2024 Fall Trip: Michigan

Sunday, September 22:  152 miles, Sleepy Hollow SP, Laingsburg, MI

US-2 to US-127

There are two camping areas.  We are in the south one.

That's us on the right, site 179

Site 179

The sites are wooded, large, private and paved.

Sleepy Hollow is a large and heavily wooded state park surrounding a lake.  It reminds me of Cranberry Lake SP back home in the Adirondack Mountains.  There is boating, fishing, hiking, and swimming.  There is even horseback riding trails.  There were very few campers the night we were there, although I expect the weekends fill up with local residents.  My sister, Mary Ann and husband Eric live about 20 minutes away in East Lansing, and they stopped by for a short visit. We would definitely come back to this park for a night or two stay.

Monday, September 23:  186 miles, Indigo Bluffs RV Resort, Empire, MI

US-127 to M-115 to CO-669 to M-72

Resort site R-2

Sunset over the camper.  The site next to us was empty the entire time we were there.

This region of western Michigan is popular because of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore along Lake Michigan.  This land was first occupied by the Potawatomi, Ojibwa and Odawa peoples.  In 1886 lumberman D. H. Day bought vast acreage in the area and in 1971 much of his land was converted to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The popular dune climb location.

Photo from our 2017 visit.

Photo from our 2017 visit.

Photo from our 2017 visit.

We took a drive to nearby Glen Arbor, and discovered the Cherry Republic compound, where you can sample some of the 200 cherry products in The Great Hall, enjoy wine tasting in The Winery, or enjoy a craft beer, dinner, lunch, or ice cream and bakery items at the Cherry Public House! The whole campus is tied together by cheery perennial gardens that wind through the property. We "shopped until we dropped" and left more than a few of our retirement dollars there.

On another day we took a drive to the small town of Empire, where we shopped in an unassuming, but cute store called The Secret Garden. It was a gem, and the owner was so gracious and chatty. We left some retirement dollars there too. Later we discovered, online, that the owner, Cynthia Taggart, has a second life. She has a fascinating background and holds a Ph.D degree in music education. Read more about Cynthia HERE.

Indigo Bluffs Resort is a wonderful stop, and we would absolutely stay here again.

Friday the 27th: 238 miles and the next stop was in the Michigans's Upper Peninsula at Manistique Lake Shore Campground in Manistique.

M-72 to US-131 to I-75 to US-2.

We had site 05

Beautiful pull thru site 05

Monarchs feeding on wild aster

Located right on the north shore of Lake Michigan, this city owned parked turned out to be amazing with huge full hook up sites that were paved and level.   The public beach (and dogs were allowed) is just 5 minutes away.  In fact, next time I'll try for a beach front site, but you have to reserve well in advance.  And the beach views were absolutely stunning.

North shore of Lake Michigan

Manistique Lighthouse

Morning moon rise

A girl and her crocs.

Saturday we did some souvenir and grocery shopping downtown.  Manistique is such a charming village.  We will definitely be back.  When in the UP, you have to try their meat pies, often called pasties. A helpful clerk where we were shopping said they were excellent from Jack's Fresh Market, and she said to be sure to get the meat, potato and rutabaga mix.  In fact, the ones we bought were already hot and ready to eat.  So we bought four, and promptly ate two for dinner, while freezing the other two for a future meal.  Here's a good RECIPE.  They are time consuming to make, so most folks just buy them at local shops or food stores.    

Manistique shopping district

Michigan Pasty

Thus ends our time in Michigan,  Next up, we are off to Wisconsin for 6 days.