Historic Fishtown

         All too often we make the assumption that in order to enjoy a beautiful vacation we must travel far from home to an exotic location. I have found that some of the most enjoyable getaways are hiding right under our noses. This past April my boyfriend and I began to develop a bad case of cabin fever after a long winter. Flying out of the country was out of the question so we began exploring ideas nearby. We decided that driving towards Traverse City, Michigan would ease some of our restlessness. Although Traverse City offered many cute street front stores and cherry based products, it was not quite what we had in mind. The city seemed very developed and did not offer the remote getaway that we had imagined. Upon realizing this we decided to get off the beaten track and drive until we found what we were looking for.

      For those who have not taken a long scenic ride up M10, I highly recommend it. It was this beautiful Michigan road that led us to one of the most beautiful towns we had ever encountered. Leland, or famously known as Historic Fishtown.

     Leland is located right on the edge of Lake Michigan. Lake Leelanau, a beautiful inland lake, feeds out into Lake Michigan and runs directly through Historic Fishtown. Small shops and restaurants that feature locally caught fish are scattered right next to the dam.

     The image to the right is one that was taken from from a restaurant called The Cove that is right above the dam. From this restaurant you can view fishermen tying up boats and seagulls diving for fish. The coast nearby Leland is scattered with local wineries. This really is a hidden gem on the lakeshore of Michigan. For those that need a getaway, Leland is the perfect place for a weekend filled with breathtaking beach views that make you realize that we take advantage of all that Michigan has to offer.

Trapped Outside

Trapped Outside

            For the past three summers I have had the amazing opportunity to bartend at a beautiful outdoor restaurant on the lakeshore. As one can imagine this area draws a substantial amount of tourists longing to enjoy the sunset beaches and bonfire nights that Michigan in July is so willing to offer. Day in and day out people come and go with sun-kissed cheeks and wind-blown hair as if they had just climbed off the front of a cruise ship. 

         In many senses serving this cheery crowd is phenomenal. In many other ways you begin to feel trapped outside. People rush in and out to hear the acoustic band that is playing and to enjoy a margarita before sneaking off to the sunset. I find myself longing to reverse the roles. If only for an instance I was able to enjoy the warm breeze of the summer over dinner and cocktails with my family. Waiting on 25 or more people in 85 degree weather has a curious way of making you resent the heat and the summer. As I drip with sweat, longing, and the desire to escape into lake Michigan, everyone surrounding me is there to rub salt in the open wounds. 

       As the hours of the night rise, the sun sinks low into the horizon of Lake Michigan as if it is disappearing. Every year I tell myself I wont let the summer slip away again. Before I can blink the leaves are changing and the sun is sinking once again low into the October sky. Maybe next year. 

Parasailing in Riviera Maya, Mexico

         There is something incredibly magnificent about traveling to a different country for the first time. In a sense it is like having the ability to see for the first time. Every thing is new and attention grabbing. As humans we tend to get so caught up in day to day life that we forget to stop and appreciate what is around us. Traveling to a new place has a way of awakening those who have become all to bogged down by day to day stresses. Visiting Riviera Maya did exactly this for me. 

       Everyone was welcomed with a warm hello upon arriving to Mexico. Also a much needed wave of warm tropical air that is all too unfamiliar in December in Michigan. The colors seem so bright and vibrant in contrast to the drab monochromatic world that the winter sometimes has to offer as the sun is hidden from us for months at a time. It is reminiscent of the snow melting to reveal the first colors of spring, however travel does not allow for "gradual snowmelt". You are thrust directly into what seems to be another universe.

     
         That new universe allows for an escape from the usual, and the chance to try and experience things that you have never done before. Suddenly everything around you becomes of the utmost importance. The directions the palm trees are blowing seems to be captivating. How often do I sit to view the swaying of the oak trees in my home town? I begin to ask myself.


   

   

     Creatures that are not common in Michigan become so enthralling however they are most likely as common as the squirrels that scamper my hometown. During my exploration of this new and exciting place I was presented with the opportunity to parasail over the ocean. With little hesitance I decided that this was an opportunity that I could not miss.



        Every image of parasailing that I had ever encountered was of overjoyed people strapped safely in a harness with life jackets, safety cords, and helmets to keep them safe from the dangers of falling from the sky into the ocean. My preexisting beliefs and expectations of the experience that I should have did not at all match up with what was about to happen ( one of the most exhilarating, and terrifying moments of my life).

   


           The harness that I had imagined was no where to be found and there was not even a life jacket to be offered. In fact the sail was no more than a vibrantly patterned sail that had a chain of towels attached to be used as a seat. We were each warned to carefully hold on as we were pulled from the water. As my height ascended so did my heart rate which was beginning to race beyond belief. Once the height of the sail reached the maximum I was able to see for miles a landscape that was completely new to me. There was a sense of freedom knowing that there was nothing between me and the vast ocean that I would soon have to dive into to once again reach the boat.
 

         

       Although the experience was incredibly outside of what seemed comfortable (as well as safe), I would do it again in a heart beat. Maybe next time with proper safety gear!