Here’s the thing, I love being outside. I love all things nature – dirt, bugs (minus the ones that bite), wildlife, plants (minus the itchy ones), rain (oh, how I love the rain) – which should mean I love camping. Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of camping – campfires, sleeping under the stars, showering infrequently (if at all), communing with friends or strangers over a S’more and wine hot cocoa. Yet, camping with kids seems to take a tad more effort than I would like to expend for a few nights in the woods. Seriously, how many plastic tubs or bags does one family of 6 need to pack for two or three nights away? Between the sleeping gear, the cooking gear, the food, the playing gear, the tents, the extra clothing for the chilly nights and the anticipated dirt, the bikes/trikes/scooters, the beach gear, and of course every last blessed toy and art supply in our house “just in case it rains” seem to end up in our minivan for our camping adventures. It is simply exhausting packing for a camping trip. Perhaps I am just not seasoned enough in the packing, but staying home in the comfort of our couches and beds and kitchen seems to be a much easier choice (but way less fun). I love staying home, but adventuring to new places is typically our “go to” mode, so how can I mix my love of camping with lessening the crazy of getting us there?! Answer: A [eafl id=”1866″ name=”KOA Kampground” text=”KOA Kampground”]!
Alan and I stayed at our first KOA years ago (prior to children) in Colorado and simply fell in love with the experience. We were on a two-week road trip to several National Parks and were mostly tent camping or sleeping in our car rental, but somewhere between [eafl id=”1867″ name=”Mesa Verde National Park” text=”Mesa Verde”] National Park and [eafl id=”1868″ name=”Great Sand Dunes National Park” text=”Great Sand Dunes National Park”], we came across a [eafl id=”1869″ name=”Alamosa KOA” text=”KOA”] that had one cabin left for the night – it was our mirage in the desert! We agreed that when we had kids that we would camp at KOAs as often as we could! I believe it was the first type of glamping. Now, for those of you “true campers” go ahead and be haters (we have been rustic camping, so don’t hate too much). KOA Kampgrounds DO typically have pools, running water, electricity, a convenience store, laundry facilities, bathrooms, cabins, and possibly other amenities that are very attractive to families (and couples who were really excited to NOT sleep in their car for another night)! Although these campgrounds tend to have many more modernized amenities than other campgrounds, they do offer the typical camping ambiance with campfires, cooking over a fire, dirt (and lots of it), sites for tents and RVs, and the community of fellow campers who also love sitting under the stars each night.
Fast forward 12 years and our tribe has not used KOA Kampgrounds much like we had declared so many years before, until this past summer. Our dearest friends, who also are a tribe of 6, asked us to join them for a Northern Michigan adventure in June to Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island (one of my most favorite places in the summer – post coming soon on all things Mackinac Island)! The thought of 8 children and 4 adults packing our minivans for a 3-night camping adventure (the cost of hotels would have been outrageous) was daunting, but the kids were pumped to spend a few days with their besties running around like monsters from a scene out of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. In our search for the perfect campground, we came across the [eafl id=”1870″ name=”Mackinaw City KOA” text=”Mackinaw City KOA”]. The moment we set eyes on the adorable cabins, we knew we had found our camping home for our tribal vacation!
Upon arriving at the Mackinaw City KOA, we were greeted with warm smiles and an eagerness to ensure we had everything we needed for a perfect stay. Seriously, some of the kindest people work at this KOA! Our cabins were directly next to each other (which is always a bonus when traveling with others) AND just a short walk from the bathrooms, heated pool, and laundry (which we did not use because being dirty is fun)! The big girls (there are 4 of them, 2 from each family) immediately started allocating where everyone was to sleep – these cabins were quite spacious with two sets of bunk beds, a double bed, and space for a pack n’ play! There was space for every little body to rest his/her head at the end of our long days, heat for the chilly nights, and a fan to keep the air flowing! A mini fridge in each cabin was an added bonus as well and came in handy with all the food 12 people would be consuming over 3 days! The cabins were clean (until it rained and then we simply had mud everywhere), inviting, and just what this mama needed to make sure this was an enjoyable camping trip! Of course, we did have our campfires, rain or shine (mostly rain), and enjoyed some adult beverages once the kids were all snuggled safely in their bunks long after the sun had gone down. The kids enjoyed the playground, the biking trails that led directly to Mackinaw City, the mud when it rained, and playing games on the floor of the cabins during a storm. At one point I wondered if we would have had more fun if we had brought the tents, but when I was still holding my hubby’s hand on our last day and still had a smile on my face as we drove away, I knew we had not missed out on one bit of fun staying in the cabins at the KOA! My marriage was still intact and my children begged us to stay longer – this was a camping miracle!! Thank you, Mackinaw City KOA for such a great slice of camping paradise!
Here are my MACKINAW CITY RECS…
- Stay at the [eafl id=”1870″ name=”Mackinaw City KOA” text=”KOA”]! It is just outside of the city, so you feel like you are in the woods for a true outdoors experience, but are close enough to the sights and activities Mackinaw City has to offer (and there are many)! In fact, there is a bike trail that leads right into the city. It took us about 30 minutes to ride into town with 8 children, during an approaching rainstorm! Ha! I could write more about this but just click on the link above to read about all you can get access to from this campground. Mackinaw City is full of great Michigan history and adventures for all levels of enthusiasts!
- Take a walk through the [eafl id=”1874″ name=”Mackinaw Crossings” text=”Mackinaw Crossings”] – there are little shops, a few restaurants, and activities to keep you busy for a couple of hours. Our kids enjoyed the playground! Definitely, stop at [eafl id=”1875″ name=”Kilwins” text=”Kilwins”] for a free sample of fudge before heading home!
- Enjoy a meal at [eafl id=”1871″ name=”Dixie Saloon” text=”Dixie Saloon”] near the water. It is a perfect place to bring 8 children, seriously! There is a play area where they can run around while waiting for their meals and they can even write their names with Sharpies on the chairs! Food was reasonably priced, a decent kids menu is available, and their steaks are delicious!
- Find a little beach/park on the lake to get views of The Mighty Mac, St. Ignace and Mackinac Island. There are several good spots. Our favorite is just down the road from the Dixie Saloon on Langlade St. – the Gary R. Williams Memorial Park is perfect for pics with the Mackinaw Bridge and sunset in your backdrop! Practice skipping stones, play in the sand, watch sailboats, or simply sit and be still.
- Stop at [eafl id=”1876″ name=”Hunt’s Mackinaw Pastie & Cookie Co.” text=”Hunt’s Mackinaw Pastie & Cookie Co.”] for some of the best pasties you will find south of the bridge. If you don’t know what a pastie is, think of a chicken pot pie crossed with a meat pie (either British or Australian), but less moist. I enjoy a good pastie with ketchup on the side! They are quite filling, so if you are on a budget, you will get good bang for your buck.
Like I said before, I could spend hours listing all the exciting ways to explore the surrounding area and learning about the rich history of Michigan, but I think you just need to see for yourselves! Don’t forget to #[eafl id=”1877″ name=”Visit Pure Michigan” text=”visitpuremichigan”] on your next adventure!
Don’t forget to stay tuned for a few other posts about adventures in Northern Michigan!
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