Everyone needs a place that they can go to relax and get away from the everyday stresses of life... For my entire life, that place has been the lake!

1. The View

The water is the perfect shade of turquoise and the sunlight sends sparkles wherever you look!

2. Spending Time With Family

Although cramming 16 people into one house for a week might seem totally crazy, it's so fun spending time with your family! Nothing beats running around with your cousins playing all day long (and sometimes into the night!)

3. Ice Cream

Nothing quite beats the local ice cream parlor after a long day on the water! (I'd recommend the butter pecan... YUM!)

4. Sunsets At The Marina

After you've finished off your delicious ice cream, you can go look at boats in the local marina while the sun sets. There's nothing like it!

5. Local Restaurants

Although you only get to eat there once or twice a year, you know exactly what you're going to order... and you look forward to it for weeks!

6. Water Sports

It's not every day you get to ride on the speed boat, go water skiing, or inter-tubing! Even if you get sea-sick (like me), it's still fun to watch from the shore!

7. Searching For Petosky Stones

Although they're just rocks, finding them is like finding hidden treasure! I love the classic sunburst pattern that they are covered in!

8. Cookouts

Cookouts at the lake are a must. Hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, you name it! But to finish it off you can't forget the s'mores!

9. It Feels Like Home

Whether you own a lake house or you rent one every year, it starts feeling like your home away from home. You get the comfort of home and the perks of being on vacation!

And once you're home from the lake, that means you're just one day closer to going back!