I was a bit MIA last week. After finals week, my amazing friend was kind and hospitable enough to invite us up to her family’s cabin on Lake Michigan. Instead of writing papers we sat on the beach, built fires, and didn’t let stress touch us. I had never been to Michigan before, but it’s a really beautiful place. I never knew a lake could resemble an ocean so strongly. Thanks for everyone who commented while I was gone, and I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get back to all your posts. Will be making up for it 🙂
I don’t have any frugal tips on lodging in the area, but here are some things we did to keep costs down:
- Used gas rewards from our local grocery store to fill an empty tank before we left.
- Do things outside. We spent some good time on the beach and walking to the lighthouse in town. Some tourists in a pirate ship (yes, a pirate ship) shot one of their cannons. I nearly jumped off the dock at the noise. So we got to enjoy part of that tour without even taking it. :p
- Buy food at the grocery store and cook it yourself if at all possible. We had a kitchen available to us, but we mostly used a campfire, anyways.
- If you must eat out, eat at Clementine’s. Most of their food was under $10, and they had the best burgers I’ve ever had.
- Apparently Clementine’s is really hard to get into during tourist season with lines around the block. But we walked right in. Travelling before Memorial Day and after Labor Day doesn’t just eliminate the problem of the crowds; it also saves you money as many businesses haven’t racked up their prices yet.
That’s the area where I grew up! When most people think of Michigan, they think Detroit. The west side of the state is completely different. I disc jockeyed at Clementines sometimes. It was fun to play music for the crowd and watch boats come in.
Very cool! It was incredibly beautiful…and Clementine’s was amazing!!! Plus I loved the whole beach thing minus the nasty salty taste.
sounds like a blast!
I didn’t realize that the great lakes were so much like an ocean either. I love spending time outdoors and I’ve been trying to make a conscious effort to do more of that lately. Not only is it cheap entertainment, but it also provides all kinds of physical and mental health benefits.
Absolutely! For me it’s kind of spiritual, too.
I don’t know if all the great lakes are quite as majestic as Lake Michigan. I’ve been to Erie before and I don’t remember being quite as struck.
Glad you had a good time!!
I grew up surrounded by the Great Lakes and they are beautiful. You can look for miles and never see land, just as you compared it to the ocean. Then I came out west and what they refer to hear as a lake I would refer to as a pond because I compare them to the great lakes.
After seeing Lake Michigan, I can understand! Kind of like after I lived out west, I giggled when easterners called the Appalachians mountains.
It’s great that you could get away for awhile, and clear your head with some needed R&R. I was MIA for awhile myself, and I noticed that a few other folks were too. In any case, welcome back, and I’ll see you when you make your rounds in the blogosphere.
Thanks! I hope you had a great time doing whatever you were doing!
Sounds like a lot of fun. Glad you had a good time.
Much thanks. 🙂
It does look like a beach!
I know! It’s so crazy.
I always try to follow your tip about buying and preparing your own food…for the most part. Obv, you’re on vacation so you probably want to eat out once or twice. Since we have food allergies in the family though, we get SO nervous about eating at restaurants we’ve never been. That makes it a little easier!
Oooo I bet. The one blessing of food allergies? Kind of? lol
dh has family in MI and we love it there. we typically eat out once a day while on vacation, rarely dinner, tho. glad you enjoyed it!
That’s so true….eating lunch out as opposed to dinner can save a ton as a lot of restaurants raise their prices for dinner. And thank you! 🙂
Glad you had fun, I have been wanting to go to Michigan, it seems so great in the summers.
It is. It’s definitely worth the trip sometime if you get the chance!
I grew up within a mile of Lake Michigan and spent most of my childhood raoming in and around the Lake.
More recently my in-laws bought a place on the water in Wisconsin. miles of sandy beach in both directions. gorgeous and they graciously let us use it whenever we can make our way there.
Glad you got to see and enjoy it!
That’s so awesome. I’ve spent some time in the lake country of Wisconsin before. It’s so, so beautiful. I can only imagine being on the great lakes there, though!
Sounds like an awesome time. I agree with buying food from a grocery store. It allows you to be more local and preparing food in a new place is always a fun experience.
Awesome! You were in my neck of the woods! Over 90% of Michigan is just woods and lakes and beauty! Detroit has really given people the wrong idea of how much there is to see and do. Thanks for representing my home land! Glad to hear you had a good time!
Sounds beautiful! So nice of your friend to let you stay there 🙂 I agree about buying groceries and cooking yourself. That’s a huge money saver. I’d love to visit there one day!
Don’t think I will make it to Lake Michigan any time soon, but I like your general tips for vacationing cheaply–and I’m glad you got away! 🙂
I love your picture and am jealous of your stresslessness!