The memories that I have of Lake Michigan are relatively few. I remember one camping vacation with my mom’s side of the family when I was in middle school. I remember a family vacation to Chicago with my mom, dad & sister during a very chilly spring break in high school. And I recall a few visits to Chicago since then when I have gazed at Lake Michigan but never explored it. Brett’s only experience with Lake Michigan is seeing it from Chicago’s Lakeshore Drive.

Brett and I decided to explore the southern region of Lake Michigan during our time in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois during this first week of our road trip. We stayed the night at a county park right on the beach, just south of Saugatuck, where we were able to enjoy dinner and a gorgeous sunset over the water. Then on Friday we explored the coast by lighthouse hunting. We took the hike from the guard hut to the lighthouse in Holland, MI to see Big Red. Then we drove down to Saugatuck. We played frisbee on the beach in South Haven (70+ degrees and sunny) for part of the afternoon before leaving to explore the lighthouse in St. Joseph. We headed from there South along the eastern coast of Lake Michigan into Indiana. We hiked Mount Baldy in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and enjoyed Saturday’s breakfast at the West Beach in the Indiana Dunes State Park. Saturday’s drive into Chicago was just perfect, following 41 North along the lake’s shores into the city.

Brett is still stunned by how large Lake Michigan really is. It’s not the ocean, however - so it will never be overly dear to his heart. However, with the water opportunities (sailing, swimming, boating) - we are looking forward to returning to the shores of the great lakes as our route takes us from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast later this year.