There is nothing better than spending your summer in Northern Michigan. According to the song by Kid Rock, there are a million things to fall in love with in this beautiful part of the country. Every summer of my life has been spent in my favorite city on the planet, Harbor Springs, Michigan. This town is a lake town. Our only source of transportation are bikes; that may sound lame, but a bike is all you need. All of my family and friends are within a two-mile radius. Living on Lake Michigan and looking out at the boats driving by, kids riding their bikes to sailing class and people jogging on the beach is not a bad place to be.

I love Harbor Springs and here are a few reasons why it is the best place to spend your gorgeous summer days.

Water sports.

There is nothing better than spending all day on the water. The possibilities are endless. Going out on a speed boat hooked up with loud speakers and every toy imaginable. Wakeboarding, wakesurfing, waterskiing and tubing are the best to do. Even if you have never tried before, everyone is willing to help you get up.

Biking.
Biking is the way of transportation in Harbor Springs. All of the shops and resturants are less than a mile away from your house on the lake. The first few days you are in town, a mile seems like a long way, but once you get used to it the bike ride is very refreshing. Every day you bike at least five miles, it is such a great workout.

Family and lifelong friends.
Harbor Springs has been a place my family has been visiting every summer and winter since my dad was 6 years old. I have not missed a summer yet. With my dad's whole side of the family being up here every summer, I have also made a lot of friends. These friends are lifelong friends. Even though I don't see them often, every summer, it's like we never left.

The food.
Where to even begin. Gurney's is the best sandwich shop in all of the world. This place makes the holy grail of all sandwiches. The bread is homemade, and the toppings are endless. Tom's Mom's Cookies is the smallest cookie store packed with the most flavor. These cookies have the biggest chunks of chocolate I have ever seen and make the best cinnamon sugar cookies. They also deliver so you will never be left without them. House's Fudge — there is nothing better than fudge in Michigan.

Exercise.

Exercising is easy in the prettiest place on earth. Not only does the biking help but you can paddle board, go on a run on the beach or kayak. You can also play tennis at the club, play a quick nine holes of golf in the morning or go on a quick 10- bike ride. After a long night out on a night cruise, it is nice to wake up sweat it out with a beautiful view.

Traditions.
Harbor Springs is full of traditions. It is full of generations of families and friends, yearly boat trips and morning boat rides to The Pancake House. My favorite tradition is waking up early on the morning of my last day and jumping off the end of the dock. My friend Isabelle and I have been jumping off the dock since we were 12 years old, and it is always my favorite memory.

Harbor Spring is my favorite place in the whole wide world and the best place to spend a summer vacation.

"Nothing seems as strange, as when the leaves began to change. Or how we thought those days would never end. Singing Sweet Home Alabama all summer long." — Kid Rock, "All Summer Long"