Lists – Camp Michigan

Michigan State Parks for Lighthouse Lovers

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg

Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state in the United States. Of the approximately 125 lighthouses still standing in Michigan, a few of them are located in some of Michigan’s State Parks. Here is a list of parks you will want to visit to see the lighthouses that call these parks home.

Ludington State Park
Big Sable Point Lighthouse stands in the dunes along Lake Michigan. It is a few miles from the campground and parking lot but well worth the hike to visit it.

Belle Isle State Park

The only light tower constructed for navigation is the Livingstone Memorial Light that proudly stands on the east end of the Island.

Tawas Point State Park

The park is home to one of the most visited lighthouses in the state. While you are camping you can see the light shining at night.

Leelanau State Park

The Grand Travers Lighthouse stands at the lip of the Leelanau Peninsula and is a popular destination for tourist visiting the peninsula. They say the old lighthouse is haunted and tours on the weekends in October are a popular event.

Grand Haven State Park

The beach at the Grand Haven State Park is one of the most popular beaches in Michigan. The bight red Grand Haven Lighthouse stands on the pier separating the channel from the beach.

Fort Wilkins State Historic Park

The Copper Harbor Lighthouse is part of the state park. You can see it from a parking lot on the west side of M-41 that faces the harbor. The lighthouse is separated by private property and the road to the lighthouse is not open. Unfortunately the ferry service that took visitors to the lighthouse is no longer operating but hopefully, the state will be able to find a contractor to start the service again.

Sturgeon Point State Park

The small state park on Lake Huron near Harrisville is home to the lighthouse maintained by the Alcona Historical Society.

Holland State Park

The lighthouse is known as “Big Red” guides sailors into the channel next to the state park beach. You can not access the lighthouse from the state park but you can get a good view and photographs of it from the park.

William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor

One of the newest lighthouses in Michigan stands on the Detroit River at the state harbor near the DNR’s Outdoor Adventure Center.

McLain State Park

The state lists a lighthouse at McLain State Park in the Keweenaw near Hancock. It’s more of a beacon that stands on a breakwater than a lighthouse but I figured I better include it on the list.

Silver Lake State Park

The park is most noted for the sand dunes and ORV area but it does have a lighthouse. The Little Sable Point Lighthouse stands along Lake Michigan in the park and is open to visitors.

Colonial Michilimackinac Historic State Park

If you have ever driven across the Mackinac Bridge you have probably seen the Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse that stands on the shoreline in Mackinaw City. It is one of the most popular places to stop and take a pic of the bridge.

Cheboygan State Park

You probably won’t find a lighthouse listed at the state park probably because it is no longer standing. The foundation can be found off the hiking trails and is still worth visiting. From the shoreline where the old lighthouse once stood you can see the Poe Reef Lighthouse in Lake Huron.

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Pantry Items

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg

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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The Best Freighter Watching Campgrounds

Posted on March 23, 2019 by Mike Sonnenberg

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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Local and County Campgrounds in Michigan

Posted on March 1, 2018 by Mike Sonnenberg

I have only camped at State Parks but with the popularity of the state parks and RVing it is getting difficult to find campsites in some of them so I am looking at some county and local parks. here is a list of some that I think would be a good place to stay. I hope to stay at some of these campgrounds this summer if not at least drive through and take a look at them. If there are any county or local parks you would like me to add to the list please comment below.

Thumb Region

Forester Park on Lake Huron in the thumb http://www.sanilaccountyparks.com/forester-park/

Lexington Park on Lake Huron near Lexington http://www.sanilaccountyparks.com/lexington-park/

Evergreen Park near Cass City http://www.sanilaccountyparks.com/evergreen-park/

Stafford County Park near Port Hope https://huroncountyparks.com/stafford-county-park

Lighthouse Park near the tip of the thumb https://huroncountyparks.com/lighthouse-county-park

Au Gres City Campground http://cityofaugrescampground.com/

Point Au Gres Park Arenac County Park http://www.arenaccountygov.com/parks/

Southern Michigan

Cade Lake Couty Park near Sturgis http://www.stjosephcountymi.org/parks/parks_cadelake.php

Cold Brook County Park near Climax http://www.kalcounty.com/parks/coldbrook/index.html

Markin Glen County Park near Kalamazoo http://www.kalcounty.com/parks/markinglen/index.html

Groveland Oaks County Park https://www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/Groveland-Oaks/Pages/default.aspx

Addison Oaks County Park https://www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/Addison-Oaks/Pages/default.aspx

Camp Dearborn https://www.campdearborn.com/

Shamrock Park http://www.shamrockpark.net/index.html

Central Michigan

Pinconning Park http://www.baycounty-mi.gov/PinconningPark/

Au Gres City Campground http://cityofaugrescampground.com/

Point Au Gres Park Arenac County Park http://www.arenaccountygov.com/parks/

Coldwater Lake Park west of Mt Pleasant http://www.isabellacounty.org/parks-information/coldwater-lake-family-park

School Section Lake Veteran’s Park west of Mt Pleasant near Canadian Lakes. http://www.mecostacountyparks.com/school-section-lake-veterans-park.html

Oxbow Park in the Huron Manistee National Forrest https://www.newaygoparks.com/

Big Bend Park in the Huron Manistee National Forrest https://www.newaygoparks.com/

Croton Township Campground in the Huron Manistee National Forrest http://crotontownshipcampground.com/

Brower Park http://www.mecostacountyparks.com/brower-park.html

Paris Park http://www.mecostacountyparks.com/paris-park.html

Merrill-Gorrel Campground http://www.mecostacountyparks.com/merrill-gorrel-campground.html

Herrick Recreation Area http://www.isabellacounty.org/parks-information/herrick-recreation-area

Meinert Park http://www.muskegoncountyparks.org/meinert-park

Blue Lake Park http://www.muskegoncountyparks.org/blue-lake-park

Pioneer Park http://www.muskegoncountyparks.org/pioneer-park

Gladwin City Park https://www.gladwin.org/park-campground/

John Gurney Park in Hart https://www.sunrisereservations.com/campground/John+Gurney+Park

Wabasis Lake Park Greenville https://www.kentcountyparks.org/wabasislakecampground/

Scottville Riverside Park cityofscottville.org

Northern Lower Penisula

White Water Township Park on Elk Lake https://www.whitewatertownshippark.org/

Alcona Park near Glennie http://www.alconapark.com/

Old Orchard Campground near Oscoda https://www.oscodatownshipmi.gov/1/322/old_orchard_campground.asp

Otsego Lake County Campground http://www.otsegoparks.com/Home/OtsegoLakePark

Mangus Park Campground on Little Traverse Bay in Downtown Petoskey http://www.petoskey.us/departments/parks_and_recreation/campground.php

Barnes Park Campground on Lake Michigan near Torch Lake http://www.antrimcounty.org/barnespark.asp

Buttersville Park on Lake Michigan near Ludington http://www.pmtwp.org/residents/recreational_parks.php

Camp Petosega https://www.camppetosega.org/

Beaver Lake Campground http://www.alpenacounty.org/alpena%20county%20park.html

Sunken Lake Campground http://www.alpenacounty.org/alpena%20county%20park.html

Long Lake Campground http://www.alpenacounty.org/alpena%20county%20park.html

East Jordan Tourist Park https://eastjordancity.org/city/parks-recreation/tourist-park/

Upper Peninsula

Aune Osborn Campground in Sault Ste Marie https://www.saultcity.com/aune-osborn-campground

Manistique Lakeshore Campground https://manistiquelakeshorecampground.org/

Pioneer Trail Park near Escanaba http://www.deltacountyparks.com/pioneer-trail-park.html

Fuller Park south of Escanaba http://www.deltacountyparks.com/fuller-campground.html

Tourist Park in Marquette https://www.marquettemi.gov/departments/community-services/parks-and-recreation/tourist-park/

Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park http://www.forsythtwpmi.org/campground.htm

Munising Tourist Park https://munisingtouristpark.com/

Pentoga Park near Crystal Falls http://pentogapark.com/

L’Anse Township Park http://www.lansetownship.org/township_park.html

Ontonagon Township Park http://www.ontonagontownshippark.com/

Lake Gogebic County Park https://www.gogebicforestryandparks.com/lake-gogebic-county-park

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Top Parks for Kayaking in Michigan

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Mike Sonnenberg

Michigan has an abundance of inland lakes and rivers for Kayakers of all ages to paddle on. Whether you have your own kayak or rent them from an outfitter there are some excellent places to go Kayaking at. here is a list in no particular order of parks that I think will make kayakers happy.

I need to expand on this list some more so where is your favorite place to go camping if you’re a Kayaker? Please give me your suggestions in the comments below.

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