Family Camping Trip

We went on our first FAMILY camping trip a few weeks ago. Byron and I had camped several times during the first few years of our marriage, but it was a new experience with kids. Our good friend Beca came along (seasoned camper!) and we all had a great time. Caroline and Lauren slept in a tent with Byron and I, and Emma stayed with Beca in her tent.

We went to the Upper Penninsula of Michigan, to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Our campsite was in the national park, on Gemini Lake. But we spent our days up near the Lake Superior shore. Our first day, we went to Miner's Falls and Miner's Castle, and hiked down to Miner's Beach. The first picture is a view of Miner's Castle, the "pictured rocks," and Lake Superior. The picture of Byron and Lauren was taken at the same spot.



This picture was taken along our hike down from Miner's Castle to Miner's Beach. The forest was so beautiful back in there. Reminded me a little bit of New Hampshire.

After lunch, we drove toward Munising and took a geocaching hike. We followed a hiking trail, but it was not widely used. Emma solved the clues and used the GPS in order to find the cache. The cache was hidden near a secluded waterfall, and the girls played in the water and sand.

End of day one: girls are dirty, wet, exhausted, and happy!

Emma with the cache

Secluded waterfall at the end of the trail

On the second day, we headed toward the eastern end of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Here, we hiked down along a waterfall that flowed into a river and out into Lake Superior. We spent HOURS playing on the rocky beach, on the sandy dunes, and in the COLD water.

Caroline found lots of cool rocks

Lauren liked the rocks too

Emma made a rock tower

Can you do ballet on the rocks at the beach?
Caroline will find a way!

Lauren played and played and played in the water

Byron and Emma spent hours making dams and redirecting the water

Lauren and daddy in the water

Caroline climbing the dunes

We eventually climbed back up the hill along the waterfall and drove back to our campsite.

End of day two: girls are dirty, wet, exhausted, and happy!

Emma - wearing Dad's hat and hanging out at the camp site

Good Morning Caroline!

Our campsite - Beca's tent is green and our tent is blue

Our "kitchen" and "dining room"

Our campsite was about 25 feet from Gemini Lake - a small inland lake that was a good deal warmer than Lake Superior. Beautiful!

Despite the rain on the first night and the tremendous thunderstorms on the second night, the kids had a blast and will undoubtedly be asking when we are going camping again.