I already planned your next vacation, read all about it!

I love that every single person has a definition of their "perfect vacation". Some people are total beach lovers while others love the mountains. Some love to travel out of the country to visit places rich in culture. I, on the other hand, love to travel north. It's not your typical "vacation spot" but it is my favorite.

About 20 years ago, my grandparents took me to Michigan on a weekend getaway to visit my cousin. Something about those Lake Michigan beach towns completely spoke to my soul. Because of COVID, our original vacation plans were cancelled. Figuring it would be in our best interest to travel somewhere near by, I suggested Michigan. We spent the first half of our vacation in Holland and our second half in Lake Ann. I wanted to blog about our trip because in all honesty, it was in the top 3 vacations of my life. It was beautiful, laid back, and exactly what we needed. Here is some inspiration and suggestions if you plan to visit in the future!

Holland Must Do's:

Neil's Dutch Village-

This is the place that stands out the most to me when I visited Holland all those years ago. It's a little village that is dedicated to the town's Dutch heritage. They have a little fudge and coffee shop, trinkets to buy (wooden shoes), and activities for children. It's so fun to explore!

Holland State Park-

On our first morning in Michigan, we got up early and went to Holland State Park. The beach was beautiful with crystal clear water, white sand, a playground, and a beautiful red lighthouse. We walked out onto the pier and saw fish, ducks, and seagulls. Everyone was so friendly. People stopped and asked if we wanted our picture taken and talked with us about their families and where we were from.

We went back in the evening to watch the sunset. The beach was packed with others who had the same idea. It was incredible to see the sun go down over the lake (even if we nearly missed the entire thing all together haha). This is a MUST DO. Next time, when we aren't running late, we will grab some ice cream and find the perfect spot. The sunset was breathtaking.

Tunnel Park-

I am all about finding local parks when we are on vacation. What better way to get outdoors and have some fun for free? Tunnel Park was clean and in such good condition. The kids absolutely loved playing. We noticed a small sand dune and some stairs on the edge of the park. We decided to carry the kids to the top in hopes we might stumble across a great view. Boy, it was BEAUTIFUL up there. The views were breathtaking. It just might have been the highlight of my entire trip.

Downton Holland-

I loved the downtown area. There were so many shops and restaurants. The area was so clean and well taken care of which isn't always the norm for downtown areas. If we had more time in Holland, we would have definitely spent more time down there. And I would have definitely ordered more mozzarella sticks from The Curragh Irish Pub.

Lake Ann Must Do's:

Sleeping Bear Dunes State Park:

Good Morning America rated Sleeping Bear Dunes State Park the most beautiful place in the United States in 2011. And I am telling you, there is a reason they did.

Empire Bluff Trail-

Do this, do this, do this. This is an incredible hike, only 1 1/2 miles long. The views are incredible. I remember just standing there, taking it all in, and being like, "How can this be real?" It's not the most stroller friendly trail but it is doable if you have a jogging stroller.

Dune Climb-

We literally turned into the Dune Climb entrance as a joke. We had just hiked the trail and we figured that everyone was burnt out and not in the mood to climb a ginormous sand dune. But to our surprise, my father in law rolled down his car window and said, "Let's do it". I told everyone I would watch from the car because there was no way I was going to climb up a sand mountain. However, Hunter overheard me say, "I couldn't". He reminded me that I am "big and strong and can do anything". HELLO! How could I refute his sweet words of empowerment? And WOAH, what an incredible reminder that children hear the things we say. So...I got out of the car and climbed an enormous sand dune. And guess what? Hunter climbed it with us. And despite some leg cramps, I had no regrets!

Maritime Museum-

This was a neat museum which taught us about the US Coast Guard and how they operated many years ago. We got to explore the outdoor area which included the beach. We skipped rocks in the clearest water we had ever seen!

Other tips-

You cannot beat a lakeview VRBO. There is something so calming about a cup of coffee or a fire by the lake. Be sure to find lodging with a view!

If you're traveling with others, create a meal plan beforehand and determine who is cooking what. This was a lifesaver for us, not to mention it saved us so much money in the long run. It was fun to cook and gave me "purpose" when on a trip. I don't know if I am the only one on the planet that sometimes gets into a "funk" on vacation. But cooking made me feel productive!

R E L A X, enjoy, and have some FUN! I finished two books and my husband had a nerf gun war with the kids haha!

Michigan is a MUST do. It would be a blast as a intimate getaway with your spouse or as a family trip with the kids! I hope I provided you with some tangible information. Feel free to message me if you have any other questions.

PS- I love the little town of Holland so much that I thought it would make a really good baby name in the future...baby Holland, Hollie for short :)

Someday, maybe!

With love,

Jordan