Joshua and I recently spent a week at Lake Michigan, and we're kicking off the resulting photo series and travel guide with a very special place: Bay View. It was my first time visiting Bay View, but my husband's family has owned property there for 100 years! We joined the centennial celebration with more than 50 other family members who traveled from far and wide to attend. Today's pictures were taken just steps from the family cottage we stayed in, at the Bay View boat house and dock, an essential gathering place for long summer days spent swimming, sailing and socializing. It's pretty in photos but in person it's even more stunning: the water glitters across the bay dotted with crisp white sails, and the sun sets deliciously slow, with shades of red and orange that linger for hours. A light sweater with shorts was the perfect outfit for a sunset walk on the sand, to ward off any chill in the air while soaking up the last bits of sunshine. If this is what Lake Michigan summers look and feel like, then consider me a new convert. I can't wait to share more of the beauty that this state holds with you!

Top: Banana Republic, $22 (similar below)
Sweater: J.Crew Factory, $31 (similar, similar)
Shorts: Limited, $19 (similar, similar, similar, similar)
Shoes: Soludos c/o Nordstrom, $55 (same)
Hat: ModCloth c/o, $34 (similar, similar)
Sunglasses: Foster Grant, $15 (similar, similar)
Earrings: Kate Spade outlet, $15 (same)
Approx. dates: Sweater is 3 years ago. Shorts are 2 years ago. Top and shoes are 1 year ago.

LL Bean  /  Zappos  /  Saks Off 5th
Neiman Marcus  /   Dillard's  /  Nordstrom  /  Gap
Gap  /  Gap  /  Express