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Mission Point Peninsula
	Looking at the Western Arm of Grand Traverse Bay from the road.
	Another look out at the western side of the bay.
	A look across the some of the many rows of cherry trees found on Mission Point Peninsula.
	More cherry trees.
	Looking out at the bay across rows and rows of grapes at one of the many vineyards on the peninsula.

It was 1:30pm by this time, so we decided to stop and grab a bite to eat for lunch. We still had the gift cards to Taco Bell that the kids had received for Christmas, so that was our destination for this meal. We had a quick bite to eat before piling back into the card for a final return trip to the Great Wolf Lodge (we were allowed to use the water park for the remainder of the day). Before we did, I had Tara stop one last time at a park located at the southern tip of the Western Arm of the Grand Traverse Bay so that I could take a few more photographs.

Grand Traverse Bay
	Here is a look from one of the parks in Traverse City located at the southern end of the Western Arm of Grand Traverse Bay.
	There was hundreds of birds on the water this particular day.
	A look at the snow falling near a break-wall.
	Somebody was brave enough to explore the city on a bike on this cold, windy, snowy day.
	Tyler wandered along the beach soaking it all in.
	A look down the shore revealed layers of cracked ice.
	A look at the ice in the opposite direction.
	Looking west along the shore.
	Tyler discovered a party area on the beach - there was a fire pit and a lot of alcohol bottles.

Here are a few photos of some buffalo that were located across the parking lot of the Great Wolf Lodge...

Great Wolf Lodge
	Across the parking lot from the Great Wolf Lodge were several buffalo.
	A closer look at some of the buffalo.
	A close-up of one of the buffalo laying in the snow.

When we arrived at the hotel at 2:00pm, we were met by Tara’s friend Mugsy (who lives in the Traverse City area) in the lobby. She walked with us downstairs to the water park entrance. Tara stayed outside to catch up while I took the kids inside to change and enjoy the pools one last time. Since my trip to Mission Point took so long, most of our friends were leaving or had already left the hotel. That left me with the four kids inside for much of the time. While I felt comfortable letting the oldest three explore on their own, it was a tad difficult keeping up with all of them from time to time. I hung out with Jayden for a majority of the afternoon, and we had a good time on the lily pads and the lazy river. By 3:30pm rolled around, the kids were getting a little bored, and I was getting anxious to head home (it was Super Bowl Sunday, after all!).

By the time we managed to get everyone out of their suits and back into their street clothes, it was nearly 4:00pm. The actual changing didn’t necessarily take so long, but the men’s locker room was closed for cleaning when I attempted to use it (they must have closed it right after Tyler and Drew finished, because when they came out I headed in only to find it unusable).

Mission Point Peninsula

Looking at the Western Arm of Grand Traverse Bay from the road.

Another look out at the western side of the bay.

A look across the some of the many rows of cherry trees found on Mission Point Peninsula.

More cherry trees.

Looking out at the bay across rows and rows of grapes at one of the many vineyards on the peninsula.

Grand Traverse Bay

Here is a look from one of the parks in Traverse City located at the southern end of the Western Arm of Grand Traverse Bay.

There was hundreds of birds on the water this particular day.

A look at the snow falling near a break-wall.

Somebody was brave enough to explore the city on a bike on this cold, windy, snowy day.

Tyler wandered along the beach soaking it all in.

A look down the shore revealed layers of cracked ice.

A look at the ice in the opposite direction.

Looking west along the shore.

Tyler discovered a party area on the beach - there was a fire pit and a lot of alcohol bottles.

Great Wolf Lodge

Across the parking lot from the Great Wolf Lodge were several buffalo.

A closer look at some of the buffalo.

A close-up of one of the buffalo laying in the snow.

Great Wolf Lodge Water Park

Jayden swimming in the pool.

Tyler leaping across the lily pads as quickly as he could.

Samantha making her way across the lily pads.