Just last weekend we camped at Tawas Point State Park and had a great time.  Immediately I knew it had to be featured in the SimplyOutdoors Michigan Sanctuaries Series.  Please read on.

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We’ve camped in many parts of the state, and at many state parks, but for some reason we’ve never camped on the east side of state.  I’m not sure why that is, or why all of us gravitates towards the middle and west side of the state, but that has always been the case.  This past weekend, after my wife’s uncle found a neat little park on the east side of the state, we changed all of that.

Tawas Point State Park is a very unique park.  It is located near East Tawas, Mi, and its shear location makes it a prime camping destination.  With Tawas Bay on one side, and Lake Huron on the other, the park provides all occupants with some very unique and scenic views.

We stayed there with the wife’s family last weekend, and had an absolute blast.  I think all of us were sorry that we hadn’t camped on this side of the state until this point.  The park’s scenery is top-notch, and the unique location makes for a very memorable trip.

The park also features a lighthouse that is located within the park, and is available for tours.  We paid the low fee of $2 and headed inside.  Getting to see Lake Huron and Tawas Bay from the top of the lighthouse was a very unique experience.

There aren’t many hunting opportunities nearby, but for those who like to fish there is ample opportunity for that.  Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate for us, so we weren’t able to get any fishing in, but there is a state pier located directly across from the park, and it provides ample opportunity to take in some scenery and catch a few fish.

And for those interested, there are some great kite boarding opportunities.  I’ve never been myself, but it is HUGE in this part of the state, and they were out in full force even though the weather wasn’t that great.

The camping area of the park is very well kept.   Everyone was very friendly, and all the facilities were perfect.  The beach areas are very unique, and provide opportunities to swim in Tawas Bay or Lake Huron.  There are also ample bike paths within the park, and I took full advantage of those while we were there too.

We had an excellent time, and despite the wind and the weather our Eureka tent performed superbly as well.  Little Abby had a great time, and got to get her hands in the sand for the first time.  They even had a little walkway so that we could take the stroller right down on the beach, and she loved every minute of that even though it felt like we could get blown away at any minute; there were 30+mph winds at one point, and it made things very interesting.

Last weekend was a great time and we enjoyed every minute of our time within Tawas Point State Park.  If you’re looking for a park in Michigan, and want to camp on the east side of the state, you can’t go wrong with this park.  Its uniqueness and one of a kind opportunities will keep you coming back.

Note: Stay tuned this week for some more trailcam pics I found last weekend, as well as an interesting post about something Jeff discovered with the trailcam pics.

Popularity: 4% [?]

The Pere Marquette River runs for approximately 67 miles. It begins near Baldwin, Mi, in Lake County, and runs west into the Pere Marquette lake, eventually emptying into Lake Michigan.

The “PM”, as we affectionately call it, is probably my favorite river in Michigan. Jeff and I have had the pleasure of fishing this river numerous times, and we never get tired of it. We have had plenty of days where we caught plenty of fish, and we have had days where we left without even hooking into one. But despite all of that, we have still enjoyed every minute we’ve spent on the river.

The river features some great trout action, and was actually the first river to be stocked with Brown Trout in the U.S. That was back in 1884. I was actually lucky enough to land a 21″ brown on the river as well. My first fly rod fish ever!

While the trout fishing is great on the river, the best fishing, as far as I’m concerned, happens in the spring and fall. The river gets a pretty good run of steelhead in the spring, and gets a heck of a salmon run in the fall. It makes for some great fishing if you get a chance to hit the river during those times of the year.

The PM is definitely a prime stretch of river to fish, no matter what part of the country you are from. We have even ran into fisherman from Europe who came over to fish the river. It is definitely a thing of beauty, and was recognized as such in 1978 when it was designated a National Scenic River. It is gorgeous. There is nothing like watching a fly hit the water in the early morning on the river. It is so peaceful and so addicting.

If you get the chance head on up and check out the Pere Marquette River. It is a trip that will definitely not disappoint. The river’s sure beauty will keep calling you back for more.

Popularity: 3% [?]

By Kristine

I don’t really remember the first time I saw the Sleeping Bear Dunes.  I’m guessing that’s because I was still a baby when I originally encountered those mountainous sand hills.  I know we made a pilgrimage to the dunes every year for most of my childhood.  I can still remember fighting to climb through the slippery sand, and thinking the top of the dune looked much too far away.  I can also remember emptying my shoes, my pockets and generally my clothes of small piles of dune sand when we headed back to the car. 

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore lies in Benzie and Leelanau Counties in Northern Lower Michigan.  The Dunes themselves took their names from an Ojibwa legend about Mother Bear and her two cubs that were driven out into Lake Michigan by a fire.  The cubs swam bravely, but were too small, and finally slipped beneath the waves.  When Mother Bear reached shore she climbed to the top of a sand bluff and waited in vain for her cubs.  Finally, the Great Spirit took pity, and raised North and South Manitou islands to mark where Mother Bear’s cubs had been lost.  He also sent Mother Bear to sleep and gradually the dunes grew over her.

For those who’ve never visited, the Dunes can be quite an awesome site.  They look like some giant child has dumped buckets of sand everywhere.  Wind and water carve some of the dunes into fantastic shapes.  The odd tuft of grass gains a foothold here and there and sprouts bravely like the last few hairs on a balding man’s head.  There are trails to walk, and huge hills of sand to scramble up, and clear blue water in which to cool your feet when the sand gets too hot.

A day at the Dunes is also a fairly economical way to spend a vacation day. Up until 1998, the Park Service did not charge fees for walking the Dunes.  Today a Park Pass, good for seven days, is 10 dollars, and an Annual Park Pass, good for 12 months, is 20 dollars.  Fees for camping near the dunes are also quite economical.  You can learn more about the Dunes at the Official Sleeping Bear Dunes Website.  If you’re a rebel, you can also read about the Dunes at the Unofficial Sleeping Bear Dunes Homepage.

If you’re looking to add some water to the sand of your Dunes adventure, you might also want to canoe the Platte River.  We did this several times when I was a kid, and it was a lot of fun.  The Lower Platte, which we canoed most often, ends on a sandy beach in Lake Michigan.  The Upper Platte is not white water, but is a faster water trip.  The river also has a lot more twists and turns, so it is a trip for canoeists who are more experienced.

Finally, if you like music, you may want to consider attending the Sleeping Bear Dunegrass and Blues Festival at the end of July.  I’ve never been to this music festival but I’ve heard from people who have been that it’s a lot of fun.  The dates of the festival are July 31 – August 3, and there are already a lot of local and national artists scheduled to play. 

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The Grand River is the largest river in the state of Michigan. It runs for 260 miles and passes through many cities including Grand Haven, Lansing, Jackson, and Grand Rapids. The Grand also passes through 8 counties before emptying itself into Lake Michigan.

Since the Grand River covers so much of Michigan’s lower peninsula there are many places that this natural resource can be utilized. I have fished on the Grand in multiple locations, and have also fished for a variety of different species that reside in the river as well. It is truly a one-of-a-kind river that we are fortunate enough to have so close to us.

My whole family has fished the river, and we always visit it at least once during the year, if not more. I have fished it for salmon in Portland, seen carp caught out of it in Grand Ledge, and caught many a nice smallmouth bass out of it in Grand Ledge and Portland. You will also catch an occasional pike on the river. It even holds trout in certain stretches as well.

You can see why there is such an attraction to this river just because of the sure number of fish that are available to be caught as well as the variety of species available to catch. There is nothing I like better than to be running a #3 mepps spinner through its dark water just waiting for a nice smallie to be on the other end of the line.

I think the best part of the Grand is its sure accessibility. There are a variety of places where all you have to do is park your car along the bridge and walk a short trail to the river, as well as some places that are “secret” and allow for some prime fishing.

So if you’re in Lower Michigan and bored on a Saturday afternoon, grab a pole, a few mepps spinners, and try and catch yourself one of the variety of different fish species that call the Grand River home.

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When I was a kid, my family lived downstate, or more like midstate. Every summer, without fail we’d come up North to vacation about an hour away from the area where I now live. Every year the Shreve family would have a family reunion in the small Northern town where the old family farmhouse still stood. We’d come up for a week, and most of it would be deadly dull. Let’s face it, you can only swim and sun so much.

While most of the vacation was relatively placid, we did usually take a few trips. One of those trips was always to Fishtown. Even back then, when I was a kid, I loved the weathered boards of the buildings, and the neat little trinkets that were sold in the shops. I also remember, strangely enough, getting salt water taffy in Fishtown, which, even then, seemed odd as Fishtown was on a freshwater river and lake.

Fishtown is the historical district of Leland, Michigan. Once, about a hundred and forty years ago, it really was a fish town; a place where people who fished on the Great Lakes, and those who worked to can those fish, lived. Today, it is a series of shops and art galleries, where tourists can browse for a unique souvenir or gift. Fishtown is also the site of the only public ferry offering rides to the Manitou Islands.

Fishtown was first stettled in 1854. The area was a great one for fishing and more families came to get in on the catch. Fishing wasn’t an easy life, but a family could support themselves doing it and many families did until the 1930s. In that decade, catches declined do to overfishing and the introduction of non-native species. The fishing settlement needed another reason to be, since commercial fishing couldn’t support it anymore. Eventually the area was developed as a tourist destination and Fishtown was born.

Today there are still two active fisheries in Fishtown and an active charter fishing business. Most of Fishtown, however, is now a shopping district with art galleries, souvenir shops and candy stores. The quaint shacks which used to house the fishermen and the cannery workers have become quaint stores where tourists search for a unique piece of art or something to take home as a remembrance of their trip.

Some of the standout galleries and stores in Fishtown include Fishtown Pottery where you can get high-fire porcelain and glazed ceramics. Reflections is Leland’s oldest art gallery and nautical store, and a famous tourist destination. If you’re in the mood for food, stop by Carlson’s for smoked fish and beef or turkey jerky. You can also stop by the Village Cheese Shanty for wine, cheese and local specialties. If you want a truly unique souvenir, visit TUG Stuff, which features clothing and accessories which carry the TUG logo. This log was designed in the early 1970’s by a local artist and reflects the history of fishing on the Great Lakes.

Fishtown is also a great place from which to go fishing. The Fishtown Charter Service will take you out to fish the waters of the Manitou Islands. If you love lake trout, brown trout, or steelhead, booking a charter trip could be for you.

When I was small, Fishtown was a place we went to break up a week long family reunion. I remember it as a place with cool little shops where some indulgent aunt or uncle always let me purchase some cool little trinket. Today, I don’t get back to Fishtown as often as I should, but after writing this, I think I’ll put it on the list of places to go this summer. After all, I’m an adult with a wallet of my own now, and I’m betting I could still find a trinket or two worth buying.

Popularity: 4% [?]