Travel Location for the Summer

Go to LUDINGTON! Last summer, my husband and his family rented a house in town and we are going back this year. We have a one-year old, a two-year old nephew, and a six-month niece who had a ball! Friday nights, the downtown area closes down so it becomes "kids night" with fun activities for the kids of all ages. Plus, there is the beach, playground, and a state park for fun, cheap entertainment.

Have fun and good luck!

Hey T.!

For you to really enjoy THIS vacation you have to have 2 loves. 1. You gotta love the outdoors/camping and 2. you gotta love God. If you can answer yes to those 2 statements.. than I have the best place on earth for you!!

Me and my family have been going to Camp Lake Lousie's "Family Fun over the 4th" for the past 6 years! It is the best vacation EVER!! It is like an all inclusive camping vacation. Each family has their own cabin for the week and ALL THE MEALS ARE PROVIDED plus one snack in the evening!! (Which as a mom... that makes it a true vacation for ME!!!)

The location is gorgeous!! it is on beautiful, sparkling Thumb Lake located north of Gaylord. There is a loose structure to the day.. meals are at 8:30am 12:30pm and 5:30pm with snack around 8:30pm. In the mornings there is a time of singing and Bible study for the adults.. and special planned activites for the kids to do separately. Then afternoons are free... you are able to spend time at the HUGE sandy beach, there is a speed boat that gives dragon rides to the kids (and adults if they like!) there is a blob, paddleboats, kayaks, volleyball, basketball courts, badmitten, archery, arts and crafts, rock climbing wall, trails in the woods. If the weather is bad for outside activities.. we go into Gaylord and see a movie or do some shopping. It is also close to Boyne Mountain and it's indoor waterpark Splash Mountain.. we've gone there for an afternoon. You can drive to Macinaw for the day.

In the evenings there are family activities.. sometimes softball, volleyball, scavenger hunt. One time we had a Rodeo Olympics. Just wonderful good clean family fun!!!
Then singing around the campfire at night.

It is the highlight of my kid's summer, as well as me and my husbands. We have been there many times with small children (we have 4 ages 10,7,5 and 1) and it is wonderful because there is something for everyone. And if the baby is taking a nap.. there is still things for the other children to do. Plus the cabins are close to many things.. so if you have a monitor you can still be outside enjoying your other child without having to worry. The people there are kind and generous and we look forward to reconnecting with our camp friends every year.

I can't say enough good things about Family Camp... but like I said...if you're not an outdoors kind of family (and not everyone is!!) And you're not comfortable with God being mentioned on your vacation... this may not be for you.

Here's a web-site if you would like more information..
http://www.camplakelouise.com/camps/familyfunforth/

And feel free to contact me if you would like more information!! I also forgot the best part.. for 6 nights lodging, all your meals included it is a fabulous value!!

Have a great time with your family where ever you choose to go!!
Peace,
B.

As an "up north" girl, I have to recommend my home town of Harbor Springs, which is right on Little Traverse Bay. There are sand dunes, a beach right in town, a little town for shopping (great toy store there), and you could stay pretty reasonably at a condo - Harbor Cove is right on/within walking from the beach (white sand)and has a pool, Trout Creek is outside of town, but also has an indoor/outdoor pool - great for families. Pond Hill Farm is great to visit for kids - lots of animals to pet and a trout pond you can fish in or you can just feed the fish. Petoskey is on the other side of the bay - also a very cool town to visit. Avalanche Bay at Boyne Mountain (a 45 minute drive from Harbor Springs) has an indoor waterpark as well. We should all think about staying in state for these shorter trips and supporting local businesses if possible. Have fun!

Hello T.

How about Mackinac Island. My husband and I visited this location just about every year for my birthday which is in October. I have not been in a few years though. We always injoyed it. In the fall it's sort of quiet and laid back. I don't think there are any beaches just hotel pools. I've never been in the summer months.

Or what about Traverse city. There is a great beach called sugar beach resort. i belive the web site is www.tcbeaches.com. I have only been once and did enjoy it. This was before the kids though.

both locations could be a little more than five hours depending on where you are coming from in mich.

Hope this helps

the great wolfe lodge is great, but maybe costly. we also went to the animal safari in port clinton ohio and the kids loved it. (we did too)

We rented a house in Saugatuck last year. My son was 4 and my daughter 10 mos. It was 3 bedrooms plus a loft area, had internet and cable and the bonus... a washer/dryer. I loved it. There was a pool in the association and we were a 5 minute drive from the beach. There was a ton to do. I would go back in a second.