The Anniversary Trip That Made Me Trade Lake Michigan for the Mediterranean

For every anniversary we have ever celebrated, my husband and I have ended up somewhere near Lake Michigan. A cabin in Door County. A long weekend in Sturgeon Bay. One memorable year, a tent and a very determined raccoon.

We love that lake. It is our happy place.

So when this big anniversary rolled around, I surprised myself. I wanted different water. Bluer water. Water with a Sicilian lunch waiting on the other side of it.

Here is how a Milwaukee couple who rarely leaves the Midwest ended up sailing the Mediterranean, and what I learned along the way.

Lake Michigan Was Always Our Spot

If you grew up around here, you know the pull of that shoreline. Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake located entirely within the United States, according to the EPA. To us, it always felt like our own private ocean.

We have watched sunsets from Bradford Beach, eaten fish boils in Door County, and taught both kids to skip stones off the breakwater. Every milestone in our marriage has a little Lake Michigan sand in it.

That is exactly why this trip needed to be different. After all those years, I wanted us to feel like newlyweds again. That meant somewhere neither of us had ever been.

Why a Mediterranean Cruise Won Over a Week Up North

I will be honest. My first plan was a fancy cabin rental up north with a hot tub. It was safe, familiar, and easy.

Then a friend from book club showed me photos from her Mediterranean cruise. Cliffside towns. Tiny harbors. Long dinners with nowhere to rush off to. I went home and started reading travel blogs until midnight.

The practical side came first. We both needed new passports. For Italy, the State Department says your passport must stay valid at least three months past your departure date from the Schengen area. We renewed early so we would not have to think about it.

Next came the big choice. A road trip through Europe sounded romantic, but I could picture us arguing over a map in a rental car. A cruise meant unpacking once and waking up somewhere new almost every morning.

We chose Silversea, mostly because their smaller ships can slip into little ports that big cruise ships skip. Our itinerary mixed famous stops with places I had never heard of. That balance was exactly what we wanted.

It also helped that meals, drinks, and service were part of the package. For two people who spend most of the year managing schedules and budgets, not reaching for a wallet felt like a vacation in itself.

Bonifacio, Where the Town Hangs Off a Cliff

Our first truly jaw-dropping stop was Bonifacio, on the southern tip of Corsica. The old town sits on top of white limestone cliffs, right above the sea.

Sailing into the harbor felt like entering a secret. The water was so clear that we could see the bottom from the deck.

We spent the afternoon wandering narrow lanes and eating chestnut cake. My husband, who once called Door County “far enough,” kept saying, “Can you believe we are here?”

Trapani and the Best Couscous of My Life

Next came Trapani, on the western coast of Sicily. I had never heard of it before we booked. Now I tell everyone about it.

The town has a laid-back, salty charm. Fishing boats bob in the harbor, and the old streets lead straight to the water.

Trapani is famous for fish couscous, a dish that reflects the region’s North African influences. I ordered it at a tiny family restaurant and nearly cried. It was the best thing I ate all trip.

Later, we watched the sun set over the salt flats outside town. Pink sky, glowing water, and windmills in the distance. Even the most beautiful Lake Michigan sunset has a little competition now.

Nice and a Walk Down the Promenade

Our last big stop was Nice, on the French Riviera. The city earned a spot on UNESCO’s list in 2021 as a historic winter resort town, and you can see why.

We walked the famous Promenade des Anglais hand in hand, stopping every few minutes to stare at that blue water. We shopped the flower market in the old town and split a bottle of rosé at a café.

It felt like the kind of afternoon you only see in movies. I kept checking that it was real.

The Jet Lag Was Real, Though

One thing nobody told me: flying east wrecks you. According to the CDC Yellow Book, people adjust to eastward travel at an average of about one hour per day. That is slower than flying west.

We arrived a couple of days before the ship left, and it made a big difference. We took long morning walks to soak up daylight, skipped naps, and went to bed at a normal local time.

By the time we boarded, we felt like ourselves again. If you are flying from the Midwest, I strongly recommend building in that buffer.

What This Midwest Girl Would Tell You

If you have spent years celebrating close to home, here is my advice before you try something bigger:

• Start the passport process months ahead so it never becomes a stress point
• Pick a smaller ship if you want quieter ports and less crowding
• Leave room for unplanned afternoons, because those became our favorite memories
• Pack comfortable walking shoes, since many old towns are steep and cobbled
• Say yes to the local dish, even if you cannot pronounce it

Most of all, give yourselves permission to splurge on a milestone. You only celebrate it once.

Back Home on the Lake

We came home tan, happy, and a little bit changed. The first weekend back, we drove up to the lake with coffee and sat on our favorite bench.

It was still beautiful. It will always be our spot.

But now we have a second favorite body of water. And I have a feeling the next big anniversary will find us back on the Mediterranean, chasing another tiny harbor and another plate of couscous.