Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Great Lakes and Upper Peninsula of
Michigan
RV Trip Itinerary: 21 days, 2,668 RV miles, (about 43 hours of driving)
While this was an RV trip, it could easily be done by car as suitable hotel accommodations could be found near all of these stops. This July adventure began in my home state of Massachusetts, up through Canada and across the Upper Peninsula of MI (UP), down through Ohio and back home. Feel free to modify this RV trip itinerary to met your needs, and send me a note when you discover something that I (inevitably) missed!
I will distinguish between the campgrounds as an “RV park”, where the goal is to see the surrounding area, as opposed to a “campground” where the objective is to enjoy the natural surroundings of the park itself. Some campgrounds will fit both of these definitions.
Our first destination was Niagara Falls, Canadian side. Since this was more than our typical trek guidelines of “330 miles or 3:30 PM, which ever comes first”, we opted to crash in western NY at Cayuga Lake State Park. This was a known entity for us, and was its own destination on other ventures (see “Top Tenish” page). An early start got us to Campark Resorts in Niagara Falls, Ontario, although this exceeded our target mileage for a given day at 469 miles! We do pick a handful of days to do extended driving given that there was a time limit for the trip!
Campark Resorts is an “RV park” conveniently situated near the falls and town conveniences. There is a plethora of family friendly things to do including rides, shows, shopping and restaurants- and a brewery. No trip here is complete without the voyage into the mist of the falls aboard one of the tour boat options. Don’t miss a walk along the tributary river, or stroll in the scenic park overlooking NY and Horseshoe Falls. We opted for 2 nights here, but in itself, it could have been a longer stop.
We next ventured the 261 miles to Grundy Lake Provincial Park, Ontario where we also spent 2 nights. If you are not familiar with the Canadian Provincial Parks, you definitely need to check them out. They are inexpensive, clean and have great amenities. This was a very nice campground with several nature trails along side of a sprawling lake, which has a designated swimming beach. There is an area that kids enjoy jumping off the rocks. Paddling would have been nicer had it not been such a windy day (no power boats allowed on this lake)! I would definitely go there again.
We continued the trek through Ontario another 106 miles to Chutes Provincial Park, named for the logging that once took place there. This campground also had many scenic nature trails that afforded an easy hike with views of river beds and water falls. We thoroughly enjoyed a lazy day on the river beach within the campground. It is situated next to some falls and has a shallow area perfect for a beach chair. Lazy river rafting was also a popular activity here, but we unfortunately did not have a tube.
We wandered on through the Suite Ste. Marie border crossing into Michigan where we camped at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Paradise, MI. (Yep, I can say I’ve been to Paradise…I even wanted to venture to Hell, MI just so I could say I went to Hell and back…but that’s just my sense of humor.) For me, this park was an unexpected gem to find! The Horseshoe Falls are one of the largest east of the Mississippi, spanning nearly 200 feet across and dropping about 50 feet. Walking paths connect the impressive Upper Falls and Lower Falls, complete with nature’s own “stair master”. For me, this is the ideal way to get in a work out! The Lower Falls was a popular spot on a hot day with many enjoying a splash and dip in the river. While here, don’t miss an opportunity to visit Whitefish Point lighthouse and delight in the scenic views of Lake Michigan. The Great Lakes Shipwreck museum was both educational. and an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. We camped here for 2 nights, but could have stayed put for longer….
We next reached what I considered to be the “focal point” of this journey, Munising, where we parked the RV for 3 nights at Munising Tourist Park, right on the shores of Lake Superior. This park is run by the town, and while small, it proved to be an ideal location for touring. The main attraction, and one not to be missed, is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore which must be visited by tour boat (reasonable prices). I would recommend the sunset cruise. Choose a seat on the port/ left side of the boat so that you can capture pictures of the rocky cliffs awash with the stunning colors of the setting sun. We also enjoyed many hikes to various waterfalls while in this area. They are abundant and well marked, with Bridal Falls being one of my favorite hikes. Another beautiful trek brought us along the shores of Lake Superior, overlooking its vastness and gazing down the impressive “dune slide” (pictured above) that was once used by loggers. The sign says something to the effect of “2 minutes down…2 hours back up, and it takes awhile for a rescue squad to reach the location!” We were not brave enough….
Further west, we camped 3 nights at Twin Lakes State Park in Toivola, which is located at the base of the peninsula that leads out to Copper Harbor . This proved to be a relaxing spot where we enjoyed a day lake-side. We took a day trip up to Copper Harbor where we visited the remnants of Fort Wilkens and took in the breath-taking views of the harbor from the Overlook Park. The town also had gift shops selling unique, locally crafted items.
We next scooted our way south and east to Manistique’s Indian Lake State Park. Here we were treated to some of the most gorgeous sunsets. The park is large, clean and has a family- friendly swimming beach and boat rentals. We walked the boardwalk path along the shore of Lake Michigan, past the lighthouse and found ourselves at Mackinaw Trails End Winery and Brewery. Naturally, we had to sample the refreshments! Unfortunately, this was a quick stop on our route home so we did not get to visit Big Spring Kitch-iti-kipi.
Traveling 435 miles south and a bit east, we crashed at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, OH, on the bank of Lake Erie . This was a large campground with many private campsites. Sadly, this was the one Great Lake on the trip that I was unable to put my feet in due to a terribly toxic “red tide”. A stroll along the beach had to suffice. Poor weather brought us to the National Museum of the Great Lakes, though having been, I would recommend it rain or shine. We also visited Maumee Bay Brewing company and enjoyed both food and drink. As we had time constraints, we only stayed here 2 nights, but this could have been a longer destination in and of itself!
A 410 mile leg brought us back to Cayuga Lake State Park, NY, where we crashed for a 2 night respite. We spent the day picnicking and hiking at Taughannock Falls State Park, and then visiting one of the wineries in Burdett. (See “Top Ten-ish” page, Finger Lakes- an area that should not be missed!)
So much to see, so little time…it was homeward bound, but I totally felt content with the adventure. I would definitely revisit the UP of Michigan in my travels again!
Snowbird Journey: Massachusetts to Florida
RV Trip Itinerary: 61 days, 3,456 RV miles, (~48 hours of driving!)
Emerson Point Preserve, Palmetto
Skidway Island state park
Ocean Grove, St Augustine
While this was an RV trip, it could easily be done by car as suitable hotel accommodations could be found near all of these stops.
This February adventure began in my home state of Massachusetts,, but anywhere on the north east coast could tap in to this itinerary!
Our first goal was to be ever so mindful of the weather, both storms and temperatures! I used RV Weather, a free service that I first noticed on Facebook, but then subscribed to for e-mail alerts. (Check it out as it is a map of the entire US with precipitation, temperatures as well as wind information!) Therefore, the first leg was the trek to where there is year-round camping and I chose Delaware (Lums Pond State Campground, to be exact). While Pennsylvania also offers camping opportunities, the temperatures can be chilly and this route would have added a day. Stickling to a more coastal route also helps to moderate the temperature a bit and affords greater chances of “getting lucky” with relatively warmer temps, so we stuck to the “Route 95 corridor”. Another benefit of this location happened to be their acceptance of Passport America discounts, which gave me two nights for the price of one, with the thinking that weather might force our hand to change plans. While there is water hook-ups at Lums Pond state park, we were prepared that freezing temperatures could interfere and had 5 gallons of water with us for the toilet and washing.
We then bounced 384 miles to Four Oaks, NC where we stayed 1 night at a campground that was 5 minutes from I-95. There is a directory of such campgrounds along 1-95, listed by state as well as discount programs they accept! We generally try to stick to the 300-350 mile / day target, trying to arrive at our destination no later than 4 PM. Mostly ,it works, but we do make exceptions if necessary because of weather or travel deadline!
We scooted on to Townsend, GA, where we spent a few nights to break up the driving. We enjoyed St. Simons Island with its vast beaches and the lighthouse museum. The nearby Harris Neck National Wildlife refuge has walking trails. Nearby is Fort King George and the town of Brunswick. Alas, this was intended only to be a resting point, so not too bad crunching that in!
We rolled on to one of our primary featured stops- Palmetto, FL which is on the Terra Ceia Bay. This area turned out to be full of opportunities to do a variety of the things that we enjoy. The town has two nature preserves, both of which are free. Emerson Point Preserve is on Snead Island, and offers walking trails, picnic areas and private beach areas. There is also the Robinson Preserve area that has multiple walking and bicycle trails. It sits on the bay and allows boaters access to the bay. (A kayak rental company conveniently stations themselves at the boat ramp.) We enjoyed kayaking amongst the vast network of channels lined with mangroves, and eventually ended up out in the bay. We will definitely plan on visiting those nature preserves again. Close to Palmetto is the positively gorgeous beaches of Anna Maria Island. While traffic does exist, it is worth the trip as the beaches are free, have ample parking and restrooms. We avoided rush-hour traffic home by finding a local watering hole for a beer and some food. There is also much to see and do in nearby Sarasota and St. Petersburg. We plan to revisit the area and stay for longer!
Our next planned destination was Key Largo, but the distance was further than we typically like to travel, so we crashed at a Harvest Host location in Sebring, FL. Harvest Host is a membership organization that offers free one night stops at participating hosts in exchange for the member’s patronage of their goods. Bummer for us that this was Turn 2 brewing, and we HAD to buy some (excellent) beer!
Ahhh, Key Largo.. the sunsets were amazing, the ocean views were divine! We were content with Key Largo Kampground, though not overly impressed. We had fun exploring the various Keys and drove all the way out to Key West. We visited many of the state parks and got in our walking miles on the trails, but found the beach areas tiny. While it’s such an iconic scenic area , I would be reluctant to go back there with an RV as there is limited access to beaches unless you stay in hotels, or pay the outrageously high price for one of the RV resorts on the water. The Bahia Honda national park was stunning, but rather crowded despite its size, unlike the other parts of Florida that we explored.
From the Keys, we meandered up the east coast of Florida in search of the ideal place to return for a longer snow-birding excursion. The first of this leg of the journey landed us in Hollywood (Florida, of course)! This was a relatively urban area, though the beach was not far away. Hollywood boasts a long boardwalk with ample shops and restaurants, and it did not disappoint. The beaches were vast, flat stretches of soft white sand, which was rather ideal for strolling (quite literally) miles. The water was relatively warm in February, though the surf was a bit on the rougher side- and there were jellyfish. This area was one of the places we actually had to PAY for beach parking, but at $2 an hour for a shaded garage I really shouldn’t complain. The parking app is easy to download and also sends a text which allows you to conveniently tag on another hour to your spot. We didn’t feel like rushing through our visit to the beach-side brewery, so we utilized it! I would return to Hollywood, but I think I would skip staying in the KOA there.
We then meandered further up the east coast, stopping in the popular “Space Coast” section, specifically at Manatee Hammock Stat Park campground. This was a great little campground with a fantastic view for potential Space Launches. Of course we went to the Space Center and were not disappointed. This should be on your bucket list! I learned a great deal about how much the space program has impacted our lives- particularly for the innovation of useful household products! We also found some nature preserves and Canaveral shore. Both sported walking trails. While I found this area to be less populated, we were also able to find some nice breweries to keep us fortified. While I will return for a visit, this isn’t the area we would choose for a long-term stay.
It was on to St. Augustine, an area I was quite interested in seeing. It did not disappoint! We stayed at Ocean Grove RV resort, close enough to walk to the beach (though you can drive your car and park it on the beach if you plan to stay for the day). I liked being able to get our morning walks on the beach, starting right from the campground. The sunsets on the marsh were radiant. The town of St. Augustine is rich in history and has an ample variety of items to see and do. We enjoyed the haunted ghost walk, and the fort. We spent time on Anastasia state park ‘s beach- and even did the walking trails through there. This park also has a campground that I would consider staying in. We made the most of the few days we were here, but plan to return.
Our next destination brought us back to Georgia, but this time we went coastal- Skidway Island State Park. I was impressed with this state park- very large sites, well maintained and friendly staff. This park is near Savannah, which we enjoyed touring. Of course, there is also nearby Tybee Island with its beautiful beaches and great panoramic view from the lighthouse. We were glad to have visited off season, however as traffic was still congested. On the rainy day, we did one of the two forts in the area, Fort Pulaski. Again, we felt there was more to see and do in this area, so we will make it a stopping point on future trips.
We rolled along to our final place to explore on this sojourn, Myrtle Beach, SC. We stayed at a popular resort, Ocean Lakes Campground right adjacent to the beach. We were literally a road’s width away from the dune, but had an excellent view of the ocean from our RV. However, we got lucky! This place is HUGE so it may not be for everybody. We ventured to the boardwalk area, but were disappointed. It was not our cup of tea mostly because we did not have children. It is the classic place to bring young children and teens, but not much for adults, IMHO.
Alas, the trek home began. We essentially worked our way backwards form the journey down to Fisherman’s Cove, arriving home safely. Yep, it was a fun way to escape the cold and snow… we will do it all again, but narrow down the itinerary so we are not on the road so much.
“
Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
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Note: Check back for other itineraries
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