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Michigan left coast

Started by Ken FenderJazz, May 14, 2005, 06:54 PM

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Ken FenderJazz

Hi,

We are interested in camping on the west coast of Michigan this summer.  We stayed at Warren Dunes last year.  The swimming and the beach were great, but the park is near an intersate - it sounded literally like we were camping at a truckstop.

Anybody have a suggestion for similar SP or other campground that is a little more quiet?  Don't mind going a little further north.

Thanks for any help!
ken

Ken FenderJazz

Maybe Hoffmaster SP or Muskegon SP look pretty good.  Anybody ever been to one of those?

Thanks!

angelsmom10

go to www.glpuc.org and there a lot of people from MI there... they also have outings several times a year in different parts of the state.

springer02

We spent the better part of a week at Hoffmaster last summer and will return this summer, so I guess that's an endorsement. Specific observations:

-- Sites range in size depending on where you are, but the maps make that pretty clear. The park itself is pretty, with many or most sites shaded, generally friendly people and good scenery and trails.
-- Sites book up quickly, but that's the norm for Michigan parks.
-- Unless you're on the old original loop, it's a hike and a half to the beach. If you're in the original loop, there's a lot of foot traffic from the other loops and it's only a hike. There's just one access point through the dunes, but that's because the dunes are such an interesting ecosystem in their own right.
--Quiet hours are not well enforced, or at least they were not last year. We found that the two Michigan parks we stayed at last year both suffered in this regard compared to earlier years due to a decline in staffing.
--We were surprised a couple of mornings by early flights into and out of the local airport that came right over the campground. Coast Guard helicopters also fly up and down the beach sometimes.

The area around Hoffmaster isn't Orlando, but there are things to do. Grand Haven is worth several visits. Muskegon might be worth one. The real draw is Lake Michigan.

If you love cold beer and great perch dinners about 30 minutes away, just e-mail. We'll tell you about our West Michigan favorite.

Ken FenderJazz

Quote from: springer02If you love cold beer and great perch dinners about 30 minutes away, just e-mail. We'll tell you about our West Michigan favorite.

Yes, we do love cold beer :) Especially after last summer's stay at Warren Dunes.  We had read the no alcohol signs, but in Indiana that generally is not very enforced unless someone is getting rowdy, so we didn't pay much attention.  My wife got me a nice 12 pack of Heineken (hey, I rough it some ways, but not in the beer dept).  I had the hatch open with the beer exposed, and the rangers offered to poor it out for me!  They were nice enough to offer me the empties so I could get the deposit back!

Same thing happened to people across the street the next night.  And they didn't have theirs cold or anything - they had a 24 pack to take to their cabin which was next night's stop!!

So, I'll likely be PMing you about the restaurant.  It looks like they still have a few openings at Hoffmaster in late August, I'm ready *now*!

ken

Lumberdude

We had a great time in ludington area, nice area ,water, lots of stuff to do, lots of places to eat and site seeing is very nice with the lake so close by. I'll have to get with the wife and see if she remembers the name of the camp. We walked out on the breakers in lake Michigan and watched the freighters and huge boats coming and going into the marina. Thanks for listening.

Steve

Ken FenderJazz

Thanks for all the help and opinions.  We got a week at Hoffmaster Aug 21 - 28.  It should be a blast!

These camping forums are great!!

Ken FenderJazz

Quote from: springer02If you love cold beer and great perch dinners about 30 minutes away, just e-mail. We'll tell you about our West Michigan favorite.

Tried to email you, but your PMs are disabled.  Go ahead and send me one with your perch and cold beer info - always two good things on vacation!

ken