For more fun in the sun, head to the Ludington State Park! You can camp or spend the day wandering around. They have endless places to walk including the skyline trail, which literally gives you a bird’s eye view of the park. There’s another great beach waiting for you here too, just find the big brick beach house and make your way down the sand to the water. Follow the sandy trail about a mile and discover the Big Sable Lighthouse, a favorite among locals and tourists alike. Further back in the park you can walk around the Hamlin Lake Dam. Back here you can also rent a kayak, canoe or paddle boat to venture out onto Hamlin Lake, safely away from the dam I might add.

Explore downtown Ludington’s shops and eateries. Stop at the Book Mark to pick up your next beach read, check out Gordy’s for all your Ludington merch or design your own T-shirt and stop by Todd and Brad Reed photography to take a little bit of Ludington home with you.

Getting hungry? A breakfast at House of Flavors is a perfect way to start your day. From sweet to savory, this 50s style diner has it all. For lunch check out Sportsman’s, this Irish Pub offers comfort food at its finest, their pizza is fantastic. For dinner head down James Street to James Port Brewery for a burger and a local brew! Their Cajun Chicken Sandwich is amazing! Or looking for something a little out of the ordinary? Head to the Blue Moon Bistro, a fusion restaurant featuring American, French and Japanese flavors with an in- house sushi kitchen. Blu Moon also has a rooftop open air deck that is open during the summer months.

End your night by watching the Badger come into port at the Ludington Municipal Marina and then after it docks take a walk along the water to the Harbor View Marina for a beautiful sunset view. On your way back home grab a Chuck Wagon pizza, it’s a life changing pizza that’s kept secret by the locals.

I hope you have a wonderful time exploring my town, it’s a beautiful treasure nestled on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Ann Arbor is lucky enough to have the Huron River flowing directly through some of the prettiest parts of our town. In the spring and fall, paddling is a great way to enjoy the cooler weather and see the seasons changing. In the summer, floating on a tube is one of the most fun ways you can spend a summer day.

One of the first places I really fell in love with in Ann Arbor was Nichol’s Arboretum – or simply “The Arb”. Not only does the 123-acre park have one of the largest collections of flower species in the state, but it’s also home to many art & cultural activities like Shakespeare in the Park, hidden Fairy Doors, and more!

University of Michigan’s campus is so intertwined with the city of Ann Arbor, it becomes hard to tell whether you’re on or off campus. This creates an atmosphere where campus seems to belong to students and locals alike with the center of campus, or the Diag, serving as a town square. Covered in large trees, the area is perfect for picnicking with a blanket or hammock. The people watching will never disappoint.

Hands down the best breakfast place I have ever been too, Northside Grill is a time-less diner style restaurant and local favorite. Right off the Broadway Bridge near Argo Canoe Livery, this tiny diner has been serving amazing breakfasts and great soups for nearly 3 decades. Pro tip –ask to substitute the regular mayo for their house-made pepper mayo.

Right off of central campus at the corner of North University and Main, the Red Hawk Bar & Grill can be easy to miss or confuse with its more famous neighbor Ashley’s. Almost never busy but always serving incredible food and draft beer, Red Hawk is truly a hidden state-street gem. This is my go-to for fish and chips or fish tacos. Grab an outside table in the late afternoon to really feel the pulse of the city.

Picking a favorite dinner spot in this foodie-city is nearly impossible. Ann Arbor is blessed to have many different thriving ethnic communities, and this is reflected in our restaurant scene. If you’re in the mood for traditional American, I always recommend Pretzel Bell. Indian food? Shalimar. Asian fusion? Black Pearl or Of Rice and Men. You really can’t go wrong with any of the amazing establishments along Main Street.