Houghton Lake - Part 3

Not too far from where we were staying was another lake -- one that is just as common to us Michiganders and one that is known for visiting year-round; not just in the summer months.  My aunt and uncle lived in Roscommon and we would visit them and always make the small trek over to Higgins Lake.  I also have many childhood memories of vacationing in a cottage there with another one of my aunts and uncles.

We didn't plan to go swimming in the lake (although we certainly could have it the kids had their suits), but we made sure to stop and check out one of the beach sites.

There was a slight breeze and lots of sun ...

And each one of the kids collected a handful of shells to later add to a jar with the label, "Higgins Lake - 2020."

While they were walking along the beachfront, I made a few trips into the store to get each of the kids an ice cream cone.  Due to COVID, the store was limiting the number of guests at any one time and it was just easier for me to enter and exit with my mask on.

Steve helped Jimmy make a pretty decent dolphin in the sand and Jimmy was pleased as could be with it.

And then, this is how we knew that it was time to load back up into the truck.  Afternoon naps were still required and Jimmy was letting us know that he was long overdue for one!

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One of the places that we wanted to be sure to visit before we headed back to Laingsburg was Hartwick Pines.  It is one of the largest state parks in the Lower Peninsula with almost 10,000 acres of trees and forest.  We made sure to wear our tennis shoes and to choose a day where the weather was clear and not too hot.  

We were shaded most of the time and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the mosquitos were not bad at all.

There were several fallen trees and we would stop periodically to read facts and statistics along the way.

James did great despite all of the walking that we did ...

Trying to see if she could wrap her arms around the entire girth of the tree.  Spoiler alert:  She could not.

It often took three kids' arm spans to go around some of the trees!

Every once in a while, we stopped for a rest and a water break.  Fallen logs made the perfect place for that.

One of my favorite pictures from the day:

Check out the size of that rock!

We also spent some time inside learning about the history of the state park and some of the animals that call the acreage their home.  Masks were required inside, of course.  Jimmy wasn't even the least bit intimidated by the wolf and asked me to take his picture in front of it.