Megan...Again

​According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary a Bucket List is, “a list of things that one has not done before but wants to do before dying.” I have tried to sit down and write my own Bucket List a number of times. When I do, I realize that there are things I want to accomplish that I don’t even know about yet and it also feels a little morbid, but mostly I’m kind of lazy. So...anyway, my personal Bucket List has never been written, just thought about and stored in the back of my mind.

The idea was made popular by the 2007 movie Bucket List starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson and since then it’s kind of turned into one of those buzzwords.

​ There are bucket lists for every occasion now. Since I haven’t been able to...

---

...make a “Things I want to do before I die Bucket List”, I totally stole my friend’s idea and instead I have created my own Michigan Summer Bucket List.  Before the summer dies and winter is back with it’s cold vengeance these are few things I would like to do this year. It is in no particular order, isn’t set in stone and it can be added to at any time.

• Visit a lighthouse.

Michigan is home to over 100 light houses that sit on its many shores. I’m sure we can find at least one to visit this summer. Do you have a favorite?

• Play on the sand dunes.

Can you believe that my family and I have never been to any of Michigan’s sand dunes?! There are over 300,000 acres of sand dunes and we finally have a trip planned to visit one of the many places that offer amazing views and thrills.

• Go Camping!!

For my family camping is a must do tradition, that’s why it gets double exclamation points. Thankfully Michigan offers more than a thousand campgrounds throughout the state to choose from. You can choose from rustic to modern set ups for those of us that enjoy running water and electricity. Favorite campgrounds?

• Swim in Lake Michigan.

Another must for our summer to do list. Ah, Lake Michigan. It holds a special place in my heart. Growing up here on the west side of the state Lake Michigan is the place to be in the summer. There is nothing like spending the day at the beach and then watching the most gorgeous sunset over the big lake.

• Eat banana splits.

I love ice cream. I also love Banana Splits. They are the healthier type of sundae because of the fruit. Right? Do you have a favorite ice cream joint?

• Have a bonfire and eat s’mores.

Bonfires are another summer time must. It goes hand in hand with camping and s’mores are a must at a bonfire. We like to try out new s’mores recipes. My favorite at the moment is made with a peanut butter cookie instead of a graham cracker. Yummy!!

• Go to an outdoor concert.

I don’t know about you, but there is something about an outdoor concert that screams summer time to me. My favorite concert I ever attended was outdoors in July. At end of the night fireflies lit up the sky as the band played a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah. It was pure magic.

• Go tubing, kayaking or canoeing.

Living in Newaygo County we are lucky to have close access to the Muskegon River. We definitely plan on taking advantage of that this summer.

• Paint Faces.

I love to paint faces and for some reason it happens mostly in the summer time. Who doesn’t love to get their face painted at the carnival or the fair? Luckily for my kiddos I will set up shop in the kitchen and the next thing I know the entire neighborhood is here and I have a house full of dragons and butterflies.

• Pick blueberries.

Last summer we picked blueberries with our friends and had a picnic in the middle of the blueberry patch. We had the best time and can’t wait to do it again. I also make a pretty amazing blueberry cheesecake. Mmmm…cheesecake…

This is just a short list of the many amazing things that our great state has to offer us. Make your own list and please share with the rest of us! Feel free to borrow from mine as well. I don’t know about you but I am ready to have a marvelous Michigan summer.





​