My family and I were lucky to travel to Lake Michigan
during Columbus Day weekend, as we try to do most years. We only took a short
trip for our summer vacation, so I was especially geared up for our fall trip. I
was looking forward to traveling to some places I hadn’t visited before, even
though they’re just a few hours from home.
We were disheartened to learn that rain was predicted for
the entire Saturday through Monday timeframe we planned to be gone.
Fortunately, we timed most of our outdoor activities fairly well, and though we
got rained on a few times, at least we didn’t get caught in a torrential
downpour. The winds and dark clouds that came with the rain helped to make the
scenery we visited even more dramatic and beautiful.
Our first stop was to visit the Indiana Dunes National
Lakeshore and State Park. We enjoyed not only climbing the massive dunes and
experiencing spectacular views of Lake Michigan, but we also were able to hike
through the shaded wooded trails to get there, which were also lovely. As we
left the park and headed toward our hotel in Michigan, it started pouring, so
we were happy to travel inside the warm vehicle, enjoying the beautiful tree
foliage.
The next day we visited Grand Haven State Park, located
in the town where we were staying, enjoying another great view of one of the
greatest lakes, and the houses and other buildings built right into the dunes.
We headed south to hike in beautiful Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Starting the
hike through the peaceful forest trail, we eventually arrived at the dunes,
where the view opened up to the vastness of Lake Michigan.
Again, it started to
rain as we got back to the car, so we made a few indoor stops in Holland, then
went to Holland State Park to view its perky red lighthouse when the rain
stopped. Worn out from our day’s adventure, we topped off our sightseeing by
stopping at a produce stand to pick up some tasty Michigan apples.
The next day dawned sunny and warm, a vast contrast to
the two previous days. Since we were planning to visit Warren Dunes State Park
on the way home, I was glad for the perfect weather. This park contains not
only beautiful shoreline but also humungous dunes that are easily accessible
right from the parking lot. If you’re willing to hike farther, even more dunes
await. Seriously winded after the almost three-hundred foot sandy climb to the
top, the view was well worth the workout, though by this time the back that had
started aching a few days earlier, was in serious trouble. But what was I
supposed to do? Not experience such neat places? No, that option definitely
wasn’t on my bucket list!
