Makeover Look for Less
    • DIY Ottoman for the Beach Cabin
    • Easy, Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient Flooring
    • Entryway Wallpaper : Serena and Lily Wallpaper
    • How to “Tile” A Fireplace with Wall Stencils and a GIVEAWAY!
    • Inexpensive Backyard Patio Ideas
    • Inexpensive Flooring: How to Stencil Concrete Floors
    • Kitchen Styling: Spring Shelves 3 Ways
    • Kitchen Shelf Styling- Autumn Decor
    • Living Room Plans: A Sectional and Accent Chair Options
    • Modern Traditional Laundry Room Makeover
    • Thanksgiving: At Home and Abroad
    • Travel-Inspired Shared Bedroom
  • SHOP OUR HOME & BEACH CABIN
  • SHOP MY CLOSET
  • About Me
    • Let’s Chat
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, and Privacy

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Food and Drink, Uncategorized, US Travel

What to do in Monterey, California

Our recent trip to California led to much time in the car, admiring the stunning central coast, and a lot of humming of California songs… [This post contains affiliate links.]…

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October 18, 2017
Interior Design, Styling

Entryway Wallpaper : Serena and Lily Wallpaper

  With fall in full swing and the kids back in school (fingers crossed, fingers crossed), now seems like a great time to attempt to start posting regularly again. We…

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October 5, 2020
Decorating, DIY, Interior Design, Uncategorized

Mackinaw Road Monday: Mood Boards & Headboards

Hi all! Apparently, there is a thing call Mood Board Monday. And, since we’re all hunkering down, I thought it would be fun to jump on that bandwagon. Planning and…

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April 13, 2020
  • GIFT GUIDE for Teen Girls
    Gifts

    Gift Guide: Teen Girl Gifts

    November 17, 2024 /

    And here it is! The final Gift Guide…for Teen Girl gifts. This is list is comprised of our 14-year old’s suggestions, supplemented by some of my own ideas for her. It contains clothing, accessories, and a camera. Read on for more.

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    August Updates: Beach Cabin

    Mackinaw Road: August Updates

    September 1, 2021
    Gifts for Him

    2025 Gifts for Him

    November 20, 2025
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    Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Him

    November 12, 2024
  • 2024 Gifts for Him
    Gifts

    Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Him

    November 12, 2024 /

    Admittedly, this list is a little bit all over the place. Hopefully, though, there will be a little something for everyone in it. A little tech, a little  camping(ish), a little travel and a little style… this list has it all.

    read more

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    The Best Gifts for 3 Year Old Boys

    The Best Gifts for 3 Year Old Boys

    October 1, 2026
    Gift Guide- Travel Design

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    November 25, 2024
    11-12 Year Old Boy Gift Ideas

    Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for 11 Year Old Boys

    November 8, 2024
  • 11-12 Year Old Boy Gift Ideas
    Gifts

    Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for 11 Year Old Boys

    November 8, 2024 /

    In a shocking turn of events, one of my hardest-to-shop for made a list and I don’t disagree with anything on it. It is quite versatile, ranging from technology (of course) to fishing to sports cards. As an added bonus, it all (minus one of my add-ons) comes in below $100.

    read more

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    Gift Ideas for 5-7 Year Olds

    Gift Ideas for 5-7 Year Olds

    October 25, 2024
    Gift Guide: 9 Year Old Boy Gifts

    Gift Guide: 9 Year Old Boy Gifts

    November 11, 2022
    Gifts for 6 Year Olds

    Gifts for 6 Year Olds

    October 18, 2025
  • Gift Ideas for Her
    Gifts

    Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Her

    November 4, 2024 /

    Continuing with my easiest to most difficult to shop for theme this year, here is my Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Her. Jewelry, cosmetics, perfume, a splurge-y sweater, and more are listed below.

    read more

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    The Best Gifts for 7 Year Olds

    August 26, 2026
    Gift Guide: Gifts for Her

    Gift Guide: Gifts for Her

    November 21, 2023
    The Best Gifts for Him

    The Best Gifts for Him

    October 19, 2026
  • Gift Ideas for 5-7 Year Olds
    Gifts

    Gift Ideas for 5-7 Year Olds

    October 25, 2024 /

    I’m back with several gift ideas for 5 year olds. It is so much for to have younger nieces and nephews to shop for! It brings back memories of when our own kids were that young (and also feelings of – Why couldn’t that have been invented when our children were little). Just like the Baby & Toddler Gift Ideas, I had a difficult time limiting the round up, so here are many options…

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    Gift Ideas for Teen Girls

    Gift Ideas for Teen Girls

    November 14, 2025
    Gift Ideas for Her

    Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Her

    November 4, 2024
    11-12 Year Old Boy Gift Ideas

    Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for 11 Year Old Boys

    November 8, 2024
  • Baby and Toddler Gift Guide
    Gifts

    Gifts for Babies & Toddlers

    October 23, 2024 /

      Our newest nephew is turning is one this month! Time really does fly 🙂 I got a little carried away with the options for this sweet one year old, especially with the holidays quickly approaching as well. There are so many lovely and wonderful toys and activities out there for these little tykes. As always, read the age recommendations and labels and check with the parents if they are slightly out of the age range.

    read more

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    GIFT GUIDE for Teen Girls

    Gift Guide: Teen Girl Gifts

    November 17, 2024
    Gift Guide- Travel Design

    Extra Gift Guides 2024

    November 25, 2024
    Gift Ideas for 5-7 Year Olds

    Gift Ideas for 5-7 Year Olds

    October 25, 2024
  • Green Kitchen Cabinet Color | Studio Green
    Interior Design

    5 Countertop Options for Older Homes

    August 25, 2024 /

    I have recently been obsessively reading about countertops, only to look around the realize that I also have a lot of first hand experience with a variety of countertop options. We have butchers block counters in the Beach Cabin kitchen. A lovely quartzite graces the countertop on the lower level dry bar. The dresser turned vanity at the Beach Cabin has quartz countertops. We have had both polished and honed marble countertops in our Colonial Home. Earlier this summer, I was able to go with friends to shop around for a new island counter for their kitchen. We learned quite a bit about quartz and dolomite. Read on to learn…

    read more

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    Calm and Modern Teen Girl Bedroom

    Comfortable and Stylish Home: The Kid Spaces

    April 26, 2024
    Green Kitchen | Bedrosian Tile | Cloe

    Green Kitchen Cabinets Options

    January 28, 2021

    1920’s Bathroom Refresh

    February 2, 2026
  • The final touch/the perfect bathroom rug
    Uncategorized

    Mackinaw Road: The Quarterly 02

    August 22, 2024 /

    It’s difficult to believe that summer is almost over. Summer is my favorite season and I am never quite ready to give it up to fall. And yet, quite predictably, autumn starts to sneak in. That said, we had a wonderful summer and I hope that you did too. Below is a quick quarterly synopsis of travel, projects, plants, good reads & watches, and things that caught my eye.

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    Gift Guide: Gifts for Her

    Gift Guide: Gifts for Her

    November 11, 2022
    Gift Ideas for Grandparents

    Gift Ideas for Grandparents

    November 24, 2025
    Formal and Fun Dining Room Decor

    April Updates on Mackinaw Road

    May 2, 2022
  • Acadia National Park- Beehive Trail
    Uncategorized,  US Travel

    5 Day Boston-Maine Road Trip

    August 8, 2024 /

    Boston-Maine Road Trip In 5 Days We had what I would consider to be a quintessential family vacation last week. The secret sauce for our family trips seems to be a little city time followed by ocean/lake time with some type of athletic event sprinkled in. It worked well when we were in Portugal and was a success again with our trip out East. We recently spent 5 days in Boston and Maine. It was a whirlwind and not how we usually travel. Our family tends to settle in for at least a few days before moving on to the next setting. However, our list included several stops and we…

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    Fall Capsule Wardrobe

    Fall Capsule Wardrobe: Timeless Classics

    September 24, 2026
    Michigan in October

    October Updates on Mackinaw Road

    October 28, 2022
    Dining Room Rug

    June Updates on Mackinaw Road

    June 30, 2022
  • Small Bathroom Details
    Interior Design,  Uncategorized

    A Timeless (very) Small Bathroom Refresh

    July 17, 2024 /

    A Timeless (very) Small Bathroom Refresh We recently had the kids’ bathroom get a little refresh. I could not be happier with how it turned out! Although admittedly not entirely on purpose, I feel that we effectively gave the bathroom a timeless facelift. Looking back on the project, I think that this was the main formula: keep what we can/have to/is original to the house, stick with the house’s age range when considering the materials (i.e., the tile), add elements of our (other) favorite designs through more decorative items, add a little luxury (hand soap, new towels), and finally incorporate a little nostalgia with wall art.

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    October 25, 2022
    Green Kitchen Cabinets and Custom Hood

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    March 31, 2020
    Coastal Boy Bedroom

    Colonial Home: Kid Bedrooms

    January 20, 2022
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