Share what you love about Summers in Michigan
I just sent this blast:
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I love All of the seasons here in Michigan, but I am pretty sure every one's favorite is right around the corner. I want to know two things: What's your favorite summertime memory from years past? What memory are you most excited about creating this summer? Please join the discussion online.
The National Summit is coming From 6/15-6-17 The National Summit will be here. Industry leaders from all over the country will be in Detroit for 3 days at Ford Field. This is a huge event that can impact all of our futures. Ticket prices have been lowered. Check their website for more information. MCC Learn Monday, 4/20 Intro to Social Media 3-5 MCC Learn classes are free for MCC 3.0 members and 1/2 off for MCC 2.0 members. To learn more about premium memberships, click here. Friday, 4/24 FREE Webinar Learn how to use MCC MCC Social Sometimes it just good to get together and let our hair (well, your hair, not mine) down. We have two events upcoming: Monday, 4/20 Community Social from 5 until the last person leaves. This will benefit Operation Kid Equip. Thursday 4/23 A Tea Tasting in Royal Oak MCC Live Meetings Today, 4/16 Plymouth Lunch 11:15-12:30 Friday, 4/17 Commerce Breakfast 8-9:15 Tuesday, 4/21 Southfield Lunch 11:15-12:30 Wednesday, 4/22 Troy Lunch 11:15-12:30 Thursday, 4/23 Warren Lunch 11:15-12:30
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When I was younger, my family and I would drive up to the Upper Peninsula and visit my grandmother. We spend weeks there swimming in Portage Lake, eating pasties and visiting the mines. I know take my children up there so that they may share in my memories. It is a spectacular drive with quirky stops such as the crazy Mystery Spots. You can also visit all of the lighthouses and swim and many of our great lakes - even Lake Superior - brrrrrrr!
This summer will be spent at Higgins Lake - relaxing, swimming, and taking great walks. Higgins is a great place to unwind as it is still quiet.
My favorite season is really spring because I am a big time perennial gardener -- followed by summer. My best memories are just exploring different attractions in the state -- along the Lake Michigan coast from Grand Haven to Traverse City. But my all time favorite location is Mackinaw Island. There is something so special about that place to me. I like biking around the island and just hanging out. Years ago I had the luxury of flying there on a small plane my boss owned. It was incredible to fly over the bridge on an extremely clear day and see the island from above! Wow -- what an experience. I will never forget it. Truly a magical place.
There is this itty bitty cottage on bass lake that I have fallen in love with. It is 30 minutes or less south of downtown Traverse City. This cottage has a lake that I can walk to since the dock is from the backyard. I can swim, float, read, and kayak on the lake.
Usually I am there for a week, and I will travel to Frankfort, Petosky, Charlevoix and other communities and then cross up to the UP.
It is quiet and I get a lot of my inspiration there. I had been going regularly every June for the past 4 years. Unfortunately not this year. But definitely next year!
Five years ago, I rented an 32-foot RV with my family and for 10 days, we traveled the entire UP along the water, plus stopping at Copper Harbor. It was paradise!
When I think back on all the GREAT memories, since 1968 when we first moved here, they have to do with the lakes. From a teenager, when I'd sail on Union Lake, and flirt with boys (some things never change) to watching fireworks the last few years from a boat or on the shoreline.
When I moved to CA I missed the ability to go swimming, look a mess and still go directly to a potluck with freinds and family. I like how there's always a party or bbq almost EVERY weekend. People are spontaeous and everyone shares food and hangs out. I love being on the water too and watching my son swim or play in the sand!
When I was growing up I spent a lot of summer weekends in Irish Hills. Still make our way out there to visit family and friends cottages. My wife remembers still talks about her summer days in Lexington, Michigan.
There are many other great Michigan memories to choose from but two years ago my family and I were lucky to spend a week on Drummond Island for my sister in-law's wedding. What a great time! Since Drummond encompasses 2000 beautiful acres of woods and wildlife, completely surrounded by water - it was the perfect place for a Northern Michigan wedding!
We stopped and stayed one night on Mackinac Island - what a perfect way to end the week!
I love northern michigan's summers where it doesn't get dark until close to 8 or 9 o'clock. Lightening up a bonfire to warm our sun burnt faces and talking about all the fun from the previous day!
Ah, summers in Michigan...the warm summer breeze, traveling to the great lake side and walking the beaches, the Concert of Colors, Hart Plaza, how the sunshine revives my spirit and outlook on life, and especially how the changing from one season to the next makes summer in Michigan an incredible experience of awakening and vibrancy.
enjoy, I must now go lay in the grass and soak in the sky
nothin' between me and the sky but blue
I love all our seasons, but here are some of my summer favs: watching the Tigers or watching a little league full of lil' tigers; families hanging out on Belle Isle; biking around Mackinac Island; wine-tasting in Sutton Bay; paddleboats in Kensington; a day at the beach in Grand Haven, festivals in Hart Plaza; Arts in the Park in Midland; sitting on the lawn at Meadowbrook or Pine Knob (I know-DTE); fireworks at Greenfield Village; boating, golfing, and a lil' sand volleyball, just to name a few. Cannot wait to make the most of both spring and summer!!
Here are some of the usual stuff many of us did in the those Michigan summers: listening to Ernie Harwell on a transistor radio ("...and a man from Muskegon caught that foul ball"....as a kid I wondered how he knew that ;p), playing football and baseball in the street until the streetlights came on, Higgins/Houghton Lakes, Canoeing the rivers, Greenfield Village, Art and Ethnic Festivals, etc.
Besides the Michigan summers, I remember the camping trips that I went on with my parents. We covered close to 25 states during a span of 10-15 years. The cool thing was meeting different people on every trip. Most memorable moments were:
1) Yellowstone National Park- Black bear and 2 cubs raiding a utility trailer full of food. I sat 30 feet away and watched them eat bread, cookies and soap before the park ranger chased them away.
2) Alberta, Canada-Having a snowball fight on a glacier in the middle of August.
3) Biking Vermont on my 10-speed while visiting my dad's farmhouse.
4) Digging for clams in Nova Scotia and camping at Arcadia National Park in Maine (I loved the park tour of the tidal pools).
5) Partying/camping with friends around Higgins and Houghton Lakes during my high school and early college years. Interlochen State Park was pretty cool too. Where else could you camp and take in a concert across the street.
These memories and others have given me the travel bug, not only for the USA but around the world. I have interests in foreign currencies, ancient civilizations and other cultures. I am planning a trip back to Thailand to visit Chiang Mai and Chaing Rai areas.
Rolling down the Sleeping Bear Dunes has been at the top of my list for many years.
My family took camping trips to Tahquanemon Falls, in the upper peninsula... a different kind of "out in the wild" than camping in the northern lower peninsula. Loved it.
Anything having to do with water! On Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, the Huron River, Ausable River, the Pleasant Ridge pool...whether it's in a kayak, boat, raft, inner tube, floating on my back...you name it!!!
Has to be getting away up north from Traverse City to see my family to a weekend with Gina at Mackinac Island to camping and canoeing with the fellas at my property in Grayling / Ausable River.
Dont forget about the outdoor concerts at Pine Knob tailgating, tailgating for Lions games, and bbq's for any reason known to man on Sundays with friends and family.
Driving with the windows down, moon roof open, and the music up and sitting outside on patios in Royal Oak for dinner, lunch, drinks, coffee, whatever...
Have you ever been to the top of the pinkie? There's nothing like standing in your front yard to watch the sunrise as well as the sunset (then eating the fresh fish). Camping at the top of the Leelanau Peninsula is where we spend our summer vacation.
Around town, it's the festivals in and around Hart Plaza, all the Metroparks, calling friends with boats (any offers?), and our own backyard!!