Exploring Michigan | Straits State Park

For our annual friends camping trip, we headed to Straits State Park in St. Ignace for a weekend adventure. This park books out fast, so if you are planning a trip here be sure to book ahead of time. With panoramic views of the Mackinac Bridge, access to Great Lakes shorelines, and proximity to one of Michigan’s most iconic destinations—Mackinac Island—it’s the perfect base for both relaxation and adventure.

Day 1

Since we live in the western UP and our friends live in the southern Lower Peninsula, most of our Friday was spent traveling, setting up camp, and exploring the park. The campsites were tight-nit in the Upper portion of the park. After setting up camp and enjoying burgers grilled over the fire, we set out to explore! First spot: the upper campsite playground. Both upper and lower sections had their own playgrounds with a unique set of equipment, which our kids loved playing at. After playing at the upper playground, we headed down the 1-mile hiking trail. Shortly on the trail, you come across an overlook with a stunning view of the bridge. After finishing the trail, you come into the lower part of the campground where we of course stopped at the lower playground. The little log cabin at the playground was our favorite feature. Then we headed to the beach where other visitors were enjoying the relaxing lapping waves and the sunset. The campground was peaceful, clean, and well maintained, with modern bathrooms

Day 2

The kids and I headed out of camp bright and early to see the camp hosts, who had coffee and donut bites waiting! We enjoyed the walk first thing in the morning, taking the paved road, and gave our friends a little bit longer of a quiet morning. Our usual party couldn’t sleep in today, however, because we had to catch the first ferry ride to Mackinac Island. We caught the ferry from downtown and spent the day exploring car-free streets, historic sites, the butterfly house, and breathtaking scenery. (You can read all about our Mackinac Island adventure here.)

Day 3

We packed up first thing in the morning and headed to the nearby Lake Michigan Beach. We drive by this spot on all of our trips down state. Needless to say, I was VERY excited to finally stop and enjoy a swim. Since it was first thing in the morning, we had the whole beach to ourselves. Afterwards, we swung into Germfask to visit Benny the Beard Fisher. This sculpture by Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist, is made with recycled wood.

St. Ignace

While we didn’t explore St. Ignace this trip, it is a charming lakeside town full of history and local flavor. The kids loved checking out the historic markers, watching ferries cruise in and out of the harbor, and grabbing a treat at one of the local ice cream shops. (You can read all about a separate trip we made to St. Ignace here.)

We didn’t get a chance to witness the northern lights, but we did enjoy our campfires under the starts, skipping rocks on the Lake Huron shore, and watching the Mackinac Bridge light up the night sky. It was a wonderful weekend adventure with easy access to one of Michigan’s most iconic tourist destinations. What a perfect spot for families looking to blend outdoor fun with cultural experiences!