Hot, Hot, Hot!

After what most would call a disappointingly chilly month, we finally passed the 80 degree mark on this, the last day of May!  It's a perfect day to hit one of our awesome area beaches! 

Here are a few places to chill on a hot day:

Range Light Park

Located just south of the Presque Isle Harbor Association beach and the Marina, this sandy beach has plenty of neat stones and shells to pick, picnic benches, views of the Old Lighthouse, and viewing of boats entering and leaving the harbor.  Association members can enjoy use of the private beach located just to the north of Range Light Park. Stop in to the Portage Restaurant's ice cream and pizza parlor or the Portage Store & Deli for affordable (and generously scooped!) ice cream afterward.

Grand Lake Beach House

A main attraction among the amenities offered to PIHA members, the Grand Lake Beach House has a large, sandy beach, boat launch, water slide, diving platform, paddleboats, aquacycles, and canoes along with life jackets, inner tubes, and other flotation devices, power boats available for rental, play equipment,  sand volleyball court, barbeques, and more.  A pavilion with restrooms and lockers and a large group of shaded picnic tables perfect for get-togethers is also on site.

Thompson's Harbor State Park

A short walk through the woods takes you to this seemingly endless sugar sand beach complete with several sand dunes in the background.  This beach is described by many as the one of the finest Lake Huron has to offer.   The cool sand in the shade of the dunes feels great on a hot day!  To get here, take one of the three trails on the right side of Old State Rd (coming from Co Rd 638) starting about 1/3 of the way down the road.


Besser Natural Area

 This beach, surrounded by the tall virgin pines of Besser Natural Area, is a great place to escape on a day like today.  Many stay into the evening, as evidenced by several fire pits left by beach-goers roasting marshmallows or strumming the guitar on a warm night.  While you're here, check out the mile long trail which takes you through the abandoned Bell settlement, see a sunken ship in the lagoon, or visit the beautifully restored Bell Cemetery.   To get here, take US-23 N to Grand Lake Rd, follow to the right at the township hall, and take the next right on Besser Bell Rd.