Is it summer yet??

So if you live in Wisconsin, like I do, the freak weather that we have been having is no surprise. For those of you who don't here's the down low. One day it will be 40 degrees, sunny, and beautiful and then the next it's blizzard season. Either Mother Nature (is that actually capitalized?) is having some major personal issues or global warming has finally taken its tole. Anyway, today is one of the more warm beautiful days (yes, 40 degrees counts as being warm when you live in WI). I've been running errands all day and haven't once had to put my jacket on, I actually had the windows rolled down in the car. It's been seriously nice the last couple of days, which will soon be crushed by Mother Nature's (there it is again) mood swings, because about ten inches of snow is coming our way. :( mehhh

As I currently sit on my bed in shorts and a tank top, with the window slightly open I'm thinking of all the things I want to do come warmer weather. I love all the things summer brings, all the activities one can do because the day is ten times longer. 

I've recently been making plans to get out and explore good ol' Wisconsin. My favorite choice (which is actually probably really dull) is Milwaukee's Public Museum. Yeah yeah laugh, I enjoy it there. I remember all the times my father would take me and my older brother there and how much I loved it. There's two places in the whole Museum that I absolutely adore and that's the butterfly exhibit and The Streets of Old Milwaukee. 

(that thing is huge!!) 

(this is my favorite place, the candy shop)

Despite the horrible humidity in the butterfly exhibit, I love it in there. Out of all the times I have been in there I have yet to have a butterfly land on me (I try so hard every time!). So I want to make a trip there and succeed in having one touchdown, I know it will happen!! The Old Streets of Milwaukee is another favorite of mine. The second you step into the place you literally feel like you jump back a hundred years. I have to admit, when I was younger I would pretend I was from back then and I would walk around acting like I lived there. They have a candy shop there that is to die for. And if your'e a candyholic like me, it's a dream come true. Mmmmm, I can't wait. 

Another favorite on my list is actually not considered in Wisconsin, but in the UP (Michigan) and that is The Porcupine Mountains. In high school, I was apart of the Outdoor Club and we would take annual trips to the Porkies(as we called them). The trips were always so amazing and I went every year. We would camp out for the weekend, backpacking to a different campsite for each night. We hiked along Lake Superior which gave you a gorgeous view. I'm already a wilderness girl at heart, but the trips really made me love backpacking. 

Lake of the Clouds (as seen below) marked the start of our backpacking adventure. this place is amazing, especially so early in the morning when the sun is coming up. You feel like your'e on top of the world, your'e hundreds of feet up, above thousands of trees and rocks. It's actually kind of scary if you think about it. The view is wonderful, nuff' said. 

(wooo, young Kelly) 

About a day hikes in, you come across all these gorgeous waterfalls (as seen above right). I have fallen in twice (once each year) trying to cross from one to the other and have broken two of my cameras (one each year). Does it seem like I have learned anything? Nope. Anyway, I need to go back, not want, NEED! The Porkies are calling my name and I need to answer. So come this summer, I'm hiking my booty up there and spending the weekend in the trees. :)

If your'e thinking of making a trip to Wisconsin, and let's face it, who isn't already? you should definitely check these two places out. They both offer so much more than what I mentioned, those just happen to be my favorite parts of them. 

Here's the links to their website if your interested! 

Porcupine Mountains

Milwaukee Public Museum