This Michigan Inland Lake Has the Bluest Water

There's one Michigan inland lake that never disappoints when it comes to viewing blue water. Every time I've visited this lake, it's always been super blue and simply stunning. Now, I'm sure there are other inland lakes out there that are super blue, but to me, this is the bluest. While I love the Great Lakes that Michigan has to offer, often times, those lakes aren't super blue. As a kid, I used to always think of lakes and the ocean as being super blue or turquoise.

The Michigan inland lake I'm talking about is Gun Lake, which is located mainly in Barry County but extends into Allegan County. This area offers some adorable shops, as well as a great place to stay overnight in the Bay Pointe Inn. The first time I discovered this spot was when I attended my cousin's wedding on the beach several years ago. I couldn't believe the beauty of this lake, and I've gone back there to celebrate my birthday many times since then. The blue water got me right away. "There is just something special about spending time on the lake, and Gun Lake is no different, outside of the fact that it has everything to offer," Gun Lake states.

Gun Lake also has a very nice public park and beach area, the Gun Lake County Park. This spot is a day use park on the west shore of Gun Lake. According to PureMichigan.org, this small park is about four acres and offers more than 450 feet of beach, a playground, a basketball court, picnic tables, grills, a pavilion and modern restrooms. Also, most of these amenities are ADA accessible. If you're looking to get into the water, the park also offers a boat launch with an ADA accessible dock for loading and unloading boats. Another option of something to do near Gun Lake is to visit Gun Lake Casino, which is located off Exit 61 on U.S. 131, between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. I'm not a gambler, but if you are, this casino offers "2,500 state-of-the-art slot machines, 47 table games, a modern sportsbook and keno," according to PureMichigan.org. It also has some great food options, such as Shkodé Chophouse, which offers American cuisine, the CBK brewery, 131 Sportsbar & Lounge, Harvest Buffet and more. If you love sports, that 131 spot offers more than 1,000 square feet of viewing surface for panoramic views of sporting events. I'd love to hear your favorite Michigan inland lakes. Reach out to me. I also love Lake Michigan, and you can see my post about the lake from this year below. It happened to be a day with blue water, too.

It's always a good time to go on vacation, but summer, of course, is the official travel season. If you're planning a big trip, you're going to want to make sure to maximize your vacation. After all, traveling is supposed to be fun. That means not stressing out while planning or being on your trip. Let's get into some great tips to maximize your vacation.

Before we get to tips to maximize your vacation, let's look at vacation trends. A new AAA travel survey states that 84% of U.S. residents will travel in 2024. Also, 43% will take more vacations than last year. So traveling is a hot thing in 2024. "The travel season is already off to a hot start in 2024," said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA, The Auto Club Group. "Americans continue to make travel a top priority, and AAA travel agents have been busy planning a wide range of vacations from weekend getaways to world cruises."

If you're planning to take a cruise, note that according to AAA, more travelers are booking cruises farther in advance. Many spring break cruises sold out months before they were to set sail. "Last-minute bookings are possible, but prices may be higher and cabin choices limited," AAA notes.

What's more, a new study from AAA and Bread Financial has discovered that younger generations are into live event travel. Is that really new? I've been traveling for concerts for years, but it's apparently a new trend among Gen Z. They state that "three in five Gen Z (65%) and Millennial (58%) respondents confirmed they have traveled in the past 12 months and/or plan to travel in the next 12 months for in-person events like concerts, sporting events, comedy shows, and book readings that are more than 50 miles from home."

That's much more than with older generations, with is 43% for Gen X and 27% for Baby Boomers. Then again, older generations are more likely to want to be at home, because, well, they're older. They've been there and done that.

That same study found that Gen Z loves traveling for sports and music. They state that more than half (52%) of Gen Z travelers are gearing up to attend a music event in the next 12 months. In fact, one in five Gen Z travelers (20%) have traveled or plan to travel to see Taylor Swift live in concert.

As for sports, 38% of Gen Z travelers have traveled or plan to travel for the 2025 Super Bowl. Also, 32% have traveled or plan to travel to the 2024 NBA finals, and 19% have traveled or plan to travel to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.  Now, let's get into some great tips to maximize your vacation.

One great way to maximize your vacation is simply to save money. You'll feel so much better on vacation knowing that you're saving cash by doing things the right way. One major way to save money is to travel during an off season. Every vacation destination has its own peak time. So, look at the cheapest time to visit your destination, and go then. Find more tips on saving money on vacation, too.

Sure, you want to do some planning so that you don't miss the big tourist stops in your destination. But, don't book every blasted minute. Maximize your vacay by saving some time to be spontaneous. Take a day to just figure out what to do when you're there. Maybe some locals will recommend a secret spot for you to visit during your "day off."

While you don't want to overbook your trip so that you're always running from spot to spot, you do want to plan a bit. It's not a good idea to do zero planning and just feel things out when you get there. Plan some big activities ahead of time so that you aren't scrambling last-minute.

If you only have one big vacation every year, you might feel under a lot of pressure to make it the most amazing experience ever. So, take away that stress. Plan mini-vacations throughout the year, so you aren't under as much pressure to make your big trip the best thing that's ever happened to you and your family. For example, in the fall, if you live in an area with beautiful colors, make an annual fall color tour trip and just drive around the state.

If time and money allows, adding just one day to your vacation can open up a world of possibilities. Many people plan too short a trip, not realizing just how much they'll want to do in their destination. So, add an extra day. You'll be glad you did at the end of your stay.

Sure, you're on vacation. You want to soak up every minute of your trip. But, if you're up late every night partying in the clubs and then up early to enjoy the sunrise, pretty soon, you'll be too tired to enjoy your vacation. So, take time to get some sleep and feel rested.

They say, "Don't sweat the small stuff." That's certainly true on vacation. Nothing is going to go totally as planned. So, expect the unexpected, and roll with it.

When you get back from your vacation, don't plan to start work the very next day. Take an extra day or two off after your vacation to recuperate, so that you hit the ground running when you're back at work. The extra time at home will also give you a chance to savor your vacation.

People often find experiencing more rewarding that physical things. So, make sure to plan an experience with your trip. Maybe there's a huge concert you want to see on vacation. Perhaps it's a sporting event. Whatever it is, plan an awesome experience.

Finally, when you're home from your trip, decompress and look back on your vacation. What went wrong? What went right? Take notes and learn from your vacation, so you'll know what to do better next time.