Manistee

Editor's note: despite the moratorium on travel with Genna outlined in the preceding post, 

we had to take her on this previously committed outing.

Several friends have been recommending Manistee for years.  We just HAD to choose it for this summer's camping destination!   Planning a beach trip to a cooler northern spot on Lake Michigan seemed like a reasonable idea when we reserved it during that amazing heatwave of the beginning of the summer (hard to remember, I know!).  Then it cooled WAY off for the last 3 weeks or so.  I started to have second thoughts about our choice!  But luckily, it got back into the 80ºs just in time for our getaway

 (Phoenicians, don't laugh at "80ºs").  

We arrived on a very calm day with gentle waves.  The beach lived up to its reputation as being one of the clearest and cleanest on Lake Michigan.  However, it really was too frigid to swim.  Maya dunked herself while jumping around a couple of times - but no one was really too keen on swimming.  Honestly, the kids were not too bummed about it either!  Plenty of time was spent building sand castles, lagoons, tunnels, trains, and balls.

A great way to kill some time before nightfall (bedtime).  (above photo credit: Genna)
Sunset at the beach.

Morning hike around Nordhouse Lake.  Note to future visitors: try to stick to the obvious trail at the northern end of the lake, quite back from the shoreline.... Easier than carrying a 3-yr-old over the wetland vegetation.
With the network of trails through Nordhouse Dunes, this would be a great place for an intro to backpacking EVENTUALLY (like when Genna can carry herself and a few things for more than 15 minutes).

Sisters

Playtime in the Orchid Loop.  (busting up an ice block).

This campground had minimal amenities.  Eventually we'll try places with more activities (like river rafting) or features (like an onsite ice cream shack, or showers).  But this location was happily bare bones.  Somehow the girls didn't get bored despite my forgetting to pack cards, games, or coloring books.  Besides Genna protesting walking anywhere, they enjoyed the freezing beach, the forest drive, and a short hike.  
Good Job Girls!  
Of course, when pressed, they will say their FAVORITE activity was: marshmallows.