Shores of Lake Michigan – Lonely Planet Best U.S. Road Trips for 2014

Maximus enjoying the Lake Michigan sand. Mom is somewhere wondering how she is going to keep it out of the van!

Maximus enjoying the Lake Michigan sand. Mom is somewhere wondering how she is going to keep it out of the van!

Lonely Planet just came out with their “Top places in the US to take a road trip for 2014”.

One of those on the list is a trek up the shores of Lake Michigan. It’s a trip we took a few years ago and one we’ll never forget. We packed up everyone in our Ford E-350 passenger van and headed north. It was early spring, a little cold, but still incredibly scenic. In fact, it allowed us to explore without the crowds of summer.

In no time we were out of the flat cornfields of northern Indiana and greeted by the sandy beaches and rolling hills of the western Michigan coast. Although we were squarely in the midwest, we weren’t far from Sleeping Bear Dunes, once voted the most scenic location in America.

More kids, more sand, more memories.

More kids, more sand, more memories.

The water while cold, looked like the ocean to the kids (Lake Michigan really is oh my god big), and they took the opportunity to splash with relish as far as they dared with their shoes off and pants pulled up. I struggled to keep sand out of my camera and my wife unfortunately had little time to relax keeping constant watch on disappearing children. The plague of all mothers, “have you seen Gabriel, where did Jude go, how deep is that water!” 🙂

There are real jewels along the western Michigan coast – Holland, Grand Haven, St. Joseph, and many others. They are littered with quaint B&Bs, coastal village parks and trails, incredible restaurants and antique shops galore. Even the roadside rest areas we stopped at to picnic had their own magic, most overlooking the incredible expanse of Lake Michigan. The shores of Lake Michigan are truly magical.

Not far from wherever you live is an amazing memory.

Not far from wherever you live is an amazing memory.

We’ve made it back many times since our first visit and whenever we use the excuse “there is nothing cool near us” to stay home, we remember that jewel of a coast and get out of the house, leaving our excuses behind.

Excuses are the killers of amazing memories. Leave yours behind, I’m sure there is something magical waiting for you not far from wherever you call home.

Get out of the house, click here for some awesome road trip ideas: http://news.yahoo.com/lonely-planets-picks-top-road-trips-us-2014-150705080.html

And for more on Sleeping Bear Dunes: http://www.sleepingbeardunes.com/

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