06/30 to 07/04 - Timber Ridge RV Resort - Traverse City, MI

07/01 to 07/04

Timber Ridge RV Campground

With a full tank of fuel and a 172 mile trip, the day's drive was non-stop and pleasant. Cloudless skies, comfortable temperatures and beautiful scenery made the trip enjoyable. 

Located in the northwest portion of the state in the Lower Peninsula, the campground is just eight minutes from downtown Traverse City. The city is known as the "Cherry Capital of the World" and hosts the National Cherry Festival every summer.

Also in the area is Leland's Fishtown. It's a historic commercial fishing village that has been preserved and is still operational.

Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort truly lived up to its name. The list of amenities and activities for families with kids was most impressive. The occupied sites, kids on bikes and the sound of kids having a good time confirmed this. Night time dodge ball was the popular activity in our vicinity. Visit their website for the activities and view this SHORT VIDEO to see its introduction. 

My site, 147 was near level with tall pines providing ample shade. Nearby were the bathrooms, showers ($$) and laundry ($3.00/load). I'll wait for the next campground, thanks.

As we sat round chatting after dinner, we were amazed at the amount of daylight still left for us after checking the time. This photo was taken at 9:30, the time of sunset here in Traverse City.

And this was taken at 10:15 p.m.

Thanks Melanie for the photos.

The next day, Melanie planned a 2-hour sightseeing tour on The Majestic Grand Traverse Bay. After a short drive into the city we arrived at the pier to board the Discovery with Captain Jack and crew members Mark and Delaney. The design of this vessel is that of an early 20th-century steamboat and she was built to accommodate 330 passengers initially. She began her service out of Charles Town, West Virginia, and was later sold and operated out of New York City as a charter boat. Her name then was River Rose.

65’ x 22’ two-deck touring vessel that cruises at 10 knots and now accommodates 149 passengers.

Main deck is a fully enclosed, climate-controlled interior deck with large panoramic windows. A beverage bar and one snack bar are located on the main deck, sound and PA systems on both decks, restrooms on main deck.

A peek into the pilot house

Capt. Jack gave a comprehensive narrative of the Bay, the island contained therein, Power Island, which was once owned by Henry Ford), the evolving agricultural scene (Traverse City is the Cherry Capitol of the World), as well as the history and settlement of the area. 

Delaney, Capt. Jack, Mark

A perfect day for a relaxing and touring the Bay.

At first I thought these were resorts and summer rentals only to find out they were huge, luxurious privately owned homes along the shoreline.

Power Island, named after Glen and Annette Power, was once owned by Henry Ford, then known as Marion or Ford Island. The 200-acre island is today managed as a public park owned by the Grand Traverse County.

Another twin masted sailboat preparing to leave as we approached our arrival dock.

From the pier, we then traveled about 35 miles to Sleeping Bear Dunes. Michigan is home to the largest freshwater dune system in the world. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, along Lake Michigan, features dunes that can rise over 450 feet above the lake.

The name "Sleeping Bear" comes from an Ojibwe legend about a mother bear and her two cubs. According to the story, the mother bear and her cubs swam across Lake Michigan to escape a forest fire in Wisconsin. The mother bear reached the shore and climbed to the top of a hill to wait for her cubs, but they never made it. The Great Spirit, moved by her plight, created the two Manitou Islands to mark the cubs' place and the Sleeping Bear Dune to represent the mother bear.

One the first things that grabs your attention after gasping at the immensity and color of Lake Michigan is the WARNING sign.

This optical illusion lets you think the water comes right up to the shore. In reality...

...it's 450' above the Lake 

The steep 33º angle is easy to go down to the beach...

...but the only way out is up and the equivalent of climbing a 34-story building.

And it will cost you $3,000 if you can't and have the Coast Guard rescue you.

It is said that the action of wind and water of Lake Michigan are pushing the dunes further back by carrying sand from the windward side to the leeward side of the dunes at a rate of up to two feet per year.

On the way home, we stopped at The Cottage Restaurant for dinner. 

Chicken Club: Cherrywood Bacon, Onion, Avocado, Lettuce, Tomato & Sundried Tomato Pesto

On the menu: Try “The Cottage’s famous all you can eat freshwater perch” our house specialty! Lightly breaded and fried to perfection-we’ve been serving the same great perch (pike perch) for over 20 years! $23.99.

After reading that menu item, Dan asked our hostess, how big was the perch for them to be serving it for all these years and was it properly refrigerated.

And just like that we were on the road again headed for Mackinaw and Mackinac Island. See you there. Don't forget, if you leave a comment (which I love), be sure to check back in a couple of days for my response.

"In the presence of the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, one can feel the whisper of eternity, the dance of the winds, and the timeless beauty of the earth."

~~Terry Tempest Williams