Betsie Bay Memorial Day

Views of the Betsie Bay harbor and lighthouse – Image by Ready.Set.Sarah!

Last weekend we took a semi-spontaneous road-trip up north to Frankfort, MI to celebrate memorial day. Though I’ve been up north once before (for a beautiful wedding on Little Glen lake near Glen Arbor, MI -adorable little town on Lake Michigan surrounded by other smaller lakes) I had never seen the Sleeping Bear Dunes or spent time poking around in the cute little lakeside towns.

The adorable Garden Theater next door to the Betsie Bay Inn, in Frankfort, MI – Image by Ready.Set.Sarah!

Friends of ours had rooms booked at the Betsie Bay Inn, and we managed to find a pretty reasonably priced room just days before leaving down the road at the Harbor Lights Resort right on the beach! Betsie Bay Inn was adorable… and our friends’ rooms packed an extra surprise- spiral staircases leading to private basements with hot tubs! We spent A LOT of time hanging out in the large built-in hot tub. The boys enjoyed the private sauna during the rain Sunday while the ladies shopped (we found a cute little store called Glicks where I snagged a few tops and some adorable roxy flip flops).

On Sunday, after waiting out the brief but intense rain storm we headed over to Sleeping Bear Dunes park and went for a (long over due!) hike to Pyramid Point. It’s a moderate hike to a look out point where the view of the crystal blue waters of lake Michigan seems limitless.

Pyramid Point – Images by Ready.Set.Sarah!

Everything about the afternoon hike was breathtaking. I would have loved to have kept hiking and exploring for days. We topped off the fun with dinner in Glen Arbor, a visit to Cherry Republic for some cherry wine tasting, and ended what seemed to be a perfect day by watching the sun set over the water (as we sipped sparkling cherry wine from the bottle). These are the days we remember for a lifetime.

Cherry Republic shenanigans- Images by Ready.Set.Sarah!
Sunset on Lake Michigan- Images by Ready.Set.Sarah!

Big Sky Over Woodward Ave.

The sky this morning was a perfect.

Sunrise over Woodward via Ready Set Sarah!

I was delighted to have this slowly evolving and brightening sunrise as my view as I made my way down Woodward from Royal Oak to Downtown Detroit this morning. Last year walking to class in Ann Arbor I marveled at how brilliant and close the sky would seem. Particularly in winter, the sky just looks closer here… like we’re looking out into space from a front row seat.

I couldn’t help but think that maybe this was a little reminder to me to see the beauty here in Michigan even when I miss home… and that there is plenty to appreciate and look forward to in unexpected places. Just to top it off, I was greeted by an equally gorgeous ride home.

Sunset in Detroit via Ready Set Sarah!

California dreaming

Currently Missing California (Image by: unknown)

I love many things about my new home state of Michigan – weekends on the lakes, fall colors, snowy winters, light traffic, affordable homes, the bluest sky and fluffiest clouds, the art deco architecture, the music history, the sports (go University of Michigan Wolverines! Sugar Bowl Champions 2012!!) … I can keep on going.

Michigan summers on Lake St. Clair (image by R.S.S!)

Despite the many things that brought (and have kept) me here in the fine mitten state, I’ve recently found myself mourning the separation of my life and identity from my home state of California.

In a particularly rough moment of longing for “home” today, I decided to make a list of the things I miss most about the sunshine state if my youth. I admit most of these things aren’t exclusive to California (and most can be found/done here in Michigan). Anyways, back to the bittersweetness of memories…

Things I miss about California:

Golden sunshine
Orange sunsets mingled with pinks and purples

California Sunset (image via R.S.S!)

Mountains
Rivers
Rocky river banks
Beaches
Smiles
Parks
Burritos
Trees
Abundant Avocados
Camping
Friends
Bonfires
Dog parks
Family
Salty air
Foggy nights and mornings

Out of fog Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge a...
Image via Wikipedia

Dry heat
Farms
Biking year round
Brunching on patios
The sierra foothills
The stinky smell of eucalyptus
Mission style architecture
Salads
Driving with the windows down.

With that out of my system for now, I can focus on enjoying my new home here in Michigan and all of the good times and fun things I’ve discovered so far… and those I have yet to experience. Sometimes it is just nice to reminisce and let myself be a little homesick.

Love,

Sarah