2018 Great Lakes States - Traverse City, Michigan

2018 Great Lakes States – Traverse City, Michigan

Photo link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cUKn7gJmzLn1eBJP7

Monday August 20th – Sunday, August 26th

Traverse City State Park, Traverse City, MI

The drive south to Traverse City was mostly along the Lake Michigan shoreline. We took the scenic drive passing through lovely lakeside towns, including Petoskey, Charlevoix and along Grand Traverse Bay ultimately arriving in Traverse City. We had been warned before heading this way that the traffic in this town was congested and very busy. This area has expanded greatly in the last couple of decades. We arrived at the State Park, which was along the lakeshore and right across the highway. The Park had built a walkway over the road so that campers could easily cross over to the beach. The campground was very basic, lots of trees for shade and spacious sites. The day we arrived the weather again was rainy and windy. The lake conditions were choppy, not good for enjoying the beach. We setup in the rain, again. The bay lakefront is very beautiful with nice beaches and clear blue water.

The city is very bicycle friendly with many paved trails all around the area. There were nearby mountain bike trails, so we did enjoy them, they were not technical but fun and a good workout. We visited these trails on two days and enjoyed the workouts.

The next day we decided to drive west to the Lake Michigan shore to visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This lake shore has many sand dunes with some as high as 400 feet. There were trails around the park and we were able to take the dogs hiking on one trail. Unfortunately, while there it began raining so much that we abandoned the hike. Also the rain was so strong that we could not see any part of the dunes area from the trail. We headed back to camp after being soaked from the rain.

The next day the weather was much better and Kurt decided to go back to Sleeping Bear Dunes for a chance to see the wonderful sights. The drive was 60 miles round trip and would be a long day, so I decided to stay back with the dogs and take them on some walks. Kurt hiked trails along the lakeshore dunes and was able to get very nice pictures of the park. The park allowed visitors to climb the 400 foot dunes, provided they were able to do it safely. The good thing is the climb was uphill first, so many people realized they wouldn’t be able to make the complete climb, so they turned around before reaching the top.

Another day, Kurt wanted to ride another mountain bike trail system that was a longer drive away, and was more challenging. He drove to the Glacial Hills Pathway and Natural Area. He really enjoyed the trails, more up to his expert riding level. On his way back he stopped along Torch Lake to view that area. It was another large inland lake that was beautiful with small harbor towns along the shore.

Overall, we enjoyed the Traverse City visit. The downside was that we spent half of our days in the rain. Oh well, that has been the story with this summer trip. Too many rain days!

Now we continue to head south to our last stop in Michigan.

2018 Great Lake States - Mackinaw City, Michigan

2018 Great Lakes Trip – Mackinaw City, Michigan

Photo link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KLiy7cZSmAYZ9igQ6

Monday August 13^th – Sunday, August 19^th

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, Mackinaw City, MI

Our next adventure in Michigan took us on a southeasterly drive through the Upper Peninsula.  During this drive, we passed through forests and along the north shore of Lake Michigan. Finally we crossed the Mackinaw Bridge and entered the Lower Peninsula. Then we arrived in Mackinaw City, driving south to the campground.

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping is probably the largest campground we’ve ever stayed in. There were over 800 campsites and cabins. Everything that any camper needs exist in this park. There was a lakefront grassy park, a sandy beach, swimming pool, camp store, dog park, playgrounds, and nightly fire truck rides. Our site was small but comfortable with full hookups. Mackinaw City was a short 5 mile drive to everything else.

We relaxed for a while and spent some time on the lakefront park. The view from there included the Mackinaw Bridge and Mackinaw Island. The water was clear and cold, so we didn’t swim in it. It was a nice place to take our camp chairs and the dogs down by the water and relax with a cool beverage.

The next day we drove into town to check out the visitor’s information and the general area. We had already decided to take the ferry to Mackinaw Island, so we planned for a later day when the weather was supposed to be perfect. There is a lot of history in this area, so I took the tour of the historic Michilimackinac Fort. This 18^th century fort was originally built by the French and later taken over by the British. It was a major village for fur trading. This fort is reconstructed based on historic maps and more than 50 years of archaeological excavations that continue today. In 1780 a new fort was rebuilt during the Revolutionary War on Mackinac Island by the French troops. Both forts are shown with period furnishings and demonstrations by costumed interpreters on all the historical daily life. This tour was very interesting and informative regarding the history of the area.

One day we took the ferry over to Mackinaw Island along with our bicycles. This Island does not allow any motorized vehicles, only bikes and horse drawn carriages/carts. All transportation by the Island merchants and town maintenance are horse drawn wagons. Arriving off the ferry, the streets were lined with parked bicycles and many others riding. There are bike trails all over the Island for exploring the beautiful area. There are also many shops, restaurants, vacation homes, inns and hotels. The town is very beautiful and definitely caters to tourists. However, there are some residents that live there all year long, despite the extreme winters and the lake freezing over. We enjoyed the day exploring the island by bike and having a great lunch.

We also rode our bikes around Mackinaw City, where there were paved trails everywhere. One evening we drove to the west side of the peninsula to the Headlands International Dark Sky Park, to hopefully view the Perseid Meteor Shower. We took our chairs and setup ready to view, but the sky was overcast too much to even see the brightest stars.  Bummer, we were really looking for to this experience. After exploring this nice area, we were ready to continue our trek south to more sites in Michigan.

2018 Great Lake States - Munising, Michigan

2018 Great Lakes Trip – Munising, Michigan

Photo link: 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/F6252TCpvCsjEfDs5

Wednesday August 8^th – Tuesday, August 14^th 

Superior Times Resort, AuTrain, MI

After spending a week in the Keweenaw area, we were ready to head on to our next location in Michigan.

So we headed south and then eastward towards the town of Munising. Along the way we stopped at a beautiful roadside park to check out what was advertised as Canyon Falls hike. It was amazing to find this type of hiking trail along the roadside. Michigan has done very well on these parks and provided extra exploring opportunities. The hike back to the falls included the trail along the Sturgeon River Gorge, ultimately to the beautiful falls. Everyone including the dogs enjoyed the hike. We then proceeded eastward until we arrived at the Superior Times Resort and Campground where we had reservations. After getting the campsite setup we realized it was not sufficient, so we just had to work with what we had since we had already paid for it. We regret to say we were totally disappointed in the campground. Instead of being called Superior Resort & Campground, I will call it Inferior Resort. It was probably one of the worst campgrounds we've ever stayed in. They advertised it as being beautiful with great amenities, but it was completely the opposite. Terrible campsites, terrible supporting amenities (such as a trashed game room) and beach and terrible non-caring owners. Everything seemed to be a total mess, not as advertised, so we were ready to get out of there.

The next day we drove into the town of Munising to the Visitor Center to get information on the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. We did a short hike from The Visitor Center to the Munising Falls. We also walked down to a sandy beach lake front on a very foggy day. Kurt was able to also get information on paddling his kayak along the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore.

The next day we purchased tickets to take the boat tour out of Munising Marina along the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore. This National Treasure is the main attraction for the Munising area. The tour lasted about two and a half hours and it was very exciting to see the many rock formations and the painted rocks created by various minerals seepage along the cliff walls. We truly enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting that area.

The next day Kurt took his kayak down to the Lakeshore and decided to do the same and observe the cliffs from his kayak. He got much closer than we were able to with the boat tour and took some amazing photos. He was excited to say that he has for a second time paddled his kayak in Lake Superior.

The last day we were there Kurt wanted to kayak along the Autrain River which flows from Lake Autrain out to Lake Superior. The weather was perfect and he enjoyed the kayak along a nice flowing river. I decided not to do this paddle because I wanted to spend the day with my boys, Kody and Luca.

After our 5 days there we were ready to move south to the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.

2018 Great Lakes Trip - Keweenaw, Michigan

2018 Great Lakes Trip – Keweenaw, Michigan

Photo link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mc1Wd1kbgoc8snMt8

Wednesday August 1^st – Tuesday, August 7^th

Lake Linden Campground, Lake Linden, MI

Our next adventure was in Keweenaw County, Michigan on the northern peninsula. We drove out of Wisconsin heading south and then east, passing into Michigan then continuing along the Lake Superior coastal highway. There were many beautiful views along the way, including the Ottawa National Forest and passing through many small coastal towns. We finally arrived in the village of Lake Linden where we set up at the city campground. The campground was very nice, especially for a small town, and was on Lake Linden. We had a beautiful view from our campsite which was very nice and spacious.

One of the main attractions on this peninsula is the town of Copper Harbor, on the northernmost shore. The drive up to that area was beautiful and we were able to see scenic views of the whole Copper Harbor area from the Brockway Mountain top. This whole peninsula area has a rich history of mining, especially copper and iron. Now Copper Harbor is a lovely lakeside tourist town.

We found a hiking trail in the Copper Harbor area at Hunter's Point Park. The trail followed the narrow peninsula along the lakeshore.  We visited Agate Beach which is made up of nothing but red smooth rocks and boulders, where one could potentially find agate stones. We enjoyed the hike, the beautiful views of the lake and harbor with our dogs.

Another day we drove back up to Copper Harbor along a scenic drive along the peninsula shores. This took us through other coastal towns of Eagle River and Eagle Harbor. The beaches along the lake were beautiful and mostly rock covered with some sand. Along the way we visited three lighthouses, rocky shores and historical towns.

There were also mountain biking opportunities in the area. Just south of Lake Linden is Michigan Tech University. So therefore, there were some great trails near there. We spent some time riding the fun trails and enjoying the exercise. Another day, Kurt drove back up to Copper Harbor to ride the trails there. They were more difficult and technical, so I chose to pass on those trails.

We enjoyed our time in this area of Michigan. Now onto our next location in Michigan.

2018 Great Lakes Trip - Bayfield, Wisconsin

2018 Great Lakes Trip – Bayfield, Wisconsin

Photo link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rX8oPvFuZsrzx4SJ6

 

Wednesday, July 25^th – Tuesday, July 31^st

Apostle Islands Area Campground, Bayfield, WI

For our next adventure we headed towards the northernmost point of Wisconsin, a peninsula on Lake Superior. The town of Bayfield on the south shore of the peninsula was our destination.

This cool, small harbor town dates back to 1856. The town is surrounded by the Chequamegon National Forest and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. The crystal clear waters of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands is an adventure haven for fisherman, kayakers and beachcombers. Also in the area are networks of trails in the surrounding hills for hiking, biking, skiing, dogsledding, horseback riding, snowmobiling and ATVs. There are orchards for strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries and apples from spring through fall. The little town of Bayfield is filled with great restaurants, art shops, cottages and inns, all looking towards the beautiful waters of the lake.

We camped at a wonderful local campground surrounded by forest, just about a mile from Bayfield. So far this was our stop that had the coolest weather. One night the temps actually got down to 49 degrees and averaged in the upper 70s during the day.

The first day, as usual, we drove into town and around the area to check it out. We found a really nice lakefront hiking trail that started in Bayfield, so we decided the next day to bring the dogs and do a wonderful hike.

Just across the bay from Bayfield is Madeline Island. One day we took the ferry to the Island with our bicycles. We were able to tour the island on our bikes and check out the town and the countryside. It reminded us a little bit of Martha's Vineyard, but more quaint and not so upscale. The weather was perfect and we had a wonderful day.

Nearby Bayfield we found a great mountain bike trail system on Mt. Ashwabay. We spent two days there riding the fun trails, which were really well designed and maintained. Just our style of mountain biking. At the top of the mountain were great views of Lake Superior and Madeline Island.

The main attraction near Bayfield is an offshore series of islands called the Apostle Islands.  These islands are an archipelago of 22 islands formed by ice, wind and waves. Over time the sandstone eroded, creating cliffs, sea caves, windows and arches. A few islands still have the historic light houses in place. A portion of the National Lakeshore lies on the shore of the peninsula on the northwest side.

Also along the northern peninsula shore are a series of sea caves. One day Kurt took his kayak there and paddled along the sea caves, going in and out of some of the open caves. The geologic changes to the sandstone cliffs in this area are amazingly beautiful and unlike anything else we've ever seen. He truly enjoyed the day.

There are cruise boats that can take people out to the Apostle Islands and cruise around several of the main islands to view the cliffs, sea caves and light houses. We chose instead to take a small boat tour along the lakeshore caves, as this captain only takes 6 people. Because of the smaller size of his boat, he can actually take you back into a lot of the caves for a close up view.  We took this tour and really enjoyed Captain Mike's narration of the geology and history.

We also really enjoyed touring the town of Bayfield, it is so beautiful and filled with a lot of historical mansions, which many have been converted to inns or Bed and Breakfast. There were plenty of shops and restaurants. We celebrated our 24th anniversary one evening in the town of Bayfield at a really nice restaurant. We indulged in lake trout and other local seafood. We enjoyed walking around the town looking at the historical buildings, the boats in the harbor, all the beautiful flower gardens and checking out some retail shops.

The last day there we found a gorgeous little beach south of Bayfield on the lake.  We took the dogs and enjoyed the afternoon just relaxing and looking at the views of the lake.

We truly fell in love with Bayfield. This has been added to our “go back” list. Hopefully, one day we can return to Wisconsin and visit our favorite places.

2018 Great Lakes Trip - Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

2018 Great Lakes Trip – Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Photo link: 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/k7rr6GwjRhGjpjZv5

Wednesday July 18^th – Tuesday, July 24^th

Eagle Ridge Campground, Chippewa Falls, WI

After traveling west about 100 miles, we arrived at this campground. This campground is very nice, with a campground host that is the best. After getting settled in, we drove into Chippewa Falls and checked out the Visitor Center. The Chippewa River flows through town, providing water recreation for those in the area. There are also mountain bike trails at a nearby county park in Eau Claire.

The next day we drove into downtown Chippewa Falls and went to the visitor center for detailed information. We also went to the Leinenkugel Brewery for a tour and beer tastings. What a great, well run business. The Leinenkugel Lodge was well stocked with a beer tasting bar and products related to the beer and outdoor activities. The brewery was founded in 1867 and has been in this location since then. The company was wrapped up in a purchase by Miller Brewery in Milwaukee, which now is all owned by Molson in Canada. Too bad none of these great American beers are no longer owned by Americans…

Nearby is Loopy’s, a business on the river which includes a bar and grill, canoe, kayak and tube outfitter and shuttle service. We went there on Friday for the Fish Fry and more Leinenkugel beer! We also had fresh fried cheese curds, YUM. It was all delicious. Another day we used their shuttle service to drop us on the Chippewa River for a 6 mile downstream float, then pick us up. The weather was perfect and we took the dogs for the trip. We were able to stop a couple of times at gravel bars along the way.

We visited Lowes Creek County Park on two days for some fun mountain biking. This is an urban park that is a huge forested area with a creek running through it. There were numerous mountain biking trails and for the winter sports, ski/snow shoe trails. The trails were fun and presented some challenges, but we enjoyed them. The most exciting event was when Kurt rode up a trail and noticed a momma black bear and her two cubs on the trail. He stopped when she noticed him and then she stood up tall. He then waited to see how she would react. After a couple of minutes she went down off the trail with the cubs. Kurt waited a little more, trying to decide if he should go forward or turn around. She then came back up on the trail and looked right at him. At that time he turned around and rode the opposite way. He later saw a ranger and reported the incident, the ranger had not heard of any bears in the park this year. They really should put up some bear warning signs. Regardless, it was a fun ride!

Our last day there we decided to ride a paved trail that winds through the city of Chippewa Falls, along Duncan Creek and out towards a State Park. After riding several miles through residential and industrial areas, we finally followed the trail along the Chippewa River to a downtown riverside park where Duncan Creek converges. It was not really the ride we anticipated. But we did get some good exercise.

We enjoyed our time in this area, but not sure if this is on our “go back” list. Next heading north to a peninsula on Lake Superior.

2018 Great Lakes Trip - Wausau, Wisconsin

2018 Great Lakes Trip – Wausau, Wisconsin

Photo link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VZkFbV4yPDoTea9S8

Friday July 13^th – Tuesday, July 17^th

Marathon County Campground, Wausau, WI

Leaving Door County, we drove southwest towards central Wisconsin, headed to Wausau. Here we stayed at a really nice county park campground that was in the city. It sounds strange, but was nicely laid out and many trees for shade. Also, the location was convenient to everything we wanted to do.

Another nice surprise that weekend was a hot air balloon rally and rib fest that took place at the local airport. We attended this event and watched several balloons fly, ate great ribs and met some very nice local people. We also ate our first fried Wisconsin cheese curds, so yummy! We stayed for the evening event of the balloon glow. This is when the balloons line up and at dusk inflate the balloons for a spectacular show set to music. After dark, there were fireworks that were very well done. It was very entertaining and an all-around fun time.

One day we traveled east into the country to the county park, Dells of the Eau Claire. We took the dogs so they could also have a day of hiking, which they really enjoy when they can get in a river. The Eau Claire River flows through this park, which has several hiking trails and water activities. The rock formations in the river are the main attraction at this park. Also, part of the Ice Age Trail converges with the hiking trail along the river. The Ice Age Trail is over 1200 miles long, reaching from Sturgeon Bay in Door County, south through many multi-use trails, private lands, city parks, state parks, county forests and national forests. The trail heads northwest and ends in St. Croix Falls overlooking the St. Croix River. This trail follows the path of ancient glaciers.

On two other days, we went to Nine Mile Forest for great mountain biking trails. These were really fun trails, nicely designed and maintained. It was great to get back on some amazing trails.

Kurt decided to go on a hike at Rib Mountain State Park. He hiked to the top of the mountain and had great views of the valley and the city of Wausau. This park also has downhill skiing and cross country skiing for the winter, which is common for many mountain areas in Wisconsin.

Again, as we have experienced in this state, the people we have met are just hard-working, middle class, good people.  It’s so refreshing to see regular Americans living a good life.

Next, on to explore Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire area.