Home Sweet Home, Fall Colors Style

This past weekend was nothing short of amazing! Full of weekend adventures with my partner in crime.

Like I said in my last blog, the fall colors in Northern Lower Michigan are usually “peak” a week after the UP. So, Kwin and I spent all weekend searching out the best colors near home: paddle boarding, biking, and hiking around.

We started the weekend with a morning paddle on some close to home inland lakes. Despite the windy conditions, we could not pass up the opportunity; Especially with this amazing 70 degree weather and the colors popping like they are!

 Man, I’m really enjoying this Indian Summer we’ve got going on.

We then made our way to an awesome hiking and biking trail. It is pretty swampy, but has some fun wooden planks weaving through the woods. The trail ends at a great overlook of Lake Skegemog.

Saturday ended with a relaxing hike ending along Lake Michigan. We enjoyed a nice picnic on the private beach that Kwin found. He is pretty good at staking out the off the beaten trails!

With the combination of rain and wind the next few days, Kwin and I fear that the fall colors may be coming to an end. So, this morning we decided to hop on our bikes again and cruise around the back roads/two-tracks by his parents house. We are so lucky to live where we do! Having the accessibility to find such secluded areas and being able to enjoy the great outdoors that we live in. This might have been my favorite part of the weekend! 

After a long, adventurous and fun weekend, it’s time to relax next to a hot fire along side our freshly carved pumpkins. Weekends like these are what we live for!

I hope everyone was able to get out and enjoy this amazing October weather and the Fall colors!

PS. Shoutout to our friends John and Kelly for having a fun pumpkin carving and chill cook-off today! 

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Fall Colors Trip 2017… “This is AMAZING…HOLY COW!”

With the horizon being painted oranges, reds, yellows, and greens…how can one not be tempted to take a beautiful picture? YOU CANT! 

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year; I love the cold mornings and nights, the smells, the sound of crinkling leaves, the colors of the trees, and all the other fall festivities. Kwin and I, over the years, have created many fall traditions: like paddle boarding Elk Lake and Smith Lake, evening runs and bikes, weekend hiking adventures, etc. A special one that started three years ago was heading up to Michigans’ Upper Peninsula, to catch “peak” fall colors!

This year Kwin, myself, and ten other friends set out to continue this tradition on a weekend adventure. We first stopped in Marquette spending the morning biking around the awesome trails and downtown. We then ventured the rest of the way to our cabin just outside the Porcupine Mountain State Park.

We always find cool pit stops on the way to break up the trip. This time we found some cool water falls, and the guys were able to do some cliff jumping too!

 I really don’t think we could have hit the leaves at any better of a time! 

Our weekend was full of lots of hiking both at the cabin and the Porcupine Mountains; Swimming in Lake Superior, saunas, campfires, and enjoying time with good friends!

PS. If you’re looking for the best BBQ in the Upper Peninsula, hit up JW’s in Bergland…amazing food, especially after a day of hiking!

 

Now, if anyone knows Kwin and I, you know that we had to get some paddle boarding in on this trip too. We have always wanted to paddle at Lake of the Clouds, and figured that doing it for the first time in the fall would be amazing…and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

Tahoe SUP inflatable paddle boards are awesome for traveling, especially when you have to hike to your destination!

Michigans’ Upper Peninsula “Peak” fall colors is usually a week or two before here at home. WHICH MEANS MORE FALL COLOR FUN FOR US! Stay tuned for more of our fall adventures, because like I said earlier it’s both Kwin and I’s favorite time of year!

Check out Kwin’s video here!

Happy Fall everyone, not get out and enjoy it while it lasts!