St. Clair, Michigan (1000 Trails Membership) - June 1st - 12th, 2011

Blue Water Bridge

Tunnel Explosion Memorial

Lighthouse Beach Park

International Flag Plaza

Thomas Edison Depot Museum

Fort Gratiot County Beach Park

This is one of our 1000 Trails membership parks where we pay an annual fee and then we can stay for free up to 14 days.  To Bad, Michigan has only 2 of these parks -- This one and one in Buchannon, -- in the southwestern corner of Michigan.   We were lucky to have the 90 degree days because that made the pool even more beautiful. The lodge was nice with an excercise room, large TV, ping-pong table, table games and a laundry facility.  We were able to visit with friends and some family while we were there and had dinner at a very nice restaurant right on the St. Clair River called the Voyageur, in St. Clair, Mi. where we watched the huge freighters pass by.  We visited Port Huron, the St. Clair River walkway near the Blue Water Bridge that goes into Canada, and just a north of there Lighthouse Park Beach where they don't mind that dogs swim in Lake Huron.   We also adventured a little further north of there and discovered another fairly new beach on Lake Huron called Fort Gratiot County Park. Some what interesting park because of an memorial and historical marker there for the 22 men that die in an intake water tunnel explosion back in 1971 that happen near this park. The facilities were very nice and the beach always have little stones that wash a shore. Try to drive though Marysville, Mi. but it was torn up for road constriction.                              We will probably will return to this 1000 Trails Park sometime this summer!!

Welcome Woods Campground in Hastings, MI (May 26 - 31st), 2011

Charlton Memorial Museum

Charlton Main St.

Upjohn House & Carriage House, Now Gift Shop

Hastings Memorial Parade

Lots more rain!!!!  Even heavy on the graduation party we attended.  However, Memorial Day was salvaged and we went to the shortest parade we had ever seen in downtown Hastings, Mi.  I will say it was short and sweet but the parades are always an nice way to get the community together to show their support. Found an do-it-yourself dog wash and give our golden Buddy a much needed bath and then we sat in on and watched the Hastings H.S. Alumni Baseball game in the 90 degree heat.  We also visited the Historic Charlton Park Village a few miles east of Hastings; but it was already closed by 4:pm so we were not able to visit inside the shops and buildings.  It was like  Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Mich. but on an much smaller setting and there was no entrance fee.  There was a historic village, gift shop, demonstration shops, big stone Museum     (all moved here from area communities with a lot of history behind them) & a recreation area with a flooded beach and boat ramp on the Thornapple Lake/River , but that didn't stop the picnicers and beach goers since it was so HOT. The Charlton Park was also an Prehistoric Site called "Indian Landing".  "It's worth the stop to see and learn once it dries out"
We are now headed to one of our membership parks on the east side of Michigan near St. Clair.

                                To learn more  Go To: www.charltonpark.org

Lansing Cottonwood Campground, MI (May 17 - 26), 2011

The Family Together

 

Airport Good-Byes

Airport Good-Byes

Our main focus for our stay near the East Lansing , Michigan area was to get our daughter Kelsey packed and ready and to see her off to Valencia, Spain for her study abroad program.  The weather wasn't the greatest -- lots of rain.  But she was able to pack her things and we moved them into our storage unit; but because she could not sublet her room in her rented house, we left her larger items in the room. In between the rains we were able to see the largest Art & Craft Event we have ever been to in East Lansing, Mi. over the weekend. Its amazing how many talented people are out there!!  Anyways, we ventured to Rochester, Mi. for our annual dental check ups and had a great dinner and good time with the whole family and Kelsey's friends at Sagebrush in Lake Orion, Mi. --" The Best Mexican Restaurant" around.  We were also able to visit with Mike's mom and sister and our nieces & nephews down in Trenton, Mi.  Kelsey got off OK on the flight keeping her main luggage down to 50 lbs. -- of course after juggling some things once we got to the airport scales.  She made it safe and with an peace of mind there after a two hour delay on the plane and tolerating a two year old sitting behind her kicking her seat and making lots of noises on their overnight flight. .   .  As the miserable rain fell in Michigan, we managed to keep busy after her send-off and it was time to move on to Hastings, Mich. where we had a graduation party to attend and to visit brother Dan!!!                                         

                                                                                              

Slice of Spice in Spring Arbor, MI (May 14 - 17) 2011

  

Our first stop in Michigan was to the restaurant called Laughlin's Slice of Spice.  It is a Pizza restaurant owned by my cousin Mary and her husband, Dan.  It is located in Spring Arbor, Mich. on M-60 and it just opened this past December of 2010.  We had wood burning brick oven pizza that was outstanding and the many different types of beer that was nice and COLD.  It helps to have an beer mug frosting machine. They have the best looking restrooms we have ever seen. We give them all thumbs up because it was not just a Slice of Spice -- but a heavenly Slice of Spice.   They welcomed us to camp at their home in Horton, Mi. and we enjoyed our stay way too much.  We would highly recommend this restaurant to everyone -- they go above and beyond the typical service and their staff is friendly and efficient. Stop in and lets us know if you agree with us.  Here are some pictures of their neat new restaurant.                          

Lincoln S.P./Mounds S.P./Chain O'Lakes S.P., IND. (May 9 - 14)

Inside Mounds S.P. Visitor Center



Lincoln Nat. Visitor Center

Lincoln S.P. Campsite

Lincoln Boyhood Farm

As we passed through Indiana we stayed at the three State Parks named in our title.  Lincoln State Park was across the street from Lincoln's National Monument in southern Indiana where President Abraham Lincoln spent his boyhood days (age 7 - 16).  The Visitor Center was very nice and informative as well as a short film to see. We took a mile walk through his boyhood farm which was still being worked today as it did back then.  Also there were 12 stones placed along the trail representing monumental stages of his life.  Plus there was a cemetery where his mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln (who died when he was 9) was buried.

Mounds S.P. Visitor Center

Mounds State Park just outside Anderson, Ind. was just that.  There were 10 mounds and earthworks located throughout the park and a very beautiful Visitor Center with many things to interest children and adults like hands on items; small reptiles and a small nature garden just set up for them. The campground sites are very large and paved with only electricity.   Mike and Buddy kayaked the White River from Yorktown, IN. to the State Park for 12 miles which took them around 5 hours. Water shoes are recommended on this river because there no sandy places to port. We did have an chance to take an couple of breaks and do some refreshing swims. We both really enjoyed the trip very much!!

Chain 'O' Lakes Beach House

Old School House of 1915

The last State Park in Indiana was the Chain 'O' Lakes State Park south of Albion, Ind. which we were doused on by rain.  There are 11 lakes in this park of which 8 lakes are connected. During the slight break in rain we walked down to the beach and checked out the boat rentals.  Both were closed and would be open for Memorial Day Weekend.  We did come across an "Old School House" built in 1915  located in the park and is now used as an nature center. The center was closed but this restored building was very unique. We only stayed one night before moving on into Michigan.

John James Audubon State Park, Kentucky (May 6 - 9, 2011)

Building For Sale in Evansville, Ind.

Iron Furnace Ruins

John James Museum/Nature Center

LST-325

Upon our departure from Paris Landing S.P., we decided to travel through the Land Between the Lakes scenic road which was called The Trace.  It was about 50 miles long and a very scenic route through the National Recreation Area through Tennessee and Kentucky. We passed by The Great Western Iron Furnace Ruins along the parkway.  There were two Visitor Centers (one on each end of the park), a nature station, an elk and bison prairie, The Golden Pond Planetarium (no not where the movie was filmed) and a observatory.  Lots of camping and hiking along the way but most of it was closed due to the flooding.  A few hours later we landed at the John James Audubon State Park in Henderson, Kentucky.  Again water, electric and laundry facilities were in this nicely shaded park.  The sites were black topped and we were right near the busy highway 41 in Henderson.  There is a nice  museum/nature center here, cottages and hiking trails.  We ventured to Evansville, IN and walked along the swollen Ohio River on a very nice river-walk; and wanted to tour a landing ship tank (LST-325) but it was closed due to the flooding problem.  Our last day which was Mother's Day was a picture perfect day weatherize.  We went to a very nice church " Holy Name" in Henderson and then spent the day back at camp enjoying the great weather.  Of course, Jason waited on his Mother all day which made it even a better day.  On through Indiana we go!!!!

Paris Landing State Park, Tennessee (May 4-5, 2011)

Paris Landing S.P. Campsite

  

Fort Donelson

Paris Landing Marina

Paris Landing State Park was located on a very flooded Tennessee River west of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. While the road and parking lot to the marina and day use park area was submersed in water; the campground was on high ground so we were able to stay there.  While there was  a lot to do there, like golfing, swimming, tennis, basketball, amphitheatre, ball fields and hiking all were closed also due to the flooding.  We decided to take a drive to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation area where there was camping as well, but most of their facilities were closed due to flooding.  Then we went to Fort Donelson National Battlefield, where a very important battle took place during the Civil War.  Here the Union army took the Confederates down and gained control of this entire area.  There were different battle grounds to see, a Confederate monument, log huts used by the soldiers, canons set up at the fort on the shores of the Cumberland River and even a National Cemetery.  We checked to see if there were any Kohut or Crowley soldiers back in that day and we found none.  A lot of history can be found in this area.