Explored: Northern Michigan

July has been such a busy month! I feel like we've been doing almost non-stop traveling since the month began. I haven't had a moment to sit down and write on the blog until now.

Over the last week and a half, Nick and I got to travel to northern Michigan, specifically the Mackinaw City/Mackinac Island area, and some of the Upper Peninsula. I wanted to share our adventures and photos in a new "Explored" post so here goes!

You might say that Michigan is in my blood. My mom grew up there, my parents honeymooned in Mackinaw City, our family lived in the Flint area for a few years, and we've vacationed in Mackinaw several times.

Going back this time was like seeing an old friend after 8 years apart. Last time we were in Mackinaw, I was going into my senior year of college, Michael was 9, and Nick and I hadn't dated yet (though we were friends). This time, Nick and I were celebrating our second wedding anniversary on a trip that included time with family and ended with a wedding in Flint.

We headed out on our road trip on Friday, July 10, and drove to Mackinaw City. We decided to stay in the city, which is on the mainland, and visit Mackinac Island a few times throughout our stay. Our first trip over to the island--via ferry boat--was on Saturday.

During special trips to the island, some of the ferry lines will take a little detour and drive under the massive Mackinac Bridge which serves as the dividing line between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. It also connects the Lower and Upper Peninsulas.

It was so cool to ride under the bridge and see it up close. Many people said it couldn't be built, but here it stands today, the Mighty Mac!

After the ferry ride (which if you sit on the upper deck, is very windy!), we arrived at Mackinac Island. The island is 8.2 miles around and doesn't allow motorized vehicles. Visitors and residents travel by bike or horse-drawn carriage.

The "downtown" area is filled with lots of shops, restaurants, and hotels. A block off main street we found a little coffee shop I had discovered on Instagram prior to our trip, Lucky Bean Coffeehouse. (If you're ever on Mackinac Island, you must go there, it's delicious!) After that we rented bikes and were off on a little trip around the island!

After a fun first day on the island, we spent Sunday hanging out on the mainland in Mackinaw City. That included shopping, checking out different restaurants and coffee shops, playing mini golf, and enjoying the beach and view at our lakeside hotel.

 

On Monday we celebrated our second wedding anniversary with another trip to the island. This time we rented a drive-it-yourself carriage, took a walk, got more coffee, and had dinner at the Mission Point Resort.

On Tuesday, my family arrived in Mackinaw City and we enjoyed spending the rest of our trip together. This included more mini golf and coffee, another (final) trip to the island, a drive over the Mackinac Bridge and time in the UP, and of course, more good food.

On our last trip to Mackinac Island, Nick and I biked around the island again with my dad and brother. We also climbed up to Arch Rock (207 steps to be exact). The climb was worth it because the view was fantastic. The water was beautiful shades of turquoise and blue and we could see sailboats that had come in during the Chicago Yacht Club's Race to Mackinac.

I always encourage anyone who asks me about the Mackinaw area to visit. It's a great place to have a relaxing vacation, as busy or as chill as you want it to be. You can travel to surrounding areas and see the sights, or just stick with local options. It's always beautiful and full of friendly people and yummy fudge (though I go for the ice cream, myself). ;)

Have you been to Mackinac Island? Or are you planning a trip there in the future? I'd love to hear about your experience or what you're hoping to do!

Explored: Kalona, Iowa

I'm starting a new "Explored" series to show the places I get to visit and explore. I also want to use it as an opportunity to highlight some of the unique and interesting things you can find in Iowa, though it definitely won't be limited to just Iowa. ;) Thanks for reading!

Since moving to Iowa City, Nick and I have discovered the nearby Amish town of Kalona. We were last there a month ago, so this is a belated post about our explorations.

One of our favorite places to visit while in Kalona is the Amish grocery store, Stringtown. You can find lots of unique food items in bulk, as well as fresh produce and, in the spring, flowers.

During this trip, we visited the Kalona Brewing Company for the first time. It features a mix of modern and vintage decor, a 15-barrel brewing system which can be viewed through huge glass windows, and a menu that includes healthy, organic, and gluten free options.

After lunch we did some exploring, visiting local shops and stores including The Shop, featuring home decor and finds; the Kalona General Store; Kalona Bakery; and the Pink Begonia, an antique and handcraft shop, where we found a cute little patio set for our deck.

We ended our time downtown with a trip to the Kalona Coffee House, another place we enjoy stopping for smoothies, coffee drinks, and ice cream.

On our way out of town, we stopped at Sister's Garden and Bloom, two antique and finds shops contained in old houses. They have housewares, apparel, candles, and hundreds of other unique items.

If you're in the Iowa City area at any point, Kalona is a must-visit!