Skydive Tecumseh: Your Ultimate Summer Adventure

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”

― F. Scott Fitzgerald, ‘The Great Gatsby’

Ah, summertime.

There’s no argument that summertime is the best time to go skydiving. Long days and beautiful weather combine to create the kind of environment you’ll loath to leave. Often, we’ll have sport skydivers and students hanging out together long after the day’s jumps are done, just to socialize, picnic and enjoy each others’ company.

Our suggestion? Make a weekend trip out of your jump! Come out for some freefall and stay for our awesome local color. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are our favorite things to do in the area. (Pro tip: Attractions as punchy as these will make it easy to convince family members to join you who don’t necessarily want to skydive.)

Boogie down at Cascade Falls (A.K.A. “The Cascades”)

Arguably, Jackson’s most recognizable landmark is more of a fountain than a waterfall–but no matter what category it fits, it’s a worthwhile trip. Built more than 75 years ago, the Cascades turns into a vibrant, ever-changing light show on summer nights. Folks come from all around to roll out a blanket and enjoy the fountain and the fireworks at surrounding Sparks Park.

Every Wednesday in the summer is Family Night, when live music inspires the spectators to shake a leg and costumed characters delight the younger set. Saturday night. (A more grown-up version takes the Saturday night slot.) We suggest that a night out enjoying the Cascades is a brilliant way to celebrate your skydive!

Scuba dive (!) along the Falling Waters Trail

At first glance, the Falling Waters Trail sounds like an unlikely place to find a scuba diving site. The Trail is a local go-to standby during the summer time for dog walkers and fitness folks, as it cleaves a beautiful path–over 10 miles long–along the old Michigan Central railroad bed. It seems unlikely, that is, until a fully-suited diver toddles across the path in front of your bicycle.

If you can stop yourself from swerving into a tree in shock, you can scramble to kit up and follow her right into Lime Lake, known for its “bizarre underwater contour, containing marl walls, mountains, pillars, and spires” left over from the lake’s flapper-girl heyday as a quarry. Scuba clubs from all over the region regularly schedule dives here during the summer months because of Lime Lake’s shallow, approachable depth is appropriate for every level of curious diver. Remember: To be safe, make your jump first, then scuba dive.)

Go posh and pinkies-out at Sandhill Crane Vineyards

If you jump in the morning and you’re looking for a delightful afternoon, look no further than our neighborhood winery. Also not far from us is the homey, well-appointed tasting room at Sandhill Crane Vineyards. This beautiful little small-batch gem has a surprisingly large list of offerings (and lots of medals for ‘em, too). Take a winery tour (at 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays), then do a snail’s-pace tasting while you work your way through the tasting room’s stack of new and vintage board games before making your way over to the on-site cafe.

Excited already? We are, too. We’ll leave you with one more quote, then–an anthem, perhaps, to live your summer by:

“All in all, it was a never-to-be-forgotten summer — one of those summers which come seldom into any life, but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going — one of those summers which, in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful friends and delightful doing, come as near to perfection as anything can come in this world.”

― L.M. Montgomery