Feature Friday: Belle Isle

"Be a tourist in your own town".

It's good advice but so many people don't do it and I am guilty of it too. I've lived in the same place my whole life and never went to Belle Isle. I'm sure there are other gems I've missed, but this one is no longer a mystery!!

I'm sure part of the reason I never went was because you have to go through Detroit to get there and also, it's only become a State Park in recent history. My friend went back when she was in high school with some friends and ever since, I've wanted to go. Clearly, it wasn't a super huge priority, but then I would see others taking pictures by this magnificent fountain and the flame would be lit again. Now I've seen the fountain for myself and it is stunning! It had to be really expensive to get all that marble.

I was not able to see the aquarium or the conservatory because they were closed, so I have incentive to go back again sometime! I am hoping to do some portrait sessions there in the future as well, so if you're interested...

So how did I end up going? I have some friends that I did a Bible study with in high school and now we just meet once a month to socialize. We talk about life and just support each other. Some of us went away to school and one is married, so this summer, I thought it would be fun to do a beach trip of some sort. Something different and fun for us all to do together. We had considered going to the west side of the state, which would have been awesome, but schedules would not allow an all day event, so I was trying to come up with a place to go over here and I thought, "aha! This would be a great time to go to Belle Isle!" Most of the other girls had never been either, so we all got to experience it together! It was a nice day of fellowship and a fun adventure with no craziness!! I joked with my friends who drove with me, "remind me again why I volunteered to drive through Detroit?". The streets are a bit random and crazy, but that was the only downside.

Have you ever been to Belle Isle? Do you have a favorite part?