Now that William and the Twins are in Jr. High, I am more mindful about scheduling any feasible appointments during school breaks. That did translate to having two appointments during this fall break, with the first one being on a Monday. The appointment was early afternoon, and when we looked at our state park map, Emily really wanted to travel up to the pinky. So, that was our plan.
We arrived at the appointment with a little time to spare. Avia and Emily went off on a walking adventure, and William pretended to be a car, to trigger the light.
A squished something looked like an arrow pointing at him.
The twins were piled up during our short wait for the doctor. No news all around. Everything looks good, and the only change was because they gained enough weight for a dose change! = )
After we stopped in at the lab for a blood draw, we were free to adventure to the state park! We ended up on a long detour in Cadillac. I stopped for gas, but we found a thrift shop, then stopped twice (once fail) for ice cream. At the ice cream shop we met Luna, a child who had to go to work with her caregiver, and she was bored. She invited the girls to sit with her, so they did. Emily asked what ice cream she liked best and she said rainbow. Then she asked Emily what her favorite ice cream was, so Emily told her "probably chocolate or cotton candy." To which she replied, "but you like rainbow too." What could Emily do but affirm this? lol.
After a bathroom/sign stop* in Traverse City, we headed up to Leelanau.
They had a 250-anniversary display with all of the state flags. Guess who I found first! = )
The trees were very colorful that far north, but I didn't have much of a chance to take a picture, and then it was almost dark and either smoky or cloudy by the time we arrived!
Let's add a second family, oh, and maybe a kitchen?
There is nothing more appealing than a forbidden staircase!
The hill was super steep, so they rolled down, for no reason.
It was a very rocky beach.
Very clear water! Emily saw a fish, but I didn't get to see any.
The water was calm, and the air was still pretty warm! Inland we got over 80F that day, I'm not sure how warm it got at the lighthouse.
Pictures with the mini light house, and the big lightouse!
The playground was proper dark by the time we left.
Emily got some night hours in, and pulled over in Northport, so that I could take a picture of this lovely, whimsical, venue!
We stopped in Traverse City for some Culvers, before getting properly on the road. Once we got to the freeway, I took the driving over from Emily, because it was dark and raining enough in places to wet the road, but not wash off the ick. We didn't get home until after 1AM, but it was totally worth it! I can't wait to visit the next one, and see more of this state we live in!
later days
edit 10-15-26: backdated for continuity
A list of our previous visits:
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park #1
FJ McLain State Park #2
Twin Lakes State Park #3
Baraga State Park #4
Craig Lake State Park #5
Van Ripper State Park #6
Bewabic State Park #9
JW Wells State Park #10
Palms Book State Park #12
Indian Lake State Park #13
Muskallonge State Park #14
Tahquamenon Falls #15 (round 2!)
Brimley State Park #16
Straits State Park #17
Keith J Charters #33
Tippy Dam State Recreation Area #40
Sleeper State Park #46
FJ McLain State Park #2
Twin Lakes State Park #3
Baraga State Park #4
Craig Lake State Park #5
Van Ripper State Park #6
Bewabic State Park #9
JW Wells State Park #10
Palms Book State Park #12
Indian Lake State Park #13
Muskallonge State Park #14
Tahquamenon Falls #15 (round 2!)
Brimley State Park #16
Straits State Park #17
Keith J Charters #33
Tippy Dam State Recreation Area #40
Sleeper State Park #46
Port Crescent State Park #47
Silver Lake State Park #49
Muskegon State Park #50*
Newaygo State Park #51
PJ Hoffmaster State Park #52
Grand Haven State Park #53
Ionia State Park #54
Sleepy Hollow State Park #55
Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area #56
Lake Port State Park #57
Seven Lakes State Park #58
Holly Recreation Area #59
Algonac #60
Holland State Park #61
Island Park State Recreation Area #63b
Highland Recreation Area #64b
Pontiac Lake Recreation Area #65
Dodge #4 State Park #66a
Bald Mountain State Recreation Area #66b
Maybury State Park #67
Saugatuck Dunes State Park #68
Fort Custer Recreation Area #69
Waterloo Recreation Area #70a
Pickney State Recreation Area #70b
WJ Hays State Park #71
Belle Isle Park #72
Van Buren State Park #73
Grand Mere State Park #74
Warren Dunes State Park #75a
Warren Woods State Park #75b
Lake Hudson Recreation Area #77
Sterling State Park #78
Port Austin State Harbor #Bonus 1
Kal-Haven State Park #Bonus 2
Wagner Falls #Bonus 3
Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park #Bonus 4
Yankee Springs #Fail
Silver Lake State Park #49
Muskegon State Park #50*
Newaygo State Park #51
PJ Hoffmaster State Park #52
Grand Haven State Park #53
Ionia State Park #54
Sleepy Hollow State Park #55
Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area #56
Lake Port State Park #57
Seven Lakes State Park #58
Holly Recreation Area #59
Algonac #60
Holland State Park #61
Island Park State Recreation Area #63b
Highland Recreation Area #64b
Pontiac Lake Recreation Area #65
Dodge #4 State Park #66a
Bald Mountain State Recreation Area #66b
Maybury State Park #67
Saugatuck Dunes State Park #68
Fort Custer Recreation Area #69
Waterloo Recreation Area #70a
Pickney State Recreation Area #70b
WJ Hays State Park #71
Belle Isle Park #72
Van Buren State Park #73
Grand Mere State Park #74
Warren Dunes State Park #75a
Warren Woods State Park #75b
Lake Hudson Recreation Area #77
Sterling State Park #78
Port Austin State Harbor #Bonus 1
Kal-Haven State Park #Bonus 2
Wagner Falls #Bonus 3
Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park #Bonus 4
Yankee Springs #Fail
edit 10-16-26: *I added the Traverse City State Park sign picture to my original blog post from 2021. Since we were not doing the state park completion project at that time, I didn't take one, but we were only a few blocks from the sign (and restroom) when we went up to Leelanau, so we stopped to get one. Since I've already printed that blog book, and have no intention of a reprint, I'm including the picture here too, so that I can have a printed copy, eventually.
