The Beach and The Museum: Vacation Part 2

The second part of our Mini Vacation took us to Warren Dunes in Michigan on Sunday. If you have not had the chance to visit this particular stretch of lake, I say, DO IT!

After having been introduced to beaches on that side of the lake when my folks moved there when I was 11, I have become a Beach Elitist. Yes, an elitist. While yes, we do have beaches on this side of the lake, they are nothing compared to beaches in Michigan.

Illinois beaches: rocky, dirty, stinky, usually accompanied by a few floating fish
Michigan beaches: the smoothest sand I've ever seen, clean, no floating fish

Now maybe I've only been to yucky Illinois beaches, but when compared to Western Michigan beaches ... there is no comparison. Like I said, an elitist.

Warren Dunes was only a two hour drive from our house, less than a tank of gas, and very doable with two small kids. We loaded up some snacks, sunblock and the sand toys and off we went.

We played on the beach and in the water. Had some corn dogs for lunch, at a very reasonably priced concession stand - $9.00 and some change for four corndogs and an order of fries. Technically it was three corndogs after The Bee dropped hers in the sand on her first bite, but still ... and anyway, there was about an inch gap between the towels, and wouldn't you know, that is the exact place where her hot dog fell. Kind of like the buttered side of the bread always landing down.

After two and a half hours on the beach and in the water, we took our stuff back to the car, put on our shoes and decided to climb the Dunes. I have a few hints for this:

• flip flops are a no-no - either do it barefoot or in gymshoes
• don't do it on an 85 degree day at 3 in the afternoon
• bring your water
• wear a hat
• bring a camera - the view is awesome!

Much to our surprise, both kids made it to the top. They were both determined to make it ... it took a few stops and starts, and a short rest on a toppled tree, but we all made it to the top. And, if we're being honest, I think that Mommy and Daddy appreciated the breaks too.

The Lake is always beautiful, no matter where you get to see it from - a variety of shades of blue, waves coming in, the sound of it breaking on the beach ... I don't think I've ever been to the Lake and been disappointed. Growing up, after my Mom married my Bob, we spent a lot of our weekends on the boat on the Chain of Lakes. For me, the Lake is so calming ... the sound of the water lapping, the sun shining, the wind as you bounce across the water ... it almost centers me, in a way, if that makes any sense. I know that this weekend, as we went around a corner and we got our first glimpse of the lake, I gasped. And I think that I felt everything wash out of me, like the water going back out from the beach. In that one moment, everything stopped and it was perfect.

After our day at the Dunes, we made our way to our Hotel. If you're ever in Stevensville, Michigan (exit 23, I believe), stay at the Choice Hotels, just off the expressway. Stevensville is a nice little town, the hotel was lovely, and the staff was excellent. We had dinner at Cracker Barrel, and then headed back for more fun in the pool! Can you say waterlogged?!

The next day we made our way over to Curious Kids Children's Museum in St. Joseph Michigan (exit 27). St. Joseph is another lovely town along the lake - wonderful old building, homes that used to belong to area lumber barons ... beautiful woodwork, wide staircases, big front porches. And of course, the lake.

The kids had a good time, and we left to come back home when the meltdowns started. Travel back home was quick and uneventful.

So now we're home, and getting ready to settle into School Mode. Kindergarten and Preschool start next week. Just like it seems like Q and The Bee were just born, and now they're going to school, it feels like summer just started, and now it's over.

I don't remember summer being this short when I was a kid, that's for sure.

A mini vacation - Grama and the Wild West

Yesterday was the unofficial start of a family vacation weekend.

The kids and I took yesterday and went "home", which is the town where I grew up. There is something so comfortable about going home, even if "home" is getting a little worn around the edges, and they are making changes you don't necessarily like. I must have made that right turn a zillion times, and it still feels so right. Then the left by the Junior High School, then the right to go past the High School, left past the Cop Shop, through a few back roads, and then to Grama's House we Went.

Yesterday was her birthday, she is 77 years old now. This is a good long time to be alive. She is in good physical health, although I fear that her mind is starting to dull a bit. I think that one of my biggest fears is that she will follow the Alzheimer's Path that her mother took ... I pray that she takes a different course.

The kids wanted to bring her a cake, so we made one. It was beautifully decorated with bright blue glittery sugar and rainbow sprinkles. We also took food to grill, because crowds tend to make Grama nervous. This way, if a bunch of us showed up, she wouldn't have to worry about having enough food to feed all of us.

We were there. So was an Aunt. And another Aunt, although she is the crabby one. And then my Dad showed up! Yeah! The kids got to play with Poppy (my Dad), I got to chat with his girlfriend Susan, and Grama and Poppa finally got to meet her. This took a huge weight off of her - she told me in the kitchen while Dad & Susan were outside, that she and Pop were afraid that maybe Daddy was ashamed of them, where they lived, or something like that. I quickly squashed that thought - the honest reason that Daddy hadn't brought Susan yet is that every time they were down, it was always an "event" and it's easier to visit with Grama one family at a time. She's too nervous otherwise.

We stayed for what is for us, a long time, almost four and a half hours. I usually try to get home so I'm not sitting with two kids in (you're not) rush (ing) hour traffic, but this time I said No, I'm having a good time, I'm tired of leaving early, screw traffic. And in the end, it wasn't such a bad ride home. A good visit, and pretty okay commute, and short naps for the littles on the way home.

For today, Day 2 of our Mini Vacation, we went to Donley's Wild West Town in Union, Illinois. We spent a good chunk of our day there. While there, it was mostly for the kids, but I'll say "we":

Saw the first five minutes of a Wild West Show, until the kids declared it too loud, so we went in search of something quieter.

The kids got to ride in mini canoes

Rode on a pony

Pet and fed goats, sheep and a chicken. We didn't feed the duck or the potbellied pig, though.

Pet a donkey that had wandered out of it's pen

Rode the hand cars

Had a picnic lunch, complete with Peanut Butter and HOMEMADE BLUEBERRY JAM sandwiches.

Panned for "gold"

Had strawberry "sundaes"

There were big naps for the littles on the ride home. Q woke up, but the Bee stayed asleep, and I had to wake her up at 6:00 for dinner. The drawback to this, is that I checked on her before I started this, and she was still asleep.

In fact, I should be getting ready for Part 2 of our Mini Vacation, which will take us to Michigan,
this time for fun on the beach, maybe a museum ... the only thing we know for sure is that we have a place to stay tomorrow night! Whatever happens before and after that, we'll see.