A Roller-coaster of Summer Fun

I've decided to blog about summer hot spots in the Detroit Metro Area. I thought this would be a good topic to talk about because most people that live here tend to book summer vacations in other places. Michigan can be deceiving, but if you explore around, you will see beautiful places that will catch your eye.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park


Ever since I was little, my family and I have booked vacations outside of Michigan until this past summer. We decided to do something different and visit the Tahquamenon Falls State Park. It's located in the Upper Peninsula near Newberry and Paradise Michigan. Tahquamenon is special in many ways. One little known fact is that it is the second largest waterfall east of the Mississippi, with Niagara being the largest. The beauty of this area is a must see when you are making your travel plans. Within the state park you will find many activities such as birding, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing, camping, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and more. The areas wildlife abound and by chance you may see black bear, whitetail deer, moose, and other wildlife. Visit the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery and Pub & Camp 33, which is located within the State Park at the Upper Falls. You will enjoy fine dining and micro brewed beers from the north. Camp 33 also has a unique gift shop with fine art, jewelry, souveniers, etc. Tahquamenon River Boat & Wilderness Tour info can be found at The Toonerville Trolley Train and Riverboat tour website.

The Brewery and Pub is nice for young adults to hang out. The focal point of all structures is the fire. Any camper needs a fire that they can enjoy in all seasons. It's a nice week or weekend gateway with family and friends with many outdoor activities.

















                                             Boyne

Boyne is another vacation spot that I have enjoyed with family and friends. Boyne is the perfect all-inclusive Michigan summer vacation getaway offering a myriad of outdoor and indoor activities for you, your family, and your friends. Boyne has 11 challenging golf courses, 33 award-winning restaurants, tennis, breathtaking views from scenic chairlift rides, swimming, shopping, nationally acclaimed dinner theatre, fishing, boating, biking, and more. Whatever interests your family, Boyne is sure to have the fun filled summer time activities for them. There is Young State Park which is a summertime destination, located a little over a mile from downtown Boyne City. It's large, sandy swimming beach on Lake Charlevoix is a great spot to cool off during the summer and watch the sunset. The park has winding nature trails through a pine forest for hiking. Young State Park has three campgrounds, a boat launch, and a pristine inland lake, called Mirror Lake. For campground reservation information, visit the DNR's web site.
          
                                           Young State Park in Boyne City

Whiting Park is a family camping spot on the west side of Lake Charlevoix. The park has a sandy swimming beach, volleyball court, ball field, playgrounds and picnic spots. See the Charlevoix County Parks site for current camping rates and reservation information. Whiting Park also has two buildings and pavilions that can be rented for gatherings.

                                              Whiting Park in Boyne City

Get Wet at Avalanche Bay
 In the Summer it's always very hot. Why not get a little wet at Avalanche Bay. It's a Mountain Lodge that opened a few years ago, which has been a huge success. While the weather outside is never predictable, the weather inside the water park is a constant 84 degrees with plenty of water! All ages welcome, there is something for everyone. The little ones have their own area of safe water play and bigger kids can jump on the water slides. For those wishing to stay dry, there is a balcony that overlooks the entire park. An arcade, snack bar and sitting area provide everything you need for a whole day of fun. The water slides are a blast, the Lazy River is great fun, but the Rip Zone is the hit of the entire place, The Rip Zone is Michigan's first surf simulator.Like most of the thrill-seekers do, grab a boogie-board for your first go. However, for those with more guts, try the standing surf board. It's harder than it looks.