We arrived at Indiana Dunes National Park, dropped off the truck and camper, and made our way down to the beach at Lake Michigan via a campground trail—by foot for us and by bike for the boys.
It was easy to forget that this huge body of water surrounded by tall sand dunes is actually fresh water.
It felt a lot like being at the ocean beaches in Massachusetts and Connecticut—aside from the slight differences noted above!
All in all, it was a fun afternoon spent swimming in Lake Michigan.
The next morning we visited Mt. Baldy a sand dune that stands 126 feet above the water level of Lake Michigan. Mt. Baldy is considered a “living” sand dune because the wind causes the beach sand on the dune to move inland anywhere from 5-8 feet each year burying everything in its path, including trees. At the same time, beach erosion takes away more sand than the waves are bringing in, gradually wearing down the dune.
Next stop: Chicago, Illinois. Some of us are really excited for another city visit, while others would rather stay out in nature and avoid the city altogether!