It appears I disappeared for a couple of weeks again.. how did that happen? The month of August was a whirlwind of traveling, working extra hours/extra hard, and celebrating my {28th} birthday. Last time you heard from me, I had just returned from my
beautiful trip to Maine and was about to road trip to da U.P. {
Michigan's Upper Peninsula} with hubby. Well even though it's old news by now, there's no way I could refrain from sharing photos of our trip. We really love the U.P.; we've been there every summer since we started dating. But we just started to really explore it last summer, finally taking in
Pictured Rocks. This year, we ventured
all the way over to the Porcupine Mountains (with lots of waterfalls stops on the way).
So worth it.
|
Lake of the Clouds, Porcupine Mountains State Park. can you imagine this place in the fall?! |
|
highest point of the park | mighty Lake Superior | waterfall bathed in sunlight during an epic hike | Presque Isle River |
We did a lot of hiking at Porcupine Mountains State Park. It was invigorating! Between this trip & the hiking I did at Acadia National Park earlier in August, I have suddenly gotten way in to it. I hope to live somewhere one day {perhaps within the next year :o} with lots of pretty hiking options nearby. I'd choose it over running any day!!
We stayed at a friend of Joel's cottage, which was a totally last-minute
God send. It was literally in the middle of nowhere.. I have never felt
so isolated from civilization in my life! There were no lights or
sounds to be heard {nor was there electricity or running water.. can you spot the outhouse on the left?} The first night we stayed there, my heart was
beating out of my chest as I tried to fall asleep.. I kept picturing a
bear trying to get in, haha! I knew it was totally irrational, but it
was just such a foreign feeling for me.. I'm using to falling asleep
with the glow of street lights and the sounds of cars
and drunk people stumbling home. We never did see a {black} bear though
they are quite common up in those parts. Perhaps next time..
|
Sunset on Lake Superior. Can you see why i often call the Great Lakes oceans by accident? |
It is pretty incredible all of the beauty that our Mitten State has to offer, especially the U.P. There is just so much to explore, it is unreal. Plus it's the most peaceful, easy-going place (it contains just 3% of MI's total population!) And the stars... I have never seen a night sky like that in my life. I even saw the Northern Lights for the first time! It was breathtaking {despite the irrational fear that a bear would approach us at any moment, haha}.
|
Love the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior. It is my favorite Great Lake despite its frigid temps. |
Because there is still more to see, because we have never seen it in the fall, and because this may very well be our last fall living in Michigan, we decided before we even got home {because I could barely stand to leave} that we would return in early October for a fall color tour. I can hardly wait. I've talked about it an unhealthy amount & had it planned out within a few days of our return... I'm a bit obsessive. But what can I say, I love da U.P. {and traveling}!
The words, "I want to go to Michigan," just flew out of my mouth and I have never said that before in my life. Ever. What a gorgeous place!
ReplyDeletePS... you are looking so good! So inspirational for me!
ya seriously I would never have that that was MI, surprise and astounding!!! Great travels you've had lately, that is wonderful:)
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness, all of these photos are gorgeous! I want to go on a getaway like that!!! glad you had a fun birthday celebration :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the Midwest love! Not many people realize that places like this exist in the middle of the country, as is proven by the other comments ;) I looooove Michigan in the summer and fall (but don't know if I could stand the winter and winterspring to live there haha). Sun till 10 pm, endless pick your own fruit, sunsets over the lake, parks and hiking, ice cream and fudge yessss.
ReplyDeleteLooks like such an amazing place!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is from Lansing so we used to go there every summer. (His dad lives in Grand Rapids so we still go every now and then.) Never been to the UP though! I know my husband's grandparents lived there at one time.
ReplyDeleteAmy
Fashion and Beauty Finds
Sooo gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThat little tiny cottage is the sweetest thing! Do you think you could stay out of civilization for a long time? Cause I like to think I could...but truly? Bears and such? Probably not. Oh, Michigan is darling.