Enjoying the summer of 2012

This year, I opted to take the month of July off. It's the first time I've done that since starting my business in 2005 and let me tell you, I needed it. For the past 7 years, my summer months have been booked solid with photo sessions, and I hadn't had a true vacation since...well...it's been so long I can't even remember. And let me tell you, when you can't remember your last vacation, you have a problem.

So, alas, I gave myself a true vacation. And when I say true vacation, I'm talking about no cell phone service, cabin in the middle of the Hiawatha National Forest and nothing but nature surrounding me. Ahhhhhh.

We started (and I say we because I enjoyed this amazing experience with my wonderful boyfriend, Jared. He's new to my blog, so welcome him with open arms. He's a keeper...) We started by visiting Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I have never been, and it's an absolute MUST if you've never been there. It doesn't even feel like you're in Michigan. True beauty that pictures cannot even do justice for.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior. In reality, it looks like you're in Hawaii.

I knew Michigan had waterfalls, but nothing like what I expected. We had 17 waterfalls in our area alone...17!!! We only saw a few, but I was more than impressed by what we did see...Here's Miner's Falls

And Munising Falls

And Mosquito Falls. Jared is actually fishing over the falls. Perfect for any avid fly-fisherman!!

Mosquito Falls is actually 3 waterfalls in one. Mesmerizing, to say the least!

The UP is filled with secluded lakes, and this was one of them we fished on for the day. This is Chicago Lake. No houses on it at all - just us, our fishing poles and a little fishing boat! PERFECT date day!

To our surprise, the lake had a small, private island, which we stopped and had lunch on...with wine, of course! Did I mention perfect date day???

Anddddddd, we carved our initials in a tree (with a wine opener)...per my romantic boyfriend :)

Time for some fly fishing, which I have never been before. We took a guide and ventured out to the Escanaba River, where I also saw my first Bald Eagle (and, of course, I didn't have my camera ready).

And here's me with my trophy Brook Trout. Had no idea this thing was a keeper. Hey, I fish for Bass and Blue Gill, not river Trout. It was 14 1/2", which apparently is a winner! It's being mounted :)

And, of course, Jared showed me up....here are his catches for the day.

One of the best parts of our fly fishing day was that we fished by a waterfall all day. PER-FECT-O!!

Yes, our dogs are spoiled. They had their own bedroom in the cabin! We stayed at the Ken Buck Resort, which I highly, highly recommend if you're planning a trip to the UP. There are only 5 cabins on the resort, and the hosts, Bill and Cindy, went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. It is in the Hiawatha National Forest, but you are literally within driving distance of everything beautiful about the UP.