We are planning a trip to the east end of Upper Peninsula of Michigan along Lake Superior! I've always wanted to go up there. I think our home base campground will be at Muskallonge lake State Park http://www.michigan.org/property/muskallonge-lake-state-park/. Looking at this trip we will probably be doing some driving away from home base though. Sites such as Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Lighthouses and possibly St Ignace to jump on the ferry to go to Mackinac Island. (Been there before but without the kiddos)
insert code here[p]
Have a great time! [/p][p]
[/p]
Sounds like a fun trip. I have a good friend and Air Force buddy in Travere City I want to visit one day. Hope to take the 21 up up there in a couple of years. Post picture please.
That's our stomping ground! We know the area well and would be happy to help with ideas. We've camped there before many years ago and our cabin is about 6 miles east of there. (And yes, there are no roads east of that state park, that's part of the fun!) If you want to meet up when you're in the vicinity, send me a PM with dates and we can see if something is possible. Exploringcarolina is going to be in the eastern U.P. this summer too down at Straits State Park.
[quote source="/post/11104/thread" timestamp="1432083884" author="@sandroad"]That's our stomping ground! We know the area well and would be happy to help with ideas. We've camped there before many years ago and our cabin is about 6 miles east of there. (And yes, there are no roads east of that state park, that's part of the fun!) If you want to meet up when you're in the vicinity, send me a PM with dates and we can see if something is possible. Exploringcarolina is going to be in the eastern U.P. this summer too down at Straits State Park. [/quote]If you have any "secret" beaches around there good for agate collecting pass them along. I even get giddy over the rocks in SW Michigan and those actually require polishing unless you keep them in jars full of water!
Also interested to know if there is a lot of light pollution there. Hope to be able to show the kids the milky way and that isn't very possible here in Indianapolis
Both rocks and the milky way will be fantastic at the park (pending the weather and the moon of course). Down on the beach at night there is only star shine and moonlight. If it's the new moon, the milky way is so bright you'll need sunglasses ( :D). The Lake Superior beach there is sand and cobble and the cobble is the most beautiful collection of small-medium rocks you'll find anywhere in the world. They are tumbled smooth, but definitely not shiny, by the waves. The local "resort", Deer Park Lodge, hosts an agate festival of some sort at the park each year to celebrate the rocks. Google their web site and see what Mike and Monica Brown have come up with this year. One caveat is that there has been a lot of erosion on the beach/bluff in that area from severe storms the last couple of years and you may need to walk some on the beach to get to nice cobble. On a hot south wind in July the biting flies can be pesty (understatement of the year) on the beach, so go prepared to be flexible in your rock hunting and pick a north wind if you go in July. You'll also find good rocks at Whitefish Point. And take a hike at Tahquamenon Falls State Park. We'll be in the area a lot this summer and if we see an Outback pulling a Quicksilver, we'll honk. (our other vehicle is a '13 Outback).
[quote source="/post/11152/thread" timestamp="1432166369" author="@sandroad"]Both rocks and the milky way will be fantastic at the park (pending the weather and the moon of course). Down on the beach at night there is only star shine and moonlight. If it's the new moon, the milky way is so bright you'll need sunglasses ( :D). The Lake Superior beach there is sand and cobble and the cobble is the most beautiful collection of small-medium rocks you'll find anywhere in the world. They are tumbled smooth, but definitely not shiny, by the waves. The local "resort", Deer Park Lodge, hosts an agate festival of some sort at the park each year to celebrate the rocks. Google their web site and see what Mike and Monica Brown have come up with this year. One caveat is that there has been a lot of erosion on the beach/bluff in that area from severe storms the last couple of years and you may need to walk some on the beach to get to nice cobble. On a hot south wind in July the biting flies can be pesty (understatement of the year) on the beach, so go prepared to be flexible in your rock hunting and pick a north wind if you go in July. You'll also find good rocks at Whitefish Point. And take a hike at Tahquamenon Falls State Park. We'll be in the area a lot this summer and if we see an Outback pulling a Quicksilver, we'll honk. (our other vehicle is a '13 Outback). [/quote]Thanks Merlin. Our 2013 Outback is distinctive as it has a Magnebra and Yellow 3M fog covers...yeah I had to manly-ize the wife's car... Thanks for the tips
From your posts over in the Outback forum I see your car is red. With the yellow fog covers, it will be distinctive! You may remember my message to you over there that mentioned a Quicksilver for sale on the LL site some time ago. Good to see you found another one to pull with the Outback.
[quote source="/post/11206/thread" timestamp="1432263435" author="@sandroad"]From your posts over in the Outback forum I see your car is red. With the yellow fog covers, it will be distinctive! You may remember my message to you over there that mentioned a Quicksilver for sale on the LL site some time ago. Good to see you found another one to pull with the Outback. [/quote]Yeah-I remember. I was emailing the owner back and forth but he was in the process of moving and wasn't ready to sell. He has/had a nice 2006, but I ended up finding another that needed a little work, i.e. new hydraulic brake assemblies and some wiring work I nabbed for a really good deal (in the right place at the right time I guess). His was ready to camp. We camped in ours when it still needed brakes, but I wanted to get those replaced before going out of state