We're Loving our First Elks Campground Stay!

We have tried many different methods of searching for our next campground. We use apps on our phones, internet sites, camp review web sites, maps, discount club directories, national forest websites, blogs of other travelers, first-hand advice from people we meet . . . whew! It's a full-time job finding our campground homes throughout the year. Mark found our next campground, and we hit the jackpot! We are now staying at the Elk's Campground near Muskegon, Michigan. We are well aware of the Elks organization, and that many have a small campground available only to their members. But this one allows non-members as well, and they welcomed us with open arms. The parking spot is nothing special--it's a 30-amp site with only water hook-ups in a parking lot. But it's the perks that are special. When we first checked in, the delightful campground host, Corky, began to describe the events this week at the Elks Lodge.

She told us about the $5 hamburger night, where we would be able to grill our 1/3 pound burger on the Elks grill, and then they provided all the condiments as well as baked beans and chips to go with it. We also went to steak night, when $7 provided a nice steak, baked potato, and salad. Corky saved us a place at her table, where she also provided fresh blueberry buckle for dessert. She also invited us to chili night, where we enjoyed a potluck meal with the Elks that live in the campground. That's three meals over five nights with the very welcoming Elks!

Another perk of our new camping spot is our own private beach on Lake Michigan.

We were sitting in lawn chairs on the Elks beach on a beautiful evening as waves rolled in just a few feet from our toes. And as far as we looked in either direction, we didn't see a soul.

We were waiting here, because the dramatic clouds were showing the prospects of a wonderful sunset. Sure enough, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the pink color that Denisa loves began to paint the sky, and reflected off the water and even the wet sand of the beach.

If this is any indication of the possibilities of other Elk campgrounds, we really need to join this organization! Yes, we're really loving our time here at the Elk Campground near Muskegon.

Earlier in the day, we made the trip to see the lighthouse on the pier in the city of Muskegon. After visiting so many of the quaint little Michigan beach towns, we found that the more industrial parts of this city weren't nearly as appealing. We finally found our way to the city beach, that looked very deserted on this cool evening. After unseasonably warm temperatures, we are finally wearing jackets.

The cool front was escorted in by some beautiful clouds that made dramatic backgrounds along the pier.

We love walking these long breakwaters that often jut a half-mile out into Lake Michigan.

As we walked back to that deserted city beach, we saw a curiously large kite over the sand. Of course, we walked closer to check it out.

That's when we struck up a conversation with the guys attached to the kites. They had driven over an hour to come to this Muskegon beach for an evening of kite-boarding. But as soon as they got all their equipment set up, the winds that escorted the cold front died down to just a 10 mph breeze. Kite boarders need at least 12 mph winds to keep their giant kites filled with air, and their only option was to pack up and go home.

But they'll be back, as we're supposed to have a very windy day at the end of the week. We're loving our time at the Elk Campground, it looks like we're going to have to stick around longer than we planned to see those crazy kite boarders in action!