Welcome to Michigan!
We hope you will love your visit to our beautiful state and have a chance to enjoy everything it has to offer.
Summers in Michigan are about two things: lakes, and more lakes.
Specifically, this means inland lakes and the Great Lakes.
We have about 11,000 inland lakes, and the longest coastline of any state in the lower 48.
If you are new to the area, here is some useful information and nearby locales you might like to check out to make the most of your trip and take in all the beauty the Mitten has to offer.
Long Lake & Gun Lake
The camp, Long Lake Outdoor Center, is located in a rural town about 30 minutes from West Michigan’s largest city, Grand Rapids, on a small, tranquil motor-free inland lake that is part of Yankee Springs Recreation Area, a state park. Canoes will be available for use at camp, and you may bring kayaks, motorless boats, or paddle boards.
Within Yankee Springs, there are nine total lakes, and many opportunities for fishing, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
Adjacent to LLOC is Gun Lake (pictured at the left), a large, active, all-sport lake. If you’re staying for the day on Sunday, and want to use camp as a “home base” and rent a motor boat, that would be a great place to do so
Lake Michigan
If you have never been to Lake Michigan before, you are in for a treat: the feeling of being at a picturesque freshwater ocean/sea, complete with beautiful sand beaches, dunes and quaint tourist towns.
We highly recommend taking a detour to the “fresh coast.” It could be done as a day trip or overnight trip.
Nearby towns to visit include:
Saugatuck (pictured)
Grand Haven
Holland
Saugatuck
1 hour drive from camp / 30-50 minutes from Grand Rapids
Known as “Provincetown of the Midwest,” this beautiful beach destination has a longstanding queer history, in addition to arts, culture, resorts, beaches, and sand dunes. This is where Katie and Chelsea will have their mini-moon!
Grand Haven
1.25 hour drive from camp / 30-50 minutes from Grand Rapids
The quintessential Lake Michigan Beach town. Another very popular destination (pictured)
Holland
1 hour drive from camp / 30-50 minutes from Grand Rapids
On the shores of Lake Mataqua (which connects directly to Lake Michigan) with access to nearby beaches, this quaint town is famous for its tulips, windmills, European architecture, and celebration of its Dutch history. And, yes, that new Nicole Kidman thriller, “Holland,” is based on this town.
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is a midsized city with restaurants, nice hotels, excellent breweries, and cultural ammenities.
If you’re flying into GR and have some extra time, check out the Freidrich Meijer Gardens or the Grand Rapids Art Museum
Detroit
If you’re thinking about paying a visit to Detroit you may prefer to fly into DTW (which is a major flight hub) and spend some time in the Motor City, enjoying a plethora of restaurants, music venues, sporting events, museums, and more.
Detroit is about a 2.5 hour drive from Camp.
