Loving Lately: Road Trips
I love road trips. Some of my best memories growing up are from visiting new places with my family. Trying new foods from roadside restaurants and diners, taking in new scenery, and people watching (I can’t help it, I’m a studier of human nature). I still get excited about it today. I love taking my kids to see new places, getting to try new dishes and meeting new people.
View from our hotel room of the Grand Traverse Bay
It’s also no secret that I’m a huge fan of the state of Michigan. The vibrant seasonal changes, the great lakes and the produce, it’s all so good. This time my family and I headed up to the northwest shore of Michigan’s lower peninsula, one of my favorite places in the world.
The Leelanau Peninsula, the world renown tunnel of trees, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, and even a foodie destination gaining national recognition in Traverse City and Suttons Bay were a few of our stops. I’ve been here many times, but never in the fall at its peak color. Beautiful.
Some of my favorite things included when it finally sunk in to the kids, that the journey was the destination. “Where are we going?”, they would ask. “This is it, look out your window at the trees.”
We drove and took in the natural wonders until we needed to stretch our legs, or eat, or check out attractions too intriguing to pass by; such as road side stands and quaint general stores.
Good Hart General Store
Have I mentioned my appreciation of a good cup of coffee? Thank you Traverse City for your selection of cafes, with even organic ingredients, and food trucks with home bases so I can get Korean tacos while your trucks aren’t out.
Organic Pumpkin Spice Latte
And although there is no place like home… sometimes I feel the need to hit the open road and see what I can see.
i absolutely love this post SB! As you know, my roots are in Michigan and as I’ve become older, I have realized how lucky I was to grow up in such beautiful surroundings ~ the Great Lakes, the UP and of course my forever favorite, Gibraltar, Michigan! xoxoxo
❤️Thanks Colleen:) You always have a place to stay here!
Thank you!! xoxoxo
I wish I would have known that road side stand had white chocolate popcorn… That’s sounds good right there… Great vacation! Really nice post.
Should’ve gotten out of the car, lol. Looks like we have to go back!
Great photos, Sadie! What a fun road trip!
Thanks Anna:) Because I am not as organized as I think I am all photos were taken with my iPhone! And because I have technical handicaps, I will forever link that trip to your anniversary;)
Aww .. that’s sweet about our anniversary! The photos look great! 🙂 And I also spotted the “white chocolate popcorn” sign — yum!
Lol. Nothing says ‘happy anniversary’ like a photo of my family at Sleeping Bear Dunes posted to your Facebook page! That’s so funny too, because I was looking at all of their pies and apples, and I missed the white chocolate popcorn!
Lol … I loved the picture!! 😀 Oh, I can completely understand — I would have been looking at the pies, too, I’m sure!! Yum! 😉 I love road trips like that — where you find such fun places to stop and browse!
We live too far apart ?
We definitely live too far apart!!
Oh!! Lol!! Now I remember about the anniversary post, Sadie!! 😀 You make me smile!!
Such beautiful pictures!! Any time we went on vacation, my mom always said it starts the minute we leave the driveway. I loved that– it gives the freedom to explore and enjoy the journey. 🙂 I loved reading this!
Agreed! There’s just something about knowing you’re on vacation that makes even leaving the driveway exciting:) Thanks Katie!
My favorite of your posts so far! Although I’m a little biased, clearly. So sorry I missed you that day. A lot of these places are now my back yard! So thankful!
Thanks Alex:) Yes, it would have been fun for us all to catch up! We’ll be back:)
A few of those pics Owen put on Path would have been cool too. I remember I really dig a couple of them. Keep up the good work!
Yeah, between you and me; sometimes he takes some good photos 😉 Thanks Alex.
I need to feature your photography on a Loving Lately! I’ve been waiting for a website…
Road trips…love ’em!! Been up the east coast to the tip of Maine and down to South Carolina…driven west as far as Chicago…also road tripped California’s coast up and down..so many wonderful views and experiences! Haven’t been to Michigan yet! Thanks for sharing yours Sadie 🙂 🙂
Thanks Linda:) I still have to do Maine! Hwy 1 along the California coast is breathtaking!
It is!?
I also love road trips and the memories that they carry! what a special little trip and lovely memories! Sounds like a wonderful state and i have never been before! Thanks for sharing this Sadie!
Thanks Lynn:) It is beautiful here! Of course anywhere you are with your family is priceless!
yes for sure!
I ❤️ Traverse City, Korean beef tacos and every place you traveled too! Thanks for sharing the beautiful pics!
Thanks Rachel:) It is because of you we sought out the Korean tacos!
It looks like you had a ton of fun! I love road trips too, I’m actually one of the only people in my family that loves driving and doesn’t mind being on the road for hours at a time. Everyone else finds it boring, but I could never get bored with all the lovely things there are to see out the window!
?Me either!