During college, I spent the summers before my Junior and Senior years living with my best friend, Tracy, “up north” at her family’s cottage on Little Traverse Lake, nestled between Leland and Glen Arbor right off of M-22 in the Leelanau Peninsula in Northern Michigan. It was my first introduction to this magical region of Northern Michigan with some of the most unbelievable scenery that you’ll find anywhere—bright blue lakes, massive sand dunes, amazing sunsets. We floated our days away on the lake, working as waitresses at a fine dining restaurant called the Leelanau Country Inn every night. I try to get back there often and have made many new memories over the decades since my first encounter—I guess you can say it’s my happy place. Feeling cagey from recovering from surgery and finding a desire to move my body and change my scenery, I went up there in March for a few days. It’s so amazing how a place can just transport you, stop time and refresh your spirit all at the same time.

This collection captures some of my favorite scenes from the area but I’ve kept them somewhat beautifully non-specific with the hope that hey may remind you of place special to you. What is your Happy Place?