Author Archives: Mike Sonnenberg

A Tale Of Two Outhouses

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I have often wondered why there is a both a Men’s and a Women’s outhouse at the rustic campgrounds. I have never been inside the women’s outhouse, but I can tell you from experience that the men’s is nothing special. It usually has an indescribable stench and bugs flying around it. I can only assume the women’s vault toilet is beautifully decorated and has a wonderful aroma. I wonder if they make some Happy Camper for outhouses.  I am also not sure why many campgrounds describe them as “Vault Toilets” as if what is in them is highly valuable. Somewhere in Michigan is the nicest outhouse, I just have not found it yet.

P.S. I did find this historic one HERE 

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Pantry Items

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At the beginning of the camping season, I like to stock my trailer with non-perishable items and I leave them in the trailer all summer. At the end of the camping season, I clean out the trailer and pack up the pantry and use up what I have in my home kitchen over the winter. Here is a list if food type items I like to keep in my trailer that way I have them when we go camping. All I need to pack is cloths and refrigerated items.

Pancake mix

Maple Syrup

Jiffy Mix

Cereal

mayo

ketchup

mustard

relish

Drink mix packets

Hot cocoa

Coffee

Ramen noodles

sugar

Canned foods

Peanut butter

Jelly

Snacks, chips, pretzels, etc.

Cooking spray or oil

Soups

Oatmeal

Pasta

Spaghetti sauce

Salad Dressing

BBQ sauce

Rice

Taco Seasoning

Ranch Seasoning

Vinegar

Hot Sauce

Soy Sauce

What else do you like to keep in your pantry that I do not have on the list? feel free to comment below.

This list is also published in the Camp Michigan Camping Journal available HERE

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Silver Lake’s Dune Forest Village

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Dune Forest Village photo from Wikipedia

Mears resident and newspaper publisher Swift Lathers built a retreat for himself and his family in the dunes that is now part of Silver Lake State Park. Swift was born in Detroit in 1889. After earning a teaching degree from Michigan State Normal College ( Eastern Michigan University) and taking law classes at U of M he moved to the west side of the state where he taught in a one-room schoolhouse. He moved to Mears and became the postmaster and in 1914 he began publishing a newspaper called The Mears Newz. 

 

The General Store at Dune Forest Village from Wikipedia.

In 1939 Lathers began a retreat from daily life by homesteading on the Lake Michigan dunes west of Mears. Access roads did not exist and he slowly began walking in lumber and built small buildings. He constructed a school, chapel, general store, a printing office, and some residential houses. Swift Lathers little community became known as Dune Forrest Village. Many people came to visit and stay in the little village, but over time it was used less and became abandoned. Vandals and time slowly destroyed the buildings. Swift Lathers died in 1970 and that same year park officials removed the remains of buildings, and the property became part of Silver Lake State Park. Nothing remains of the village but memories.

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Camp Michigan State Park Champion

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Over the past few weeks, thousands of votes were cast for several of Michigan’s most popular state parks. All of the state parks are a wonderful place to visit and we are fortunate to have these places open to the public. This year it was Tawas Point State Park that came out on top of the voting beating out Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Thank you to everyone who voted. It was a lot of fun and we will do it again next year.

You can see the results of all the polls HERE

I am looking forward to this camping season and maybe I will see you at one of the state parks this summer.

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2019 State Park Construction Projects

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The Michigan DNR is continually working on improving the State Parks. Here is a list of construction projects for the 2019 camping season. 

Baraga State Park

Beginning May 1, the north side of the campground will be closed for construction, reopening June 28. The south side closure will begin July 15 and continue through the end of the camping season. Construction is expected to be completed by Nov. 1.

Park improvements will include an upgrade to the electrical system, resulting in new 20/30 and 50-amp services, site renovations to include camper pads, more pull-through sites and the addition of 14 full-hookup sites offering 50-amp service, plus water and sewer.

Lakeport State Park

South Campground (sites 301-356, White Pine and Cedar cabins) will temporarily close for the replacement of the restroom building. The project will begin at the start of the 2019 season and is slated to re-open in mid-fall 2019.

F J McClain State Park

A new Bathroom building was completed but campground reconfiguration and construction are continuing because of massive erosion of the Lake Superior coastline.

Muskegon State Park 

The Channel Campground is closed for the 2019 camping season for bathroom replacement.

Muskallonge Lake State Park

The campground (sections 1 and 3) at Muskallonge Lake State Park will temporarily close due to electrical updates and site improvements. The two sections are slated to re-open in mid-July 2019.

Hoeft State Park

The modern campground, modern lodge and sanitation station at P.H. Hoeft State Park is being updated Some sites will be open for Memorial weekend. The remainder of the campsites will open June 14, 2019.

Wilderness State Park

The renovated West Lakeshore Campground opens this summer. The East Lakeshore Campground is slated for renovations in the summer of 2020

 

Let me know in the comments if I am missing anything.

 

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State Park March Madness Championship

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Time for the Championship matchup between Tawas Point and Tahquamenon Falls State Parks. Over 5000 votes were cast in the past few weeks and these two made it through all the rounds to the final poll. I have been to both parks many times and they are some of my favorites and it looks like yours too.

Vote for your favorite and a winner will be declared on Thursday, April 4th.

You can see the results of the other rounds HERE

[poll id=”32″]

Be sure to check out the Camp Michigan Handbook  HERE

 

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Camping Journal Giveaway

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Keep track of all your camping adventures in a Camp Michigan Journal. Here is your chance to win a free one. You have to be a subscriber to Camp Michigan so if you don’t already get email notifications you can subscribe HERE. Then all you have to do is comment below on this post on what your favorite campground in Michigan is. I will choose a winner at random from the comments. I will announce the winner in a post on www.campmichigan.org on April 15th.

If you want to purchase a journal I have a few available on my website store HERE if they are sold out you can order them from Amazon HERE

 

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State Park Modern Campground Opening Dates

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Spring is here and the modern campgrounds are opening for the season. Most of the parks open the first couple of week in April. You can see the Michigan DNR’s list of opening dates HERE I think the dates may change if it is going to be below freezing they may wait a little bit before opening the bathrooms so if you are going to the park opening weekend you might want to contact the park to be sure the bathroom buildings are open if it is important to you.

I am looking forward to this camping season we have reservations at 6 different parks and plan to visit several more.

P.S. if you are wondering the pic above is the beach at Twin Lakes State Park

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State Park March Madness Final Four

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With thousands of votes and hundreds of voters, we are down to our final four state parks. They are all beautiful and popular parks and it’s difficult to choose which one is better but pick your favorite to go on to the final round.

you can see the results of the Top 8 round HERE

[poll id=”30″]

[poll id=”31″]

 

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The Best Freighter Watching Campgrounds

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It’s spring and the ice on the Great Lakes is melting and the shipping season is getting underway. It’s fascinating to watch those steal goliaths peacefully floating by. There are a few campgrounds in the Mitten State that are ideal for watching these titans of the waters.

Algonac State Park is on the St. Clair River with many ships traveling it daily. The first row of campsites face the river and you can sit on your campsite and watch the ship traffic.

Aune Osborn Campground is owned by the city of Sault St. Marie and has campsites that face the St. Mary’s River. It’s an excellent place to watch the freighters traveling through the Soo Locks. The locks are just down the street from the campground so you can head on over there quickly if you want to see the ships raised and lowered in the locks.

Brimley State Park is on Lake Superior and a few miles west of the Locks. The Park is also close to Tahquamenon Falls and Whitefish Point.

Muskegon State Park has some ship traffic that heads into Muskegon Lake. The Channel Campground is on the channel that goes from Lake Michigan to Muskegon Lake and you can watch the Lake Express car ferry heading to and from Wisconson.  You can also tour the USS Silversides submarine, USS LST 393 landing ship, and the SS Milwaukee Clipper.

Straits State Park. Although there are not any campsites right on the water you have access to it from the campground and watch the freighters as they pass under the Mackinaw Bridge.

If there are more campgrounds that you think I should add to the list, please leave a comment below.

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