This weekend marks the unofficial end of summer. We at Lowell’s First Look would like to share with you some photos of how we spent our summer. So while the following photos aren’t “scenes from Lowell”, they are scenes we saw as we ventured away from the Next Place to Be. (Note: some links in this article are affiliate links.)
Amanda and her family spent a week in the UP. It was her kids’ first time on a family vacation. Highlights included taking in various attractions and swimming in hotel pools most nights. There’s still a long list of things to do – and now a list of things to do again.
Seeing the Mackinac Bridge for the first time was a moment filled with excitement for a seven and five year old. It was especially cool seeing it lit up at night as we waited for fireworks to be launched from the St. Ignace side of the bridge.
Seeing rocky beaches and collecting rocks took place at Whitefish Point and other beaches along Lake Superior. A brief shower came through but that didn’t stop us. See the heart shape on one of the rocks?
We couldn’t help but think of home each time we saw signs indicating we were along the North Country Trail.
Visiting lighthouses throughout the trip was another exciting activity. Here at Crisp Point we looked for more cool stones and even saw some fog roll in off the lake while we were there – after this photo was taken.
Seeing Pictured Rocks from a boat was yet another highlight of our vacation. We would also hang out on Miner’s Beach after hiking part of the North Country Trail in the area.
Maryalene stayed closer to home for most of her summer, but her family jumped right into summer with a camp-out at Wabasis Lake with Cub Scout Pack 3106. (She was awfully proud of herself for making that fire alone and on the first try.)
Then, there were plenty of afternoons spent at the library and along the Riverwalk.
Maryalene’s oldest son is a senior this year so they spent two days touring colleges. Can you guess which one this is?
July was all about Vacation Bible School. This was Maryalene’s 8th year running the program at St. Patrick Church, and more than 110 kids from preschool through 6th grade participated. It’s an all-hands on deck event for the LaPonsie family with everyone either participating or helping out.
With Vacation Bible School done, summer could officially begin. There was a trip to the fair (of course).
And baking projects to try…such as this cake which Maryalene would have you know is supposed to look like a mess. It’s a recreation of the birthday cake Hagrid made in the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Then they ended it the same way they started it, this time camping with friends.
Tina’s summer has been full of family and work obligations, but the highlight of her year was a trip to Machu Picchu, an ancient Inca city set high in the mountains of Peru.
Tina and a group of area residents not only had the adventure of the lifetime, but they represented Lowell along the way.
What did you do during your summer vacation?
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