A Hazy, Lazy Day on the Beach

Yes, the shoreline of a lake can be called a beach. Dale and I actually had this discussion on the way home from Holland State Park on Lake Michigan last Sunday. The defining characteristic of a beach is the “accumulation of loose particles like sand or pebbles at the edge of a body of water, regardless of whether it’s saltwater or freshwater.” And there was plenty of sand! You had to walk quite a ways to get down to the water. Thankfully, they provided several walkways to assist.

You may be able to see in the photo above the “hazy” part of our trip. Apparently Canadian wildfires has created a nonstop haze that has air quality at dangerous levels. It’s been that way since we’ve been here. *cough*

The lazy part of our beach trip was a result of having no children, very little beach gear and plenty of time. I watched many families setting up or breaking down their site. It’s almost like camping with all the tents, coolers and chairs.

We arrived at the beach around 1pm after attending Cornerstone Church at 10am. It was about a 40-minute drive, and the cost was $11. There was a line to get into the state park, but thankfully there was plenty of parking. Our first stop was the café where we ordered hotdogs and fries, which were perfect. Afterwards, we found a spot on the beach.

We fully intended to swim. I was committed to it … until I found out the water temperature was in the 50s. That, plus the murky water and the haze kind of took the oomph out of my determination. So instead we just relaxed and people watched.

Overall, it was a good trip. I did not want to leave Michigan without spending a day at the lake. Calling it a lake still feels weird because it’s so huge!

Tomorrow we are leaving Michigan and heading towards Texas with a stop at the Ark Encounter in Kentucky, an overnight stay in Little Rock, then a one-night stay with the kids in Argyle. We are currently at our favorite coffee shop, but this afternoon I’ll be busy packing. We’re looking forward to getting home!