Michigan Camping
Michigan camping was the third of our four-state summer trip and it was incredible. We camped in three different locations in the lower peninsula and loved them all. However, we needed to purchase a Michigan Annual Pass to avoid entrance fees of $9 per day to the state parks. The annual pass was $32 and was good for Sleepy Hollow and Straits campgrounds in the Upper Peninsula.
Sleepy Hollow State Park
Firstly, we visited Sleepy Hollow State Park in Laingsburg, which was a very nice campground. We had a large, level lot very near the well-maintained bathhouse. It was an electric site, but we did need our extension cord. It was the first time we have ever had to use it. There was a source of water nearby but no water hookup or sewer. Also, there is a beach, lake (Lake Ovid), fishing pier, and Disc Golf Course within walking distance. The site was very reasonable at $29 per night.
We also walked the beautiful shaded path to check out the beach. The beach can also be accessed via the road. It was a very relaxing afternoon.
Another reason we chose Sleepy Hollow was that it is only about 30 minutes from Lansing, the capital of Michigan. We liked this because there were two attractions we wanted to visit: the Michigan History Center and the R.E. Olds Museum.
Michigan History Center
The History Center is an impressive five-level museum depicting the history of Michigan from prehistoric times through to 1975. It was one of my favorite museums ever! There were tons of actual artifacts plus many dioramas illustrating life in various points in time. Helpful docents were also on every floor.
The museum reminds me somewhat of a Disney Epcot attraction that depicts the history of mankind and what each stage was like. It is a real bargain because admission to the museum was only four dollars.
R.E. Olds Museum
I liked this museum more than I expected. The old cars were beautiful and the story of the founder’s life was also quite interesting.
We finished our day trip to Lansing with a late lunch at the Soup Spoon Cafe, a walk through Old Town, and last but not least, a visit to a local laundromat.
Next, our Michigan camping trip took us to the Upper Peninsula, which is covered in a separate post. Below is a link. The next photo is a view of the Mackinac Bridge and Lake Huron from the Lower Peninsula. The bridge connects the upper and lower peninsulas.
Upper Peninsula: Summer Camping in Michigan
On our way home, our next stop in the Lower Peninsula was at the Platte River Campground in Beulah.
Platte River Campground
Our second Michigan camping in the lower peninsula was at Platte River Campground, which is part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This was by far our favorite campground. The site was a huge electric site with an immaculate bathhouse just across the street. There was also a separate enclosed dishwashing room in the bathhouse. We attended an entertaining ranger-sponsored musical performance at the Amphitheater that night.
We only had the site for one night. Before leaving the next day, we drove down a gravel road to check out the dunes. It was fairly early and there was no one there. This was Peterson Road Beach and this area is not the major portion of Sleeping Bear Dunes. I suspect we have missed something by not seeing the major section of Sleeping Bear. Dunes, but there was no availability when we were booking our trip.
The campground and lake were beautiful, but there was not much to do in the nearby area. After spending a little time on the dunes, we headed to our next Michigan camping location in Kalamazoo.
Two Stops Along the Way
Gerald R. Ford Museum
We are trying to visit all the presidential libraries and this trip offered an opportunity to visit the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids. It was right along the way to Kalamazoo.
The library included films and artifacts from the Ford presidential years. It also had quite a bit about the First Lady, Betty Ford. Gerald Ford had the distinction of becoming president without ever running for the office of President or Vice-President. I was impressed by the information provided about his presidency. I think he was a very good man.
The Outdoor Discovery Center
The Outdoor Discovery Center was a detour for us, but it had great reviews and my husband loves animals and birds. It is a nature preserve in Holland, Michigan.
There are two large rooms with taxidermy displays that feature all sorts of animals, which look very lifelike. While we were impressed with the inside of the facility, the nature walk and the Birds of Prey exhibit was the most enjoyable.
The Center rescues Birds of Prey that have been injured and can no longer take care of themselves in the wild. Most had either wing or eye injuries. There were several varieties of owls, two bald eagles, and a falcon. There was also a couple of buzzards. It is not often that we are able to see birds like this up close. However, it was also sad to see these majestic birds in captivity.
It was a lovely walk to the Birds of Prey exhibit, most along a shady boardwalk. There were bird feeders and flowers along the way, which made the walk more interesting.
The Center was really worth the detour, especially considering that admission is free.
Kalamazoo
Our last Michigan camping experience was in Kalamazoo. It was also our first ever boondocking experience. As I understand it, boondocking is free camping. Perhaps this was moochdocking as we were staying on our friend’s property and using their electricity.
We arrived in time for a delicious outdoor meal they had prepared. It was wonderful to watch the sun begin to set over the water. We enjoyed the view and their company.
When our friends mentioned a nearby YMCA, we requested a trip to the gym the next morning. It was our only opportunity to use gym facilities during our trip and we we excited to be able to get some gym-related exercise .
After our workouts, we ate at Breakfast at Tiffany’s and it was awesome. In fact, my favorite breakfast on our entire trip was at Breakfast at Tiffany’s Restaurant in Kalamazoo. Korean BBQ and waffles was the special. It sounded a little weird, but I am so glad I tried it! The dish is fried chicken with Korean barbecue sauce topped with peanuts and diced green onions served over a malted waffle. So good!
Our friends took us sightseeing and we visited nearby Saugatuck that afternoon. It is a lovely area with parks and nice shops.
We returned that night to pouring rain, but our camper kept us very cozy on our friend’s property. The only downside was the very aggressive mosquitoes.
Sadly, our Michigan camping experience was ending. We had a delicious home-cooked breakfast prepared by our wonderful friends and said our goodbyes. So, we headed to Indiana, looking forward to the next adventure. So long lovely Michigan! However, we must return someday.
