09/05/2026
What a GREAT first day of my little Michigan getaway!
I left Rochester around 11:00 this morning and headed toward Holland with my first stop being Mt. Pisgah. I stopped along the way to grab a quick bite and use the bathroom, and I arrived around 2:30.
Now, anyone who knows me knows that getting a little lost on a trip is pretty normal for me. 😂 But somehow, I made it all the way across the state today without getting lost once!
Then I got to Mt. Pisgah.
I put the address into my GPS, arrived where it told me to go…and had absolutely no idea where I was supposed to park or where the entrance was. 😂
I finally asked someone who lived in the area where Mt. Pisgah was. She pointed me in the right direction and then said, “If you want a leg-burning workout, do it.”
PERFECT.
That was EXACTLY what I wanted.
And for the record, once you know what you're looking for, it's actually pretty obvious. There are signs and FREE parking. I just apparently needed someone to point me in the right direction. 😂
But here's the funny part: before I asked for help, I actually thought about getting back in my car and just driving to Saugatuck.
I am SO GLAD I didn't.
Mt. Pisgah was AMAZING.
There are 239 stairs to the top, with platforms and places to sit along the way if you don't want to do them all at once.
Of course, I did them all at once. 😂
I got to the top, took in the incredible views, walked all the way back down…and then went right back up again.
After my second climb, I asked some people about the trails. There's a wooden boardwalk that takes you back into the woods where there are quite a few trails to explore. I was hoping one of them would eventually take me down toward the water, so off I went.
It was cloudy today, thank goodness, but still around 80–81 degrees and VERY humid. Once I got into those woods there was absolutely NO breeze.
I was sweating like crazy.
About 45 minutes into my adventure I finally thought, “Okay, this is enough wandering through hot, humid woods. I'm going back to the stairs.”
So I headed back.
And apparently my brain decided that two trips up 239 stairs weren't enough.
ONE MORE TIME.
Up I went for climb number three.
239 stairs × 3 = 717 stairs.
Just over an hour of climbing, walking and exploring, and I LOVED every second of it.
I was also absolutely SOAKED. 😂
Not “a little sweaty.”
I looked like I had stepped into a shower wearing my clothes.
I made it back to my car, changed out of my soaking-wet clothes, dried myself off—and tried to do something with my wet hair—and headed to Saugatuck.
Next stop was the Belvedere Mansion, and WOW. What a gorgeous place. Check-in was incredibly easy, I got settled in and then headed into Saugatuck for dinner at Marro's Italian Restaurant.
What a fantastic night.
I sat at the bar, met some amazing people, had a great bartender, ate fantastic Italian food…and YES, I had dessert.
I am currently back at the Belvedere, it's 11:00 p.m., and I am completely STUFFED.
I'm also pretty sure I managed to eat more calories tonight than I burned climbing those 717 stairs. 😂
And you know what?
I don't care.
I trained hard. I explored. I ate great food. I met wonderful people. I enjoyed every minute of my day.
Tomorrow is another day—and another adventure.
And if today taught me anything, it's this:
Sometimes the best part of the trip is on the other side of the moment when you almost get back in the car.
I am SO glad I stayed.
Mt. Pisgah…you were exactly the leg-burning workout I was looking for. ❤️
Tomorrow: Mt. Baldhead. 😳😂