Torch Lake

Last weekend John and I drove up north to stay with my mom's cousin Kenna and her husband Dave's house on Torch Lake in Bellaire, MI. They have a beautiful home up there and invited us to come after we spent the day with them at the Michigan game, and it was also our way of celebrating John's 24th birthday. We left after work on Friday and enjoyed a pretty drive up north.

We arrived Friday night and sat by the fire talking with Kenna & Dave, then headed to bed because we were tired after the drive and the work week. We loved our room - it would be cozy warm when the heat from the fire rose upstairs.

I woke John up Saturday morning with presents and balloons on the bed for his birthday!

John modeled his new sweater :) Such a good sport after having just woken up!

After breakfast and showers we hung out and watched some football (Michigan vs. Michigan State & Clemson vs. Maryland). Unfortunately both of our teams lost! During halftime we took a tour of the house - it is right on Torch Lake, which has the clearest, most beautiful water, like the Caribbean. I took a bunch of pictures, so enjoy.

Stairs up to the guest cottage from the main house

After the games we went for a drive and got a tour of the area and also got to walk around Bellaire. We loved seeing all the leaves changing color.

Schuss Resort

This is the main building of another ski resort

So many lakes in Northern Michigan

Main Street in Bellaire



Being silly in one of the shops






Enjoying a birthday drink with Kenna and Dave before dinner

We went to a local microbrewery in downtown Bellaire & it was great - this was a wall of mugs that locals had purchased and left there until they come back.

The next day we headed home and stopped one last time downtown to get some lunch for the road and had one last photo op :)

We had a great mini-vacation and enjoyed the getaway, and we really like getting to see more of Michigan.