A huge thank you to Backcountry & Shopstyle for sponsoring this post.
We just returned from a three-week trip to the lake. And by ‘the lake’ I mean the gorgeous, clear-watered, sandy bottomed, hidden gem of a lake located somewhere in the wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Lake Life: All This Woman Needs For An Outdoor Adventure
No big deal. I grew up here.
A few fun things featured in this post? Things that this lake girl swears by?
A cute and comfy swimsuit for active days
This gorgeous towel-for-two
A camping couch for campfire snuggles
A sustainably-made fleece (in the prettiest colors) for cool summer nights
We spent long summer days kayaking, hiking and paddle boarding. The paddle boards, in particular, are well-used. Since we don’t have huge ocean swells to deal with, hopping on a paddle board first thing in the morning (Mike’s favorite time) or late in the evening (my favorite time) is so easy.
Fun fact: In the summer, the sun sets around 10PM. We’re that far north.
Little Pax used to come with me on the paddle board ALL the time. So did Raines, actually! It’s often how we start most days (and end them) on the lake. But this year, Raines was off on his own paddle board, and Pax, stinker that he is, always starts with me….
…then uses it as a diving platform once we’re deep enough.
That’s alright. I’m pretty happy either way…as long as I’m out on the lake.
And then, once the paddle boards are stowed and moon has started to rise, we put on something cozy (long live cool summer nights) and curl up around the fire.
Of course, if you’re Pax, you proceed to quickly eat four s’mores, distracting your parents from the fact that your older brother is on his eighth. SIGH.
A Few of My Favorite Lake Life Essentials
I always love partnering with Backcountry — it’s where we get most of our adventuring gear, and it’s nice to shoot activities that we love doing as a family. Backcountry’s Semi-Annual Sale is going on right now, and it’s worth a look. There are some crazy good deals to be found, including swimwear (my suit is on sale!)…and don’t miss out on the off-season sales, too. (My fav ski goggles are 50% off, for example. Whoa.)
A. Stay-Put Swimwear
Stone Fox Shanti One-Piece Suit – size m
While I do love my sunning bikinis for lazy lounging — the ones that fall off the second I jump in — most of my life requires swimwear that’s a little more practical. And while I grew up having to wear old-school Speedos (uh, thanks Dad), there are now one-piece suits that are just as functional…but with a whole different vibe.
I’m really into Stone Fox swimwear. Their prints are girly and romantic (yellow ditsy print? yes please), the fabric is insanely soft, durable and comfortable, there are zero itchy seams (my personal pet peeve), and the cuts are practical and modern.
Maaji top and bottom (both medium)
One other swimsuit brand I swear by for active days is Maaji. Backcountry has the best selection I’ve found, and many pieces are on sale! I size up one size in both top and bottom.
The good thing about Maaji’s crazy mixed prints is that you don’t have to find a traditional “set”. I’ve been wearing Maaji bikinis for years, and they last forever. I prefer the ones with the adjustable tops — they really do stay put.
Cozy Fleeces
I picked up that pretty Patagonia fleece a while back, and have loved it ever since. It’s lightweight, but surprisingly warm (even when wet). And Pax in that furry blue fleece gives me life). Here are my favs.
A Camping Couch & Other Fun Accessories
I LOVE this camping couch. The kids fight to sit in it, and I love cozying up next to….well…any of my guys, actually. This has increased my camping happiness by 1,000%.
Cheers to August adventures.
xo,
S
A huge thank you to Backcountry and Shopstyle for sponsoring this post! I absolutely love working on articles like this. As always, all thoughts, opinions and product choices are my own (even Pax’s fuzzy blue bear fleece…which he now admits I was right about: it IS him). As always, readers, thank you for your continued support. It doesn’t go unnoticed and is so very much appreciated.
love it- water, smores, and cute suits. I’ll take it!
This looks beautiful. I’m a New England girl who grew up spending summers on the Cape- here now- but someday I am getting to Michigan because your posts have convinced me over the years that it’s something I’ve got to experience.
What lake do you visit Shana! There are so many in the UP!
Looks like heaven! I’ve been missing the water desperately this summer but love reading about your and others’ adventures. 🙂
Which campground is this?! I want to go!
We just spent an almost identical week in northern MI (though not as far north as you!). Our kids LOVE the paddleboard as a diving platform too. Lake life is the BEST. One thing my friend and I are looking for is a cupholder for the paddleboard, for those late afternoon paddles with a beverage (the ankle strap works in a pinch)… I’ll have to see if Backcountry has anything like that!
Haha – I actually looked!! As of last week, they did NOT. The issue is that the ones with suction cups don’t work that well on inflatable paddleboards…the best situation I could arrange was a small cooler, strapped under the straps. Not. Great. But I swear someone’s gotta fix this problem – I need basically one of those trays you see on Pinterest for bath time? There’s a place for a wine glass, a tray for whatever else? Yeah – I want that strapped across my board (but floatable).