Northern Michigan

I have, essentially, grown up in Northern Michigan. I was lucky enough to have two sets of grandparents who lived up there, on either side of the state. When I was younger, my family spent long periods of time up north. As a youngen, I loved it. As I got a little older (a tween, basically), it became more of a punishment. I just wanted to stay home and hang out with my friends. I missed so much while away and I felt out of the loop. Granted, I also spent large chunks of my childhood summers at sleepaway camp (a post for another day, but one word: LOVED!) but it was usually only a week at a time, so I never missed out on too much while at camp. However, I spent weeks at a time up north. Once I hit the 8th grade, though, I was hooked. Line and sinker! I seriously fell in love with it up there. So much so that I spent three summers up there in high school and before college working at a pretty well-known landmark/restaurant. I lived with my grandma (my grandpa from my mom's side passed away in 1985) and spent my days working or at the beach and my nights at parties and bonfires. I even dreamed about getting married up in this small village, in front of a cross on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.


Cross Village Beach - Cross Village, MI

My other grandparents lived on a beautiful lake near Presque Isle. We always spent the 4th of July there, with all my aunts, uncles and cousins. We spent our days boating, floating and water skiing. We would take my grandparent's pontoon (affectionately named "SuJeHoMiErRoAmCo," the first two letters of their grandchildren's names from oldest to youngest) down to the sandbar. The kids would swim (under the boat!) and play while the parents tanned, talked and enjoyed adult beverages. When this grandfather passed away in 1989, my grandmother had to sell the home and move away. Not only did I lose my grandpa, but I lost this wonderful place.


On our dock, looking at Three Sisters Island in the distance (Grand Lake)


Big Island in Grand Lake - Presque Isle, Michigan



The Husband also had grandparents who lived up north. They weren't as far north as my family, but he was still able to experience this part of Michigan that no one else, except Michiganders (Michiganians?), can even begin to understand.

My grandmas are now both in their 90s (92 and 95 to be exact) and one is still living up north (during the spring/summer/early fall) in the same small town and the same house. She loves it up there as much as I do and hates it when she has to move down state for the winter. Now that I am an adult and no longer have the summers off, I realize just how lucky I am to have had these wonderful experiences and places to visit. Before, when I hated being away from my friends for such long periods of time, now I absolutely yearn for those days again. I would give anything to be able to pack up my car and head north for the summer. Sure, I get up there from time to time, usually on holiday weekends. It's a long drive (4.5 hours to each place, basically) so it's difficult to go up on a regular weekend. Even so, it's not the same.

Northern Michigan is an amazing, addicting place. The pace of life is so much different then it is down state. Up there, we can take our time and enjoy the lazy days. The Husband and I are constantly talking about our "one day," when we have our own cottage on the water and how we want our own family to continue this tradition. I am heading up there this weekend for the first time this season and I can't wait! Kid Rock sure had it right when he wrote "Summertime in Northern Michigan." There really is nothing else like it!

About five or six years ago, my aunt and uncle bought a cottage up on the beautiful lake, just down the road from my other grandparent's old house. I was so excited to be there again and I rediscovered my love for this place and for being on/in/near the water. I am again spending my 4th of July's at this same wonderous place, year after year. Except now I am the adult who is tanning, talking and enjoying adult beverages at the sandbar.