I Heart Michigan

Lake Michigan Recreation Area

2014-08-18T10:09:00.003-04:00

The Lake Michigan Recreation Area gained one of the spots on my top 5 favorite locations in Michigan. As per usual Teddy and I decided with a free weekend we needed to put our backpacking gear to good use. We called multiple hiking trails across the state and wilderness sites seemed to be rather full for the weekend. Upon calling the office for Lake Michigan Rec Area we found there weren't designated campsites, but rather you could campout anywhere along the trail- our favorite!

Off we went to the shores of Lake Michigan with our backpacks and tent. We hiked a mile or so out from the parking lot and found a spot right along the beach before the sun went down on Friday. We could see other campsites in the distance from ours, but it felt private enough. We built a bonfire right on the beach (another favorite!) and settled in for the night. Being so close to the shore gave us peaceful waves to sleep to, soft sand to sleep on, and gorgeous stars to gaze up at through our tent (no rain fly needed!)

The next day we hiked the entire length of the park along the beach. And yes we hiked directly on the beach rather than heading back up to the trails. It was more of a leisurely stroll with our packs rather than a strenuous hike, which was a nice change of pace. We stopped early to set up camp at the far end of the park. We then headed off to continue our beach walk sans our packs. As we walked and talked we turned a corner on the beach and looked up to see the Ludington Lighthouse. At the time we had no idea how far we had walked, but looking back at the map we had walked at least 12 miles.

The lighthouse was closed for the evening so there were no tourists to be seen. We enjoyed having the space to ourselves and walked around the compound. We headed back to our campsite for another beachside bonfire and relaxing evening. On Sunday we hiked back to our car, which we realized felt much longer on the way back! Lake Michigan Recreation Area, we think you are the best mix of beaching it up and feeling one with the woods.

Final Word: A great place to go if you want to hike out to your campsite, but don't want to be too far out into the woods (think no fear of creatures lurking behind trees.) You can find a secluded campsite but then splash around in the surf during the day. It is the best of both worlds.

Enjoying the Last Views of Winter

2014-04-21T09:45:00.004-04:00

This weekend Ted and I were able to get away for a few days to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary (how did that happen already?!) We spent the weekend in Petoskey at the Perry Hotel where we had our wedding reception and went to Easter service at Cross in the Woods where we were married, it was wonderful. More on that later.

One thing we noticed this year is how many more signs of winter are still visible in Northern Michigan compared to the same time last year. The weather was beautiful and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine, but the bay is still frozen over, large snow piles are still visible in most of the towns and buds certainly aren't popping yet. While we are reading for spring, it was fun to take in the winter sights without having to endure the unbearable cold.

{Happy Anniversary, Teddy! Thanks for always exploring with me!}

Sunflower Field

2014-04-15T21:56:00.000-04:00

This post is completely inspired by a weekend with weather in the 70s, only to wake up to a blanket of snow 2 days later. Oh Michigan I certainly love you, but please bring on the warm weather, I am so ready for blooming flowers and unexpected sunflower fields.

Anyways, do you want to know something that was on my bucket list? It was so see a sunflower field in person. And then we saw this one and I almost cried tears of joy. As we were driving along having a small argument over who forgot some very necessary items on our backpacking packing list (for the record, it was my fault, but I would never admit that at the time) we spotted this field and my whole little world stopped. This is exactly what we did: stop, turn the car around, park, take in the beauty, photograph the beauty, take in the beauty for a bit longer, continue on our way, forget that small argument ever happened.

I don't even remember where the sunflower field even was. Somewhere between Lake Michigan Recreation Area and Detroit, but lesson learned- if you see a Michigan sunflower field stop right there and take a few moments to enjoy it. Fingers crossed we will be spotting summertime flowers before we know it ;)

Harbor Springs Winery at Pond Hill Farm

2014-04-04T11:59:00.001-04:00

Getting ready for summertime adventures? Be sure to add Harbor Springs Winery to your list! Two summers ago (wow, can't believe it has been so long!) during a wedding planning trip, we were driving along the Tunnel of Trees looking for spots to take photographs between our wedding ceremony and reception. We stumbled across the sign for Pond Hill Farms and decided to stop in for lunch and a bottle of wine. Don't be fooled, just keep following the dirt road all the way back to that rustic looking barn- and you've made it!

The place is absolutely gorgeous. We could have spent the entire afternoon on their patio overlooking the farm. The food was fresh from the farm, the store was full of homegrown goodies, the wine tasting was delicious and everyone who worked there was so friendly. The whole experience was pretty much perfect in my opinion. There is lots for families to do on the farm, or if you are like us and are just looking for some peace and quiet you can find that too. Harbor Springs Winery at Pond Hill Farms is a must add to your next Northern Michigan adventure!

{It is certainly beautiful, wouldn't you agree?}

Bonfires

2014-04-02T23:27:00.002-04:00

This week the weather got above 50 degrees and Ted and I have gotten a bit excited. It is only Wednesday and we have already had two bonfires in our backyard this week. We can't help ourselves! It seems a bit wasteful to be inside when we look back at how long we have been cooped up in the house because of snow this year.

The smell of the bonfire instantly makes me nostalgic for our summer camping trips. To me, nothing says summertime in Michigan like a bonfire. We are looking forward to lots of bonfires this year- with beautiful sunsets, good conversation, plenty of s'mores, and lots of friends.

Where is your favorite place to have a bonfire? These pictures are from a trip we took to Lake Michigan Rec Area last summer. This has to be one of my favorite spots for a bonfire- can't beat being right on the shores of Lake Michigan (and that sunset!)

{Such a manly man!}

Grand Rapids

2014-03-26T17:59:00.000-04:00

Last week we had one of those rare days where I was traveling for work and Ted had the day off so he was able to join me. Those tend to be my favorite work trips. We made our way into Grand Rapids for the evening to enjoy a few beers at the always fabulous, Founders. On a Thursday night we expected to find a quite table where we could actually pull out our computers and do some research for an upcoming trip, but instead the place was absolutely packed (made for a very fun evening!)

Founders expanded this past year and there still doesn't seem to be enough space for everyone who loves their beer. On this Thursday evening there was live music and of course incredible beers on tap. Ted swears by the Backwoods Bastard. I am a fan of the Breakfast Stout. And they now have a food menu- you need to try the pulled pork sandwich- I promise you won't regret it.

{Walking through downtown Grand Rapids.}

{We made it!}

Johan's Pastry Shop

2014-03-21T12:00:00.003-04:00

We are heading North this weekend! Ted's birthday is Sunday and that calls for a road trip, some skiing/snowboarding, and donuts for lunch. One scheduled stop is a visit to Johan's Pastry Shop in Petoskey. The morning of our wedding we had these donuts at the salon and between 8 girls we ate at least 2 dozen donuts, so needless to say they are delicious. The bakery is quaint and friendly and in my opinion when you are on vacation there is simply nothing wrong with having a donut for lunch. Hope your weekend is sweet!

Right Brain Brewery

2014-03-19T18:31:00.002-04:00

Last fall during a trip up to Traverse City Ted and I made a stop at Right Brain Brewery. It is deceiving when you pull up to the building tucked back into a neighborhood, but the brewery is in a huge space. There were lots of board games and darts and it just had a fun atmosphere. Of course, the beer wasn't too bad either! We decided to try a flight so we could sample as many beers as possible and while I have to say I can't remember my favorite I do know that all of the beers were drank very quickly!

As you can see, Ted was very happy to be exploring a new brewery!

Seeing White

2014-03-12T19:52:00.000-04:00

Another snowstorm to wake up to today . . . alright, spring we are so ready for you! The first half of the week was a tease with the weather almost reaching springlike temperatures and then yikes- a whole lot of snow. But if there is more snow in our future can we all make a promise to just enjoy it? We don't really have another choice, you know?

Old Mission Lighthouse, Grand Traverse

I snapped these photographs during a trip to Traverse City during the first half of this week. These photographs are a reminder that all this white stuff is gorgeous and it doesn't have to put an end to exploring. During this trip I drove out to the end of Mission Peninsula. As I walked out to Old Mission Lighthouse there was a silence I hadn't heard in months. Everything was completely quiet and it was a friendly reminder that winter puts a blanket of peace and quiet on the world that we all need at times.

So while we might be ready to break the peace and quiet of winter, let's work our best to enjoy it while it is here. Let's go search out all of those places we love in the summer and see them covered in a blanket of snow- it might even put a whole new perspective on their beauty.

Niagara Falls

2014-03-09T16:41:00.000-04:00

So this post isn't actually about Michigan. But you know another awesome thing about living in Michigan? Our proximity to other really fantastic activities just outside of Michigan. This post is actually about an activity we are able to enjoy because Michigan has such a wonderful geographic location. So if you only want to hear about Michigan maybe you should skip this post. But if you want to travel a bit outside of Michigan, please, read on!

With all the snow and the cold we have spent more time than usual just being home. While this is nice, I have the constant need to get out and explore. A few Saturdays ago we made plans to head over to Windsor to visit Little Italy for a nice lunch. As I started to get myself ready for the day Ted walked into the room and said, want to go to Niagara Falls instead? I jokingly said, "I would love to," and continued on with my morning routine thinking he had to be kidding. A half hour later Ted poked his head in the room and said, "so I booked a hotel in Niagara Falls. It is only 4 hours away," he assured me. I was instantly ready to hop in the car and head off on our weekend escape- it could have been 10 hours for all I cared, but 4 hours sounded even better!

We rapidly packed our overnight bags and a car full of snacks and were out the door in 15 minutes. I kept looking at him on the way, 'we are going on an adventure.' The drive was simple and uneventful with the most exciting parts being my first trip over the Blue Water Bridge and the chance to sit and have completely meaningless, yet fantastic conversation with my favorite dude.

We drove in to Niagara Falls around 3:00pm, checked into our hotel and immediately headed down to the Falls. Now I have to remind you I haven't been to the Falls since I was about 6 years old. Wow! All that ice and snow and rushing water, what's not to love?! Not only is the view breathtaking, but the sound is enough to make you want to sit there with your eyes closed and just listen.

We spent the majority of our time just gazing at the Falls. We walked up and down the viewing area taking in the different views. We would head to the visitors center to warm up, and then head back outside. After dinner we bundled back up to visit the Falls at night. They light up the Falls with beautiful colored lights and with the snow falling around us it felt completely romantic and perfect (but also cold, very cold!)

{A snowstorm hit that night and made the colored lights on the Falls look even more gorgeous.}

On Sunday we decided to head beneath the falls. The price was discounted because some of the viewing area was frozen over and not visible. We loved it- all those big icicles hanging right in front of you are rather breathtaking, not to mention we were the only ones down there. I kept telling Teddy it was a scene straight out of the movie Frozen, he wasn't buying the analogy.

{The view from underneath the Falls.}

Then we drove over to the New York side of the Falls to take in a different view. This area was less built up and felt more like being a part of nature. The views weren't as stunning, but it was definitely worth the visit. We did some short walks and decided the cold was getting the best of us and it was time to head home. We waved goodbye to Niagara Falls until next time and headed back on our way only to be greeted in Michigan with a gorgeous sunset. Home sweet home.

{The view from New York.}

{A Pure Michigan sunset.}

Our visit to Niagara was a perfect one night vacation and the colder weather created a beautiful element of ice and snow on the Falls- we would definitely recommend visiting during the winter. The crowds were smaller, tourist attractions and hotels were discounted, and at night we had a view of the Falls completely to ourselves.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

2014-03-06T09:34:00.000-05:00

I know all we hear about these days is the weather, the cold, the ice, and the snow. But in all reality- does this weather have you feeling a bit blah and so ready for a change? If your answer is yes I am right there with you. I find myself missing those weekend getaways that are so simple in the summer, but these trips take on a new level of difficulty when you are planning around freezing temperatures and snow storms.

One thing that helps keep me motivated during these colder months is by planning. Ted and I always try to have a trip we are researching and planning. There is something so exciting about searching the web, keeping track of notes, and laying out your schedule to fit everything in. The trip doesn't have to be anything big, just something fun to plan and look forward to.

Need an idea to get planning? My favorite Michigan vacation and an absolute must visit- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. So take a look at these photographs and get yourself planning! And if vacation planning isn't in your agenda today, maybe just take a look at these pictures and enjoy all of this blue sky- the sunshine will be here soon, I just know it!

We are Back!

2014-03-05T22:02:00.001-05:00

Wow, so has it been two years since I have written? Where has the time gone? But I am back and beyond excited to be writing and sharing with you. Life has changed lots, the biggest change being that Ted and I got married- which means we are taking even more adventures! Lots of exciting posts are in the works here so I hope you continue to visit and share. Looking forward to adventuring around Michigan and beyond with you! Thanks for being here!

Tulip Time Again

2012-04-18T08:10:00.000-04:00

It's about to be that time of year again, Tulip Time in Holland. The festival runs May 5- 12. Unfortunately, these photographs are from last week and as you can see all of the flowers were out in full bloom. If you can make it to Holland before the festival you can skip out on the crowds and enjoy all of the beautiful flowers, but you will miss out on all of the fun activities that surround the festival. You can read about our visit to the festival last year here.

Louie's Ham and Corned Beef

2012-04-17T07:49:00.001-04:00

After the Tigers game we made our way over to Louie's Ham and Corned Beef in Eastern Market. Yum! We all had delicious rueben and pastrami sandwiches and left full and very happy. I hear that the restaurant is bulging at the seams in the mornings, but it was slow after the game which made for a nice escape from the game day crowds.

2012-04-16T11:15:00.000-04:00

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Detroit Tigers

I was so excited for our first Tigers game of the season. I could post over and over how much I love watching our hometown team play (and kick butt.) My advice . . . you should just get yourself over here and pick out some games to go to with friends and family.

2012-04-13T08:06:00.001-04:00

THE PEOPLE MOVER

We were looking for a Detroit adventure last week and found ourselves taking a ride on The People Mover. Neither Ted nor I had ever ridden the public transportation system and figured it was something we needed to try out. It was an adventure to say the least and a great way to get around and see parts of the city we were unfamiliar with. We hopped off in Greektown for dinner and ended at Joe Louis for a Red Wings game. We made conversation with some interesting characters during the ride and learned about other individuals' favorite parts of the city. I recommend taking a ride along the People Mover loop the next time you are in the city, definitely worth the 75 cents.

2012-04-12T07:32:00.002-04:00

THE MEGA 80'S

We rounded up some friends and headed out to Mega 80's at the Magic Bag in Ferndale a few weeks ago. The concert was everything we had hoped it would be. Some wild dancing, awesome cover of every 80's song we could imagine, and an overall great time. I highly recommend attending if you are in the area. The Magic Bag is such an awesome venue and we try to stop in for events whenever possible- basically we think it rocks.

2012-04-11T14:52:00.000-04:00

Back in Action

I had to take a short break from I heart Michigan, but I am back and so excited to be sharing all of our Michigan adventures with you. Life has been busy and fantastic- so of course I have lots to share. During my time away from I heart Michigan Ted and I got engaged and we are busy planning a wedding for next year.

What is new with you? Any great Michigan adventures?

Oh and I heart Michigan is undergoing a little bit of a facelift. Yay!

Thanks for stopping by and of course check back every day to follow our Michigan explorations.

Sangria

2012-03-08T12:11:00.000-05:00

A few weeks back my wonderful brother and his wife took us out to dinner at Sangria in Royal Oak. I love the feeling of going to a tapas restaurant and sharing all of the food on the table. I am more of an appetizer than a meal person and we always share meals so tapas are perfect for us. We ended up with far too much food on the table and plenty of sangria to go around, but we had a wonderful evening. The restaurant even had live, traditional music and dancing towards the end of the evening.

February

2012-02-08T10:16:00.000-05:00

Life over here has been busy and exciting and absolutely fantastic- which of course means I have had less time to blog. We have been taking some time to travel with more trips in our very near future. Here is a list of events coming up in Michigan during February. Enjoy!

February 11-13: Motown Winter Blast at Campus Martius

February 11-19: The Detroit Boat Show at Cobo Center

February 17-19: Shanty Days in Caseville

February 17-19: Cherry Festival Winter Wonderfest in Acme

February 16-20: UP 200 Dog Sled Races in Marquette

February 25: Michigan Winter Beer Festival in Comstock Park

February 24-26: Fire and Ice Festival in Downtown Rochester

Photo from a recent trip to the Detroiter Bar. The small restaurant in Greektown had delicious burgers and a fun hole in the wall atmosphere.

Biggby Coffee

2012-01-23T13:08:00.000-05:00

This is a Michigan Made gem that I must have been forcing myself not to notice for the past couple of years. With my job I spend a lot of time in coffee shops working from my computer. I have to say I have been a culprit of spending many afternoons in large, national chain coffee shops. With the help of a coupon, Ted and I found ourselves in a Biggby Coffee. We loved the coffee, people, and atmosphere and to top everything off it is a Michigan based company. Yes I have officially switched my office on the road to my local Biggby Coffee and I am very excited about the change.

The Fly Trap

2012-01-21T13:58:00.010-05:00

Another restaurant I keep hearing rave reviews about is the The Fly Trap in downtown Ferndale. We decided to venture out for dinner at The Fly Trap on what I think was the coldest night of the winter. The diner is so small and cozy, we quickly warmed up and had a wonderful meal. Ted loves that they make everything by hand and raved about the hot sauce (I am more for mild flavors so I didn't touch those.) The restaurant has been featured on the Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives- you can check it out here. It is a fun change of pace from busy, chain restaurants and sure has a creative menu to choose from.

Each table has silly salt and pepper shakers. We were lucky enough to land the table with this one!

Kona Grill

2012-01-21T13:47:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we went out to Kona Grill in Troy for a birthday celebration. I keep hearing that this is the best place to get sushi and I have to agree, it was pretty fantastic. We went during happy hour on a Saturday and the majority of their rolls were discounted along with some fun inexpensive drink options.

Between the five of us we ordered this gigantic plate of sushi. I was so excited to take a picture of it to share with all of you (it really was a work of art), but in our excitement to try everything we ordered we didn't remember to take a picture of the plate until it looked like this . . . oops!

Detroit Historical Museum

2012-01-18T12:03:00.000-05:00

A visit to the Detroit Historical Museum has been on my to do list for over a year now. For some reason it has taken us this long to get down there, but we finally did. We spent a leisurely afternoon at the museum learning all about this city's fabulous history- what an exciting past Detroit has had (makes me excited to see what the future holds!) My favorite part had to be the streets of old Detroit, it was so interesting to be transformed back in time and see what use to be. Lots of great information and just the right size to explore in an afternoon.

John K. King Books

2012-01-16T08:37:00.002-05:00

With life getting busier we haven't found much time to explore Detroit like we use to. I was pleasantly surprised last week when we decided on a whim to spend the afternoon and evening visiting some Detroit destinations that were new to us. Our coolest stop had to be John K. King Rare and Used Books. The shop located on Lafayette street is Michigan's largest used bookstore. It is outrageously huge and it felt like they had to have every book ever published! It is a great place to spend a slow afternoon, but make sure you bundle up, the store is chilly.