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

No Widgets found in the Sidebar Alt!

Decorating, Uncategorized

ORC Week 4: The Beach Cabin Attic Makeover- A DIY-ish Preppy Pirate Boat

Hi again! The Beach Cabin is coming along for the One Room Challenge hosted by Linda from Calling it Home and Better Homes and Gardens. (You can read more about…

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October 25, 2018
Gifts

Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Her

Hi there! I’m back with some Gift Ideas for Her. Here is a round up of gifts for your moms, sisters, daughters, etc. etc. Some are items that I’ve given…

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November 10, 2021
Fashion

Fall Closet Staples

I recently read The Kingdom of Prep: The Rise and (Almost) Fall of J. Crew. Having been a J. Crew/ rollneck sweater fan since high school, this book was super…

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September 8, 2023
  • Christmas Living Room Decor Ideas
    Styling

    A Red and Green Christmas… Again

    December 18, 2023 /

    Welp- it is official. I have been saying it for years and I guess I’m going to continue saying it for years to come. I cannot get away from a red and green (and plaid) Christmas. And, I’m not mad about it.

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  • Thanksgiving Tablescape
    Styling

    November Updates: Thanksgiving, Gift Wrap & Spare Time

    December 4, 2023 /

    It has been awhile since I have given a monthly update. Below is a recap of Thanksgiving and look ahead to Christmas preparations.

    read more

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    8 Design Books I Own and Love (and one I pre-ordered)

    8 Design Books I Own & Love

    September 22, 2023
  • Gift Guide for 4 Year Olds
    Gifts

    Gifts for the 4 & Under Crowd

    December 1, 2023 /

    The last gift guide for the season is one of my absolute favorites: Gifts for the 4 & Under Crowd. As the saying goes, this group would be happy with a cardboard box and wrapping paper. However, the options out there are just too cute to go that route.

    read more

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    November 12, 2024
  • Gift Guide for 10 Year Old Boys
    Gifts

    Gift Guide: Gifts for 10 Year Old Boys

    November 27, 2023 /

    Okay, I lied. The Gifts for Him gift guide was, in fact, not the most difficult guide to create. Even with the help of our 10 year old, this Gift Guide was more challenging for me. Naturally, there were several gaming and gaming gift card requests. But you don’t really need me, or a guide, for a lot of that stuff. So, here is a list, including some gaming things.

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  • Gift Guide: Gifts for Her
    Gifts

    Gift Guide: Gifts for Her

    November 21, 2023 /

    I’m back with another Gift Guide as I attempt to get as many out to you before Thanksgiving weekend shopping begins! This time, I have rounded up 9 gift ideas for her. **This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click and purchase, I may receive some compensation. Thank you! I recommended these boots for a friend, have seen them in person, and love them. Imitation is the ultimate form of flattery, right? Sorel boots are my all time favorite winter boots, and this pair might just be too good to pass up. This bubble vase is beautiful and would add a touch of interest to any room. Vases…

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    August Updates: Beach Cabin

    Mackinaw Road: August Updates

    September 1, 2021
    8 Year Old Gifts

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    November 6, 2021
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    November 4, 2024
  • Gifts

    Gift Guide: Gifts for Him

    November 17, 2023 /

    I thought I would tackle the hardest-to-shop-for Gift Guide next: Gifts for Him. I have included some items that have been given as gifts in previous years and also some new gift ideas. This post hasn’t been proofread or pre-approved by R, but here it is anyway 🙂 **This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click and purchase, I may receive some compensation. Thank you! R received this book last year and it was a big hit! For anyone who enjoys cars, it is a great gift. We cannot seem to get a good/lasting coffee maker out at the cottage. I have heard nothing but good things about…

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    November 11, 2022
  • What to do by Roanoke: Appalachian Trail
    US Travel

    What to do In and Around Roanoke, Virginia

    November 13, 2023 /

    We met my family in Roanoke, Virginia for a weekend trip in mid-October. It was beautiful! Given our short amount of time, we made sure to hit the big ticket items. A Little History Fortunately for us, the first big ticket item was our accommodation for the weekend. Built in 1882, Hotel Roanoke is on the National Registry of Historic Places. This tutor-style hotel was built by railroad magnate, Fredrick J. Kimball, to be the centerpiece of the town and a place of respite in between train switches. In the early 1990s, the hotel was sold to the Virginia Tech Real Estate Foundation. A multi million dollar public and privately…

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    5 Day Boston-Maine Road Trip

    August 8, 2024
  • Uncategorized

    Gift Guide for Teen Girls

    November 13, 2023 /

    Gift Guide for Teen Girls Our teen daughter and I were able to spend some quality time together this past weekend during a tennis tournament in Ohio. Her matches were quite spaced out so we were able to spend time having a leisurely breakfast, catching up, and doing some shopping conveniently located just outside of our hotel. I asked if I could share some of the items she would recommend/has on her list for a Gift Guide. She graciously allowed me to share some of the items on her list here. Below are twelve gift ideas for the Teen Girls in your life. **This post contains affiliate links, meaning that…

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    Spring Birthday Party

    The Quarterly 08

    April 20, 2026
    Formal and Fun Dining Room Decor

    April Updates on Mackinaw Road

    May 2, 2022
    Guest Room Design Board

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    January 15, 2026
  • Gifts,  US Travel

    September Updates: A Little Bit of Everything

    September 29, 2023 /

    Hi and Happy (official) Fall! Here are some September updates including a new book, baby gifts, a gift for our home, a quick trip up north, and things that have caught my eye recently.

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    The Best Gifts for 7 Year Olds

    August 26, 2026
    Gift Guide: Gifts for Her

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    November 21, 2023
    Gifts for Her

    2025 Gifts for Her

    November 7, 2025
  • 8 Design Books I Own and Love (and one I pre-ordered)
    Interior Design,  Styling

    8 Design Books I Own & Love

    September 22, 2023 /

    When it comes to design, it feels like it is every bit that art-science combo (as most things tend to be). I’ve read again and again that it is important to know the design rules so you can break them properly (or some variation of such sentiments). While the books below are not technically technical books ;-), I find them to be more helpful and to keep my attention considerably longer with their quick guides and lovely imagery. Below are the 8 Design Books that I own and love (and the reasons why).

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    Cottage Kitchen Nook | Cabin Kitchen Nook | Pendant Lighting

    Cottage Kitchen Nook | ORC Week 8

    June 27, 2020
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    October 5, 2020
    Basement Makeover

    Comfortable and Stylish Home: The Basement Makeover

    May 3, 2024
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