Summertime in Northern Michigan

                It's been a few years since I've been able to vacation up north and I have missed it so much. Growing up it just wasn't summer unless we spent a week or so up north in Traverse City, Glenn Arbor, Silver Lake or Bellaire. Between college, moving to Utah, and just general 'life' getting in the way, I've missed summers spent on Lake Michigan.  

               

I also realized while I was gone that Michigan's concept of 'up north' is something uniquely Michigan and it's part of what makes me love this state so much. I've come to believe that people from Michigan have a certain pride about being from Michigan, a pride that I just don't think other people have. 

Going 'up north' is quintessential to the Michigan experience and I'm glad I had the opportunity to share that with my husband and baby. E won't remember his first swim in Glenn Lake, his first glimpse of Lake Michigan, or watching the sun go down on the dock while daddy rocks him to sleep. But we sure will. 

                

I've found that the memories made and the experiences we have as a family are what keep us going from one thing to the next. Life isn't always good, but there's always a possibility of taking a weekend off and heading up to the lake. And the possibility is what makes the monotony worth it. 

               

We made the most of our week, that's for sure. We went into Traverse City, Glenn Arbor, Leelanau, and Suttons Bay. We shopped at a lot of old familiar stores (and some new ones too). We went to Boone Docks for dinner a few more times than should be allowed. In general, we just relaxed and let the lake living seep into our pores. 

               

             

                   

                            

After our week was over, I didn't want to go back. I didn't want to leave the simplicity of what being up north inevitable brings you. The lake sunsets. The fresh ice cream. The humid days that you can only stand because there's a lake right outside your door and you can go swimming at the drop of the hat. These memories and experiences that define what summertime in Northern Michigan is part of the reason I was so excited to move back home. There is no place quite like it anywhere else. 

I hope you're enjoying your summer! Just remember there's always a possibility of a lake escape somewhere in your future. 

Final day of the trip!

The second day in SF we learned our lesson. Since we were staying in South San Francisco, we took the BART system into the city (and were informed by one of the cops that we looked like tourists and were confused. Thanks dude. haha) and took one of those touristy double decker bus tours around the city. Totally worth it. 

San Francisco

We got to spend a few extra days in San Francisco at the end of the trip. I'd been to SF before with my sister and mom but we didn't get to spend much time the city. Before we went into SF we stopped by the Oakland LDS Temple which was stunning. The temple is on the top of a hill and you can see all of Oakland and across to San Francisco and it's really stunning. 

We ventured down to Fisherman's Wharf after (pro tip: DO NOT EVER drive down there during rush hour when there's a baseball game. Trust me. Just don't.) 

Day 2 in the Redwoods

We took a short drive one of the days so we could spend more time in the Redwoods. We took "Avenue of the Giant's" in California. It was an extra 30 miles but so worth it. So very worth it. 

 Just to give you a frame of reference, Todd is 6'3 and he is majorly dwarfed by this tree. Inside it was all burnt up but it was still living. 

 Redwood trees do this weird thing when they fall. They're so bent on survival they will grow new trees from the fallen trunk. That's 6 new trees growing from one fallen trunk. 

Redwood Forests

Seriously speechless at these trees. This was my favorite part of the trip. 

 We took a tram ride up to the top of this mountain (after a hike of a mile. in flip flops. NOT what I intended to do!) and could see for miles. 

 Don't I have a cute husband? ;) 

Oregon

Part three

 This little dude was chilling on the rocks at one of the road-side pull-offs we stopped at. I didn't see it at the time but there were tons of snails on these rocks. I've never seen snails this big before. 

 The tide pools were gorgeous. I hadn't seen anything like it before. 

He wanted to come with us and decided to suck himself on to Todd's finger.