Michigan in the summer

I don’t know what heaven will be like, but I imagine it will be close to what Michigan in the summer feels like.

In our fifty states quest, it would seem counter-productive to go to Michigan every summer. But after our first summer visit to the Mitten State, we knew it would become an annual destination.

Michigan in the summer is magical.

I wish I had the right words to transport you there with a few adjectives and verbs, but it’s not possible. Even Tim Allen and his Pure Michigan campaign fall short.

Michigan in the summer is magical.

It’s not a secret we love to stay at KOA Kampgrounds. They’re not usually the most inexpensive place to camp, but their amenities, clean restrooms, and atmosphere make it worth the extra money.

This trip we stayed at the Allendale/West Grand Rapids KOA. It’s a Holiday KOA which means it’s set up more like a resort than just a campground. I don’t want everyone to know how amazing this place is because it’s where we’ll stay when we go back, but we could have stayed at the campground the whole trip without leaving and not been bored. Swimming pool, splash pad, blueberry fields for picking, hiking/bike trail, jump pad, tons of kids activities, nightly movies on the lawn. I don’t want to just list everything they have because, obviously, you can read their website, but it was one of the best KOAs we’ve stayed at (and we’ve stayed at a lot of KOAs). They have a kitchen in their clubhouse where you can grab warm donuts in the morning or have pizza and ice cream for dinner after a day at the beach. Saturday morning the girls tie-dyed shirts and on the 4th of July, they decorated themselves and their bikes and participated in a parade around the campground led by the local fire department with sirens blazing.

Michigan in July is the perfect time to pick blueberries and cherries too; we learned that by accident a few years ago and if you don’t come home with pounds of fresh-picked blueberries, you’re doing your vacation wrong.

We were near state parks and beaches so a quick trip in the car meant in about ten minutes, we were riding our bikes through the streets of South Haven heading to a local diner for lunch or leaving them at a tree trunk as we ran down the stairs to the shore.

We spent hot days on the beach playing in the cool waters of Lake Michigan and evenings walking to candy stores and souvenir shops. After our bellies were full, we’d stumble back to the car in time to see the sun set over Lake Michigan.

Michigan in the summer is magical.

I don’t write about every place we travel anymore; sometimes because it’s just a weekend at a state park and there’s really no story to share. Other times, it’s because I lose track of time and never get it done. But I need you to know about this campground, this place, this area.

If you don’t have a travel trailer or you have absolutely no desire to ever sleep in one, you can still stay at this KOA. They have cabins, some more rustic than others, and tent camping. There were tons of families tent camping while we were there. Also, if you haven’t gathered a bunch of friends and spent a weekend camping before, please add it to the bucket list.

You still have time to head to Michigan before the less desirable weather sets in. I spoke with a local resident while we were there, and when I said, “I can’t believe you get to live here! It’s unreal.” She responded that they pay for the beauty January through March. So it’s a trade-off, I guess.

Or just cheat like we do and get there during the summer months.

Michigan in the summer is magical.