Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Summer Schedule Daze

In May I quit my job and decided to go wherever the wind (aka my family) blew me. So far my time has been split between Michigan and Illinois. My parents are in the middle of moving so the majority of my time in Michigan has been spent packing. My extended family has been busy with camp activities and somehow I got sucked into volunteering. If I'm being completely honest, it doesn't take much coaxing. I was born for camp life! In between all the 5 hour trips from MI to IL, I've been able to do some pretty fun things. Here are some of my recommendations...

ILLINOISE: 
If you haven't gone to downtown Chicago, fix that right now. The city is bustling with plays, musicals, shops, museums, parks, and attractions. If you want to see my suggestions check out my ChiTown post. 

Best Pizza Place: Aurelio's
This has been a wonderful restaurant to my family for years. You can even find my baby picture on the wall in the original restaurant! If you go, get the Super 6 with green olives and their antipasto salad. {They have good gluten free pizza too}

Take the country roads
It was very peaceful to just drive around and look at the cornfields or take pictures on an old railroad. Of course, I also had the windows down and country music blasting. The clouds were nice and fluffy, the grass was green, and the birds and bugs were singing. 

Volunteer
Some nice person bought my coffee one morning as a pay it forward. I mowed the lawn for my Nana for free. We (Nana, mom and I) set up food for a church potluck. I scanned photos for my aunt onto her computer and helped her upload some onto Facebook. All of these things were simple and didn't take much time or effort but the brightened someone's day. I've never made a point to volunteer on vacation but this trip has changed my tune. 

Kishwaukee River
If you are ever near the Rockford area, I recommend you float down the Kishwaukee River. All you need are some tubes, friends, and a cooler filled with snacks and drinks. It is a great way to unplug and soak up some sun. I recommend that you wear old bathing suits and good water shoes/crocks/chacos. 

MICHIGAN:
Michigan is known as the pure state for a reason. Michiganders celebrate all four seasons by enjoying the outdoors as much as possible. Between hike/bike trails, ski slopes, apple picking, boating/floating/swiming in rivers/lakes, people love to be outside and they take care to preserve their favorite environments. I will say that this summer I mostly spent my time in or close to Detroit. Yes the city has some struggles but those left are doing a pretty good job trying to make it great again. Not giving up hope for them yet...

Ford Museum
First thing on my list because it is the coolest museum that I have ever had the pleasure visiting. I have never seen everything in a day but here are some of my favorite parts: riding in a Model T and touring the little Greenfield Village (so many random famous houses and the tour guides do a great job), helping build the Model T (they get visitors to help assemble one every day but it gets finished pretty early), walking through the Dymaxion House, sitting in the Rosa Parks bus, making a paper airplane and testing it out, and walking through the car collection (including a snack and finishing with the presidential cars).

Local pub/bar
Most local places are known for their house specials. They also have great hard ciders and other seasonal drinks that are fun to try or mix and match. My favorite place is Rochester Mills Beer Company. Their shop is set up in an historic knitting factory with a sit down restaurant feel on one side and pool tables and bar vibes on the other side. They also beautifully showcase their brewery behind a glass wall so the patrons can see their brewing process throughout the day.

Eastern Market(Spring/Summer)
One of the largest markets in the states with indoor and outdoor spaces with anything under the sun to buy or eat.

Local Cider Mills (Summer/Fall)
Best fresh apple cider you will ever have and the flavors naturally change throughout the season. Some let you pick your own apples and some press the apples right in front of you. My favorite is Yates Cider Mills built in 1863 and still powered by the spring next to it. The best day to visit is Apple Fritter Friday but go early because the donuts are best served hot and they sell out fast!

Torch Lake
Rumor is that Torch Lake is the third most beautiful lake in the world. As a spring fed lake, the water stays crystal clear and pretty shades of blue all year long. If you want to enjoy the UP {upper peninsula} feels, make a pit stop here!