Guys. It’s already AUGUST. How is this possible?! Every year around this time, as the stores start putting out Back to School supplies and Fall Decor, I sit back and realize Summer is almost behind us. And every year I also realize that I have not lived my Summer to the fullest.
It seems that while I have the best intentions to have the best summer ever, I end up letting real life get the best of me, and spend my summers busting my butt at my job and forgetting to take some time to enjoy myself and this beautiful weather before the leaves start to fall. (PS… I’m like SUPER excited about that. But your girl is just trying to live out these last few weeks of summer to the fullest!)
And this year? It’s even worse than ever. I feel like summer has passed me by, and I haven’t really done anything summer-y simply because we’re still in a global pandemic.
So here is my personal reminder, that we’ve got 27 days of Summer left… and it’s seriously time to get going on those Summer Bucket Lists!
Here are a few items you can still cross off before the Summer is over!
Eat Ice Cream. It was Number 1 on my list last summer, it was Number 1 again this summer, and it’s Number 1 now. Why? Because ice cream is the quintessential summer treat, and Michigan makes some of the best there is. My favorites are Moomer’s in Traverse City and House of Flavors in Ludington and Manistee and of course, Hudsonville Ice Cream! (Click here to order some of the yummiest ice cream EVER!)
Take a Hike. Hiking is good for the soul. Whether you’re trying to escape into nature, clear your head, or just looking for something fun to do, hiking is always the answer. Plus, it’s really easy to social distance out in nature. We’re lucky in Michigan. While we might not have mountains, we do have picturesque dunes, rocky lakeshore and lush forests you can explore. You’ll find hundreds of hikes around our great state, but I think some of the best call the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Pictured Rocks home.
Head to the beach. It’s not summertime in Northern Michigan without a beach day… or 10. Grab your sunscreen, pack a picnic and go enjoy a perfect day at the beach.
Go fishing. In the words of my husband “Eat.Sleep.Fish.”
Find a Summer Brew. Michigan is home to hundreds of incredible craft breweries! Most have special summer brews. Take some time to taste as many as you can to find your new summer favorite. Might I suggest Short’s Soft Parade Shandy, or Bell’s Oberon and Larry’s Latest Flamingo Fruit Fight? Those are my three favorite summer beers! My other favorite is a non-Michigan brew… Summer Shandy!
Find Your Park. The National Park Service encourages everyone to find their park. And while I’ll tell you without hesitation my favorite national park is Grand Teton (find all my Jackson Hole posts here) my heart belongs to The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. If you don’t fall in love with The Dunes the second you step foot on them, you just may not have a heart. So get outside in your home state, and find your park!
Go Shopping at a Farmer’s Market. Just remember… mask up and stay six feet away from others. Here in Michigan, Fresh coasts = Fresh flavors. With thousands of farms, orchards and vineyards, my home state is one of the best places to get the freshest ingredients for your summer dishes. While there are some awesome big ones in bigger cities (Eastern Market in Detroit is a full day experience that I adore), I love the little local markets that are sprinkled up and down M22!
Eat Outside. Something about summer just makes me want to eat outside. Whether it’s picnics in the park, food trucks on the side of the road, or picture perfect patios, food tastes better under the sweet summer sunshine. Plus… it’s safest to eat outside right now if you’re enjoying your favorite local restaurants.
Snuggle up by the fire. Arguably my favorite summer tradition is sitting around the fire with my family. We sit there for hours laughing, talking and playing lawn games. Some of my favorite memories are around the fire. And if you already have a fire roaring, you might as well…
Make Hobo Pies. Is this what everyone calls them? Or just us Northern Michiganders? I’ve heard them called campfire pies too. Either way, grab your fillin’s and make a delicious treat! In my family we like to have Hobo Pie night and make all sorts of dinner ones, like pizza or nachos. But we almost always have everything we need on hand to make dessert Hobo Pies any night of the week.
Catch a sunset. Because Michigan Summer Sunsets are the prettiest in the whole entire world.
Spend a Day On The Lake: Grab a boat and get out onto on a lake. You’ll have the best, most “summer” day ever.
And there you have it my friends. All of these things can be done in the next few weeks… What are your plans to make the most of the rest of your summer?! Mine is to eat more ice cream.
How are you going to make the most of the rest of your summer? Are you ready to leave summer behind, or are you holding on to the very last second?
I’ll be back tomorrow, my loves! Have a great Tuesday!
Xx.
Savannah
Savannah Said It 