Michigan Adventure

[MidgeD79]

We've had a change of plans this summer and our Washington DC trip has been changed to Michigan Adventure. I'd like some detailed info on the ride and water parks, food, loding etc. I looked on their website, but didn't get much help. WDW has spoiled me.

 

[stsomewhere]

We have gone the last two years. My kids enjoy it more than Cedar Point.
DS-9 enjoys the coaster. They are the perfect size for them. The water park is great. We could spend all day there.

We have camped both times at Muskegon State Park- Lake Michigan side. The beach is wonderful. DS-9 and DD-6 had a good time there. They climbing the dunes and the water was clean and clear. Around 4:45 the tide changed and they would body surf for about 15 minutes. We spent many hours at the beach.
There are a few hotels in the area but we have never stayed there.

We spent a whole week at the camp ground. We took alot of day trips. We visited the silverside sub in Muskegon, tubing with Happy mohawk?, went on a dune buggy ride. There was a shopping area about 30 minutes away.

If you have any specific questions about the park, I will try to answer them.

 

[S. C.]

Michigan Adventure is a great park especially for the little ones. Haven't been there in a few years but had a great time when we were there. It was all one price and the water park was great. There is not a lot of hotels in the area so make sure you book your room early.

Also a nice place to go while in the area is Silver lake sand dunes. You can take a Dune buggy ride take note of times they are open. Last time we did this we were on last ride of the day and ppl were pulling in parking lot and upset that they missed it. There is also a place at sanddunes that ppl take there 4 wheel vehicles and ride/climb the hills in sanddunes. You can walk up on other side sit and play in sand and watch them driving down the hills. It is a little exerction (sp) climbing to that area if not in shape. Take water and wear sunscreen you will be right in sun.

Ludington is north of these areas but not that far has a light house to walk out to great sunsets there.

I think you can get free pamplets on line at Michigan travel info. sorry can't think of the site.

Have fun!

These pics were all taken last sept.

Here is the dune buggy we rode in

This is where the 4 wheelers drive down the hill.

Light house in Ludington

At sunset

Grandsons standing next to light house at sunset.

A little ways north of Ludington is a state park campground. Here is the rd on way to the
campground. A beach runs all the way down along left side of rd. It's on other side of a small hill like the one you see on other side of vehicle.

Here is the beach, Lake Michigan

Grandsons found sea shells. You can take off shoes and shuffle feet in sand here and it will squeak.

 

[#1hockeymom]

One of the cool things about the campground is that althtough it is in Muskegon, you'd never know! You feel like you're totally up north.

I second the vote to go visit Ludington! It is my favorite beach area in Michigan.

 

[jbmom]

Michigan Adventure's waterpark is really good, my boys especially enjoy the funnel of fear. The theme park is not very big, but okay. We usually camp at the Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon. Ludington is my favorite state park in the lower pennisula, lots to do! Double J Ranch is another place to consider if you are looking for lodging that isn't camping. They have units with full kitchens, nothing super fancy but it was fun. They have an indoor waterpark there too.

 

[pdchris]

One of the cool things about the campground is that althtough it is in Muskegon, you'd never know! You feel like you're totally up north.

I second the vote to go visit Ludington! It is my favorite beach area in Michigan.

As a Ludington restident, thank you and thanks also to S.C.
BTW, the Lud State Park is the second most popular park in Michigan. Holland beats us but I think that's only because of the closeness to Chicago. Plenty of trails to hike and Hamlin Lake is very warm in the summer. Once in a while, you'll come across a few deer near one of the back trails.

If I had one, I'd post a pic of the Spartan carferry. It runs daily to Manitowoc in WI. Originally built to take railroads cars across Lake Michigan to avoid the traffic jam (yes, railroads had traffic jams in Chicago, too), it is the last of the carferries.

Ludington itself is a small, tourist town of about 9000 altho in the summer the population can double especially around July 4th.

 

[DelaneyRose]

Nooooo
You don't want to go to Ludington. Ludington is bad. The state park is boring and there's nothing to do there. It's just a big nasty parking lot with screaming kids and giant bonfires. Also the park rangers are rude and the bath houses are dirty and nasty.
Ummm, what else? Oh, the wildlife is very dangerous there. And umm...dogs run wild on the beach. And...It's really expensive and not well-maintained at all.

LMAO...sometimes we end up at Poncho's or Cartier in Ludington because we can't get into the state park. It's so awesome. But everyone knows it's awesome so it's hard to get a reservation!!! I didn't realize Holland was #1 but maybe that's b/c you can camp right on the beach there?

There is so much to do from Muskegon right on up to the Bridge. You really can't go wrong anywhere on Michigan's West Coast.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Nooooo
You don't want to go to Ludington. Ludington is bad. The state park is boring and there's nothing to do there. It's just a big nasty parking lot with screaming kids and giant bonfires. Also the park rangers are rude and the bath houses are dirty and nasty.
Ummm, what else? Oh, the wildlife is very dangerous there. And umm...dogs run wild on the beach. And...It's really expensive and not well-maintained at all.

LMAO...sometimes we end up at Poncho's or Cartier in Ludington because we can't get into the state park. It's so awesome. But everyone knows it's awesome so it's hard to get a reservation!!! I didn't realize Holland was #1 but maybe that's b/c you can camp right on the beach there?

There is so much to do from Muskegon right on up to the Bridge. You really can't go wrong anywhere on Michigan's West Coast.

I had to laugh at this post as I was saying this about MY town this past weekend! It seems that all the "city folk" were camping around my town rather than going further up north for the three day weekend due to the gas prices. I just wanted to scream... LET ME GET MY GROCERIES! Stop discussing your campsites in the middle of our little grocery store. We're NOT up north!
(thoughts of someone who owns a cabin in Paradise... and thinks THAT is up north)

ahhh I lived... and I do hope our visitors enjoyed our small town.

 

[jbmom]

I had to laugh at this post as I was saying this about MY town this past weekend! It seems that all the "city folk" were camping around my town rather than going further up north for the three day weekend due to the gas prices. I just wanted to scream... LET ME GET MY GROCERIES! Stop discussing your campsites in the middle of our little grocery store. We're NOT up north!
(thoughts of someone who owns a cabin in Paradise... and thinks THAT is up north)

ahhh I lived... and I do hope our visitors enjoyed our small town.

I hear ya! I grew up in a vacation town and from Memorial Day to Labor day it was awful getting around. I love Paradise, we go blueberry picking in that area every year. My mom's family is all from the Soo and my parents had a cabin on the little island she grew up on until recently. Now we either camp or I take the tribe member discount at the casino hotel. I love the UP.

 

[720L]

It's a nice park, but it's not Disney! It's hard for me to go there but the kids like it. The waterpark is better than the theme park. Because there are no fastpasses, it could probably take you a whole day to do the theme park because of the lines if you go at a busy time. Getting there at opening doesn't help eithier, it's always long lines. Food is typical theme park food. It's all counter service if I remember correctly. At the water park you can rent a cabana (I think thats what they call it) for the day, I recommend doing this. That way you will always have a spot to sit and some shade. The lines get really long at the water park also. The roller coasters are REALLY rough so if you have even a slight back problem, don't ride.

As far as where to stay, I would stay at a hotel near The Lakes Mall in Muskegon. There is a Amerihost and Hampton Inn nearby. There is a Logans, Olive Garden, Branns, Johnny Carrinos, Red Robin and a few other restaurants right near the mall. There is a movie theater nearby (Cinema Carousel).

 

[NMAmy]

I have to be the lone voice of dissent here about Michigan Adventure. We hadn't been in a while and went last summer--probably on one of the hottest days of the year which caused most of our problem. The only part of the park that we could fine that was air conditioned is one tiny little counter service restaurant. Oh, and a bathroom, oddly enough, near the back of the park. I didn't want to leave that bathroom. There is little shade. We'd been before and enjoyed it but this time around we left after only a couple of hours because of the heat and the long lines. We've decided to take the longer ride down to Cedar Point again this year.

With that said, I certainly have NOTHING against the Muskegon area. My ex grew up there so we visit dd's grandparents there frequently. It's a beautiful area--although I must admit my preference is for the Saugatuck/South Haven area a bit south of there. My mom has a cottage there and I've been going since I was born.

 

[S. C.]

Michigan Adventure's waterpark is really good, my boys especially enjoy the funnel of fear. The theme park is not very big, but okay. We usually camp at the Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon. Ludington is my favorite state park in the lower pennisula, lots to do! Double J Ranch is another place to consider if you are looking for lodging that isn't camping. They have units with full kitchens, nothing super fancy but it was fun. They have an indoor waterpark there too.

One of my grandsons live about 3 miles from the sand dunes and has been wanting to go to Double J Ranch.

 

[DelaneyRose]

I love the UP.

LMAO-I have a "Second Week Of Deer Camp" sweatshirt hidden in my closet. Da Yuppers gave it to my dad b/c he let them film part of a video in his old (total dump) cabin up there.

Holland and Grand Haven get really busy in the summer too with tourists.

I'd like to stay at the Double J Ranch too sometime. Is it expensive? We have a camper. The Mac Dunes rides are really fun-but you get completely soaked when they drive along the waterline.

 

[TinkerbellBlue]

I thought I would post this here as it is a good deal for those traveling to the area. Some have limited dates but if you are going at that time, might as well try and get free gas.
http://www.wmta.org/gas-card-incentives-(take-a-staycation)-387/

 

[S. C.]

I wonder if the OP ever came back to read all the info?

 

[#1hockeymom]

If she didn't, we still got the chance to reminisce about past vacations! Sometimes you forget how much fun you had.. and it wasn't even at Disney! LOL *planning on telling DH when he gets back from Paradise tonight that Ludington is back on the short list*

 

[MidgeD79]

This is the OP and I have checked on this thread every day, but haven't had time to post. I've had my questions answered, mainly about the food and places to stay. I discovered that the park doesn't open until 11 and closes at 7ish during the week. Yuck! We're planning on spending 2 days at the parks and one day at Lake Michigan. We're also spening 1.5 days in Cadillac to see the Cadillac Footliters production of Disney's High School Musical. The Monroe Community Players did HSM 2 weeks ago and the 2 groups shared ideas, props, sets etc. The original plan was to go to Cadillac, and Michigan Adventures was added in later. I would have a difficult planning a WDW trip in 2-3 weeks. Michigan Adventures is doable. Thanks for all the help.