Camping is an activity that is a tradition in many American families. Most of us can recall memories that have been gathered over a lifetime. For some of us, it got into our blood at an early age. Jean McCullian of Ann Arbor, camping at the Porcupine Mountain State Park, says her parents took her camping when she was just a baby.

“They still tell stories of me crawling around the large canvas tent we had. I still get out with my family whenever we can,” she said.

Jean recalled a Lake Superior sunset from the Union Bay Campground that hooked her for life as a lover of the pristine camping spots throughout the western Upper Peninsula.

Some families like to travel light, staying in a tent and hiking the many trails crossing our prettiest spots. Others prefer to have all the comforts of home with them. The Michigan State Parks are perfect for this type of camper. Showers at all the parks compliment the motor home, electric fry pan and screened in porch.

What a family looks for in a camping vacation can change over the years and Michigan’s wide variety of camping facilities can meet those changing needs. “We’re a lot more kid-oriented now than when the kids were really little,” says Jim Vint, a long time regular at Fort Wilkins State Park. “We used to come up north and stay in the boonies and fish, but now the kids don’t want to stay out in the boonies someplace - they like to be where there’s movie theaters and TV stations. My wife and I still spend most of our time fishing. We bought a pop-up camper so we can afford to stay longer with the kids.”

While the wide variety of camping opportunities in Michigan has a lot of obvious appeal for family vacations, you don’t need kids to enjoy a camping trip. On the contrary, some of the more rugged styles of camping, backpacking and back country fishing work as well or better for unencumbered adults. Additionally, retired individuals and couples comprise a large percentage of the RV camping crowd, particularly in the spring and fall when the kids are in school.

PICK YOUR PARADISE

From wilderness hiking or canoeing to RV parks and boat camping, the western U.P has a variety of facilities easily accommodating any style of camping.

»The Sylvania Recreation Area is a federally maintained area near Watersmeet and includes 4,000 acres of water with 36 lakes and surrounded by over 18,000 acres of woods. This is a great place to escape on a canoeing adventure. There is also a campground just off US-2 for a milder wilderness outing.

»The Ottawa National Forest contains almost a million acres of forestland spotted with lakes. Numerous campgrounds, fishing access and swimming areas offer the best in solitude as there is seldom any people pressure. The large campsites offer privacy and the best in camping comfort.

»The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is Michigan’s largest with 63,000 acres of lakes and timberland. The region’s largest stands of virgin timber are special to the back country hiker who can camp trail side or stay in one of the 16 log cabins positioned at key points in the park. Miles of winding rivers with many waterfalls and several mountain top lookouts afford the visitor with a lot to see and do. “The Porkies” have two campgrounds at both Union Bay and Presque Isle with a total of 189 sites. Both campgrounds have showers but no electricity. Dump and fill facilities are available in both campgrounds.

»Baraga State Park is located at the tip of the Keweenaw Bay near the village of Baraga. This state park is a favorite stop-off with a wide range of services for the traveler. Located on highway US 41, the 114 camping sites have electricity, showers nearby, a boat launch for Keweenaw Bay and dump and fill facilities.

»McLain State Park is famous for its great Lake Superior sunsets. Located 10 miles west of Hancock, this beautiful park has sandy beaches, 30 lake front camping sites and beautiful shower facilities. Four mini-cabins which sleep four and one rustic cabin, which sleeps 8, complete the accommodations. Two miles of Lake Superior frontage give the visitor a great place for a beach combing.

»Twin Lakes State Park is the smallest in our region, but because of its special location on Lake Gerald it offers the camper a great place to let the kids go with no worry of them getting bored. Great swimming, fishing and a playground compliment the campground complete with 62 sites, all with electricity and showers close by. Twin Lakes has one mini-cabin and is located 25 miles south of Houghton on M26.

»Hancock Recreational Boating/Camping Facility If you would like to be close to Houghton and Hancock, this modern facility on beautiful Portage Lake is a great place especially if you have a boat with you or your children are hoping to maximize their beach time. The City of Hancock facility is one of the few camping areas in the region boasting a lifeguard staffed swimming area. The boat launch and dump fill station are handy and make this park a favorite among natives as well as visitors.

»Fort Wilkins State Park is the northern most state park in Michigan. Located at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula near Copper Harbor, this is the premier location for campers. The great variety of activities in this area give the camper a unique selection of activities. This historic area has a restored Civil War era fort complete with interpreters to help the visitor step back in time and experience the life-style of a remote military post in the 1860s.

Across the harbor the Copper Harbor Lighthouse is open for tours and can be reached by the tour boat “Spirit of America” which leaves from the Copper Harbor Marina on the hour from 10 am to 5 pm daily, weather permitting, during July and August. For June and September, tours are held daily at 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm and 4 pm.

Other facilities for campers include a boat launch, RV dump and fill site. For both Lake Fanny Hooe and Lake Superior, access is close and affords the fisherman a wide range of species to test his or her skills. A mini-cabin is also located on Lake Fanny Hooe.

For more info check out the Michigan DNR website: www.dnr.state.mi.us