2/26 Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, Hillsborough County, FL

Lettuce Lake Park is a popular park near Tampa, FL, with a boardwalk, kayaking, and hiking trails.  I visited this with a local friend and enjoyed the walk along the boardwalk.  

I neglected to take a photo of the entrance sign, so here is a screen capture of the park website.  Entrance fee is only $2 per person, which is very reasonable!

Here are some photos of the boardwalk and the lake it surrounds.  Lots of rules for using the boardwalk, which is a good idea.

I think this is a white puffball fungus.

This green stuff floating on the water is duck weed.  It is not slime, but tiny plants that ducks love to eat.

This guy was only about 5' long, so he is still young.  Mostly he ignored my taking his photo.

Not many birds today, but this is a turkey vulture.

Hard to see, but this is a pile of alligators.  The one that had originally occupied the little mound of earth was NOT happy when another one decided to join him on this crowded spot, so there was a lot of roaring and complaining. 

As you can see, it was a nice sunny day, but not too warm!!

2/26 Colt Creek SP

Colt Creek is one of the newest state parks in Florida.  It is mostly in mixed forest, but it also had some bald cypress trees and meadows.

I like this place because it is quiet and the camping spaces are very large and well-spread out. This week we also had a lot of red shouldered hawks in the area, so they were fun to watch.

A lot of people do not know this, but a lot of state parks have places for horses to camp, along with their owners.  It was interesting to see this couple driving small horse carts!

The next photo shows you the entrance road and the diversity of the land in the park.

The next two photos show you the tent camping area.  Sites there are also large and private, and each one has an electric hookup.

This is what the RV area looks like.

Now for some red-shouldered hawk photos.  It was mating time, so there was a lot of communication going on.  They are medium-sized birds, about the same size as the red-tailed hawks we have in colder climates.

A closeup of the previous photo of a bird on a rock.

Tired of hawks yet?  That's the last of them for now.  They are very pretty birds, however.

2/12 Smoke Near Ortona & What Are These Birds?

 Sorry, but my weak internet caused my delay in publishing!

In this part of Florida, there is a lot of sugar cane grown, and when the cane is ready to be picked and sent to the sugar factories, they often burn the fields.  At first, I thought all this smoke was from that, however, I later found out it was from a nearby farmer burning his cattle fields!

It really smelled bad and at a couple of points was burning eyes here:

Also, every night for at least the week I was at Ortona this time, just before dusk a small flock of unknown birds flew in and did some sort of airborne fishing.  I could not get a good look at a single bird to identify them, but their feeding behavior was really unusual, so I am hoping someone can help me identify them.  My initial guess would be some sort of swallows, maybe bank swallows?  

https://youtu.be/vRGHW7AGy6g 

2/11 The Trials & Tribulations of Getting Service for a Motorhome

I have not posted lately because I have been staying in campgrounds that I have already written about.  I will be posting later this week about Colt Creek State Park, where I am staying now, but for now, I thought I would explain about the trials and tribulations I have experienced over the last 11 years in getting things fixed when they break on my motorhome.  

The Problem

These items break into two categories: 

1. The basic Ford e450 SuperDuty chassis that Fleetwood bought in order to build the motorhome.  This included a stripped-down chassis that consisted of the front cab, including the engine, transmission, and drivers and passengers seats, plus the dashboard and interior controls.  It also included a long medium-duty truck bed on which Fleetwood constructed the actual motorhome, plus the front wheels and tires, and a rear set of dual wheels and tires. This same chassis gets purchased by a lot of companies that build various delivery and other commercial trucks.  
   
2. The parts of the finished motorhome that Fleetwood built on the above chassis.  This included the motorhome floor, walls, roof, and interior systems needed to make it a self-contained living rig.  Fleetwood added fresh water and sewage tanks under the flooring; plumbing such as a toilet, shower, kitchen sink; furnaces and ductwork for heating and AC systems; a refrigerator, stove, and kitchen cabinets for food preparation; lighting and electrical systems; and furniture, such as a dinette, couch, and bed.   

The items listed in the first list above require service by an automotive or truck service facility.  If I need new brakes or shocks, or the engine misses and needs new plugs, etc.  I need to take it to a facility that will fix those things.  When I bought my rig, I was told that the big advantage to buying a motorhome built on a Ford chassis was that I could take it to any Ford dealer.  

HA!  As many of us who own RVs of any kind know, you should NEVER believe anything an RV salesman tells you!  (Most RV sales people have never owned an RV or even camped, so they don't know anything.  In fact, they make some car sales people look pretty good.)

As I learned quickly, very few Ford dealers will repair anything on a Class C motorhome, even if it is built on a Ford chassis and has Ford parts.  The excuses I have received over the past almost-12 years include the following:  the doors to their service bays are too narrow or too short, or they don't have any jacks to lift up such a heavy vehicle, and their service people don't have the right tools or know how to fix anything on a motorhome built on a Ford chassis. 

In addition, truck repair places also really prefer NOT to work on motorhomes.  Some say they only work of diesel vehicles, or they don't have time to work on motorhomes, or their mechanics don't know how to work on motorhomes, etc. etc., etc.   

The items in the second list are repaired by RV dealers and places such as Camping World.  So, if my water heater stops working, the refrigerator does not cool food adequately, the slide won't slide in or out, or the lights won't work, I need to take it to an RV service place.  Such places with almost never touch anything on the chassis.  The problem with trying to get something repaired by an RV dealer and service place is that they tend to be backed up for 6-8 weeks.  No air conditioning in this heat wave?  Your toilet is leaking?  Your stove won't work?  It will take six weeks to fit you into our schedule to even look at it to see what model or part you need, then another few weeks to get the part.   Sorry about that.  Did you really want to use those hard-to-get reservations for Grand Canyon this year?  Maybe you can reschedule your vacation to next year.   

Solutions?

There are a few solutions to the above, but none of them are as easy as getting your car or pickup truck fixed.  Part of the problem is that you are often hundreds or thousands of miles from your permanent home when things break and need to be fixed.  

Local Mobile Service People

One solution for getting something fixed on the RV part of your RV is to find a local mobile rv repairman.  These are people who work out of their homes during evenings or weekends, or are retired and work part-time, or run a small business fixing RV stuff.  They aren't always easy to find, but you can ask at the office to your campground or check with the camp hosts or fellow campers.  

There are also a few mobile truck mechanics out there to do engine stuff or fix your radiator, but again, they are not easy to find, but asking around can sometimes find someone who is experienced and qualified.  There are even certifications for truck mechanics or mobile RV service people.  

Negatives to using mobile repair people is that you cannot always know how qualified they are or what they might charge.  There is also a charge for just coming out, usually between $100 and $150 per trip.  The nice thing about using a mobile service person is that they will often come within hours or a couple of days.  In addition, it is a real pleasure to have someone come to you instead of having to drive to a repair shop and waiting hours to get something done.  Most RV parks or campgrounds will not allow you to do vehicle repair in your campsite, but they usually will allow you to get something fixed that prevents you from leaving! 

CoachNet or Other Road Service Companies

In my case, I subscribe to a specialized motorhome road service company called CoachNet.  Not only can they come out fix a flat tire, but they can often unstick a stuck slide, or take down your torn awning that is preventing you from driving your rig.  If you need to get towed to a service place, they can do that as well, but they can often use their clout to get your problem worked on right away, without your being put in the "we'll get to you in six weeks" queue.  

If something is preventing you from driving your rig, CoachNet will pay for the service call, but not the service itself.  In other words, if my slide is stuck, they will pay the $150 for someone to come out, but I will have to pay for the time it takes the service person to unstick my slide.  

CoachNet also offers free telephone technical advice, so sometimes they can help you fix things yourself.  (Like the time when I was new to RVing and my lights started to dim.  They helped me figure out that I had inadvertently turned off the switch that enables my batteries to be recharged from the campground electrical hookup.  Oops.)  The other thing is that if you can drive your rig, but don't know where to go to get something fixed or you need help in finding a local mobile repair person, they can often suggest a place from the lists they keep.  I used this service when I had managed to get my vehicle engine started, but did not know where to take it to buy a new battery.  I called them from a parking lot, and a half hour later, they called me back with the name and address of a repair shop.  They had also checked to make sure the shop could take me in immediately and had a stock of the correct batteries.

Here is a photo of my motorhome engine getting new spark plugs in my campsite. 

You might check with your road service company and see if they keep lists of places able and willing to work on RV components or motorhomes. 

Truck Service Companies & Other Odd Places

Now that I told you very few Ford dealerships will work on motorhomes, there are some exceptions.  Ford does have what are called fleet service centers or commercial truck centers.  There is a brand-new one in Traverse City, Michigan, that is owned by the nearby Fox Ford dealership.  There is also a Ford dealership (Bell Ford) in Phoenix that has a fleet service area, but how to find these in various other places can be tricky.  Basically, they service motorhomes and medium-duty trucks, which in reality is what my e450 SuperDuty chassis is.  However, these places ONLY do mechanical work on the chassis--they will NOT repair your roof AC, refrigerator, furnace, or other motorhome living stuff. 

I also found a gas station at the entrance to Bryce Canyon that will work on motorhome and medium-duty trucks.  As I was driving past, I noticed that it had four really big service bays, so I pulled in and saw a sign that said they work on motorhomes and trucks.  I had a check engine light on, and they determined I needed new spark plugs and coils, so ordered them for the next day.  I hopped on the nearby shuttle and enjoyed the park while they worked on my engine--very handy.  

And sometimes, you just get lucky.  On another trip, I was driving slowly through Kanab, UT, when my right front wheel started vibrating.  I had just driven past a towing and service place next to a NAPA Auto Parts store, so I circled the block and pulled in.  I spent the night behind the shop, hooked up to electric, and since it was next to the police station, it felt pretty safe. 

Sometimes a Ford dealer, especially in a small town, will refer you to someone who works out of their home.  I was referred that way to a man who did work on big diesel trucks in a pole barn in the woods behind his house in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  

Recently, CoachNet referred me to a Boss Truck Shop at a Pilot truck stop behind the gas station in Ft. Myers, FL.  They replaced the wheel bearings in both of my front wheels while I spent five hours sitting in my recliner in my motorhome while they worked on it.  A lot nicer than sitting in the usual crummy waiting room in a car service shop.  Here is a view from my rig getting worked on.

Summary

It is really helpful to have a road service company that will help you find a service place that will take you in immediately and has the parts to do the work, but asking around to other motorhome owners in campgrounds and at the campground check-in booth and office is also a good idea.

1/31 J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

I had not been to Sanibel Island and the Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve for several years, so I chose today to go there.  It was a cool, but sunny day, so I knew I would not bake or freeze while riding my bike.  

If you remember, Sanibel Island was almost completely destroyed in September 2022 by Hurricane Ivan.  The only access to the island, the bridge, was inaccessible for a month because the causeway where the bridge stands was cut in a couple of places, as shown here:  https://www.npr.org/2022/09/30/1126204141/sanibel-causeway-hurricane-ian    Most people had evacuated, but those who stayed had to be ferried off, and many homes, nearly all cars, and most businesses were destroyed.  It has been 18 months, and there is still a lot of construction going on, but from what I saw driving in and out, at least 50-60% of businesses were still not open. 

Here are some photos of the entrance to the bridge and some of the construction still happening on the causeway to rebuild some beaches and fishing areas:

Eventually, you will be able to pull off the roadway and enjoy the picnic, fishing, and swimming areas again.

Notice the damage to trees.  Normally, there would be taller trees and more of them.

In any case, I always enjoy riding my bike and seeing birds at Ding Darling.  The preserve consists of several areas of wetlands and large tidal ponds and cypress forests where birds congregate.

This is a good map of the area.  I rode my bike around the entire paved roadway, for a total of 9 miles.  Not bad for an old lady! 

They have a very nice visitor center, and I treated myself to a t-shirt and a tea towel with birds on it!

As you can see, some areas of the parking lot and the grounds near the visitor center are still being worked on.

This is the beginning of the 4.5 mile roadway that goes through the refuge.  It is one-way, so you exit at the far end and either drive back on the main road or ride your bike on the path along it.  I was surprised by the bare and broken trees.

Looks pretty sad.  These are dead trees from the hurricane, not trees that have just lost their leaves for the winter. 

This is the first time I have seen a reddish heron.  It looks a lot like a great blue heron, but it has a reddish neck. 

And a little blue heron, identified by its black and grey beak and small body size.

A flock of American white pelicans resting on a sandbar. 

More dead trees.  At least the birds are still nesting in some of them.

This is a juvenile white ibis. 

And some of his/her siblings on a nearby branch!  These birds are extremely common in Florida and can often be found anywhere there is water.

Don't know if you have ever seen one of these, but it is a container to put broken fishing line, hooks, and lures in so birds do not get caught up in them. 

And last, but not least, is a yellow-crowned night heron.  Normally, you would be able to see his long neck, but a lot of birds scrunch their long necks down when they rest.  You can see part of his long legs under the branch in front of him.

The only big problem with visiting Sanibel Island, both now and in the past, is the lack of a second exit.  Late the the day, you can wait up to an hour or more to get off the island.  It was worse before the hurricane destroyed a lot of restaurants, but just be aware that you should try to leave before 3:00 pm or wait until after the late afternoon rush hour.  I left the refuge at 4 pm and it took me over an hour of stop and go traffic to drive the last 3.7 miles to the bridge.  Once you get on the bridge, you are usually pretty clear. 

1/27 Visiting Michigan--the Great Lakes State

I am back at WP Franklin campground, and I posted about this place in December, so I am not going to bother posting again now.  However, I have decided to use this time to post about some things that people ask me about fairly often.  The first is what to see and do in Michigan, which is where I was born and spent my entire life until about 12 years ago.  I also got degrees from two of the major Universities there, and taught in one smaller college part-time for 30 years.  Also, I still have a niece, a few cousins, and many friends there, so I make sure I go there for a few days to visit people and to stock up on Michigan food and t-shirts!!  

Many people are not familiar with Michigan because it is not on the way to anyplace else.  In other words, unlike like most states, you don't go through it to head out west or east or even south.  It IS a short cut to Canada, but a lot of people do not do much traveling there.  This is a shame because Michigan consists of two large peninsulas and borders of four of the five world's largest fresh-water lakes!!  In addition, Detroit is one of the oldest big cities in the U.S. and has some fantastic architectural gems, ethnic food, and great things to do and see. 

So, assuming you are entering Michigan from Indiana or Ohio, here are some places I think you should not miss as you head from the southern part of the state to what we Michiganders call "Up North."

• Detroit Area - No longer the murder capital of the country, Detroit is overall a safe city to visit.  Did you know that Detroit was settled in 1701 as a French fur-trading post by a French explorer named Antoine de la Mothe sieur de Cadillac?  It is the oldest American city that is not along the tidal Atlantic coast. The city was originally called "le détroit du Lac Erie", or the strait of Lake Erie.  Native Americans brought furs from as far away as Lake Superior by canoe to trade here with the French.  It was surrendered to the British in 1760 and then deeded back to the French in Quebec before becoming part of the United States.  So what is there to see and do here??  Here are some of my favorites:
  

• Camping Near Detroit - Frankly, there isn't any.  However, when I visit Detroit, I stay south of the city near Monroe, MI.  My favorite place is Sterling State Park on the western shore of Lake Erie.  It is open, so almost every site has a view of the lake.  Sterling State Park does have a few full- hookup sites, but if you absolutely need to have a full-hookup site, try Harbortown RV Resort. 
  

• Downtown - Park in the lot just west of the big building with four towers that has a big GM sign on it.  Or you can park in the underground lot that is in the middle of Jefferson Avenue that runs along the river.  Walk over to the GM building and enjoy the shops and restaurants inside.  Check out this link for more info:  https://gmrencen.com/.  Then walk out the main doors that open towards the Detroit River and walk along the parks in both directions and enjoy the view of the river and Canada. If you are there on a weekend in the summer, there might be an ethnic festival just to the west.  (Note:  This is a unique place in the U.S. because when you look across the river to Canada, you are looking south, not north!)  
  

• Belle Isle - One of the true gems of Detroit, Belle Isle is an island in the middle of the Detroit River.  This park located about two miles east of downtown and was designed by Frederic Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park in New York.  It is now a state park, so there is a fee involved, but is it worth it.  Check it out here:  https://www.belleisleconservancy.org/   When you enter, follow the outside roadway past the entrance booth and circle the island counterclockwise.  You will first see a huge fountain, Scott Memorial Fountain, so make sure you stop there and walk around.  (Also make sure you read the sign about the guy who paid to build this as a memorial to himself and what a horrible person he was!!)  hopefully, it will be spouting water.  Past the fountain, you will end up at the western point of the island with a fantastic view of downtown Detroit and Canada.  Continue driving along the perimeter road, and assuming renovation construction is completed, stop at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, the Belle Isle Aquarium, and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum.  Plan on spending at least a couple of hours on Belle Isle, and take some time for a picnic along the river to watch for big great lake freighters that might be going by. 

• Detroit Institute of Arts - A world-class art museum and one of the best in the country, this is a couple of miles north on Woodward Avenue in the New Center Area.  There is underground parking for cars and a big dirt lot behind it for bigger vehicles.  Info on hours and exhibits are here:  https://dia.org/   Besides the usual things you expect to see in art museums, this one has something unique--an entire large room or covered courtyard covered with the "Detroit Industry" murals done by Mexican artist Diego Rivera in 1932-1933.  Also, something interesting to know is that when Detroit declared bankruptcy a few years ago, the plans were to sell almost $1B worth of art to pay the city's bills.  Private individuals contributed $800 million to pay the city's pension debts and to turn ownership over to an independent charitable trust and save the artwork.

• Food -  If you had not heard it before, Detroit is a fantastic ethnic food place.  If you are downtown, take a quick drive to the Eastern Market or Greektown and enjoy the food and atmosphere!  
  

• Dearborn -  One of the most interesting museums is the one set up by Henry Ford.  He focused his efforts in collecting industrial equipment and Americana.  Located in Dearborn, a large city adjacent to Detroit, the Henry Ford Museum has three parts:
• First is the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation itself.  Notable are many of the Presidential limousines, the bus that Rosa Parks rode in, a Ford Trimotor Plane.  Check it out here:  https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/henry-ford-museum/
• Second is Greenfield Village.  This is an 80 acre outdoor museum containing many of the houses and businesses that Henry Ford collected.  You can ride a Model T or see the lab where Ford's good friend, Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, or walk through a farm and watch artisans create useful items.  https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/greenfield-village/
• Finally, you can sign up for a tour of Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant and see what modern assembly looks like.  
  

• Dearborn - Also in Dearborn is one of the largest Middle Eastern populations in the country.  This means some of the best Middle Eastern food in restaurants and bakeries are located in Dearborn or the Detroit areas.  Here are some suggestions for restaurants:  https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g42130-c30-Dearborn_Michigan.html.  And if you love baklava, check out the couple dozen types at one of my favorite bakeries, Masri sweets!  
  

 

• Up North - Up North is pretty hard to define in Michigan, but basically it is anywhere north of the Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint area.  Up North is where people who live in southern Michigan go when they want to get away from it all.  Michigan has 11,000 inland lakes and 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, so you are never very far away from a place to swim or boat in.  In addition, Michigan has more lighthouses than any other states, so you can easily do a lighthouse tour, except it would take you a very long time to drive the entire Great Lakes Shoreline.  If you don't have time to do that all, here are some of my favorite places in Michigan:

• Frankenmuth - On the way north, stop at Frankenmuth and enjoy a chicken dinner at either Zehnder's or the Bavarian inn.  Pick up some bakery goodies and bread in the basement bakeries on your way out.  Also, make a stop at Bronner's, the world's largest Christmas decoration store, even if you are there is the middle of summer!  Many small and large towns buy their town decorations from Bronner's and they also sell an amazingly large selection of tree and other ornaments you can use on your tree and home. 

• Bay City - One of my favorite stops on my way north, after I have picked up some pastries in Frankenmuth is the :nut house", aka St. Laurent Brothers, in Bay City.  It's not a big place, and it is tucked away off the main street, but it has a great selection of candies and nuts.  https://www.downtownbaycity.com/listings/st-laurent-brothers/

• Traverse City - This is a great city with a lot of bays and the eastern shore of Lake Michigan surrounding it.  Winds tend to flow from west to east, across Lake Michigan and the two big bays, so the climate is a bit milder than you might expect, though they do get a LOT of snow in the winter.  A slightly mild winter and early spring means it is a terrific place to grow wine grapes and sour cherries.  It is also a very cosmopolitan city with lots of restaurants and tasting rooms.  Two terrific drives are to the west or north and around the Leelanau Peninsula to the little town of Glen Arbor and to the northeast up to the tip of the Mission Peninsula.  Both of these are very scenic and full of excellent wineries.  You can also visit during the Cherry Festival in June.  Finally, you should not miss climbing on the big dune at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.  DO NOT attempt to climb down the dunes that overlook Lake Michigan, however, as you may not be able to climb up and will end up having to take a several mile walk to get back to level land!!!

• Hartwick Pines State Park/Grayling - Hartwick State Park contains one of the very few tracts of virgin White Pine in Michigan, so it is well worth a visit.  The campground has some full-hookup sites, and there is a logging museum to visit, as well as a walk around the big trees.  
  

• Mackinaw City - Mackinaw City is at the tip of Michigan's lower peninsula and Mackinac Island is a small island between the two peninsulas.  Both are pronounced "aw."  This may sound strange but the city was originally a British settlement and the island was a French fur trading post and fort.  I always try to stop at Mackinaw City to buy fudge and Michigan t-shirts and souvenirs.  Good fish sandwiches in the center of town also. (Warning:  Be careful about going under the bridge because some places are too low for RVs!  One of the Big Mac bridge underpasses snags about one RV per week, and it is embarrassing to have to back up through a four-way stop, even if you do stop in time, as I can attest to!) Tip:  If you are driving a large motorhome or towing a trailer, there is plenty of parking in Mackinaw City.  The main street in Mackinaw runs east and west, but one street south of this main street has a very large paved lot where you can park while you shop.  Also, there is a very pleasant park and visitor center on the shore, just underneath the bridge, with parking for RVs on the eastern side of the parking lot. You can walk along the shore or visit Fort Michilimackinac and the nearby lighthouse from that location.  Just make sure you know hot tall your RV is and check the height of any place where you choose to drive under the bridge.    
  

• Mackinac Island - Mackinac Island is a very special place because of its 350 years of history and because it is unique in that no cars are allowed.  (No electric bikes are allowed either.)  You arrive by ferry or private boat and take a horse-drawn carriage to your hotel.  The island is about 70% state park, so even though millions of people visit each year, it is possible to find a quiet place to enjoy the view.  You can take your bike on the ferry or you can rent one at the boat docks.  If your hotel is close by, there are porters who will load your suitcases onto their bikes and you can walk to it.  The town on the island is small, but it has 13 fudge shops, so it is almost impossible not to buy fudge!  You can also ride your bikes or rent a self-driving horse-drawn carriage to ride around island along the 8-mile long only state highway in Michigan where cars are not allowed.  The hotels on the island are expensive, but there are smaller hotels and B&Bs available, and it is a wonderful place to spend a few days.  No camping of any kind is allowed, however.  Be sure to take an island horse-drawn tour and admire the rows of Victorian houses, plus stop at the fort.  The town area is very busy during the day, but wonderfully quiet at night after most of the "fudgies" have left.  (A "fudgie" is someone who comes just for the day and buys fudge.)

• The Upper Peninsula - Immediately after you cross the Big Mac bridge, you will notice numerous signs advertising pasties.  A pasty is something very popular anywhere in Michigan, but especially in the UP, where it was brought by Cornish miners who came to Michigan to mine copper.  A proper pastie should consist of a pastry crust filled with equal parts chopped beef, potatoes, onions, and rutabaga, which is related to turnips but tastes slightly different.  Some people put gravy on their pasties, others put ketchup on them, but I like mine with just butter and salt.  Yum!    

• The Soo, aka Sault Ste Marie, MI - If you keep driving north on I-75, you will arrive at the small town of Sault Ste. Marie.  (Remembering that this area was originally French, you need to know that "Sault" is pronounced "Soo.")  You are now as far north as you can go without crossing into Canada.  The St. Mary's River divides the two countries and is where the big lake freighters go between Lake Superior and Lake Huron.  The Soo Locks are fun to visit and watch big ships go through the locks.  About a mile east of the locks is the city-owned Aune Osborn Campground. It is a basic campground with water and electric sites, but is one of the best ship watching places in Michigan!!  Ships come out of the locks and need to make a slight right turn at the campground into a very narrow part of the river, so ships come close enough to wave at the workers on the decks!!  There is an online site and also a phone number you can call to know what ships are due to come through the locks and when they will arrive!    

• Whitefish Point & Tahquamenon Falls - Heading west along the Lake Superior shore, you will find two great places to visit:  Tahquamenon Falls State Park and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point.  Tahquamenon Falls is the highest falls in Michigan and well worth a visit.  Whitefish Point juts into Lake Superior, and it was off Whitefish Point that the iron ore freighter Edmund Fitzgerald sank in 30' waves on November 14, 1975 with 29 souls aboard.  The wreck was found broken in half in 535' of water in 1995, and several artifacts are in the museum, including the ship's bell. If you have somehow never heard it, the official recording of the Gordon Lightfoot song about the sinking can be found here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuzTkGyxkYI     

• The Rest of the UP - I've hit the main points of places I like to visit in Michigan, but there are many more in the upper peninsula, including Grand Marais, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the Keweenaw Peninsula, and a lot of other places, so just go Explore!!   (Note:  Even though Duluth is in Minnesota, it is on the far end of Lake Superior and a great place to end your trip.)