Tucked in along the coast of Lake St. Clair in Southeast Michigan is the charming little town of New Balitmore.  It's quaint downtown and lakeside location give this little town an up north feel while still being close enough to major cities.  We took a walk to explore and see what we could find.

The downtown area is small and charming with older buildings mixed with modern updates.  The outdoor patios were waiting for the afternoon diners, as we were there mid-day.  We were able to stroll along and take in each business making up New Baltimore's economic make-up.

As we wandered we discovered the House of Ice Cream on the main street.  We had to stop, as it's bright colors and wonderful artwork drew us in.  We found our favorite ice cream, one that we usually find in the Upper Peninsula.  We knew we had to stay and grab some.  It made a beautiful day that much better.  

The real beauty in New Baltimore lies in the walk along the lake.  Stunning views of St. Clair are provided to the ever curious visitor.  No two days are the same.  The sky changes, the wind shifts, and the lake provides an incredible backdrop to this small town.

Talk a walk along the pier or spend time sitting at the beach near the lake.  There are shelters and pinic tables all offering a different view.  Give yourself the time to just slow down here.  You're not quiet out of the city, yet you have the chance to just step away from the world for a little while.

So take some time to step away from the world to slow down and make memories, even just for the moment.  New Baltimore gives you the ability to talk a walk through history, along  a lake, and stay for awhile in a world that moves so fast.  It's a little bit of up north close to home, and a place that you can love whenever you have the time to stay.

As part of our travels, we are always looking for ways to support the local communities.  We are always trying to learn about the places we go and the people who live there.  From Italy to the Upper Peninsula, each place we visit teaches us a little more about the world.

And this summer, we had the opportunity to learn about the Youth Livestock Council of Iron County and how it's impacting Farm to Table living in the Upper Peninsula.

The Youth Livestock Council is an independent organization that creates the opportunity for youth to learn leadership, financial responsibility, farming, and ethical and responsible practices when it comes to handling live animals. The sale of their animals become part of college funds, future cars, and charities they want to take part in.  And through this entire process, they are directly responsible for the well-being of the food chain, and how ethically taking care of animals supports the well-being of the community. 

Each member of the Youth Livestock Council takes an active role in the caring and raising of the animal.  They are up early before school to feed, clean and care for animals, and they return after school to do the same.  They spend countless hours working with their animals in order to demonstrate their ability to be able to handle the various personalities animals bring.  

The Youth Council also teaches life skills in the way of presentation, work ethic, business, and self-advocacy.  Members reach out to potential buyers, both before and during the auction.  They provide insight and information on themselves, as well as their animal.  We met many members of the Youth Council as we walked around the auction.  We found the members to be very professional, outgoing and hard-working.  They took their roles seriously, and we were impressed with how prepared they were.  

The hard work does come with it's rewards.  There are awards for the Grand Champion, Reserve Champion, and then ribbons for first and second place.  Members can also receive awards for showing their animal, demonstrating the hard work they put in to be able to move an animal around a ring.  The competition is not easy, and it holds valuable lessons in patience and preservice, as members return year after year hoping they place among the top.

Being responsible for caring for animals that are part of the Farm to Table system is not an easy process.  As we continue to move into a digital world, where everything moves quickly and jobs become fast paced, we run the risk of losing site of the slower side of life.  The food that reaches our table, grown, raised, and humanely cared for matters.  The farmers who spend their days, rain or shine, caring for the food we eat, matter far more than the digital world.  Without the care and compassion of those who give up their time to raise animals and crops, we would not have the food supply chain we have today.  And with the rapid paced innovative digital world competing for time and space, we need these Youth Livestock Members more than ever.

So we would like to give a special thank you to Braelynn and her pig Jessy Mae.  Braelynn made a difference this year.  It was her first year in the Youth Livestock Council Auction and she did an incredible job.  She was kind, smiled, and worked hard with her pig.  She has big dreams and we hope that she continues to work with animals for years to come.  Thank you also for our amazing "Thank  You" basket!  We love everything UP, and truly felt like the basket was meant for us!

We will see you next year!  

County fairs are the poster for an American summer.  We usually spend our summers seeing the world.  This summer, we decided to learn about life a little closer to home.

We're two teachers who love to travel.  We started this journey with one goal.  We wanted to create a place where people can go to learn about amazing places, get inspired, and then take those adventures themselves on minimal budgets.  We want to ensure that anyone can make the most of their adventures, no matter where they want to go.

So we made the most of summer this year, and spent time doing budget friendly adventures close to home.  We will be sharing these adventures here.  However, if you'd like to see what we recommend, head on over to Tik Tok

Whenever we travel, we are focused on ensuring we are supporting the local community and giving back whenever we can.  This summer, we found ourselves in the fortunate position to give back to our own community.  We traveled to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and took part in the Iron County Fair.

We were invited to be part of the fair this year.  We volunteered to judge and we worked in the rings at the events.  We were able to meet the people behind the fair.  From volunteers to the livestock auction, we traveled to learn how county fair's make a difference in the community.

We also were able to directly support one student in the community.  We will share how the Livestock Council is creating opportunities to teach generations the value in farm life, while also supporting dreams and aspirations.  We can't wait to share the success of our pig's owner!  Follow us here on Facebook as we connect with the Livestock Council.

We found the fair to be a rewarding educational opportunity that provided a nostalgic experience for summer's past.  We enjoyed traveling to be a part of the community, and look forward to continuing to give back. 

​Take time find county fair's and festivals around your area, and continue to give back and support the people making a difference every day.  Find more inspiration on our Instagram!

If you'd like to read about our travels, find our book on how to make the most of Isle Royale HERE.

If you'd like budget-friendly travel gear, from camping to ice fishing, find our Amazon Recommendations HERE.  (We do make a small compensation from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Affiliate.)

Since returning from Hawaii, we have had many reach out to ask us what are the top things we recommend when visiting the islands.  We focus on places that are worth their value in time and money.  When traveling so far, both are precious commodities.  Quickly split, they run in two groups.

Category 1:  Things Worth Paying For

We have a number of places in Hawaii that are worth the time and money.  Here is the quick list

• Pearl Harbor - Arizona Memorial

The memorial is a dollar ferry through the National Parks Service.  However, there are many more things to do onsite.  Visiting the Missouri, the airfield, and the sub are also worth the time and money.  Plan a day if you are interested in history.

Find the link for reservations HERE. (Non-affiliate site)

• Diamondhead

Hiking Diamondhead can be tricky.  Not all of the area is flat and stable.  There are many steps and narrow spots along the top.  Take plenty of water and wear the appropriate footwear and clothing.  Payment is for parking and access to the trails.
Click of Diamondhead HERE. (Non-Affiliate link)

• Polynesian Cultural Center

The Polynesian Cultural Center is the most costly event on the island but well worth visiting if you can place it within your budget.  The history and culture of the Pacific Islands is taught as you walk through each exhibit.  The center supports degrees for those who are descendants of the islands.  

Click HERE for the Cultural Center.  We recommend the Gateway Buffet

The free views are well worth the visit as well.  Take a drive along the beach roads.  Stop along the way to see incredible views.  Head out of Waikiki towards Lanikai Beach.  Follow the ocean and you will be rewards with incredible changing landscape that only the ocean can offer.  We recommend spending time walking around Waikiki as well.  It's free and part of the Oahu experience.

Head over to the capital.  The government buildings are free to walk around, and the grounds around the capital are unique with history and statues.  

Most beaches are always free!  And you can't go wrong finding one that you love!

(Click below for our travel recommendations.  We are Amazon Affiliates and we do make a small compensation for qualifying purchases.)

Tucked away in the lower portion of Michigan's north woods near Grayling, Michigan is a beautiful forest state park.  Hartwick Pines State Park is the perfect combination of up north camping and Michigan history tucked away into one corner of up north.  

One of the most unique features of this state park is the combination of camping with the historical learning.  The state park houses a lumbering historical center.  Michigan's developing history relied heavily on the lumber before the Industrial Revolution.  Lumber camps were prominent, shipping wood to growing big cities of the century.

Life in lumberjack camps was not easy.  The camps were cities upon themselves, with the brutal labor occurring and women supporting the food and daily life back at camp.  Camps were busy places with harsh conditions year round.

Lumber provided the growth the country needed prior to mining steel.  Lumber companies would cut trees and ship them down river where they were harvested.  Companies were paid based on the unique stamp that was found at the end of the log.  We were able to see the stamps and learn that sometimes stamps were pirated!  Staff are on hand to share information about the past.

From the historical camp, the trails begin.  The trails here at Hartwick State Pines contain some of oldest trees in the state.  The pines date over 400 years old.  The trails wind through these forests with places to stop along the one.  One of these places is the old lumber church.

The walk among the pines is peaceful.  The trails are well kept, and the views are stunning.  The provide time for you to step away from daily life.  The world moves at an incredibly rapid pace.  Taking time to walk in the shoes of the past and learn about the culture and history of the people that shaped our world, it brings perspective and much needed peace.

Find time to take a walk among Hartwick Pine's State park.  The park is pet friendly, providing bags if you have forgotten yours!  It creates the best atmosphere for making the last of the summer memories!

Make sure you have all the gear you need for a great camping trip!  The link below will take you to what we use for budget friendly family fun. (We are Amazon Associates and do make a small compensation for qualifying purchases at no cost to you!  Thank you!)

#1 It starts with your mindset

This is the hardest part, and it's step number one.  There is an ideal that as your travel or on vacation you "have" to have certain items, or a number of items that go with you.  In order to do carry-on only effectively, you have to let go of your current image and develop a traveler image.  You will not look, dress, or operate the same way you do at home.  That. Is. Ok.  Being a traveler means that you get to step out of your day to day ordinary life and see the world differently.  Letting go of who you look like at home gives you much more freedom as you travel.  Step one is letting go.  Just let it go.  If you can do that, the rest of the tips here will make sense.

#2 It's Still Nice, Where it Twice

Next step, is to redefine what clean is.  Modern day laundry practices created the ability to have freshly cleaned clothes daily.  While this is a great concept, it really isn't necessary.  Some clothing pieces are built and can withstand multiple days of wear with simple tending.  

This is one of the key components of carry-on.  You have to be ok with wearing something more than once before you have it washed.  Note we said "some clothing" can be worn twice.  T-shirts, underwear, and socks are things we do not put on the wear twice rule. You can bring one of those for each day.  Also, using a fabric spray (like the one we use here - associate link) is also essential for clothes that you'll be re-wearing.  A carry-on TIDE stick also helps!

HELPFUL HINT:  If you're a person who likes to buy  clothing, plan on buying and wearing something there.  For example, we love sweatshirts, so we only bring one and buy another during long trips.

#3 Vacuum Bag It

This is the secret to great carry-on.  Vacuum packing is how to make sure you can take clothes you need.  We have use vacuum bags to be able to take cold weather clothing to places like Iceland and the winter Olympics in Italy.  By strategically vacuum packing clothing, you are able to pack and organize a carry-on bag to meet your needs for every occasion.  ​In Iceland, we traded heavy jackets for heated vests, layers and raingear because it was easier to pack.  We were able to travel comfortably while still having what we needed.

#4 Find a Second Bag and Wear the Things

When traveling with carry-on, you are allowed a second personal bag.  This is where you need to get really creative.   We usually each have a backpack.  Here, you can again vacuum seal other essential clothing items that may not fit, place your toiletries, etc.  Find a book that you can read and leave at your destination for someone else.  You then have the ability to bring home souvenirs.  The art of great carry-on is creative use of space.  

That also means wearing items that take up more room.  We travel in boots or hiking shoes and pack lighter shoes.  We wear jackets or heavier sweatshirts on the planes.  Our travel day clothes underneath are lighter so they take up less room later.  Strategically wearing clothes that pack easier later is part of the carry-on magic.

#5 Have Fun Packing

Carry-on allows you to give yourself permission to simplify and let go.  Do you really need 5 different bathing suits for the beach?  Can you creatively mix and match pants with multiple tops?  Can you learn to live comfortably with what you have?  Carry-on is a great way to really evaluate what you absolutely need.  There is freedom is giving yourself permission to pack light. You have more time to enjoy the adventure and make the most of your time, instead of worrying about what you're going to wear.  This is your chance to make the most of using less.

Located just off of I-94, Chelsea, Michigan is another small town stop outside of the Ann Arbor area.  Famous for it's quiet life and peaceful settings, Chelsea is a beautiful town to stop and see.

So many small towns in Michigan have simliar stories.  Built through the expansion of America from the East, prominent names came and bought land to establish new settlements.  Chelsea was actually a combination of three other smaller settelements,

The Pierce and Congdon families were the two established families from the East that bought large settlements from the US Government.  Orginal land that belonged to the Potawatomi tribe became part of these settelemtents.  The settlement of Michigan has a deep history with the Native American tribes that lived here first.  We would be remissed if we did not honor their heritage and past while sharing the towns currently exsisting today.

Chelsea grew, like most small towns through the development of the railroad and where the station would stop.  The story of the MCRR is under some controversy, as the original depot caught fire and then was moved to a new location.  This was part of an ongoing battle of development between the original settlers.  Having control of the railroad landed Chelsea as an established town.

The railroad depot brought about commerce to the area.  Soon, stores and goods became the front of main street.  While today we live in a world of Amazon and immediate delivery, the railroad brought the outside world into these small rural towns.  Goods, food, and news came flowing in.  A town that owned a depot was the buzzing hub of the area.  Chelsea was able to claim this, and continued hold onto it's history to create the established town it is today.

As you take time to explore, stop to see the orginal homes owned by those who lived during these active times.  Homes from the past do not compare to the dwellings we have today.  During the 1800's, homes were large with multiple rooms for family, as well as additional rooms for guests, housekeepers or other employees.  Hotels were not common for people to stay in if their family had room for them.  Nearby cities such as Ann Arbor would have an evern more active lifestyle and more accommodations.  Chelsea was built by families who came to travel and stay in this area.

One of the most famous landmarks in Chelsea is the Jiffy plant.  Created in 1901 as a flour mill, Jiffy put it's mark on the kitchen when it created it's easy to bake breads, muffins and desserts.  Marketed to the homemaker, it became a staple in kitchens.  Today, Jiffy is still sold in stores across the country, and is still famous for it's boxed cornbread.  You can take a tour of the company and see first hand how the mix goes from the bowl into the box.

Chelsea is a warm, family friendly town that is worth stopping in.  It provides a great walking destination, information on Michigan's history, and family memories.  Make sure you swing by the next time you're driving along I-94!

Michigan is a state that provides you endless adventure.  What is one of it's most unique power-plays?  Everyone can find something that fits there style.  From big city life in Detroit, to the quiet back country woods,  you are bound to find where you fit in.

Today we head up north to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and the small town of Amasa.

Amasa is a very small town in the UP, situated just off of US - 2 between Crystal Falls and Iron River.  Walk along the short downtown area and you'll find the Fire House, a few restaurant/bars and the post office.  Amasa also has a beautiful small park with a picnic shelter right downtown, and public access to Gibson Lake isn't too far away.

What makes Amasa unique is it's ability to hold onto it's small town charm throughout history.  We had the chance to visit the Amasa museum while we were there.  Here we learned about those who had built this small town and embraced life in the Upper Peninsula.  Generations of families supported each other in this remote area, helping develop it into a sustainable town for years to come.

Amasa is a great stop if you enjoy snowmobiling in the winter months.  Tall Pines sits as a stop to collect general provisions and gas as you make your travels across the Upper Peninsula.  Stop in for a drink or dinner at one of two different spots downtown, and you'll see the small town connections and friends and family are greeted through the doors. 

Amasa may never be a final destination as you find your way through Michigan and discover all it has to offer, and that's ok.  However, it's a stop worth making to appreciate those who settled the Upper Peninsula and call it home so that we may enjoy our travels there.

Just south of Ann Arbor, is the small town of Saline.  Situated just off of US-23, with US-12 making it's way through downtown, and south of Ann Arbor, this small town provides a bustling area with a proud history.

We have spent a lot of our time driving through Saline on our way to various other spots along US-12.  As early sping started, we decided to spend one of the first nice days exploring an area we knew we wanted to discover.

First and foremost, learning how Saline was named was a question we did not think we needed an answer for.  However, we were pleasantly surprised by the story.  Built during the time of French settlement, the area held salt in some form.  At one point, there was an attempt to possibly mine salt here.  Saline is the French word for "Salt Marsh", which made so much sense when you think of things like a saline solution.

We made our way downtown and ended up finding a map that detailed a historic district just off of mainstreet.  Intrigued, we began walking.  On the map it looked like it was just over two blocks to a possible museum.  

As we made our way along the streets, we began to see why this area was considered the historic district.  We found the Union School, which had clearly beend used over time.  We also enjoyed various Victorian Era homes with sprawling porches and beautiful stories.  

The museum was at the end of the road, that was well worth the visit.  We will have now started our adventures on finding train depots, and will post about those sson.

Saline provides a variety of outdoor activties.  The downtown is an active city center, with shops and resteraunts to visit.  East of the city, there is another muesum as well, which hosts animals to visit.  It's small and quaint, and easy to spot just off the main road.

Saline also hosts a variety of festivals year round.  Side roads are closed and vistors are welcomed into the streets to participate the in the cities adventures.

Saline's history, which we found in that museum, was intriquing.  Built as a farm town, this bustling city use to be dirt roads and sheep.  As the world around Saline grew, the town become part of the expanding outside world.

Henry Ford made his way to Saline.  Here he opened one of his factories.  Just down the road, across from the dam, was a mill that he used.  This is now an event center with a beautiful park alongside it.  As Ford moved out, the city claimed the areas for future generations.

Saline continues to make it's mark on the map, as innovation continues to attempt to make a path there in the world of AI.  We also learned that the water held back by the damn was up for debate as well.

We do not live in this town, so our opinions or thoughts on these matters do not have any place.  However, after spending and afternoon exploring Saline and her sites, we can honestly say we are excited to see how this small town continues to push forward with strength and determination.  

Thanks Saline!  

Interested in more Michigan small towns?  Follow along as we highlight spots we love along the way!