Discover Spring Camping in Michigan

Although camping is a year-round activity in Michigan, spring signals the onset of the warm-weather camping season in Michigan. By early May, a large number of the privately owned campgrounds in Michigan are welcoming guests looking to shake off the winter blues and enjoy the great outdoors. The Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds – Michigan offers up 10 great reasons to head out to your favorite Michigan campground this spring:

1. Wildflowers. April showers bring May flowers, like the trillium that blanket the forest floor. Spring also brings the blossoms on the apple and cherry trees, making this one of the most fragrant times of the year to get out and travel the Great Lakes State.

2. Woodland Edibles. Morel mushrooms, wild ramps, leeks and fiddleheads are all delicacies that can be found by foraging through the woodlands of Michigan. After a successful “hunt” you can savor these mouth-watering finds, paired with a fine Michigan beer or wine.

3. Fishing. Whether you enjoy fly fishing on the rivers and streams, heading out on a charter on the big lake or casting a line for pan fish in an inland lake, you’re sure to catch something while spring fishing in Michigan. From walleye, trout, steelhead and salmon to perch, bass and bluegills, this is a fisherman’s paradise.

4. Wine Tasting. While the more than 80 wineries throughout the state of Michigan are open year round, spring is the ideal time to visit as this is when the new releases are available for tasting. Be sure to purchase a bottle or two, to pair with those woodland edibles and fresh catches! For more in Michigan wines: www.MichiganWines.com

5. Bird Watching. Nature centers, sanctuaries and wildlife viewing areas are thriving with opportunities for spring bird watching. For more about birding, visit the Michigan Audubon Society website: www.michiganaudubon.org

6. Paddling. With thousands of miles of rivers and streams, not to mention the inland and Great Lakes, spring is the perfect time to get out in your canoe or kayak and head out on the water for some peace and quiet. For more information, check out the website for the Michigan Association of Paddlesport Providers: www.michigancanoe.com

7. Peddling. Michigan is home to some of the most scenic biking trails, ranging in distance and level of difficulty. Whether you’re taking a short family trip along a paved trail or are heading out for an off-road mountain bike adventure, you’ll find plenty of opportunities around the state – including special events geared toward cyclists. For more information on biking trails and events around the state, check out the website for the League of Michigan Bicyclists at www.lmb.org

8. Hiking. From nature centers to city, county and state parks, you’ll find countless trails waiting to be explored. In Michigan, you can hike more than 200 miles on the Shore-to-Shore Trail that connects Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Or, take a day hike on any breathtaking section of the North Country National Scenic Trail which operates is national offices from Lowell, Michigan. www.northcountrytrail.org

9. Golfing. Michigan is home to more than 800 golf courses and during the spring season, the rates are often lower, there are fewer people (and bugs) and the temperatures are pleasant. For a detailed list of courses throughout the state, visit the Golf Association of Michigan online at www.gam.org

10. Driving. Michigan Highways offer a state-wide listing of Heritage Routes – in three specific categories: Scenic, Recreational and Historic routes online at www.MichiganHighways.org.

No matter which spring activity accompanies your camping trip, be sure to travel with camera in hand to capture the awakening of all around you. To learn more about how to enjoy Michigan’s “Springtime Splendor” and cure your cabin fever, visit www.SpringtimeSplendor.com.

The Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds – Michigan represents nearly 200 member campgrounds with more than 30,000 sites available throughout the state. The new Michigan Campground Directory, published by ARVC-Michigan, is now available at various locations statewide, including all state Welcome Centers. The directory not only lists campgrounds by region, but also includes helpful information on the type of sites available, various amenities such as restroom, laundry and dumping station facilities; recreational offerings such as pools and golf courses; and seasons of operation.

For an online directory of ARVC member campgrounds, log onto www.michcampgrounds.com.

The Return of the Family Vacation . . . in Pure Michigan's Harbor Country

Remember the days when families would escape for a week, or two, for a true family vacation at a waterfront or woodland cottage? Days filled with beach-combing, roadside stands, bonfires, bike rides, tire swings, slamming screen doors and an evening of catching lightning bugs in jars?

Memories like these are waiting to be made in Harbor Country®, a quaint collection of eight towns stretched out along the Red Arrow Highway and the Lake Michigan shoreline in Southwest Michigan – just 70 miles from downtown Chicago.

For generations, visitors have been retreating to Harbor Country to beat the summer heat and the hustle and bustle of big city life. In a world of iPods, Facebook and smart phones, escaping is more important now than ever before, providing a chance for families to reconnect and recharge.

Whether you’re looking for a beach house, a family-friendly resort, or a deep woods cabin, Harbor Country has it all. Cottages and rental homes are the perfect option for visitors enjoying family vacations, family reunions or even romantic getaways. You’ll find everything from intimate rooms for two at cozy B&Bs to sprawling vacation houses perfect for the entire extended family.

Gintaras Resort is a casual and relaxing "get-away" with a private, uncrowded fresh water beach ideal for sunning, strolling and swimming during the day; with sunsets, stargazing and bonfires at night. These cottages are situated on a private Lake Michigan beachfront estate, offering a tennis court, volleyball and basketball areas, children's playground and game room, all conveniently located on its 5+ acres of wooded beachfront.

Stay in one of five fully-furnished cottages at Sweethaven Resort in Union Pier, each with well-equipped kitchens, big roomy baths, sunny bedrooms and room for the family to spread out for a game of checkers, rummy or cribbage. Cozy up on the screen porch with a classic summer read or follow the moss-covered paths that traverse through nine wooded acres in search of wildlife.

"We welcome families – and their pets – to discover the hidden charm found within our cottage resort," says Liz & Chuck Garasic. "We're confident a memorable time will be had by all."

Historic inns, such as Grand Beach Inn and Warren Woods Inn cater to groups of 30-45 and provide a unique venue for family reunions. In addition, more than a half dozen vacation rental companies – with a collective catalog of more than 200 homes – operate in Harbor Country.

“Vacation rental Agencies are your ideal contact persons in a vacation community,” says John Natsis of Blue Fish vacation Rentals & Sales. “We often have a wide inventory of homes to choose from – from charming small cottages and bungalows, to large, luxury four- and five-bedroom homes.”

Spend your days relaxing on a beach or exploring the hiking trails in Warren Woods and Warren Dunes State Park. Bring your own or rent a bike from Outpost Sports and pedal along the backroads, past orchards and wineries. Try something new, like skim boarding or stand up boarding with Third Coast Surf Shop, which offers rentals, lessons and a full line of gear.

Harbor Country is easily accessible from Exits 1-12 on I-94, or via Amtrak from Chicago, Detroit and other cities along the Wolverine (Pontiac-Detroit-Chicago) and Blue Water (Port Huron-East Lansing-Chicago) lines.

For more information on Harbor Country:
www.VisitHarborCountry.org

The Harbor Country Convention & Visitors Bureau was established in 1990 as the Harbor Country Lodging Association in accordance with the state of Michigan’s Community Convention or Tourism Marketing Act 59 of 1984.

The mission of the organization is “to promote its members and the assessment district as a major destination for tourism and conventions in southwest Michigan.” The assessment district encompasses the Townships of New Buffalo, Three Oaks, and Chikaming, the city of New Buffalo, the Village of Three Oaks and the Village of Michiana, Michigan.