Feeding the fish in the show pond is always fun. The museum is very nice with excellent educational…read morefeatures. Get free fish food and milkweed seeds here. Lots opportunities to volunteer and participate in fishing events. Trails open year round.

We went here hoping to spot some baby merganser ducks that a friend of mine had posted a photo of…read moretoday, but we didn't spot them. We did enjoy viewing lots of fish and also spotting some beautiful wild flowers. It sounds like they have lots of cool programming for kids from fish feeding to fishing programs. There are informational signs throughout the area instructing visitors about the various fish and plants. Was pleasantly surprised by how well maintained the porta-potty was.

The dock is in for the year and the fishing enthusiasts have been taking full advantage --…read moreespecially today as it hit 60 degrees and sunny and was such a welcome break amidst the lackluster weather and social isolation we've been enduring lately. Keep in mind, the lot fills up quickly I'm the summer and you can't park your truck and trailer on the road so be sure to arrive early. I wonder if they're issuing fishing permits during the shutdown. Also ... I've heard the Secretary of State is closed so I hope they won't be ticketing boat drivers who can't renew their tags. I'll have to investigate.

I loved this lake growing up, so many amazing memories of my childhood here. Whether picnics,…read morebirthdays or family reunions. Great beach and lots of shade, perfect for young families.

More than 2,000 acres, one of the largest inland deep clear spring fed lake in west Michigan. In…read moreearly summer lake is very transparent Caribbean blue color. It is in Kalamazoo county!!. Love to go boating, sailing, 2 mile long from south to north end. OK, for swimming and we see sometime scuba divers!! You can see around the Island Park lake floor with google map satellite view!!!! Not only they have yacht club, country club but also ice sailing yacht club!! Since 1897!! http://www.gulllakeiyc.org/ This video is surreal, cool to believe some one ice sail in Kalamazoo County!? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYbLGYvqP8E

Beautiful day for a walk with nature at Asylum Park. Even had a few deer friends with us.read more

Great park for walking on trails. Some are paved, some are grass, and some are dirt. We saw many…read moredeer in our walk! There are serval lakes along the paths too. We weren't brave enough to try the wild berries but there are plenty if you're up for it.

I was invited to have dinner at the Oak Cove Resort and was thrilled to attend. Having lived in…read morethe Paw Paw/Lawton area for 30 years, I have driven by their sign, saw their ads, but literally had no clue what to expect. From the moment we pulled in and drove down the long drive towards the resort, I knew I was in for special evening. It felt like I had awaken in a different age and time. The lodge is over 100 years but beautifully maintained. Eating on the front enclosed porch was a delight and so peaceful to look at beautiful Lake Cora. My mind kept wandering to what this area was like back in the 1920s when there were 2 resorts on Lake Cora and a train that brought people from the Chicago area. What a magical time that must have been. Bob and Susan are delightful hosts. They love Oak Cove and it shows in all the lovingly details throughout. Antiques are plentiful in every room, old photos and newspaper clippings that have been framed are hung on the walls. It's like walking into a time capsule. Touring the Lodge I kept saying this is so cool, I love this, how adorable. Every room is unique and special. Dinner at Oak Cove Resort is amazing. Everything is prepared and cooked in their kitchen and a lot of the items are from scratch. We started the evening off with a salad from the most unique salad bar ever - an old antique bed, covered with a beautiful quilt, and topped with a glass panel that holds all the delicious salad fixings. The lettuce was very fresh, a huge amount of toppings to chose from, and lots of different dressings. Monday night is Roast Beef night and Bob serves up the tenderest roast beef that I have had. The slice was just perfect for me. Mashed potatoes with homemade gravy (no words can describe how delicious this is), and helping of peas, and dinner roll. You can also add a dollop or two of horseradish sauce. If that wasn't enough, dessert was a chocolate brownie with ice cream. I literally thought I was in heaven. On top of that the coffee was just how I like it. We then walked around the resort. The Funhouse, filled with old arcade machines, books, puzzles, card table, TV, and bar, would definitely be fun place to hang out. The in-ground pool was very clean and is a big. The beach area had Adirondack chairs set up to sit and relax. Individual cabins are scattered through the grounds, along with a huge area for kids to run and play. What a memorable evening. My next to-do is to book an evening or two at the Oak Cove and transport myself to another time where life seemed slower and simpler.

Oak Cove is a great place to visit. It is so peaceful to sit outside your cottage or alongside the…read morebeach part and play in the lake. My three little ones loved being in the lake and swimming pool. The meals are great! Bob and Susan and their staff are amazing. Overall it just a beautiful place for relaxing and taking in the be beauty of nature.

My family stayed in the cabin while my husband and I stayed in our trailer at a site. Michelle, the…read moremanager, was very polite and helpful with all communication. The cabin is perfect for the price, the beach was clean and safe for my grandchildren. We even saw five swans on the lake. The rec room and bathrooms were clean. That being said, our campsite was quite a different story. We were squished between two campers, with drinking and partying going on until two a.m. If you go for the reasonably priced cottage, it is quiet and all the surrounding campers are nice. The tent sites looked quiet, although wet, as well. Steer clear of the trailer site, it is cramped and noisy.

Looking to escape the noise and bustle of State Park campgrounds? If you don't mind a minimum of…read moreservice to go with your solitude, you'll fit in here. I arrived by bike - if you go here, that statement will impress the hell outta you - along the mostly unimproved roads (though the one right outside the park is paved) and camped by tent. There was firewood for sale, and drinks & ice, and ice cream treats, but no real food (Stop at the Little Store up in nearby Fennville before hand: it's great!) The owners are friendly - even delivered firewood - and I had a decent tent spot. The facilities were very nice: clean bathrooms, and very nice showers! The lake was nice, and I enjoyed my stay, but getting there and back again was something.

A very vey clean lovely spot! We didn't have the best weather but the lake was so warm it made it…read moreso much better! I wish the owner would have been more responsive. But overall a good rate and stay!

Our family loves coming to Forest Lake! We have two young kids and two dogs, making…read moretraveling/lodging tough. We can bring the whole gang here, hassle free, and enjoy our own little piece of paradise. The lake is great to swim and play in with the kids, and the property offers wooded trails to explore. We'll keep coming back!

I feel like this is the perfect beach for a small town…read more It was not overly busy on a Sunday around 11am, but it was overcast and only about 70 degrees. The water was still freezing so we only put our feet in. I loved the fountain and the carousel. There are lots of benches and observation points. Plus, parking was quick and easy. There was also surprisingly clean public restrooms as well.

This is my childhood beach location. There's so much that has changed here over the years, but all…read morenecessary upgrades. There's a handicap accessible playground and more seating to eat at the little beach food shop. Walking the pier allows you to see a great view of the shoreline, but be careful on windy and wavy days as the water comes up over the pier . In the peak summer months, I would recommend parking up on top of the bluff and walking down the steps right by Silver Beach Pizza, so you can save yourself from the cluster of cars trying to get down to beach parking. Also, St. Joe city is changing parking and routing near Silver Beach so be aware of traffic shifts. All in all, a great beach for families, but 4/5 stars because some other beaches are less touristy, which locals like myself much prefer.

Lakeside Cabins Resort is a wonderful place for all ages. We recently stayed in Cabin A-10 and we…read morewere pleased with the cleanliness & comfort the cabin provided. We spent many hours outside on the screened in deck. A personal fire pit was available for our use. The swimming pools & lake provided a respite from the heat. The management schedules games & activities, and there are shuffle board & pickleball courts for pickup games. The bright stars lit up the night sky. I felt a nostalgic feel of camp days I experienced as a child. Book next summer's getaway weekend at Lakeside Cabins Resort today!!

It is hard to find a place to go to getaway from home in the middle of a pandemic. After a few…read morehours of searching, my friend and I decided to spend 3 nights and 4 days at Lakeside Cabins Resort. The cabins have a full kitchen and the location is only 1.5 hours from my condo in Chicago. The prices were more affordable than Airbnb and Vrbo mostly due to lower cleaning fees. The grounds also have nice amenities (pool, kayak/ stand up paddle boards, volleyball, catch and release fishing, basketball, shuffleboard, firepits, etc.) We picked Cabin C62 because of its patio/deck space and lake views. The cabin is somewhat dated, but it was very clean. You do have to bring towels, linens, shampoo/conditioner/dish soap, paper products, etc. which makes for more packing/ planning but we expected this so it wasn't an issue. The sleeping lofts can be used by children or adults. I had no problem going up and down the stairs both during the day and in the evening/night. The only "problem" that we ran into was that our DVD player was not working when we tried to watch a movie the first night. We reported this to the front desk and they purchased a new DVD player and delivered it to us in a timely manner so we were satisfied. The staff was very friendly. We were able to find more than enough to do and were also able to relax. The property is very kid friendly and not loud at night or early in the morning which is exactly what we were looking for. After my rental experience, I am considering purchasing and building a new "tiny house" on the property. I've always wanted a second home, and this is a very affordable way to be able to do so nice and close to home! I plan to visit again next month with my husband for another short getaway. A+++++ experience!

The unique and fragile ecosystem located in this park is even more amazing when you consider it's…read moreat the heart of the city of Portage. Some of the first stops along the sanctuary's trail are viewing platforms overlooking a marshy area, which, though enjoyable, still require you to press on to reach the five-star attraction -- a wetland bog featuring carnivorous pitcher plants, sphagnum moss, and tamarack trees. You will have to walk awhile on paths through the woods before you reach the actual bog, which must be traversed on a floating boardwalk. Choose to wear shoes that will keep your feet dry. (At certain times of the year the boardwalk may even be flooded and inaccessible.) Mosquito spray and drinking water are also must-haves. Autumn is a particularly beautiful time to visit; the colors are spectacular. The trek ends with a glorious view of West Lake. You can sit on benches on the viewing platform before the trip back to the parking lot. Your wetland adventure will take 45 minutes or more depending on your pace and frequency of stops. Also, beware of poison sumac growing along the trail through the bog; the risk of getting a rash is a great deterrent to picking any pretty plants along the way.

Yet another Portage Park that has elevated walkways over the bogs. Be aware both that when you walk…read moreover these rubber walkways, water will squirt up through the holes so you're likely to get damp (not a huge deal on a hot summer day, but pretty intense when you're going on a run in the late fall or early spring). Also, despite being a fairly neutral looking gray, these elevated walkways get incredibly hot. I noticed my chihuahua was lifting his paws so I reached down and touch the surface and it was scalding, so we carried the dogs for those stretches of the paths. We saw lots of butterflies, birds and a gorgeous turtle on our recent visit. Our cousin had a hard time finding the geocaches that were supposed to be on our route, though. There's a beautiful West Lake view at the end of one of the elevated platforms and lots of yummy wild blackberries to forage if you happen to be at the park in early July. We're always on the hunt for great spots to take our dogs for a nice afternoon hike, and this will be becoming one of our go-to spots.