Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => Adventure Anywhere => Topic started by: Ron Dittmer on July 29, 2011, 02:37:09 pm
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We spent 2 weeks traveling around Lake Michigan's shoreline in June and July this year. We decided on this trip to significantly reduce miles to lower our fuel cost, compared to our cross-country trips from the Chicago area. We never did this before, so it was a new experience for us. We found MI state parks to be our favorite places to camp at, though we spent most of our daytime elsewhere. We enjoyed light houses, golf, sight-seeing shorelines, and quiant shore-side towns. We spent a little time in Traverse City during the Independance Day weekend for their Cherry Festival. It was a much slower paced trip than we are accustom to which was also nice. We did jump around in the Upper Penninsula to Lake Superior shores (light houses, Sault Ste Marie locks, Tahquamenon Falls ) We finished up at Pictured Rock National Lake Shore, then spent the last day from there heading back home to the Chicago area, via Wisconsin.
We pulled the Jeep on this trip and was very happy we did. I think we put more miles on the Jeep than on the PC, and the Jeep's 4x4 capability came in handy one day in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore.
I stumbled on this "Adventure Anywhere" picture opportunity in the rest area just north of Mackinac Bridge. Taking the Jeep during the day, there were very few opportunities for pics of the PC with scenery. One of these days, I'll have to update my Flickr site to post trip pics.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/5987834413_3a87194f6e_b.jpg)
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Sounds like a fun trip Ron.
Although we too slowed down somewhat on our Hood River trip in July, we need to rachet it down even more & take in the areas we are traveling through.
Thanks for sharing the pictures.
:cool
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Sounds like a great trip (nice picture too).
Glad you made it without mishap or mechanical issues.
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Glad you made it without mishap or mechanical issues.
The only mechanical issue was getting a blowout on my bicycle, north of Traverse City on a paved bike path. Yes we took the bikes along too, on the back of the Jeep.
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What, no skateboard, surfboard or roller skates?
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Great picture of your PC with the mighty Mac in the back ground. :)(: Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Let us know if you post more of your pictures and on which site.
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We are interested in taking a trip in the MI area. If we went by Phoenix first, how would we head off next?
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It doesn't matter which way you go, but either way Chicago could be a problem.
Would plan to hit there outside the rush hour.
If you have time, include a trip around the U.P. and into the copper country.
Should you try some of the south shore of Lake Superior, feel free to stop in.
We have 30 amp, water, & Lake view.
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From our experience, Lake Michigan shores is a lot about maritime history with light houses and sand dunes. If you want to travel around Lake Michigan counter-clockwise from the Phoenix factory, I would recommend heading west on I-80 for about 20 miles, then head north on US-31. When you hit Lake Michigan, just follow it along to the north, then east to the Mackinac bridge, then west from there along Lake Superior. But I surely do NOT recommend doing this in winter for lake-effect snow will be a serious problem. I highly recommend avoiding the entire region in winter.
When were you planning such a trip?
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Thinking about early May
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Loose schedule to pick-up from PC my 2351 late September/early October (when it's ready) and if not too late would like to see some sites of lower MI (about 2 wks) to road/camp checkout my PC then, if needed, go back to factory prior to winding my way back to Austin, by Thanksgiving.
I like to walk during the day and would appreciate recommendations of campsites and sites to see in MI (and any that have experienced in western Kentucky and Tennessee, and Arkansas).
Thanks - John
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Hi John,
My first criteria in ranking a campground is the quality of dog walking available. I have found State Parks to be excellent places to stay because usually they are on large parcels of land, have good roads and often decent trails (though I stick to the roads). Based on that and the places between Michigan and Austin, depending upon your route, here are some notes on some of the places I've visited that may be along your way (and stars allotted out of 5 possible):
Lower IL: Ferne Clyffe State Park (5 stars). Good walks, charming, shady, good sites and facilities.
Western KY: Columbus Belmont State Park (5 stars). Great for history buffs. Overlooks Mississippi River. Great walks, nice sites and facilities.
" " : Lake Malone State Park (3-4 stars). Nice enough, very small. Walks just so-so. Downgraded mostly because it's so far off the main road, which may not matter to you.
Western TN: Chickasaw State Park (3 stars). Great walks but park very old, roads and sites and facilities in disrepair.
NE Arkansas: Crowley's Ridge State Park (5+ stars). Great walks, nice sites and facilities.
Eastern Ark: Village Creek State Park (-4 stars). Don't remember it much and notes weren't very detailed beyond the -4 stars.
Middle-Western Ark: Lake Catherine State Park (4+ stars). Nice walks, sites, and facilities.
" " : DeGray Lake Resort State Park (4+ stars). Another one where I didn't note the details, just the stars.
You didn't ask about TX and since you live there you probably know more about their parks than I do, but in case you haven't been to these two, I'll mention them since they are among my favorites:
North/East Texas: Bonham State Park (5 stars). Great on all counts, but very small so may need reservation if passing through on a weekend.
East Texas: Caddo Lake State Park (5 stars). Great on all counts, and absolutely beautiful setting on the bayou.
Happy trails and have fun making all your plans while you wait for the big day!
Carol
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Hi Carol,
Thanks for the sites, including Texas. Starting out, there are just so many options (a good thing).
I have been enjoying your blog, your words and encouragements.
Happy 4th!
John
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Thanks, John! And a happy Fourth to you and all the rest of the forum, as well. :-D
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Ron, I just joined this board and have a ton on questions for everyone.
This post about the UP is of the utmost interest to me as we are planning a similar trip. Leaving St. Louis, MO to the PC plant and then up the western coast of Michigan to the UP. Spending a couple of days there and then off to Pancake Bay Provincial Park, cause we can. Then back to Frankenmuth, MI for a rally and then back home.
Leaving early Sept and up the western coast of MI and then on to the UP, where would recommend to camp? Weekends seems to the be biggest concern.
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The Ludington State Park, near Ludington, is one of the nicest state parks in Michigan. It is on both Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan with a very nice campground, nice hiking trails through the sand dunes and the Sable river which flows from the Hamlin Lake dam to Lake Michigan.
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Thanks Prince. Have you any experience with Muskegon State Park? That's as about as far as we feel we can make in a day. We'll play it by ear from there.
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I live across the channel from Muskegon State Park. It's really beautiful! Make sure you stay in the channel campground with a site as close to Muskegon Lake as you can get. It feels like you're in the wilderness. I promise you that you'll love it. Stay a few days and explore the park and the area.
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Thanks Janey. Looks we'll add that as a "must" stop for the night and maybe even for supper. There should be a decent place not to far away.
Appreciate it.
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I see you are planning a trip around Michigan. In case you have a little time to explore, here is a link to some interesting destinations in Michigan:
http://www.michigan.org/hot-spots/
Barry
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Thanks Barry. That'll keep the wife busy until it's time for us to leave. Who knows where we'll end up now. Do want to stop at the PC plant in rout to see about a possible purchase.
Thanks everyone for all the great info.
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My favorite camping in all of lower Michigan is either Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore or Leelalau State Park. The Lakeshore has both rustic as well as paved pads with electric. Reservations highly recommended for the modern camping as it's popular and fills fast! The rustic area I believe is still first come first served, the sites are about 50 / 50 level vs non level. They have a very nice Visitor Center in Empire where you can learn about everything they offer and it is a lot. The State Park is all rustic with about 25% of the sites fairly level. There are very nice hiking trails just down the road and a beautiful lighthouse adjacent to the campground. The campground sits right where Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan meet and is absolutely incredible in its beauty! I'll cover my favorite U.P. spots in another post.
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Does anyone know if D.H. Day Campground have electricity? Sleeping Bear is full for our time frame.
Thanks
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D. H. Day is dry camping. Leelanau SP is also dry camping. Platt River has 3 out of 4 sections have power. Platte River is usually full all summer, however, in the fall they may have some openings.
Janey (restless in Michigan)
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Suggestion - call each park directly and ask if they have first come, first served sites. Many parks hold a few sites out of the reservation system so they can accommodate people passing through. If you can't get in the day of arrival, you may be able to dry camp somewhere then roll in first thing in the morning to claim a site. Once in, they usually let you stay. I know it's dicey and you may not get in but we haven't missed yet. Now if it is 100 degrees out and nighttime temps are in the 80's, you might want to pay more and guarantee hook ups or plan to run your generator overnight in the Walmart parking lot so you don't bake.
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Platte River does have some non-reservable sites but they may be taken by the time you arrive. We've also had luck just stopping in and asking if they had any cancellations. As an alternative, if you have your hearts set on the National Lakeshore, Interlochen State Park is fairly close (30 minute drive) from the National Lakeshore, it has a huge camping area with both electric and non-electric sites.
Best of luck!