We often think that we can only achieve true paradise by flying away to some distant tropical island and paying thousands of dollars to stay in a luxury hotel. Of course, there’s no denying the beauty of such vacations, but it’s often possible to experience something similar a lot closer to home.

Take Michigan’s Torch Lake. This stunning piece of scenery looks like something right out of the Caribbean, with its white sandbars and turquoise-blue waters.

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Unsurprisingly, the lake is a popular destination for tourists, who throw many a party on its sandy shores. A number of celebrities also live or have lived at Torch lake, including filmmaker Michael Moore, singer-songwriter Kid Rock, and rapper Eminem. It’s a destination for the rich and affluent – but there’s plenty to do there if you’re earning a normal wage like the rest of us.

In the summer, the lake’s sandbar becomes the home of many boat parties, and it’s also the perfect place to practice water sports like fishing, water skiing and boating.

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The lake used to be a part of Lake Michigan, but has since broken off into its own separate gem of a landmark. At nearly 19,000 acres wide and recorded at a maximum depth of 285 feet, it’s know known as the second largest lake in Michigan.

It’s rare for a lake to have such clear, blue waters, and Torch Lake’s unique, Caribbean-like appearance is thought to have been caused by glaciers back in the ice age.

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At the bottom of the lakes, you can find limestone, and very little organic content, so there’s not much around to darken the lake’s color. You can find the same sort of geography in the Caribbean seas, which is why Torch Lake bears a resemblance to the island’s waters. Nature really is incredible, though we don’t think we’ll ever truly understand just how it came to be!

So the next time you consider jetting off to the Caribbean, consider saving your money (maybe just this once) and driving or flying to Torch Lake instead.

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There are a whole selection of beautiful vacation homes for you to take your pick from, plus hotels for a more wallet-friendly option, and even camping for RVs and trailers, if being surrounded by nature day and night is your thing.

Be sure to choose your visiting times carefully – you’ll want to visit between May and August to enjoy the best weather. In the winter, temperatures at Torch Lake have been known to get down to -5°C, so while you’ll still get to experience its beauty, you probably won’t be stripping off to your swimwear! The lake might look like it’s in the Caribbean, but the weather will tell you otherwise.

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It’s also worth booking your trip to Torch Lake at least 8 to 10 months in advance. This includes booking your rental boat, if you fancy getting out on the water. If you leave it too later, you’ll be left with slim pickings – or nothing at all.

If you’re yet to visit one of the most stunning landscapes in Michigan, you know what to do!

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Many of us don’t fancy the risk of booking an international flight anytime soon, but not only is Torch Lake the safer option, it’s also going to save you a good chunk of cash.

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Source: Forbes, Wikipedia