Trip to Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks

The UP is beautiful, if you haven't spent time there, you are really missing out. We spent a few days there after our anniversary, camping and enjoying the Tahquamenon falls and Pictured Rocks.

The beautiful falls. The brown color of the water is from the tannins of the surrounding forests.

Upper Falls

Lower Falls- We took a row boat out to an island for close up views :)

Our campsite-- Rivermouth (just south of Paradise, Mi--> yes this is a real city name)

We made the most of a rainy night with a campfire in the rain!

Wednesday started off a bit cool with a little rain, but it warmed up later.

Munising Falls.....we also saw Chapel Falls

Miner's Rock

Miner's Falls

View of some of the Pictured Rocks-- next time we go back we will

take the boat trip. Unfortunately we couldn't go this time due to 8-10 foot waves!

The sun came out and it was a beautiful afternoon

Sunset at our second campsite near Grand Marais (12 mile beach)

Second Anniversary on Mackinac Island

For our Second Anniversary, Mike and I continued our tradition, and headed back to Mackinac Island.

We stayed at the Grand Hotel which was wonderful as usual.

We also golfed at the Grand Hotel's front 9-- the Jewel. Mike had golfed on the back 9-- the Woods course for his bachelor party.

The Governor's house in the background.

Traditional drink at the Cupola Bar. Bell's Brewery make's a special beer for the Grand Hotel, "Big Porch Ale"....yum!

Dinner at Sea Biscuit was yummy.

Topped the night off with live acoustic music at the Pink Pony and dancing at the Gate House :)

Can't wait for next year!

Closing is coming up....

Here is a sneak peak of the home (we took this during the inspection, hence the ladder) we will be purchasing as of September 10th.

We are so excited!

Emily and Bryan visit "Up North"

Emily and Bryan arrived on Friday, August 20th for a fun filled weekend. They made it in just before a huge storm. We had an excellent dinner at Pearl's in Elk Rapids.... unfortunately we all forgot our camera's at dinner!

Before heading down the Torch River, we fished in Skegemog Lake. Mike caught this rock bass, and I released it :)

Fun at the Torch Lake Sand Bar.

Dinner at dockside on Torch Lake.

Big buck hunter....ridiculous....

More fishing on the way home

Saturday night bonfire....

Sunday AM golf at the Grand Traverse Resort, we played Spruce Run and it was great!

Golf was followed by wine tasting at Black Start Farms, lunch at Scott's Harbor Grill....

wine tasting at 2-lads....

and more wine tasting at Chateau Chantal.

Such a fun weekend. We hope Emily and Bryan want to make another trip up north with us sometime soon!

Elk Lake Vacation Part 1

Beautiful view over the Rapid River near the torch river bridge, as Mike was driving up.

On a cool afternoon, Mike and I went to walk around the "seven bridges" nature preserve near Rapid City. It is such a beautiful area :)

Sunset on Elk Lake...

We were happy to meet up with the Foley's (Jess, Lauren and Steve) at one of our favorite brewery's in Bellaire, MI-- SHORTS!

My uncle loves to teach us new things. On Wed the 18th, we had fun learning archery. We also followed this with a game of lawn darts :)

That week we also had the pleasure of a beautiful run from Elk to Torch Lake and back....tennis with my mom and Marge and Allan, water skiing and riding the Sea-doo!