Chubb Adventures

Who knew Michigan had such tremendous beauty! From St. Joseph all the way to Mackinac Island, it was a breathtaking journey and much needed retreat.

Chad and I would see memories of our time restoring the cabin a year ago pop up and it would seem so far away from those pain staking moments in time. When we are in the middle of something life changing and difficult, we feel like it may last forever that way, but we are always so very wrong. This too shall pass, as the saying goes. So this year, we played hard. We worked so hard at times last year it led us to wonder what we were thinking of when purchasing a fixer upper cabin in the Smoky’s, yet remaining ever grateful for the opportunity to do just that. Fix up a cabin in the mountains!

South Haven

We started our Michigan journey with a trip up the coast, stopping along the way to get out and see some sights.

The quaint little city and beautiful beachfront was just what our souls needed. The warm sand on our feet made the day!

We then ventured over to Saugatuck State Park. Hiking a trail to a beach and finding a cool shaded spot on a sand dune was just the ticket.

Traverse City

We stayed in a nice airbnb in Traverse City which was a great stopping point to see many of the surrounding area sights. We stopped at a food truck square and had a great burger for dinner. We were pretty hungry, so the burgers were outstanding!

We spent the morning touring the asylum in TC. The Traverse City State Hospital, also known as the Northern Michigan Asylum, was a psychiatric hospital in Traverse City, Michigan, that operated from 1885 until its closure in 1989. The facility was part of a statewide system of mental health institutions designed in the 19th century, utilizing the “Kirkbride Plan,” which emphasized moral treatment in a therapeutic environment. The hospital provided care for patients with mental illnesses through farming, gardening, and other activities aimed at rehabilitation. After its closure, the sprawling campus fell into disrepair but has since been revitalized and redeveloped into a mixed-use space known as The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, housing shops, restaurants, residences, and offices, while preserving much of its historical architecture. This was a place for an extensive nursing school as well. What an amazing place to tour a piece of healthcare history.

Old Mission Point Lighthouse

We ventured over to Old Mission Point Lighthouse Park and sat on the beach with our feet in the sand for a few hours. The sound of the waves crashing, the coastal breeze, and the gulls overhead is just the ticket to spend an afternoon relaxing.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

From here we concluded our day at Sleeping Bear Dunes. This is a one way ticket down to a $3000 rescue – so we of course stayed on the top of the dune and watched the most amazing sunset. It was a chilly windy evening as the sun set, but very welcomed after a busy day of sightseeing.

Torch Lake

The next morning we began our day on a doc overlooking Torch Lake with a yoga session. Being present and practicing mindfulness in a place like this was incredible. We certainly love our yoga sessions and after over 8 months of daily practice, we are definitely on our way to being yogis. This lake was so clear and had such a beautiful green tint.

Mackinac Island

Our favorite part of the trip and one of our most favorite days yet as a couple, was certainly this adventure! Mackinac Island is a place where no automobiles are allowed. You have the option of bikes or horse transportation.

We toured the 8 mile perimeter of the island on bikes. The wind in our hair and the sights of the coast all around us was invigorating! We will think back to this day for some time to come. On days when there are difficulty or challenges these are the times we hold super close. We will definitely be back to this extraordinary place.

Petoskey Park

We finished this amazing day at Petoskey Park, watching another glorious sunset.

This was an extraordinary trip from start to finish. We had such a great time, relaxing, adventuring, and wandering! Hope you eat to wander somewhere with someone you hold very dearly sometime soon!