Baker Park Reserve (Oct 2 -4, 2015)

We went to Baker Park Reserve for the last camping trip of the season. They were very full and we were lucky to get a site.

We used to love to come to this campground when our girls were little because of the great playground and beach areas. Plus the campground is mowed like your backyard. Now when it's just us we find the sites are a bit closer than we'd like, but we still biked and walked the 6.2 mile trail and the weather was great.

Bike Trail - 6.2 miles round trip

Campground before everyone came in for the weekend

More of the bike trail

Itasca State Park September 4-7, 2015 (Labor Day Weekend)

We headed to our favorite Minnesota State Park over Labor Day Weekend - Itasca.

The weather was super hot and humid and I had a icky cold, but we still managed to bike over 50 miles and relaxed.

Bike Trail

Our site in Bear Paw campground with a great view of the lake

Headwaters

Douglas Lodge

William O'Brien State Park (August 14-16, 2015)

We went to William O'Brien State Park for the weekend. This park is between Taylors Falls and Stillwater, MN so there is alot to do and see in the area. The weekend was really hot and humid. We did a bit of biking (into Marine on St. Croix) and between the upper and lower campgrounds. It was so hot I had to walk my bike up the hill. The lake was a little green, but the swimming area was clear, clean and very sandy. 

We stayed in the upper campground where the sites are more private and bigger. 

St. Croix River (view from the lower campground)

Walking trail along with St. Croix river/lower campground

Fishing dock on Lake Alice

Walking trail around Lake Alice

Fishing dock from another view on Lake Alice

Beach

Michigan July 18-25, 2015

We headed to Michigan for a week of vacation July 18-25, 2015. We hadn't been since our honeymoon and that was 31 years ago!

We drove from St. Cloud, MN to St. Ignace, MI in one day and arrived late afternoon. We stayed at the Straits State Park and it was a great choice. We could go to the lower campground and have the views below of the Mackinaw bridge, there was a grocery store within walking distance and we could bike to town.

Our first full day we took a boat over to Mackinac Island. We took the 9am boat because they take a little detour and go underneath the bridge before heading to the island.

Our first view of the island was the Grand Hotel (and another boat bringing people to the island).

Main street Mackinac Island

We did the 8.2 mile bike ride around the island. We had brought our own bikes and this was a great decision. There are no vehicles so there are bikes everywhere! One of our first stops on the bike was arch rock. We had to climb 207 steps to get to the top. 

 

 Arch Rock

You have to pay $10/person just to go inside to see the Grand Hotel so we just rode by.

Another trail with a great view on Mackinac Island

On Monday, July 20th we headed about an hour north to Tahquenenon Falls State Park. There are upper and lower falls, camping and hiking trails. We saw both the falls and walked around a bit.

Tuesday, July 21st we headed 2 hours south to Traverse City. On the way we stopped in Petoskey at Petoskey State Park. We parked the truck and camper in the picnic area parking lot, got out our bikes and rode through the campground. The beach below is in the picnic area. We also had lunch before heading on our way.

Wednesday, July 22nd we drove out to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We did the dune climb below.

On the scenic drive through the park you come to an observation deck and an area where the dunes go directly into Lake Michigan. Some people were going down and climbing back up. They warn you about doing this as it's extremely strenuous coming back up and it's VERY steep.

Back in Traverse City we went down to the beach to relax.

Thursday, July 23 we biked from the campground in Traverse City to Sutton's Bay. It's 22 miles one way. The trail is on an old rail bed so it was pretty flat and very scenic.

Town of Sutton's Bay

Traverse City State Park

Friday, July 24th we headed north about 4 hours to Indian Lake State Park just outside of Manistique, Michigan. We walked on the boardwalk in town and then checked out the beach in the campground.

Manistique boardwalk and lighthouse

Indian Lakes State Park picnic shelter and beach.