It was a little bit easier coming home this year with the pool and amazing surroundings but I’ll admit, this yearly family vacation is one I never want to come home from. In fact, yesterday we wanted to still be on vacation so we quickly accepted a day invite to our friends who have a Lake home in Southern Michigan. Our little Michigan lake town is simply our favorite spot on the planet. And there’s so much to do in the area. I’m up to my ears in laundry and believe it or not my closet is a disaster but I certainly had to roll out the 9 Favorites from our 4th of July week vacation....2018 Edition!
Rays
This is a legendary Burger joint about half way up on our way north. We usually hit it on the way back but this year we were so hungry we decided to stop on the way up too. We throw the tailgate down and chow.
Beach
We can never get enough of the beautiful Lake Michigan Beach. It is private for our resort but boarders the public one and on the 4th when they do fireworks off the pier, 20,000 people gather on the beach to view them. They were the best ever this year!
Do you spy the pineapple swim trunks? Loves em' like his mama!
Iron Fish Distillery
This is a family farm to table distillery out in The middle of nowhere. We discovered it last year and love it. The BEST frozen concoctions and they have live music, small plates and food trucks. This year the best part was the outside games we played like corn hole and jenga!
The top taco by the way is a fried Avocado One...YUM!!!
Parade
I love Parades and get so excited to see this one. Our lil beach town does it up right passing out oodles of candy and a variety of entrants. What I love the most is how everyone that lines the streets wearing lots of red, white and blue.
Cabbage Shed
This is a restaurant rich in tradition. Yummy food, Live music and eclectic atmosphere make it fun right down to the cabbage heads picture ops.
Weather
Our weather was Fantastic, only an hour or two of rain one evening and the nights never got that cool like they usually do. On the 4th, as everyone was heading to the beach for the fireworks, this shelf cloud rolled in and for a split second it looked like the end of the world may be coming. But it rolled on by in seconds and the sky cleared up for glorious fireworks viewing over the lake from our deck. Everyday spilled warmth and sunshine.
BUT
EVERYDAY WAS LIKE THIS!!!!
Adventure Day/Hike
As much as we love the beach, with so much to do in the area, we must do some adventuring. This particular day we just starting heading north and landed in some small towns with great shopping then it was on to hike to the top of pyramid point for some of the BEST views of Lake Michigan then onto Fish Town and the Cheese Shanty for the BEST turkey sandwiches on homemade pretzel buns.
TOP HERE
And my Favorite Family photo of the week:
And my Favorite Family photo of the week:
Plane Rides
Best way to see the Lake? Why from a plane of course. I’ve been on private planes but never an itty bitty 4 seater. It was actually smoother than some commercial flights and gorgeous views!
Kayaking
Probably our favorite thing as the Platte River that dumps into Lake Michigan is the smoothest and cleanest we’ve ever seen and the water so warm and refreshing. Just a lovely way to spend part of the day. We only have 2 of our own kayaks so the boys took those and for the first time, Mr. Nine and I did a tandem kayak. Well one paddle broke so I ended up just sitting back while Mr. Nine all the paddling. Pretty sweet ride. Lol. However I do like to paddle so I occasionally pulled out the half paddle to help out.
Just another wonderful family vacation. And this son of ours wasn’t missing us...just look at this fish and there were plenty more where they came from.
Mr. Nine and I will be back up in the Fall. It's magnificent in every season. a BIG thank you to my love for working so hard thus making these beautiful family vacations a blessing and full of joyous memories!
Thanks for indulging me with all these photos. What one is your favorite?
And don't forget to check out our HOME TOUR that was featured over at Poofing the Pillows
LINKING-UP with Biana // Totally Terrific Tuesday // Inspire Me Monday // Inspire Me Tuesday // Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party // Creative Monday's // Creative Muster Party // Wow Us Wednesdays // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Feathered Nest Friday // Metamorphosis Monday // The Scoop // Cooking & Crafting with J&J // Friday Favorites Link Party
XOXO
Looks like you guys had a wonderful family vacation! And how awesome to see the sights from the plane. Just gorgeous! And a taco with a fried avocado?! That sounds amazing! Good luck with all the laundry and Happy Monday, Andrea!
ReplyDeletexo, Rachel
A Blonde's Moment
Another wonderful vacation! Looks like a fantastic week and you are the perfect patriotic beauty! All of your red, white, and blue outfits were just co cute and a great way to celebrate our nation's birth! As far as a favorite goes, hmmmmm...I love all the pics but the last one of you and Mr. Nine is fabulous!
ReplyDeletexo,
Kellyann
You guys look like you had such a great vacation!! The views are just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat an epic vacation! A private plane to take you around the lake - that's pretty amazing and definitely an experience to remember! Glad you had such a great time with your boys! xo,Biana- BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteThat looks like such a fun trip! The airplane ride looks so cool! What a view!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful vacation. I can see that everyone is having fun and so relaxed in the pictures. I am just amazed at how big Lake Michigan is and how beautiful the beach is. You really don't hear much about the Great Lakes down here in Texas, but now I want to go. It's on my travel bucket list! :) Have a good week...re-entry is always hard!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like so much fun! Nothing better than family time especially when the kids are growing up. It's hard to get everyone together all at once and those times are treasured.
ReplyDeleteMay I ask which town you vacation in? I live in Ohio and I've been on the hunt for a great vacation spot in Michigan!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great week! Sadly, we can’t make a week in Sawyer work this summer. Your outfits are perfect.
ReplyDeleteThat trip looked amazing! All of it! I need to visit Michigan one of these years. My favorite was the one of you four(your favorite one too). Wow! That water is blue! The food all sounds delish and fireworks on the beach, sign me up! Thank you for sharing your wonderful trip!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had a wonderful vacation!
ReplyDeleteOh what a wonderful vacation!! I bet it was just awesome to see those views from that little plane... how neat!! And girl, you MUST tell me where you got your gingham tank in the first picture. I need it!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. So good to see you all. I think the last one is my favourite but second would be the view from the plane.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.muttonstyle.com/
Food trucks?? Did someone say food trucks??! Lol! Yummy! And yes! The Nine's did a wonderful job relaxing and having a ball on Lake Michigan! I missed you!! xo
ReplyDeleteGirl...no wonder you don't want to come back---what an incredible and fun time you have there!!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing you got such a great photo of that "storm" and luckily it went away!!
XOXO
Jodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com
This vacation looks wonderful and so fun!! I love that red top you have on playing jenga and I love the kayaking story!! I would have taken full advantage of having a broken paddle haha!!
ReplyDeleteSarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts
Wow, I don't think I've ever seen a "shelf cloud" like that in my life! No wonder it looked like the end of the world! Also looove the beautiful view from your hike! Looks like an amazing vacation and I love all of your festive travel outfits. That red, white, and blue checked top (that you're wearing at Ray's) is SO cute!
ReplyDeleteGina || On the Daily Express
Love hearing about your annual trip to the lake, such wonderful memories. But YAY for creating a home that it's not so hard to come home to. Cheers to your new pool and precious time with the fam <3
ReplyDeleteGreen Fashionista
How fun!! It looks like you guys all had a blast!!!
ReplyDeleteYou did so many fun things and it's so pretty there! Fried avocado sounds amazing to me!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness... this just all looks so wonderful!!!!
ReplyDeleteFried Avocado???? OH MY WORD - I want to try that now!!!!!
That cloud is the craziest thing I've ever seen!!!
What an amazing trip!! This makes me want to get in the car now and go visit Michigan. I can see why it's so hard to come home. All of the restaurants look so cute and fun. I am so surprised that small plane was a smooth ride, but tha's great! I love that you all went kayaking. I'm not sure I'll be able to make it this summer but it's definitely going to happen again soon. What fun memories! Sierra Beautifully Candid
ReplyDeleteWe love Grand Haven! We were there a couple weekends ago for the Art Festival.
ReplyDeleteI live in Ada, so its not a very long drive for us. Lake Michigan is my happy place! We are headed to Traverse City next week. Love Michigan summers! Looks like you had a great time.
*googling how far a flight that is for me to visit this beautiful place. It sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a blast and now I absolutely have to try a fried avocado taco if it's the last thing I do!
ReplyDeleteOkay, first of all, you are THE most fashionable mama out there, and I aspire to be you! Second of all, look at all the fun and adventures you had with your sweet boys! You're seriously my boy mama idol. I LOVE that you got to see the lake by plane, too! How beautiful is that?! Thanks for sharing your adventures, sweet Andrea!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun weekend! I loved my short visit to lake Michigan a few years ago and need to get back. I love all your patriotic outfits and all of that food sounds scrumptious!
ReplyDeleteI need to get to Lake Michigan one of these years - it's so beautiful! Glad you had such a wonderful week, friend!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you guys always have so much fun on your vacation! All your eats look so delicious! And you are so festive and stylish as always!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great vacation you had!! Great photos. I think my favorite is the family picture by the plane. I also like the "Coop De Ville" because I drool over those cute vintage campers and want one soooo bad! I also love the boats. Fun read!
ReplyDeleteLisa
What a gorgeous trip, looks like it was full of memories and so much to do there. I've never done a vacation on Lake Michigan, but the beach looks so nice and I love how there is a lot of towns to visit for various shopping, activities and restaurants. You look great in each and every one of these photos. I really need to know how you do that fabulous top bun, I always like to wear my hair up when I'm out in the hot elements, too! Your boys are SO handsome and you and your hubby look so in love! :)
ReplyDeleteCarrie
curlycraftymom.com
Wow! It looks so fun. I can't believe how blue the water is! My husband and I were just saying we need to explore Michigan more. We've been to the Upper Peninsula once, but what to go again and explore more. It's hard to see other areas cause that big lake is in the way, and we'd have to drive south to Illinois to go under it then back up! haha!
ReplyDeleteOh how I hope to see that beautiful lake and state one day! Our neighbors are from Michigan and I tell them over and over I will go with them home one summer but they say I wouldn't want to! I love all the photos so good! xoxox
ReplyDeleteThis looks the best week! You're all glowing with happiness too! You just have the sweetest family!
ReplyDeleteAndrea, We live about 35 minutes east of Lake Michigan; and we sailed in our sailboat in Lake Michigan for many years when our kids were younger. They all have their sea legs and one even joined the Coast Guard. So glad you love our beaches and quaint towns along the coast.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing family vacation! Your lakes replace our beaches and have a whole different beauty to it without the humidity I'm sure. Every day was a new adventure, a cute new Andrea styled outfit, fun and food! Love the group family photos. I think this is the best way to spend time with family away from home and the hustle & bustle. I can only imagine how many loads of laundry you have after this trip but I hope you feel relaxed and your heart is full from all the family time. xo Emily @ Martinis & Bikinis
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun place to go to! It looks like you had so much fun!!
ReplyDeleteYou know what I love about these pictures? That you can see how much you all truly LOVE one another and spending time together. It really reminds me of my family life, and I'm so grateful for it! You are so blessed, my friend...and I know you savor every minute of your time together! What a fun looking trip...and can we talk about that scary cloud??! Holy crap!!! :)
ReplyDeleteShauna
www.lipglossandlace.net
What a great week! Why can't we start the vacation clock and then pull the little thingy up to stop time so we can enjoy it longer. IF ONLY! You guys are the cutest Cabbage Shed Heads...lol Love those pics. I've had fried avocado once and it was divine. I bet that taco was soooo good. You of course looked adorable all week long. I swear, I look more like what the cat threw up during the day. It's so hot and humid that I look so wilted, but I'm so ready to wilt. 1 1/2 weeks to go. Woohoo!!! Happy you've been able to ease back into reality and YES, I'm quite sure the pool made coming home much more pleasant. Welcome back! XOXO
ReplyDeleteYou always seem to have these fabulous times with your family. Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun week. It looks like the perfect vacation - and you guys had the best time! Thanks for the recommendation for Rays. We ended up at The Toasted Pickle - which I recommend. But you know I love burgers and fries - so we will probably try Rays at some point!
ReplyDeleteLisa
Daily Style Finds
I was looking for you at Stormcloud when we were in there a few days ago. Glad to see you loving on our little neck of the woods!!!
ReplyDeleteSo much fun!! What a fun family vacation!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful family you are! And you always look like you're having the most amazing time together. I envy you, Andrea!
ReplyDeleteHugs hugs
Suzy xxx
www.suzyturner.com
What a fun vacation. I really want to go to Michigan now and vacation there. Didn't know there was that much to do there. The food looks heavenly!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an AWESOME trip! Loving all the snaps- Lake Michigan is gorgeous!
ReplyDelete-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
You guys did so many fun things during your vacation! I really want to kayak this summer...I wanted to last summer and never got the chance. I must make it happen :)
ReplyDeleteI love how much you guys love it and still do it as a family! Those clouds look crazy! But glad that they rolled right on by. You guys have such epic trips! Glad this one was no different!
ReplyDeleteWow! Who needs an ocean beach when there's Lake Michigan. Y'all had the best time...yay for burgers and fried avocados.
ReplyDeleteThese posts just make my heart happy! I love your sweet family and the traditions you have made. The love you all have for each other is evident. I love how your boys want to spend time with you. I pray my family is like that one day.
ReplyDeleteAmy Ann
Straight A Style
Oh what beautiful pictures!! That plane ride must have been so fun! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun looking getaway! Love any vacation on the water!
ReplyDeletexx,
Meredith
LATEST POST | INSTAGRAM
Are you accepting 'foreign exchange students' of the middle aged variety for your next holiday? Haha! Seriously, your holiday looked like my ideal family fun week - you really are the best Boy Mom - I can't beleive how brave you were going up in that small plane? My favourite photo was of the drive in sign and menu - it is the type of American food joint that makes me nostaglic. And hungry. No wonder you are heading back in the Autumn - small American towns are the best xx
ReplyDeleteYour Lake Michigan trip looks like so much fun! I love that y'all have your traditions that you do every year!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you all had so much fun! Those tacos you got look so tasty! Yum!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lot you fitted in! Looks like you all had a super time, I'd love the light plane trip. Jacqui Mummabstylish
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh looks like the best time!! We are going on our annual michigan trip in a couple weeks!!! What area do you guys stay in? We are doing Traverse City again this year,it's so beautiful there!
ReplyDeleteSo fun! I live in Michigan and don’t do any of this stuff! Where exactly do you guys go? I may be doing my first UP trip soon!
ReplyDeleteThey're all special photos but my most special us you sitting waiting with your flags. Super cute! Hugs, x.
ReplyDeleteYour family photos are great! I'll have to tell my family about this gorgeous place in our state. Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story and we hope you will join us again next week.
ReplyDeleteYou really give Midwest living and Lake Michigan a good name! Love you for that. And of course I love all of the outfits you model...all perfect for this sort of vacation. And you always look gorge! Your hubby ain't bad either!!! ;-D
ReplyDeleteJane
So glad you guys had a wonderful time in Michigan! Our weather was picture perfect too - you just cannot beat it!
ReplyDeleteGreat family pictures! Just you and your handsome boys! Me and my boys used to do a lake family vacation every year but got away from it. That is all changing now starting with a weekend trip to the 1,000 Islands coming up....can't wait. Next year....a week by the lake!
ReplyDelete