Yet another reason to explore Michigan...

Good Morning America votes Sleeping Bear Dunes "Most Beautiful Place in America"

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/best_places_USA/sleeping-bear-dunes-michigan-voted-good-morning-americas/story?id=14319616

Hello Harbor Springs!

 My husband and I had made camping reservations months in advance and upon arriving to our campground on the hottest week of the year we quickly became disinterested.  Our campsite was ideal along the lake but the water was still freezing in July. We escaped to our car in anticipation of conditioning and chose to explore the nearby sights!! But first, I was anxious to relax by the lake and read my magazines.

Doesn't get much better than this!

From Wilderness State Park we headed toward Cheboygan and quickly realized it wasn't all that exciting. Although we got lost in a book store there for quite awhile with our coffee. I discovered my new favorite book, Dreaming of Dior with pictures & stories of a beautiful dress collection the author inherited.  Regardless, then we headed toward Harbor Springs next which was more than I had imagined, it was perfect!

Harbor Springs Marina on our search for dinner

It had a gorgeous downtown with the cutest shops.  From there we were given several recommendations to eat at nearby local spots.  Initially we had waited a very long time at Turkey's (everyone recommended) but seats were first come first serve and it was very small inside.  People weren't fairly being seated so we won't be quick to stop in again, it seemed very unorganized which was disappointing.  In search for a restaurant we walked around the marina and enjoyed seeing all the huge boats docked.  Most of the menus in Harbor Springs seemed comparable so we picked Bar Harbor since we could sit down quick and have a window seat in their cool air.


A few other stops we loved there...Under the Covers Book Cellar and Tom's Mom's Cookie shop.  After wandering for awhile we drove back to our campground through M119, called the Tunnel of Trees.  It was the most beautiful drive I have seen in Michigan yet! This road takes you along the water through beautiful trees and we were able to watch the sun set over the water as we made our way back home. There are a few stops along the way that we were able to get out and take pictures at.

Watching the sun set on our drive, M119

We were in Harbor Springs for several hours and thought it was just enough time. Once we came back to our campsite we felt more refreshed.  We had brought back Joann's fudge as well as a card game from the toy store in Mackinaw City to set up camp for the night. That weekend I saw both the sun & moon more beautiful than EVER ! At our bonfire we could see our shadows from the full Moon's glow which was surprising & the sunset on M119 was stunning.

Tunnel of Trees

Saturday in East Hills, Grand Rapids

Saturdays with your loved ones are such a blessing!  If you are fortunate enough to not have to work and can play, explore, eat and adventure it is truly a precious time.  This past Saturday my husband and I did just that.  What began as a trip to Wealthy Street bakery for some amazing Intelligencia coffee and a cinnamon chocolate chip scone, ventured into a walk, into antiquing, into music shops, then off to lunch at Uncle Cheetah's Soup Shop.

Honestly, as my husband and I walked around East Hills in Grand Rapids we were struck with how unfamiliar and exciting a place so close to home was.  We found it so fun to walk through neighborhoods and see the old houses after we enjoyed breakfast in our window seat.  After our exploration we worked up an appetite for lunch and ventured out again to Uncle Cheetah's Soup Shop which is my new favorite restaurant on Wealthy Street in Grand Rapids! As you can tell most of our adventures have stayed close to home lately in Grand Rapids.  What better place to explore than home, we found a new appreciation for it that day!

Next we went to two different Antique shops in GR, my favorite of the two quickly became East Town Antiques... it's so interesting to see old things made new again and / or repurposed.  They had beautiful things and we enjoyed getting to know the shop keeper.  That's what is most fun about exploring a new place, the people make it alive, interesting and so exciting!

I'm coming out of my winter hibernation tendencies so you'll hear from me again soon!

Home Sweet SPRING!!

I must say the first day of Spring was officially March 20th but yesterday brought rain, hail, wind and thunderstorms here in Grand Rapids!

Regardless of weather, it's always unpredictable... I enjoyed dinner at El Barrio on Michigan St. with my husband and Mother in Law.  Next, we explored East Hills and tried Rowsters Coffee House on Wealthy Street.  Both amazing and the staff at Rowsters was kind enough to let us barge in since my husband and I hadn't realized they were not even open Sundays! oops.

While I patiently await Spring and come out of hibernation mode I am very much looking forward to MANY things and therefore have already begun a Spring/Summer bucketlist! On yours should be to check out Wealthy St & East Hills, I would recommend for Dinner: The Electric Cheetah, Erb Thai or Brick Road Pizza!

I often wonder what it would be like to live in a warmer climate but if it were not for our Michigan winters we couldn't fully appreciate our beautiful Spring and not to mention, SUMMER!

However, this Winter we took Mini Road trips, none of which were highly eventful but nonetheless very memorable for my husband and I.  One of which took us to the Canton IKEA and for those of you who have not been there it is most definitely a destination spot and requires a road trip if you don't live near Canton, Michigan.  Since we finished our basement while it was still cold and chilly outside,  for an excuse to decorate it we took this fun road trip.  While there, we also went to a South Lyon's Lake Street Tavern to celebrate my brother's birthday, complete with juke box music and ice cream cake.

This winter we also celebrated Valentine's Day and I planned a date day in Saugutuck, Michigan.  We explored the snowy beaches which were beautiful, walked and wine tasted, shopped and finished with dinner at Restaurant Toulouse for yummy French cuisine. http://www.restauranttoulouse.com/

Needless to say, we do most of our travels and adventuring in the Spring & Summer months.  In the Winter we explore restaraunts, coffee houses and have plenty of fires to keep our home warm until Spring.

Next Travel date:   May 2nd in celebration of our 2nd wedding anniversary!!! I'll keep you posted on where we adventure to!

Next Date night:   Concert Series at Calvin College this weekend, Civil Wars!  http://www.calvin.edu/admin/sao/calendar/

Next 2 Bucket List MUST DOS:

1. Visit Fennville, Michigan for Salt of the Earth, wineries & homeade pie at Crane's!! 
2. MAY 1st, Grand Rapids Famer's Market is OPEN!!!  http://www.fultonstreetmarket.org/

Where will your bucket list take you?? Let's not wait for Spring to get started! It's supposedly already here?? :

A Painting of Saugatuck

With above average normal temperatures expected for this week, I'm thinking Spring!!  Without getting too excited though, I have to remember the leaves are still anticipating their removal from my lawn.  So in being thankful for some warmer weather ahead, granting the opportunity to dispose of these now not so colorful leaves I'll look forward to a new season ahead.  Ready to welcome winter but for now I'm going to reminisce of a springtime memory where certain places become always cherished and dear.

After the passing of my dear Grandmother last February, came the change of seasons and another difficult loss for my family when my Grandfather soon joined her in heaven the following June.  Two individuals I truly admire and daily remember with hopes of following their loving example of what it means to share a home, family and a lasting marriage of 63 years.

With Spring nearly behind us, my husband and I had been celebrating the season in Saugatuck, Michigan.  Saugatuck is a small lakeshore community on Lake Michigan's Eastern Shore.  My husband, Steve and I explored Oval Beach and enjoyed a picnic admiring the harbor, boats and dockside shops.  We strolled throughout the friendly downtown filled with art galleries, wineries, restaurants and many other creative shops.  The community has so much to offer, including Douglas, Michigan which is a neighboring small harbor village.  The downtown is considerably smaller but offers great restaurants, the cutest bookstore, antique shops and more.  While I have not been, my mom absolutely loves a restaurant in Douglas called Everyday People.  So if you're in Saugatuck, Douglas is just a few minutes down the road so it's worth the adventure of exploring!

I have many special memories of day trips to Saugatuck, including much loved summer beach days with my mom and sister to Oval Beach.  I even planned a late summer Bachelorette party there for a best friend involving a mini road trip for food on an outdoor patio and wine tasting!  I wonder, maybe we can enjoy a fall beach visit with an early sunset in Saugatuck even now as it's getting colder? Or maybe it's just wishful thinking...  but I love taking advantage of different opportunities, taking risks and making memories in new places with the lovely people in your life!

As I learn daily about life, I feel I learned so much from my grandparents example and unique legacy.  While it's bittersweet, I'm thankful for my memory in Saugatuck when I recieved the phone call from my mom that my grandfather had gone to heaven.  I find comfort in knowing he has gone to enjoy his heavenly reward and is with my Grandmother there.  Before receiving the phone call, Steve and I had stumbled into a little shop in Saugatuck filled with a variety of beautiful handmade paintings from talented artists.   With my memory of the difficult phone call and my tears streaming onto the sidewalk, I also remember Steve leaving the storefront giving me a painting I had loved.  Painted was a little boy and girl playing with their bucket and shovel in the sand on gorgeous lakeshore.  Now, I look at if often as it hangs on my wall and I am reminded of my grandfather who I dearly miss.   Life is all about deeply loving those around you and enjoying their company while we are blessed with them.

Along with my love for Michigan, it is the people who you share these special places with that make memories long lasting.  I love when places in life remind you of people held dear to your heart and the times you may have shared with them there.  And while I wasn't really with my Grandpa in Saugatuck, I know he was in heaven and therefore, with me.

Happy Birthday to YOU!

 Thank you Charlevoix for a wonderful, much needed, relaxing weekend away! My husband and I always look for an excuse to celebrate and make time for a getaway.  This time however, the special occasion was his 24th birthday! I love everything about birthdays, especially when I get to celebrate my wonderful husband! This is the view from our room at The Edgewater Inn.  We requested to be on the bottom level which gave us outdoor access and this great view of the drawbridge and downtown.  Not to mention it is also more affordable to request the lower level here. I'm always looking for a bargain and this was ideal!! While you can't see it in my picture there is a nice walkway leading to the bridge into downtown, below the bridge which leads to the quiet peir, or to the left is the indoor/outdoor pool at the hotel.  We also really enjoyed the Sauna and hot tub you have access too!  At this particular hotel because they are condominiums all of the rooms vary. The decor in our room was quite nuetral & simple but you never quite can know what to expect.

Even though we missed the sunset, isn't it still beautiful!!?

Our last day in Charlevoix and you can see the colors are still beautiful even a little after their peak.  And the clouds are gorgeous! I'm not much of a photographer but I love to capture memories because I have a terrible memory.  This blog also helps me remember all these special, unique places and I'm so glad I can share them with you!  Treat yourself to a memorable getaway for a Happy Birthday to YOU!

After eating here over a year ago my husband continued to rave and crave it.  So I was very relieved to revisit and satisfy his hunger for this particular French cafe!! It is truly the coziest atmosphere with delicious French food and pastries.  Patisserie Amie & Chez Perez are within the same building here but one is the small restaurant while the other side presents their lovely pastries.  It is located near downtown Traverse City.  We first went wine tasting on the Old Mission Peninsula, then stopped here for an early dinner before driving to Charlevoix for the night! 

I have so many pictures I would like to share with you on our adventures but these were a few of our highlights! The beautiful Chalevoix location with the peir and drawbridge, the fall colors, wine tasting and French food.  It just doesn't get much better!! I LOVE fall!  & my husband of course, Happy Birthday Love!

Charlevoix, Here We Come!!

Out and about throughout Michigan the fall colors are at their peak in many places.  Making this weekend an absolutely perfect time for a getaway!  Since I am most definitely terrible at surprises I happened to tell my husband were I am taking him next for his 24th birthday.  I'm sure you've guessed it and he did too, Charlevoix! 

Part of the problem with staying on a newly married budget forces us to communicate about these expenses and spill the surprise!  Reminding me that I should mention the beauty of the fall colors make prices competitive and minimums stays longer than necessary.  However, we were lucky to have found an affordable, nightly rate!  Again, do your research and recognize that certain places have seasonal, fluctuating rates, so reserve wisely.  While there are many beautiful places in Michigan, this is by far a favorite of mine.  If you have not been there make it a priority to visit one day, start your bucket list!  Someday even consider a destination wedding at Castle Farms which is located in Charlevoix.  Ok, that's a blog post for another day but look into it!

For me, family vacations every summer meant I could look forward to our annual trip to Charlevoix, Michigan.  My entire extended family would stay at the Edgewater Inn, right on the north shore of Round Lake Harbor near downtown Charlevoix.  It is a very special location and actually a condominium hotel.  The room that we have been faithful to reserve has a walkout patio with views of the drawbridge just up the walkway which directs you into downtown. You can also choose to take the walkway down to the peir where a peaceful sandy beach and park on the lake awaits you!  Choose to get icecream downtown first and enjoy it with a walk down the peir.

Downtown Charlevoix is relatively small which makes it a nice destination for families.  While it is small and quaint it certainly has a great deal to offer for everyone.  Growing up as kids we would always venture into the nearby toy store just after stopping in to play dress up at the hat store.  There are also fudge, ice cream shops, restaurants, clothing stores, ect.  Oftentimes in the summer downtown's waterfront park area hosts summer concerts and art fairs among other events.  Nearby there is also a beautiful bike trail where you can ride along the coastline and expect to see frequent rest stops with a view.  If you want a change of scenery, we plan to check out the Old Mission peninsula wine trail in Traverse City which is 45 minutes - 60 minutes away. 

Can you tell i'm excited?! I hope you have something fun to look forward to during our fall here in Michigan.  Afterall, don't let fall pass you by, it's just too beautiful!! More to come on my adventures in Charlevoix.  In the meantime, let me know where your travels are taking you...