Very popular public boat ramp in Mainstee. Small fee to park your trailer here and police do come…read moreby and check them. There is also a small pier for shore fishing and public bathroom.

A small park with a working boat ramp, dock, and clean bathrooms…read more A good number of truck and trailer parking spots and sports a beautiful vista.

My friends and I were supposed to go to a music festival out of the state last fall but of course…read moreplans changed, so we decided to book a camping weekend at Orchard Beach State Park instead. Located in Manistee, there is plenty to do nearby but unfortunately the weather was pretty rainy for most of the weekend we were there. The access to the beach was closed due to erosion but there are other beaches available. Checking in was easy and there is onsite ice and firewood for sale. The host site was awesome with lots of books for use and a whiteboard with local info. Our site had water and electric hookup, so we were tucked in amongst several RVs and motor homes. The campground was very quiet, which was nice! The restroom facilities were clean and functional, although one had a small set of stairs leading into the actual bathroom area which made it not so accessible. We were on spot 95, which is right near the highway. We knew this going in and could see from the photos that it didn't look that close. Well, it was pretty close, and very loud with road noise. This wasn't a big deal for us but if noise bothers you I'd skip this part of the campground. Another thing to note is that some of the sites hold water when it's been raining, so maybe not the best for tent camping. Our site seemed ok but it was mostly dirt so it did get a little muddy. Nothing too terrible, though. Overall we enjoyed our stay but this definitely wasn't my favorite of the state parks we've visited or camped at. There is a nice lookout point over the lake that made for some nice photos, and getting into town was easy.

Small compared to other state parks across Michigan, but a stunning state park nonetheless located…read moreon bluffs above Lake Michigan! The campground is wonderful and we really loved that it was one that was more underrated and less trafficked. We had a prime camping spot with an uninterrupted view of the lake and even though the weather we had during this weekend wasn't the best, we made do with cozy time in the tent, did a hike through the state park that was lovely and well maintained, and explored the nearby downtown of Manistee, of which Orchard Beach State Park is located just 5-10 minutes north! A wonderful weekend and state park in my books!

This is a hidden beach that few know about, mostly because you need to drive toward the Portage…read morePoint Inn (be sure to fill your water bottles at the artesian spring, just past the camp), and then keep going right past it on a VERY dinky, one lane road. Head past the marina and yacht club, take a right, and up the dune to the parking lot (free). There's a single room changing area with a pit toilet (needs must), well lit. There are two gazebos and a wooden walkway at the south end of the small parking lot, and a gazebo with benches at the north end of the parking lot. There are dog bags, if you're walking your dog (thank you for cleaning up after them!). I especially love the new addition this year of a barely inclined wooden walkway, with a handicap mat (not sure what to call it, but it is plastic netting that is a stable place for you to walk or wheel down). There's a pier, and a lighthouse at the end. There are 4 fire rings, if you are inclined to have a lovely beach sunset fire (bring supplies). This is my favorite hidden beach in Michigan, and the swims - and sunsets - are glorious.

Amazing park and playground right near the waterfront and marina. The kids played forever and loved…read moreit. Also got to watch the SS badger come into the harbor. Definitely worth a visit!

We love this park/playground!…read more The PLAYGROUND is huge and great for kids of all ages! There are TONS of really nice play spaces for toddlers through older elementary kids. There are lots of benches and picnic tables surrounding the play areas, many of which are in the shade. RESTROOMS are indoors and have modern plumbing. There are 2 stalls in the women's;1 stall plus a urinal in the men's. PARKING is free and abundant. There's a parking lot plus on-street parking. There is a walking trail along Lake Michigan that also goes by two marinas. You can also see the SS Badger enter and leave port from the park. We will definitely return to this park if we're in the area again! The park is totally free and the kids love it!

Golf and crafts…read more The Red Szymarek Park was purchased by the city of Manistee in 1912 and over the decades has become more and more popular. The park has a nice picnic area with lots of tables and grills as well as a simple playground, bike rack and some easy hiking paths. In 2009 a disc golf course was installed and has become extremely popular. Since the entire area is covered with large trees it's well protected from the sun. In the summer and fall the park is home to lots of arts & craft shows as well as animal rescue events. Usually attracts pretty large crowds and because of the rustic and scenic location is a lovely area. The Red Szymarek Park isn't particular large but it's not far from the Manistee beaches and other parks. A cool place for individuals and families to spend some time.

Such a beautiful scenic area with plenty of short distance hikes that offer fantasies views for the…read moreminimum effort requires. We have the national park pass which we were able to use during our visit. We stopped by numerous overlooks and of course, the main one where you can see the two land mass/bear cubs lay and the mama bear watching over them. You can read about the lore and why this area is named sleeping bear dunes. It's a cute, albeit sad story of love and loyalty and never leaving behind those you love. Now on to the wondrous nature view you'll find here. Sand dunes, yes! But also a beautiful lake view unobstructed by modern buildings. Pure nature beauty. This really is a place to visit. Don't skip it if you're in the area! It is dog friendly. There was even a kind man up on top of the dunes overlooks giving treats to pups. Our pup enjoyed the treats and the attention and I enjoyed creating memories with her and my husband in the middle of nature. Go check it out!

Sleeping Bear Dunes is a must if you are nearby! There are beaches that are free to enter, but to…read morego into the actual park and see the big dunes, you have to pay $20 per car, or you can get in with a National Parks pass. Most of it is drivable once you're in, and you can park your car off to the side of the road and view multiple different overlooks. The dunes are huge I was surprised. They're much bigger than I am used to seeing at Indiana Dunes! We stopped at the Lake Michigan overlook. There's a parking lot with plenty of parking. To get up to the overlook, you'll have to walk up a smallish sand dune. It's easier if you take your shoes off. Once you get up, there's super steep dunes that many people attempt to go all the way down then climb up on all fours. It's extremely hard to get back up!! Walking through sand is not easy. There's even a sign that warns you of the dangers of doing so and the damage it does to the dunes. There was a firetruck and ambulance on sight ready to rescue anyone.

Much has changed since I came her as a small child. Now there are lovely Adirondack chairs, a fire…read morepit, a fish cleaning station, a walkway, and of course the beach. There is also an old school playground with the slides of death, as we used to call them. There are bathrooms and picnic tables, too!

Beautiful park, great for sunset. We loved the older playground equipment. We loved the river walk…read moreso close to the beach

One of our hands-down favorite places to hike. There's tons of hike-in camping spots along the…read more11-mile hiking trail, which largely follows the shoreline of the Manistee River with a few inland jaunts on a few of the oxbows. Despite being fairly well known, it's pretty pristine and doesn't feel overly busy but it's also never completely vacant. The river views are lovely, there's plenty of wildlife (great fishing & birdwatching), and there's a cliff swing over the water (huge adrenaline rush for this 43-year-old) on an off-shoot path just past the suspension bridge and a waterfall at mile 3.5 if you're coming from the north. You can return on the main path or on the other side of the river on a section of the North Country Trail.

What a great hiking trail! Parking wasn't bad at Red River Bridge Access…read moreOnce on the trail it is well marked. Campsites were clean and it looks like the hikers who enjoy the trail take good care of it. I didn't see one bit of trash the whole day. It was pretty busy, with folks heading both directions, everyone was very friendly and they all seemed to be enjoying the day! The views are beautiful. Absolutely the best hiking we have done in the lower peninsula. We will absolutely be back!

We love Interlochen campground. We typically choose the rustic side as it is more quiet and…read morepeaceful. Check in is on the Duck Lake side and Green Lake is across the road. Our site was overlooking Green Lake, but was difficult to see because of the tree cover. Our site had a trail leading down to the lake. We swam in the lake and no complaints of swimmer's itch. Rustic means no electric and pit toilets. We love getting dirty and just camping for a few days, but there is a modern side on Duck lake with showers and electric and a small camp shop. Just down the road is Tom's grocery, several restaurants, a mini golf/ icecream shop and Interlochen arts camp. Check them out for free shows. Traverse City is about 30 min north. This is a great jumping off point to check out TC, sleeping bear dunes, or whatever else is in the area.

We rolled into this campground fairly late in the day after an extremely long drive from New York…read more The check in process was super quick and we were able to purchase our Michigan recreation pass. All of the sites are super close together, but well kept and clean. We were in site 380 and were close to the restrooms, but not too close that it was a nuisance. The sunrise on the lake was beautiful. Overall, we had a great single night stay here !