Thursday afternoon we hit the road and closed up shop early to head north to Harbor Springs for the 4th of July weekend. Traverse City had the Cherry Festival going on, so Mike and I felt it was the perfect time to head to a little quieter place to relax and shut it all off for a while mentally. Whenever we head back to Harbor Springs during the summer we feel as if we are in some sort of alternate world. It is one of the only places I have been in the last few years where some how I have allowed myself to let go of the pressures of needing to work. That being said we were both pretty excited for this weekend with friends and family.
Whenever we go north we stay with my family (cousin, Andrew, and his girlfriend, Tobin, and her siblings). It is an apartment right above her family’s store, Huzza. The apartment’s back deck feels like a little oasis in the downtown area even when it is crowded during the summer months. The small downtown area is all walkable from their back or front stairs and so there is no need to fight for parking or crowds to enjoy the festivities.
Not to mention the top deck view is possibly one of the best in town. Every night we watched the sun slowly set over the gorgeous boats that sat in the harbor each night.
The day of the 4th was a little bit windy and chilly. The water in the little harbor is all fed by natural springs to begin with so it is typically about 55 degrees, but then add the chilly winter and the water is roughly hanging around 60-65 degrees on a warm day. So, when the winds churn the water the breeze becomes cool.
None the less we all enjoyed everything the downtown life in Harbor Springs has to offer from the sparklers, American beers, giant American flags, bunted porches, parades (that only Harbor Springs knows how to have), and plenty of backyard barbecues of course. There was no shortage of celebrating on the 4th no matter the chill that hung in the air. The music sounded through the town late into the evening even after the local bars had shut their doors and called it a night.
Since the 4th was on a Friday that meant we had the whole rest of the weekend to enjoy summer. Thankfully the rest of the weekend was warmer and less chilly. So, Saturday afternoon we headed out to Sturgeon Bay with Andrew and his friend, Stew. It was super chill and relaxed. The water was surprisingly warm enough to wander through without feeling as if you may get hypothermia at any moment. The beach was gorgeous and we some how found a quiet piece of our own beach even on a crowded day.
On our way back in to town we took the M-119 road that wanders the northern coast of Lake Michigan between Cross Village and Harbor Springs. The drive is gorgeous and worth it if you are in the area. After a day hanging in Sturgeon Bay there is nothing better than the relaxed vibe of the unlined road.
That evening was spent at a backyard dinner with more friends beside the lake in the woods. The kind of landscape that only the Northwest Coast of Michigan does and does so well. There is nothing like the quiet of the waves, the crackle of a fire, and the waining light of a Northern Michigan sunset over Lake Michigan. The smell of a bon fire hanging on your sweater from the night and the sand still stuck to your feet from the day you spent on the water is priceless.
The next day we headed to American Spoon Foods for lunch and then hung out for a while in the Huzza store talking about some ideas for collaboration and honestly we were just getting super inspired by the in-store experience. Tobin and her family do an amazing job curating and establishing a unique style in the store that is truly them. Everything from the home items that are hand-crafted and artistically made to the white painted floors and walls to the fresh scent of their perfumes and candles, it all is a unique experience.
If you have a chance I highly suggest checking out their shop and blog but also their Instagram, pinterest, and ESPECIALLY their tumblr! So good!!! If you are looking for some fresh inspiration, this should be your first stop. These guys have the eye; there is no doubt.
The weekend ended back in Suttons Bay for a short sailing lesson on the new boat before heading back in to the office a little later in the day to catch up after the long weekend.
What did yall do? Was there a favorite way you celebrated Summer?
