This county park was a good last minute option when the waters of Huron were too rough for our…read moreplanned kayaking trip. It is very well maintained with a nice play area for smaller kiddos. The beach is fairly small due to high lake levels. You can find a plethora of perfect skipping rocks on the shoreline to pass the time. If fishing is your thing, you can fish from the shoreline, the wooden pier or the land between the park and the marina. Bathrooms were nearby and well maintained.

A beach, boat launch, play scape, campground, rev park, cabins, and ball field at this county owned…read morepark.

The museum, gift shop, and lighthouse were closed when I visited. I checked the website and the…read moremuseum will open next week on May 23rd. There is a campground by the lighthouse and a nice view of the lake. It is worth stopping by if traveling along Lake Shore Road.

This is a nice lighthouse to stop at and at least walk around. Unfortunately that's all we could do…read moretoday as it's closed due to COVID restrictions. There is a museum that can normally be toured and the lighthouse itself. The parking lot is right next to the lighthouse so there isn't much walking involved. It's also wheelchair accessible by ramp. Unlike some lighthouses that are on a pier this one is right on the shore. It is very well keep from the outside and there are lots of signs to read about the history of the lighthouse. I found a beach to sit on by the water, which was nice. I would stop here again if visiting this area. Easy in and out, parking, and walking.

I went here for a quick day hike after kayaking to Turnip Rock. There's actually two trailheads-…read moreone official one with campgrounds and bathrooms, and one with a bridge over the river. I parked at the trailhead with the bridge, which does not have any amenities. If you're nervous about trying to find it, it's right next to the Dark Sky Lodge and Tavern so you can plug that into your navigation system. It's also well marked with a small gravel lot. When I went, the trailhead lot was full so I parked at a grassy lot across the street. The trail runs though the beach and forest ecosystem and it's pretty well maintained and well marked. It's impossible to get lost. As you go near the beach there's plenty of offshoot trails leading to the beach. Just watch out for ticks!

Absolutely breathtaking shoreline!…read more The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because we only noticed one trash receptacle during our trip, and it wasn't near the parking lot but instead was appropriately placed next to a (closed) pavilion. It was overflowing, and I'll give them a pass because of the pandemic, but I was disappointed by the lack of trash cans and only one (closed) bathroom. The dunes were great though! A nice adventure and great place for a picnic! Also, heads up, there are signs that clearly state no glass or animals on the beach but plenty of people brought their dogs. Thankfully we saw owners cleaning up after their pups.

What a stunning beach! Everything about the Oscoda Beach Park was perfect. The sand was super clean…read moreand the water. Cute shops, ice cream, restaurants, and much more within walking distance. Dog friendly.

If you're itching for a day at the beach but can't leave the Mitten, Oscoda Beach will scratch just…read morethat itch for you, and leave you ready to come back another time! On a recent hot weekday, I found myself off of work with no particular plans. I had heard about how beautiful Lake Huron was, especially up by Tawas Bay and further north, and decided that today was the day to check it out. I grabbed my partner in crime, and off we drove! Just a few hours later we were at the short, and kept driving until we reached Oscoda Beach Park. There we were greeted with a clean sandy beach, clear water, and clean restrooms, all in a place that also boasted free parking. We set out our chairs on a quieter stretch of the shoreline, and enjoyed the beautiful day. I closed my eyes and listened to the seagulls calling from above, and the gentle roll of the waves as they hit the shore. Shore, I miss the salty waves of the ocean, but when you can't stand your cabin fever anymore, Oscoda Beach Park is a great place to go for that escape!

We were here just after Labor Day so the beach was pretty much dead which was awesome for us as we…read morehad the whole place to ourselves. The wind made it a bit too chilly to do much outside from walk along the beach but had it been a bit warmer it would have been a great place to go swimming or wading. I hadn't realized that nearby is also a dark sky park so I imagine you'll have some dynamite night sky gazing if you're there after sunset. I'd love to come back and take some astrophotography shots with my camera this coming summer. Also worth noting, not sure if this is the case in peak season times but the park has a solid public restroom as well. Very clean!

2020-07-25. Oak Beach County Park, Port Austin, MI…read more In Michigan, everyone boasts of the beauty of the mitt; the scenic scapes of the UP (Upper Peninsula), the old world charm of Mackinaw and Mackinac Island, and the great outdoors of the Grand Traverse County. But there's another part to every mitten, and today my travels took me here, to Michigan's thumb. Well, to what I call the Thumbnail to be more precise. The thumbnail I refer to is the coastal areas of Michigan's thumb, from Bay Port to the West, to Harbor Beach to the east. One thing this area isn't lacking are beaches, beautiful sand beaches bordering Saginaw Bay or Lake Huron. While many a property here gets a piece of the water, there are many pubic beaches as well. The beaches are smaller and encompass only a few hundred feet of waterfront, but they make up for it in how many there are within close proximity to one another. Caseville has a decent size beach, but is often very crowded, and with COVID still looming around, we decided to go further north to Port Austin. Our day began at Bay Port to pick up some smoked fish, then to the Port Austin Farmer's Market. After that I had 3 beaches picked out. Oak County Park, Veteran's Park, and Bird Creek Park. Bird Creek Park is a 1000 foot expanse of beach to the immediate east of the Port Austin State Harbor. From here, you would be able to see personal boats come and go. The parking lot has enough space for about 70 vehicles, and spaces fill up by early afternoon. Not finding any spots within social distancing guidelines, we moved to the west side of the Port Austin State Harbor to Veteran's Waterfront Park. It's about half the size of Bird Creek with approximately 500 linear feet of beachfront. This side has the breakwater, so if you're in to boat spotting, it's not the optimal side to be on. While these two parks are adjacent to each other with only about 500 feet between them, there is no direct path to get there on foot. You will need to drive from one lot to the other. The parking lot is proportionally smaller here with about 40 parking spots. Not having any luck at Veteran's we moved to my original choice of Oak Beach. During our journey west, we passed by several other beaches. 4 miles away is Port Crescent State Park. Being a State Park, a Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry. We had ours, but if you don't have one, no worries, you can purchase one at the entrance. The cost is $12 for the year + $5 convenience fee for not purchasing it when you renew your License Plate tabs. This beach is the largest of them all by far, and spans about 2 miles. There's one central lot, and despite the price of parking, many come to enjoy this beach. This was my backup beach, so we pressed on westward. The next beach is at McGraw County Park. A small pubic park with no pavilions and only about 400 feet of beachfront. After this one is our destination, Oak Beach County Park. This park is much bigger compared to McGraw with two large pavilions, a playground, 2 horseshoe pits, and about 700 feet of beachfront. Here, we were lucky enough to find both a spot on the beach and in the parking lot. In addition to the pavilions, fixed charcoal barbecue grills are scattered throughout the park for public use. There are restrooms with one shower stall in each as well as a rinsing well to get the excess sand off your legs before heading home. Still on the Lake Huron side, the water is much cooler and the water remains shallow throughout the buoy markers for swimmers. At spots there are pockets where the water does get about 5 feet deep, so if you have little ones, take care to make sure they don't wander off to far on their own. If you venture past these deeper wells, it gets shallow again (about 3 feet). The bottom is sandy so muddy waters are kept to a minimum. Overall a nice beach with nice amenities. 4 stars. The great thing about this beach park is that there is a nature center about a half mile away. The Huron County Nature Center has many hiking trails that are well marked and pets are welcome. Overall, Michigan's Thumbnail Coast boasts many smaller beaches which is quite a nice change from the densely populated ones of Metro Park and Stony Creek. The water is cleaner and cooler, a bonus on those really hot days. There is one more beach if you continue on the Journey to the West. Thompson County Park is very similar to McGraw County Park, with about 400 feet of beachfront and no pavilions or playgrounds. So don't give up if you can't find a spot straight away. Our day trip was to conclude with a stop at Rybak's Ice Cream, but they were closed due to COVID, so we checked out The Grindstone General Store and Blue Moon Ice Cream Shoppe. If you would like to experience more, come dine-with-me.yelp.com I'd love to have your company... Bon Appétit!

We've stayed in one of the cabins here three years in a row now and it's one of our favorite little…read moreescapes. The campground is simple, peaceful, and really beautiful. The lake views are stunning and the big sandy beach is perfect for lounging or letting the kids play for hours. It's technically not labeled a swimming beach because of the rocks. The cabins are basic but cozy and perfect for a weekend away. One room has a full bed, mini fridge, a little table and benches, and the other has two sets of twin bunks. There's also a covered porch which is great for sitting out with coffee in the morning or relaxing in the evening. The cabins have heat which is perfect for cooler nights, but no A/C, so summer visits might get warm. Dogs are allowed in the cabins, which is a huge bonus for us. Just a heads up, they do book up quickly so plan ahead if you're hoping to grab one. One of the unique things here is that motorized vehicles aren't allowed in the cabin or tent areas. But if you get there during business hours, the staff will take you and your gear to your site with a cart. They've always been super friendly and helpful every time we've visited. The showers are nothing fancy, just basic individual stalls, but they're mostly clean and work fine. There's a small playground that's definitely older, but the kids still enjoy it. There's no store or office with supplies, so make sure to bring whatever you need ahead of time. We've only visited in May, but every time it's been quiet, relaxing, and just the kind of low-key camping trip we love.

Best park in Huron County. Amazing beach and trails. Staff is exceptional. They even deliver wood &…read moreice. Very clean. Family atmosphere

I was in town for their pink lady's slipper festival. It's a small fair held at the nature center…read morewith live music, food, and vendors. It was pretty fun! The pink lady's slipper is an orchid that is native to the eastern United States and is abundant near the center and it's also the logo of the center. The volunteers mentioned there were over a hundred spotted near the trails and you were sure to see them (which we did, over 20+ sightings!). The nature center itself has dioramas about the ecology of the area, bathrooms, a water fountain, and a bird feeder where you can watch wild birds and chipmunks. There were so many goldfinches and mourning doves at that time of day. There's also a tank with a rescued turtle to look at too. It's very family friendly and the trail I went on near the center was paved with a bunch of signs, although there's also more trails which are unpaved. This is a neat little place and I would recommend it!

This place is a hidden gem in Port Austin not only does it have a great nature walk and agility…read morecourse it is free! I never knew that it had a little indoor Research Center that teaches about the wildlife and history of the county it was very interesting and the highlight of going here was for my daughter to be able to pick out a fossl that was local to the lake they even have a little gift shop in the back that you could buy bookmarks, books, birdhouses, bird feeders, and much more if you're going up here to vacation please take the time to check this out it will not be a disappointment.

Lovely, Tawas/East Tawas is just lovely. There's many things to do, good shopping, dining…read more.. There's many events during spring, summer and fall (honestly, I haven't been during winter), I know there's lots of winter sports happening.

Great Park located in Lexington, Mi. The entire area is built for fun in the sun. Super clean…read morewater, nice accommodations for the restroom, picnic area, and an awesome area to walk the shoreline of Lake Huron. Just within walking distance is shopping and restaurants. I like to pack a cooler and spend the day relaxing on the beach. It's only an hour from my house, BONUS!!!

Very nice park close to home spacious you can get lots of exercise worthy of putting in your travel…read morejournal