Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts

78 Michigan Parks: Warren Dunes State Park #75a

All of the parks in this area seemed to be pretty close together, and it felt like we were there and back out in the sun in no time!

This was the final park that promised swimming, so we made sure that the girls had time to swim!


I dopped off my crew at the snow cone stand, and when I went to find a shady spot, drove over to photograph the magnificence of the dunes.  I failed, but they are truly incredible!


Even the small ones are huge!


This state park clearly welcomes thousands of people each summer, and boasts a massive parking lot!


Back at the snow cone stand, we all got standard fare, but Juliet got a blue raspberry with popping pearls. It was quite fancy.


As I ventured over to get a sky filled vantage point of the gulls perched along the railing, I could feel the sand burning my feet!


We were able to get Aunt Janet a chair setup in the shade, closer to the parking lot than the beach.  Avia and I used umbrellas as parasols, and wore socks with our sandals to keep our feet from burning as the sand worked its way in under our feet!  The water was not cool and refreshing, it was quite warm.


The birds got close looking for snacks!


The girls got as long as Avia and I could tolerate.  Sweat was literally rolling down my back, even with the umbrella for shade and my feet in the water!

We had two more parks on the schedule, and while the girls were sad to move, they did get enough water play to make it worth the trip.


Despite all of our water, when we stopped at a farmer's market, where all the adults happily bought fresh fruits and vegetables, everyone got a cold water from the refrigerated display case!  We ate the punnet of raspberries that Avia bought us before we even made it to the next park!


I would totally recommend this beach, but not in the heat of the day!  

later days

edit 8-17-25: backdated for continuity

If you want to see all the state parks we've visited so far, here are the links to the posts:

Tahquamenon Falls #15
Keith J Charters #33
Algonac #60
Saugatuck Dunes State Park #68
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78 Michigan Parks: Grand Mere State Park #74

This park took a few wrong turns to find, but we did finally arrive, and managed a parking spot in the shade.



Look at this impressive bug!


The map indicated that the path was at least another half mile trek, so Aunt Janet and Avia opted for the car.  We ran into a gentleman that informed us that the water was 80F, the warmest he'd ever known it to be in the forty years he'd been coming to this park! = 0


The path was pretty!


Until we got into the open sun and sand.  The sand was burning our feet as it slid into our sandals, the bugs were attacking, and the path branched off at an unexpected point, so we voted to turn around. = (


Possible turtle nest? Maybe snake.



When we went back to the map, that I took a picture of the second time, it turns out we made it just over halfway there.  Noone seemed too terribly upset that we didn't make it to the beach. 


We tried at another point, but it led to a private beach, so we didn't go in there either.  Luckily, it was a shorter and pleasanter fail.


Maybe on a cooler or overcast day we can try again at Grand Mere should the opportunity ever arise.  In the meantime, we can say: "been there, done that." 

later days

edit 8-17-25: backdated for continuity.

If you want to see all the state parks we've visited so far, here are the links to the posts:

Tahquamenon Falls #15
Keith J Charters #33
Algonac #60
Saugatuck Dunes State Park #68
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78 Michigan Parks: Saugatuck Dunes State Park #68

When Billy and I finished our drive home from St. Louis, Aunt Janet had joined the party!  While these two state park 'tours' felt quite far apart, because of our St. Louis trip in between, they were really only about a week apart! = 0  

For some reason, I only have Aunt Janet in one sign picture, even though I remember taking one of her at each stop.  I must have been using her phone, so that she had a record, and didn't get one on my own. = (

I think I should back up a bit.  Avia came over one day and asked Aunt Janet if there were any special places she would like to see in Michigan.  She mentioned Holland, but after discussing it, and conceding that the Tulips were unlikely to be on display this long past their prime, we were able to talk her into coming on a southwest state park tour with us!


This parking lot was almost completely in the shade, and local cross-country teams were running the trails in packs.


There were multiple trails, but we were bound for the beach!  Luckily, the signs let us know that the beach trail led to the beach!





It was a pleasant, but .75 mile walk to the beach.  Avia and Aunt Janet took a slower pace, so that the girls had longer to swim.


The girls wanted to leave an arrow at the split, but it didn't feel quite robust enough for me to agree to such a small sign.






A spider's favorite hangout?  On the mushrooms, obviously!


We made it to the Lake Michigan beach!  But it was a steep path down, so Aunt Janet settled on a bench, while Avia came down to make a plan!



A little bit overcast, but the water felt nice on my toes!



Goose or Seagull prints?




Dear tracks?


It's super hard to tell in this still photo, but this leave was slightly iridescent!


Once Aunt Janet and Avia were through taking the view, I gave the girls a five minute warning, then we climbed the dune hill* and headed back.  We passed them about half way, but I wanted to get back to the car and eat, so that I didn't have to eat my lunch while driving.

While waiting, we saw this beautiful butterfly, who was very attracted to the car next to ours and flew around and around trying to see it from each angle?


We were all pretty tired by the end of this park, but were excited to drive south to the next one on the list!

later days

*now I can see why they charge people if they have to rescue them from the lakeside of sleeping bear dunes!  This one wasn't even that massive, but it was a workout to climb!

edit 8-17-25: backdated for continuity.

If you want to see all the state parks we've visited so far, here are the links to the posts:

Tahquamenon Falls #15
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78 Michigan Parks: Sleeper State Park #46

Our final state park of the day, Sleeper was by far the sunniest!  I don't know which child or children came up with the 'sleeping' pose, but I do adore it!


The beach was a short boardwalk trip from the parking lot, and there were plenty of shady spots!  William's toy llama, from the dentist, came with us to this beach.




As the clouds were blowing away, the sky remaining was a brilliant blue!


And sunset vibes in the other direction!



Emily found a large shell!


This beach was the best one of the day, as far as having the fewest rocks and softest sand!




Civilization is well hidden from the water!


The water was quite shallow, way out!



I think we spent half an hour swimming, then it was time to change and make the two hour, plus some, drive home!




The map outside of the restroom showed all of our stops during the day, and some that we might need to go back for, should we ever finish the map I have!


I found this map funny, because they, possibly intentionally, cut off Detroit, Lansing, Traverse City, and Grand Rapids. lol.


The number of deer we saw on our circuit were numerous, one field had upwards of 30, where the farmer had just cut the crops for harvest.  As close as we were to the sugar refinery, I assume that it was a sugar beet crop, which must be tasty eating for the deer!!!


We got in sometime after midnight the next morning, but it was such an enjoyable trip, that I had no regrets!!!  Looking forward to another visit to the thumb of our beautiful, adopted state!

later days

edit 8-17-25: backdated for continuity.

If you want to see all the state parks we've visited so far, here are the links to the posts:

Tahquamenon Falls #15

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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