Up North to the UP!

Not like we don’t get our fill of the UP (Union Pacific) around here with Greg’s job….we decided to visit Upper Michigan (The UP) for our first vacation of the year over Father’s Day weekend.

My Grandma’s Brother, Uncle Jerry, passed away in December and they had a memorial for him up there that weekend so it was a perfect time to revisit my youth stopping grounds and take the kids on a Camping road trip to the UP.

While all of my family members stayed in a hotel, I forced Greg and the girls to indulge in my lifelong dream to camp Up North as we probably won’t visit up there for a long long time from now.

After our 3.5 hr trip to Wisconsin on Thursday night, we stayed with my parents, got Greg’s Dad’s camper loaded up, and set out early Friday morning for Manistique, MI. After living in BLAHHHH Illinois for 2+yrs, when I saw the greenery of the UP I was almost brought to tears.

The Campground (Indian Lake State Park) was where we always had family picnics as a child. You see, I would stay there for about 10 days out of my summer vacation, every year as long as I can remember. It is where my Grandmother and all her family grew up so I learned a lot of things while vacationing with Gramma and Grampa. Like how to play cards, make sand castles, swim in gorgeous lake water of the Good part of Lake Michigan, and my favorite – how to eat ice cream from Dairy Kreme every night regardless of how full you were.

Getting back to the campground. It was gorgeous. We literally camped right next to Indian Lake. It was fabulous. The first day it was about 60 with 30mph (a bit chilly) but the rest of the trip was just sunshine and summertime UP temps of 65/70.

The UP Sunset our first night there.

I may have to frame this picture…

Our first full day in the UP we met up with my sister and her family in Munising, which is where the Pictured Rocks of the great UP are. Google it. Go there. It is so neat!

The Pictured Rocks go all up and down the shore of Lake Superior.

Morgan, Kendra and Shelby.

Here they are…this picture doesn’t do justice to their beauty and size.

The five grandkids. Shelby (4), Brooke (2), Morgan (5), Kendra (6, and Hadley (3).

Our next stop was the Loggers Run. They used to slide logs down the big sand dunes to the shoreline. This is all sand people!!

We were all standing on a SUPER steep cliff here!!

Our last stop was the Grand Marais. We ate a quaint little rustic country diner type sandwich shop, watched a water air show and played on the playground. By the time we were done, we were ALL exhausted!

My sister Pam and her hubs Jeff.

That was the end of Day One! Phew!

Day Two in the UP was Father’s Day. We started out the morning by heading to the Big Springs State Park, home of Kitchi-ti-Kipi!! Kitchi-ti-kipi is a natural spring that you can take a man-powered raft out over, has fish, is gorgeous and remains 40degrees all year round. One of my favorite things about Manistique, MI.

First, the Father’s Day Pictures.

Next up, Big Spring!!

That morning was the best ever. Our last stop of the day and the main reason for coming on this trip was a memorial for my Uncle Jerry at his favorite spot – Indian Lake Country Club.

Cousin Love.

Mom, Grampa, Grampa, Pam and Me.

Shelby “Dancing” she says..

We took all these kids for a ride in the golf cart around the course. Hilarious.

And our Family Photo. It was so great to get together, take this picture, and celebrate the life of Uncle Jerry. God Bless him, his family, and the UP!