The 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Adventures

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Les Cheneaux Islands: Dancing Waters B&B

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com


Jim and Betty Struble have life figured out.

Jim and Betty Struble

They own the Dancing Waters Bed & Breakfast 

located on Hill Island which is part of the 
beautiful Les Cheneaux archipelago.  

This collection of Islands snugs up against Michigan's Upper Peninsula about ten miles 
east of Mackinac Island.


This is a watery place that invites boats of all sorts to come and play in these sheltered passages. The Struble's B&B is located on the southern point of Hill Island, so watery views abound.

View from the table that Jim made


The Lakeview Room

I had the "Lakeview Room," but I renamed it the "Peeping Deer Room" because I awoke one morning to a deer looking in my window!

Perfect view

 I brought my Advanced Elements kayak with me and launched it from the B&B's dock. 
Talk about convenient!

I launched my kayak from their boathouse dock


Dancing Waters B&B is comfortable, the owners incredibly knowledgeable about the area, and Betty makes her own breads!


Betty's bread is rising...


Two of the finished loaves (Cherry Walnut and Pecan Apricot!)


The view is breathtaking



Deer visit all day long

Jim is building an addition to the B&B and he has a grand vision for the future. He is a builder and a master woodworker. 

A spiral staircase with a single, central cedar tree trunk will one day grace the outside of the structure.

Jim's woodworking shop


Jim is crafting every aspect of the addition, and the work is impressive. When I found out that he is doing most of it by himself, I was astonished. 

Top of the World!

2 comments:

  1. I totally agree. We have stayed at Dancing Waters many times and always enjoy ourselves. Winter is beautiful there but so is fall. Oh, and spring is very nice too. The deer peeking through the window was a bit strange the first time but now we look forward to it. Love it there!

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  2. We stayed at the Dancing Waters last year! Great place to experience a little serenity and true relaxation. Betty and Jim treated us like family, and we're hoping to get back there again one of these days, Yup...and I wrote about it as well :) http://www.midwestguest.com/2013/08/dancing-waters-bed-breakfast-at-michigans-les-cheneaux-islands.html

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