Travel Blog- Michigan
By: Alexis Smith
Grand Rapids Michigan is no place for fun and play in December, it’s more or less that type of place you go to just to sit around a fireplace and drink hot chocolate. Walking off that airplane and feeling the ice cold chills running down your back isn’t exactly the greatest welcoming when only in a light jacket, short sleeve shirt and jeans, but hey, that’s just how we Floridians live during our winters. My mom and I made this 3 hour journey for the first time to visit my dad Jeremy that we haven’t seen in 6 years or so. I would also be able to see my 3 half sisters and 1 half brother. This will be the most exciting part because I have never met my brother Nicholas, and I want to be able to make a good impression on him so he remembers me just in case I’m not able to return anytime soon.
After about a 3 hour car ride to Ludington, Michigan and listening to Rihanna, for my sister’s enjoyment, it was nice knowing that we were at the apartment where we would be staying with everyone. Being there with my dad and sisters made me think back to the old times of when they lived in Florida, not too far from us. The first night was just a time to relax and catch up. Since it was already pitch black outside we were not able to play in the snow but we were able to watch some movies that we had not been able to see yet. Later in the night we had some disturbances from my step mom and we knew this wouldn’t be good. All we could see and hear was fighting and we didn’t understand how someone could make such commotion especially because there were guests.
After some precautions were in place we were able to relax again. After all the tears and yelling, one of my sister’s fell asleep on me and I was happy to know those 6 years without seeing them didn’t have an effect on how comfortable they were around me. It was already the next day and we were finally able to see the scenery of Michigan. Our first journey was to walk on Lake Hamlin which happened to be frozen. This had to be one of the scariest things we’ve done considering one wrong step and you could fall into the freezing water.
The next day we went to the “beach” to walk on the boardwalk that led out to a beautiful lighthouse that was covered in icicles. The beginning of the boardwalk over looked the brown sugar sand and the ice bergs that floated in the water. Since the boardwalk is over the water the whole walk was basically a fight to stay on because you slid all over the place. We unfortunately didn’t make it all the way out, but it was still an amazing experience. After this we enjoyed a nice dinner at the grandparent’s house and it was a nice peaceful evening.
The last day was probably the hardest because this basically means that your trip is over and you want to try to cherish everything that happened. Along with packing we also had the gift exchange and thankfully everyone got what they wanted and wished for. This trip is something that I will never forget even if I live to be 100. This showed me how much family matters and how they are there for you no matter what.
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