Hey Hey! Happy Tuesday! You guys… last time I talked to you I had TOTALLY spaced and forgot that Sunday was Easter! I feel terrible I didn’t wish you all a Hoppy Easter! (See what I did there?) I know that Easter probably felt very different for everyone this year… I hated not being able to spend time with my family. However, we still managed to have a good day! We made a big Easter brunch, watched some movies, and started one of our favorite puzzles while listening to podcasts and drinking margaritas. Definitely not our typical Easter, but still good!
I hope you all had a nice Easter too! Now, on to today’s post…
It’s time for our Spring 2020 Bucket List! Yay! Here in Michigan, it’s still pretty dang cold. But the sunshine is out, it’s staying lighter longer and I’ve woken up to birds chirping every day this week. That means we’re just around the corner from warm sunshine, thunderstorms, flowers, blossoms and warmer weather.
As all of my followers know (If you’re new, welcomes to Savannah Said It! I’m so happy you’re here!) as the seasons begin to change here in Michigan, I start to break out my seasonal bucket lists! Way back when I started this blog, they were a part of my Mitten Monday posts. Now, these seasonal bucket lists aren’t tailored just to Michigan, but to wherever you are celebrating this new season. That being said, I still like to brag a little about my great state, so these posts tend to be filled with pictures of Spring in The Mitten State. Just remember… you don’t have to be in Michigan to enjoy all of these things!
I personally love Spring. It feels like a fresh start after the long dreary Winter. The very best thing about Spring in Michigan is that it still isn’t all that busy. People tend to shy away from our great state because the weather is too unpredictable. However, if you dare to come (once this quarantine is over), I promise you’ll be rewarded. Our state seal doesn’t lie…. “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” From Oberon Day to Tulip Time and everything in between, the season when baseball returns and so do our cherry blossoms is easily one of our most underrated seasons… so I have to imagine, it’s pretty underrated everywhere else too!
I find that I make the most of every season when I have a Bucket List to cross off. So without further ado, here are my favorite things to do in the Spring!
This year, it’s a little bit different trying to cross off this Spring Bucket List! I put it off because we were all in self isolation, however, if I wait any longer, it will be time to share the Summer Bucket List instead. So just know, a lot of these things can’t be done right now. But that’s okay, the second we can leave our house, I’ll be celebrating all my favorite Spring things, and you should too!
Spring Bucket List 2020
Celebrate The Return Of Your Favorite Summer Beer! Spring is when all your favorite summer beers begin to make their way back on the market. In Michigan… that’s Oberon! If you’re reading this from somewhere outside of the Midwest, you’re probably wondering why we celebrate the life of Oberyn on Game of Thrones and why I’m spelling his name wrong. But guess what? Michigan is home to Bell’s Brewery. And they just so happen to make the VERY BEST SUMMER BEER EVER. Every Spring, Michiganders everywhere are celebrating the taste of summer with the release of Oberon. (And if you think Oberon is overrated, you’re wrong. It’s delightful.) If you’ve never had it, I think it kinda tastes like Blue Moon, except for a billion times better. However, this year, Oberon has some competition for my favorite summer beer. I’ve fallen IN LOVE with Larry’s Latest Flaminngo Fruit Fight (also from Bells) and it’s SO good! (Get yourself a six pack if you can, and thank me later!)
Take a hike. This is literally on EVERY SINGLE ONE of my bucket lists. But tbh, there isn’t a bad time of year to get out in nature and take a hike. Below I’m linking some of my personal favorite hikes from across the US (and Canada!) that you should check out for a little inspiration!
Mt. Tammany Summit (The Poconos, PA)
Chapel Loop (The Pictured Rocks, MI)
National Park Hiking Guide: The Smokies (Smoky Mountains, TN)
Rock House (Hocking Hills, OH)
Bradley, Taggart & Phelps Lakes (Jackson, WY)
Lake Louise and Lake Agnes Tea House (Banff, Alberta)
Sleeping Bear Dunes (Glen Arbor, MI)
Tiptoe through Tulips. Welp, thanks to the coronavirus, a quick trip to the Netherlands isn’t possible this spring. But all around the world, there are tulip fields that will give you a similar experience! Unfortunately, I know in Michigan our Tulip Festival is canceled. But that doesn’t mean you can’t drive around and enjoy tulip fields from your car!
Celebrate Opening Day. Spring and Baseball go hand in hand. Detroit is one of the most LOYAL sports city you’ll find, and when it comes to their Tigers, Opening Day is everyone’s favorite holiday. There is no more true sign that Spring is officially here than when the first pitch of the season is thrown at Comerica Park. And I know for a fact, that we’re not the only city that counts Opening Day as one of the first signs of Spring! (Unfortunately this year, we’re still counting. Fingers crossed baseball season will get to start sooner rather than later!)
Enjoy the Blossoms. I dare you to find something “more Spring” than standing under a tree full of cherry blossoms on a sunny day.
Head to the Farmer’s Market. Warmer weather means Farmers Markets is back in business! We love heading to Eastern Market on Saturdays to shop for our fresh produce and locally made goods. We make an entire day out of it, grabbing breakfast, shopping, grabbing beers at our market’s brewery and of course getting ice cream before we leave. It’s my favorite way to spend a Saturday in the Spring!
Do some Spring Cleaning. Get your Marie Kondo on and start the season with a clean slate! (You can check out some of my Spring Cleaning posts here!)
Go Fishing. Who else loves to fish?! Nothing screams summer to me like a day out on the boat with Trev and my Dad. And Dad’s boat comes out of hiding on the first really beautiful Spring day. Now is the time to grab your fishing licenses and get your poles ready. The fish are biting! (Unless you’re in Michigan, you have to wait until the governors ban expires the first of May.)
Enjoy the Rain. Anyone else love a good rainstorm?! Every Spring I hope for one weekend where it’s a super rainy day. That way I can pull on my Hunters and head out and jump in puddles. (Yes, I’m 5 years old.) And then I always hope by the afternoon the rain gets harder and the thunder and lightening roll in. I LOVE to lay around reading with the windows open, listening to the storm! (And now I sound like Phyllis.)
Visit a Tourist Town. Spring is one of the best times of the year to head to a tourist town. The “fudgies” (what we call tourists in Northern Michigan) haven’t arrived yet (so it’s not too crowded), the weather is beautiful, the snow is melting, the trees are blossoming, and the locals are still friendly. (Because crowds and rude tourists can make the best of the locals cranky!) Take a weekend away to that one town you’ve been dying to visit. Chances are, you’ll get a great discount for visiting in the off season too!
Have a Picnic. The first thing I want to do when the weather gets nice? Pack a picnic and eat outside!
Celebrate Memorial Day. Have a bonfire, grill and enjoy the start of summer! And when Monday rolls around, be sure to head to a Memorial Day parade to pay your respects to those who so bravely fought and died for our country.
What are you most excited to do this Spring?! I’m just ready to get outside and get some Vitamin D!
Alright my friends. I’m off take down my Easter decor and attempt to rearrange my built-ins! I can always make the left side look perfect, but the right side never looks right. Wish me luck!
Have a fantastic day loves! I’ll talk to you all tomorrow.
Xx.
Savannah
Savannah Said It 