Traveling Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Our family ventured into the upper peninsula of Michigan.  This was a year of exploring and getting reacquainted with the U. P. after not having been there for 20 years.  There are a few things to keep in mind:

• keep a full tank of gas and make the most of these stops, as cities are few and far between,
• speed limit is 55 mph, so plan accordingly, and
• it takes a while to get anywhere in the U. P., so pack a sack lunch or snacks with a cooler full of drinks.

Miner's Castle

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, in Munising, MI, on the north side of the peninsula, on Lake Superior.   Touring the lakeshore can be by car or by boat.We prefer to tour the National Lakeshore by car, the other option is a 2.5 hour boat tour for approximately $38/person.  There are opportunities to kayak the cliffs as well, not sure of the cost.  Miner's Castle is the most photographed and well-known rock formation of Pictured Rocks.  The clarity of the water and the different shades of blue remind me of the ocean.  Rock collecting at Miner's Beach ate up the rest of the afternoon.  Everyone was captivated by the colors with unique streaks and designs with different shapes and smoothness.  It was a beautiful day!  We found it difficult to leave, but look forward to next year's venture back to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Paradise, MI, east side of the peninsula.  The Upper Falls are easy to access from platform viewing, absolutely beautiful.  At this location there are gift shops, restaurants, ice cream, etc.  To cool off, my kids waded through the Lower Falls.  It's crazy because there are many layers and levels everywhere; it's very spread out and vast.  People were wading, swimming, and taking a row boat from one side to the other.  Visitors still need to exercise caution because there are areas with currents and larger drops in the falls.

My kids looking for rocks.

Mackinac Island, MI, departing from St. Ignace, MI.  Arnold's Shuttle was the least expensive ferry to the island $18/person and $8/bike.  Yes, we biked it.  Arnold's made it completely hassle-free to transport our bikes to the island.  People of all different skill levels were biking the island.  Total distance was 8.2 miles, about 45 minutes non-stop at a moderate speed.  I thought it would be a hassle having to keep track of my bike on the island, but it really wasn't; I could still enjoy walking and shopping down main street without worrying about my bike.  We will be going back to Mackinac again because we didn't do and see everything we wanted to see.

2016 Trip to the U. P.
Manistique - Fayette State Park and Kitch-iti-kipi (The Big Spring) and Bear Camp in Newbery
Pictured Rocks - east end of the lakeshore
Grand Marais - Lakeshore and Lake Superior
Whitefish Point - Museum and Edmund Fitzgerald
Sault Ste. Marie - Soo Locks

Rocks from Lake Superior

If you have any recommendations for U. P. destinations, let me know.  We love it UP NORTH!

Forest Preserves and Parks Along the Fox River, Tri-City Area

As our kids were growing up, we looked for inexpensive, entertainment, so we turned to exploring parks and forest preserves. We are very fortunate to live in an area that looks for ways to preserve our woodlands and waterways. Cities have made constant improvements making these special places more accessible for everyone. Every season brings forth new discoveries from flowers pushing up the forest floor to identifying tracks in the snow in the silence of winter. Hopefully, you will find new treasures, like we have, at these local parks.



Silver Springs State Park, Yorkville, Illinois

Spring fed crystal clear ponds stocked with bass and trout.  The spring is so clear you can see the blue gill,  bass and turtles in the water.  While sitting in the shade of the mighty oaks, we listen to the chorus of croaking frogs along the water's edge.  My son, continuously casting in hopes of catching a bass.  An unexpected splash encourages him to throw out his line in another direction or try a new spot.  My family likes to hike along waterways.  We, not only explore along rivers, but follow the little creeks that feed into the river.  In the creek, we find beautiful rocks and little springs, here and there, churning sand granules forming perfect little circles in the water. Silver Springs State Park is a nice outing for the day. There is a little concession stand that serves hot dogs, burgers and ice cream and live bait for the fish. Silver Springs State Park is located in the northeast region of Illinois. If interested in spending the day outdoors, look up Silver Springs State Park.

Red Oak Nature Center, Batavia, Illinois

Red Oak Nature Center is part of the Fox Valley Park District. Our family has enjoyed this park in every season for years. We never get tired of the interactive, educational nature exhibits and live animals. Also, the many programs they offer throughout the year, such as maple tapping, nature walks, and talks. There are stools to sit on in front of a huge picture window to watch the very active bird feeders. I check the sightings list for birds and animals, who have been spotted at Red Oak. Down by the Fox River is a viewing area to see the river and water fowl. Winter is our favorite time to visit Red Oak because eagles are often found south of Devil's Cave. One winter when we were down by Devil's Cave, an eagle flew silently past us. It was absolutely amazing!! We love looking for eagles. It's exciting to know that they are re-inhabiting the Fox Valley area. The walking paths are both paved and covered with bark chips. In the fall, the colors of the oak trees are breathtaking. The walking path becomes illuminated with brilliant yellow leaves. This would make for a perfect outdoor setting for family or graduation portraits.

Lippold Park

Lippold Park is located on the bike path adjacent to Red Oak Nature Center. This was an archery range and then it had become run down with overgrown marsh. This park has been beautified! They created a bog walks that serpentine through the little marsh where you can see frogs, turtles, ducks, bass, and muskrat. Also, a beautiful structure with seating, fire pit, and natural playground could make for a nice afternoon at the park.

In my searching for links for the above parks, I had found Go West Young Moms. It is specifically geared toward the Chicagoland area. Check it out!  

If you have a favorite park that you enjoy going to in the Fox Valley Area, I would love to hear about it, especially if it has access to marsh lands or bodies of water.

About My Family

MY BLOG

I have decided to share with viewers the places we have gone and share the things we have done as a family.  Perhaps other families with similar interests will benefit from this blog.  It is my hope that they will share with me some ideas as well.

WHO WE ARE

We are an average middle class family with 2.5 children, ages 13 and 16.  We live about 35 miles west of Chicago.   My husband and I enjoy the outdoors and are thrilled that our children have taken a similar interest in our love of nature.  My family is very close and we enjoy each others' company. I wouldn't describe us as an extreme hiking, biking, climbing, camping bunch, but we do like light hikes, looking for wildlife, admiring plants, trees, flowers, and rocks.  We do take advantage of the bike trails in the area, but nothing too long or strenuous.  We like ponds filled with frogs, turtles, and fish.  Bass fishing in local ponds on a cool, sunny afternoon is fun.  Miscellaneous interests are going to baseball games, movies, restaurants, museums, forest preserves, and state parks.