Up North

Beautiful picks, I love Finland its such a beautiful country : )

I live in the mountains of Northeastern PA and though that is not so far north the description reminded me of my own summer nights! Last night I drove home from work at 9pm and the last of the light still lingered in the sky, jumped in the hot tub to watch the first stars come out and stayed in the tub for a very long time because there was quite a chill in the air! There are many things that I have had a hard time adjusting to in the mountains but the coolness in summer.............ahhhhhhh!

Ahhhh, Maine. Who could not love the blueberries, lobster and lovely rocky coastline near Bar Harbor? Joyous.

I love Maine!

There is a magic to summers in the north. This is a beautiful piece, and you've picked such lovely items to feature!

I've lived in the upper Midwest all my life. We absolutely LIVE for the summers up here! The long days confuse the little kids ("Why do I have to go to bed? It's not even dark!"), the humidity makes lemonade the nectar of the gods, and the lakes are full of people absolutely gleeful to be outside in the sun. High humidity and mosquitoes be damned! We're spending as much time outside as possible.

Wonderful collection!

Love these collections! I'm certainly bias toward Michigan because summer 'up north' in the Mitten is the best!

Thanks for sharing this article! I live so far away from all these places. But your story made me feel like I've visited all of them recently!

Here in the UK it's difficult to imagine having to live anywhere that the summers (or winters) are gruelling. We're lucky not to have extremes in our climate... even though we occasionally have extremes in our weather! :-)

love this story. Finland stole my heart as well, during a cold dark January. I can't wait to get back for a summer like you describe (am sweltering in the current heat/humidity in Toronto :(

I fear the blackflies of Maine are feeling a tad overlooked, lol.

I was raised in the north too..but came to the heartland for a variety of reasons. Illinois is beautiful in many, many ways but it cannot begin to compete with the delicious summer nights of the north country. Loved your article.

I would love such a summer! Being from Brazil and now living in Atlanta, GA, I only know very hot and sticky summer... I hope one day I will be able to wear sweaters in summer nights! ;)

For me, it wouldn't be summer without making the long drive "up north" to the Upper Peninsula, to experience the restorative powers of the gorgeous landscape and refreshingly cooler temperatures. (And at least one dip into Lake Superior is a must, too -- there's something magical about water so cold it makes your skin tingle!) Finland also holds a special place in my heart ... I hope to take a trip there again soon... Great article!

That humidity would do me in...I'll take the short summers of Montana.

I have lived along the coast of Virginia almost my whole life - and I won't discuss how long that's been - although it can be quite hot and humid, I love every second of summer. There's nothing like a bike ride or walk along the boardwalk, paddleboarding in the ocean, picnics on the beach or meeting friends at an oceanfront cafe. I'm not dissing the north, I'm just sayin....

I thought, at first, you were describing Seattle! As I climbed the stairs to bed last night around 10, I noticed the last glimmer of light in the sky. It brought back some of the same memories, minus the mosquito's, of playing with the neighbor kids, catching moths in jars and sitting in mom's lap at the campfire with her sweater around me. I love summer in the Pacific NW!

Lake sebago area with my family ......peace and joy

Like Cate, I came to the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake after growing up a northerner. I, too, miss nights cool enough to keep the windows open without air conditioning, wintergreen, camping out and needing the sleeping bag rather than at most a sheet, and putting on jeans over my shorts in the evening. In exchange I don't have eczema so badly my fingertips split in the winter, and the skin on my legs doesn't crack too badly. BTW - here we get gnats, so the blackflies aren't played down, we just have similar obnoxious bugs. Colorado's climate was nice, though - dry, and although not always cool, we could get up into the high country for snow if we needed it.

Been waiting for this, Cate! Perfect anecdote for the horrendous, 101˚ heat last week. Beautifully curated.

Lovely post! I am looking forward to our annual trek up north in a few weeks!

Sounds wonderful!

Ahhh, summer. Great picks!

So many smart ideas! :) I love the birch cuff and the camp soap!

Lovely evocative words and objects to go with them.

All around the world--my dream :)

I wish our summers down south sounded that nice! The only summer words that come to mind for me are "hot", "humid", and "mosquito infested!" Ah well, at least I have that beautiful birch bracelet to look at!

I love northern summers ! A lot more fun ! Great story :)

Love the birch cuff! Very nice words, and agreed that northern summers are the best! :)

Great post!! lovely picks!

We are so spoiled in the NW with our long summer days! It doesn't get dark until 10pm! I love it :-)

Always enjoy your finds Cate! So happy to see Crafterall here- one of my favorite Etsy artists!

Love that mosquito mug!

We suffered in the extreme heat and humidity here in Ontario the last few weeks. It has cooled off a little bit this week and my favourite type of summer - the one you describe so well, has taken over - at least until Friday! Then the temperatures and humidity will soar once again. Ahhh...the joys and curses of continental weather patterns. Often 40C in the summer with 80% humidity and then -20 C with wind chill in the winter and hip-deep in snow. I love how unpredictable and wildly varied weather here can be, though sometimes I'd like to live a while in the UK - for various reasons, but also because it would be interesting to experience a climate that doesn't vary so drastically season to season. Plus...castles. I do have to say though...nothing better for me than a long sunset dip in the cold clear waters of Lake Huron after a stifling, sweaty day spent making pickles or jam with my mom and dad. They are lucky to live a 10 minute walk from the beach.

Spent summers outside Marquette on the UP. Hate summer. The places you've been are wonderful.

Neat read...it's relieving to know that south Texas is the not the only place that suffers from hot summers! Love the birch bracelet!!

Lovely items! Something to look at in the AC when it's 90 outside! Thanks for sharing!

Great article and beautiful items

What a fun read! I somehow feel cooler reading about those northern summer nights. We have had seven consecutive days of 100*+ here in NC, and the humidity sucks every bit of energy from you. So what is one to do but get on Etsy and waste away the day in the AC!

These are such beautiful picks. Thank you for sharing.

What a lovely post! Thanks so much for including my Great Lakes card set, especially alongside fellow mapper CopperLeafStudios. Proud to represent the Midwest!

This makes me want to travel more. :)

I wouldn't give up having four distinct seasons for anything. This beautiful article reminded me of why I love living in the north. Thank you and best wishes.

Now I feel nostalgic for my summers spent at my Grandparent,s home in the Adirondacks mountains, upstate New York. The heady smell of pine ,jumping into the icy creek, irises blooming and the musty cot on the front porch. Thanks for the little magical trip back in time.

Even living in Minnesota, I love my Up North vacations especially the North Shore of Superior. Great read!

Lovely collection. Summer nights with the windows open, and sweaters in the dusk of the evening...that's me and my Alaska. On days where the day breeze rests and summer shorts seems like they should be normal, we Alaskans eventually rebound with cozy sweat pants and a fleece pull-over. Although, we'll sport sandals as long as possible...chilly toes and all! Thanks for sharing your lovely collection. From Homer, ALASKA with Love!

I'm from Duluth and I was hoping Duluth would be in here! :) Wonderful post though!

Wonderful !!

I love the little houses, love them. I really want to be somewhere cooler, I am already in what some would say is north, but it really isn't that cool in the top of Utah.

This makes me want to see what all of the world has to offer!

After reading this post I can look more relaxed at the summer we're having here! Never thought of it that way. Thank you!

Aw, that's wonderful! I too spent a few summers visiting the U.P. in Michigan and also the Maine coast. Thanks for bringing back those memories!

great collection! love it!

As I read this I thought... north is Michigan. LOL. Being born and raised in Canada I find that the idea of the sun going down before 10pm in the summer odd. And the idea of having more sun in the winter than 9-4 equally as bizarre. Summers are very different from our winters and there is no doubt that we notice. :) -40C to +35C is quite the range, but I like to think that it means I get to really know my solstices. Thanks for the great little collection.

I love the iceland wooden houses! Very charming gathering of items.

Great read and beautiful items.

First I fell in love with Finnish summer.... Then, I went gaga for a Finnish man. Today, we live in the miserable heat and humidity of the turkish sauna commonly known as Austria. I come from the north, Boston, so does my Husband.... I don't think anywhere has as beautiful a summer time as the north. Especially Finland.

Love it!

Born and raised in Iceland I miss Icelandic summers, the 24 hr daylight and hardly sleeping. The crisp air. Im in Los Angeles now where the summer heat feels oppressive to me. This post made me nostalgic, even homesick.

Lovely!

The little houses on top remind me of of these wooden decorations my mother always had in her apt...they were not as colorful though! Ahh the memories!

Summers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are absolutely glorious! Every year they still surprise me with how beautiful they are after such long and cold winters.

I grew up in Chicago & we'd go up to the north of MInnesota or Wisconsin in the summer so Dad could fish. I loved going further north. Now living in the south, with the extreme heat we've had recently, a post about Up North is welcome. Cooling thoughts, at least. Thanks for the post, Cate.

Night time campfires wearing sweaters and tuques, or as Americans call them, beanies. Thats the British Columbia summer:)

Wonderful! Great picks!

Oh this is exactly how I've been feeling. The hell of Arkansas summer is driving me crazy. Longing for my childhood summers in Pennsylvania in the woods, with the fireflies, open windows with no prison of air conditioning to keep you stuck inside.

You're speaking my language, sister. Yes to the cool, forested, breezy places.

During my 35 years of doing art fairs in Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, I've met people from most of the states and several countries who are here for the "up north experience". Now on ETSY I send my up north pottery to their homes. Great feature!

I've spent most of my life sweating through Virginia's summers. So I was quite delighted when my Maine-born husband insisted we spend at least a week every summer at his parents' place in central Maine. When the weather is nice, it's heaven on Earth. But Maine's dirty little secret is that it easily can get as hot as Virginia -- and many homes (my in-laws' place included) don't have air-conditioning. This June, after sleeping in their 88-degree house for several nights in a row, I was happy to come home to good ol', AC-everywhere Virginia! Plus we have sweet tea. :-)

Thank you so much for this lovely post! I live in Michigan myself, and love going to the northern part of the state in summer. The water is clean, the days are pleasant, and in the cooler evenings it's heaven to sit out an listen to the crickets. Thank you again for such wonderful images this morning!

I remember those cool overnights in Upstate NY...50 degrees overnight is perfect sleeping weather. The day started off cool, warmed right up as the day went on. I now live in Sunny Florida, where nights are cooler-fresh nice air-open windows at night, let cool air in, close during the days. Heat and humidity, tree frogs singing at night, but always a slight Gulf of Mexico light breeze. From June to December is our rainy season, also known as hurricane season so it rains or we have thunderstorm nearly everyday. With recent heat wave in mid Atlantic area it has been cooler here than Tennessee amazingly! Nice clean white sand at the Gulf of Mexico beach at Ft Myers Beach, Sanibel Island and Captiva.....You can walk for miles in clean fresh air, quietness, only the sound of the surf! Yearround, you can go beach combing, kayaking, boating, fishing, sightseeing, shelling, sunbathing, swimming-we have it all. The lovely palm trees swaying in the breeze, the lovely sunsets every night, Our winters are warm and sunny everyday, few thunderstorms 365 days per year with sunshine Florida is paradise.

Cate, I totally agree with you about the brutal Virginia weather! I never get to hear the sounds of summer anymore-the cicadas, the birds; nor smell the rain coming. I'm inside with the lovely a.c. humming along! West Virginia was where I grew up in the early 60's and that "northern" climate in the mountains seems like a paradise to me now!

I was born an raised in northern MN and I think it will probably always be home to me. I now live just two hours south from where I grew up, but the difference in climate is amazingly large. I love living in the northern climate, I don't think winter would be the same without snow and hot chocolate!

We lived in Florida for five years and it was hell on earth. We moved back to Michigan in December. My soul is at peace now that I am back to the forests and lakes of my birth.

Such beautiful descriptions. My morning is refreshed by reading!

Have you read any of Sarah Orne Jewett's books set in Maine? Might be a nice summer read if you can find one (probably in a second hand bookstore). Hope Summer continues to be enjoyable.

This brings me back to another time and another place. Thank you!

I agree with the writer that great summer plans are about slowing down and enjoying a cool evening under the stars...or riding your back at dusk. Or, sipping lemonade while chatting with a friend.

I love your featured items. I remember chasing lighting bugs on summer nights in Chicago.

you are so blessed to have been able to experience so many places! our summer feature is sitting on our back porch every afternoon for our ice cream cone snack, talking about our day....enjoying the sunshine and the dripping cream!

what a beautifully written post! I know what you mean about these humid midatlantic summers... whew can it get hot! I would love to spend a summer day up North like the gorgeous one you describe :) Thanks for sharing your experiences!

LOVE this! I grew up in Michigan (and still live here) and have always loved the seasons here. I just wish this summer wasn't so uncharacteristically hot. Thanks for a great post!

Thank you for including my handmade, sustainably harvested wooden buttons- from someone enjoying a northern summer :-) !!! I am honored.

Great post !

yay Maine! :)

I seem to be stuck in the North lately, but I'm good with that. I remember flying back from beautiful Belize one winter, seeing the lights of Manhattan through the clouds at night, snow everywhere, a winter wonderland laid out below.

cate, what a beautifully-written piece, so evocative.

Thanks for all your stories and comments. I am home now but the weather is giving us all a slight reprieve.

I completely agree about the hot and humid summer weather. Having bad asthma, I always need to be where it is cool and those places sounds like great travel spots for the summer. Thank you so much for sharing them!

sounds like the pacific northwest, we are so spoiled here with our great summers and mild winters. you will have to take a couple of weeks to visit and drive from seattle through portland, hit the wonderful oregon coast and northern cali

I love love love Iceland...I went there one summer with my parents ages ago and I wish I could go now with friends (it is a little expensive). The planes of moss-covered lava, the glaciers that run down the mountains and into the sea, the light at midnight (no sun, but definitely light), the black little wooden churches in the middle of nowhere...and sheep, and wool everywhere! I would not like to spend ALL my summers there (I remember seeing tiny little kids running around in ski suits in august, I actually like the heat, the beach etc.) but I would really love to go back, it's beautiful!

I meant plains, sorry!

Wonderful article! I was born in New England and just got back from a visit. Oh how I miss it! There are many things I love about living in Virginia but I will always be a New Englander. It's just part of me!

love your 'real summers mean sleeping with the windows open and putting a sweater on.'...yes,they do.Our summer also includes walking the dog in your wellies...baling out cellars from floods and wet clothing everywhere...! Here in the Uk,we started the season with drought,now the ground is saturated...! But I love being able to get on with some work..maximum 60 ' f today....cool tonight ....but no frost yet. This is summer,not winter...! Its hard to dry out your pots in this climate..but at least they are not freezing up yet.I love the cool breezes,the clouds racing across the sky,and not having to water the veg patch too often.I also love the sunlight hours..we get the dawn chorus from 4.30 am,all the birds singing outside our room,and its still light at 10.00 pm....brilliant.For the past two years I spent summers in the Meditteranean.Too hot...! So very glad to be home again....and so is the dog..!

I'm from New England (Boston), living in Los Angeles now. Don't miss the humidity, but on a non-humid day, Boston is heaven. the smells in the air, the flowers, the smell of the ocean. visits to Maine (my father's birthplace), the blueberries, the lobsters, the pine trees, the breezes. wish I could visit Finland, sounds like heaven. but everyone's home sounds wonderful too - I want to visit them all!

I grew up in Maine and miss the Summers so very much!!

I live in Two Harbors, MN which is along the beautiful North Shore of Lake Superior. Sat by the lake last night and watched the nearly full moon reflect off the lake. Heaven! Love the cool summer nights snuggled up in a blanket on the lawn talking to my husband and being amazed by the great expanse above me.