Sometimes we get so focused on the far away places that we want to travel to that we forget to slow things down and explore our own back yards. While I am very excited for my trip to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel this autumn, I decided to stay closer to home for my summer trip and explore the beautiful Great Lakes region of the United States. If you follow my blog closely, then you probably know that I have been planning this Great Lakes road trip for some time. I have done a lot of scouring of Google Earth and other maps to find as many places to explore along my route as possible. Some of the destinations on my Great Lakes road trip itinerary, like Mackinac Island, I have been to before. Others, like the enchanting Turnip Rock in Lake Huron, I have dreamed about visiting for some time.