Up North Vacation - Part 3

We woke up to beautiful weather on Saturday so we decided to do Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Platte River Beach. We stopped to get our pass at the Visitor Center and then started the dune climb. The boys hike a little more each year. We may try to hike the entire route next summer. Then we went onto Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and stopped for a picnic lunch. Our favorite part of the drive is the scenic overlook which is about 450 feet above Lake Michigan. The boys ended up going all the way down the dune to the lake. Once I realized what they were doing, I followed and made it about 80% of the way before meeting up with them on their way up. The signs at the top warn it can take up to 2 hours to climb back up, but we were able to do it in just over 17 minutes. The boys were champs! Our next stop was the Platte River beach and then Moomer's for ice cream on the way back to the cottage. We ended the evening with a fire and s'mores. On Sunday, the boys walked to the playground while I got things packed up. Then we went back to the Platte River beach for a few hours before heading home. We are always sad to leave - we are thankful to the Hofmeyer's for letting us take over their cottage for the weekend.

Porch Yahtzee

View from the top of the first dune

Phil and Alex heading to the top of the next dune

Charge!

Starting the climb down

Platte River Beach

Moomer's!

The cows were eating, too!