Southern Michigan Ideas? Holland? St Joseph? South Haven?

[jabres]

Made a trip up the Ludington Michigan area a few years ago, and stayed at Ponchos Pond campground. Absolutely awesome campground, state of the art place, and excellent for kids! Ludington was great too.
This summer we want to head back to Michigan, but since its closer for us, and traveling with a newborn this time around, was hoping to stay in Southern Michigan, since its only about a 4 hour drive for us. Any campgrounds in the Southern Michigan area such as Holland or St Josephs area that are as nice and kid friendly with all the pools just as Ponchos Pond? Also, is there much to do for children in the Holland, South Haven, or St Josephs area? Or southern Michigan?
Thanks in advance!!!

[dodge_guy]

I haven't been there, but did some research on southern MI. I always came across Waffle Farm Campground.

Seems like a nice place.

[jabres]

Travelnutz- Thanks for the detailed response and info! My trailer is a 27' bumper pull, and my children are a newborn, and 4 year old. My brothers children are 5 years old.
The Grand Haven area seems very nice! Any of the private campgrounds you suggest in the area? I say private, because we really enjoy the swimming pools/activities that private campgrounds usually have. Thanks!

[travelnutz]

jabres,

We have lived in the Grand Haven area for over 75 years and all the towns you had mentioned are lot alike with being beachtowns and so much to do fo all ages. All are very kid friendly and safe for all ages with St Joseph being the lowest on totempole for safety because of an "iffy" town on the northside of the river.

For example: The Grand Haven area alone has 12 campgrounds with around 1700 campsites total and they range from state parks/campgrounds (roughly 200 feet from your RV's door across the suberb sand beach to and under the Lake Michigan water and it has a very nice new fine playground too) to very luxurius campgrounds. About 1/4 mile from the state Park CG by way of the boardwalk along the river or drive on the road above with lots of free parking that goes to downtown (.7 miles) thru park after park with flush restrooms along the way and has about 70 nice couchlike benches, is the huge fancy free kids "Imaginination Station" kids play area of roughly 20,000 sq ft size in Mulligan's Hollow. It's where the YMCA and the Snow Ski Bowl is also and has lots of picnic tables as it's in the sand dunes on 3 sides and the river on the 4th side. On the boardwalk is also the nice free kids public splashpad with water jets that is very popular. So many other things to do and you don't even need to take your wallet along either.

The other 3 towns you'd mentioned also have various CG's and lots of amenities also and are family friendly too.

We know Ludington and Poncho's Pond well as we own acreage and also own 5 campsites in a member only park since 1987 a few miles inland from Ludington south of US-10. RVing, camping, boating, fishing and beaches plus forests and hiking is a way of life in West Michigan and we have over 75 years now of enjoying it as that is where we live.

However, be advised that all the CG's along Lake Michigan are very full all summer long and you must have reservations.

You will have to match the CG and area desired for your wants and/or needs as no mention of your RV or your kids ages or other things you want to do also and just too hard to guess at.

[jabres]

Thanks for the responses! Like is there things to do in each of these towns? We loved the small beach town like feel that Ludington offered, and was hoping either St Josephs, Holland, or South Haven was similar?

[camperforlife]

In Holland if you want near the lake you are limited to the state park which has two areas, one is a few blocks from the lake and one that is a sandy paved lot at the beach. There is also a private CG called Oak Grove but the sites are tight. It is a nice clean park but even in what they call the big rig section I've needed assistance of my neighbors moving vehicles to get my 35 footer parked and I'm an excellent backer.

[dalenoel]

Hidden Ridge will have some of the same things you found at Ponchos Pond.

However, Ponchos Pond is more of a one of a kind type resort.

Good luck and have fun.

[doxiemom11]

Use rvparkreviews.com and look at the campgrounds, amenities and reviews for those cities. You probably will not be able to get into any of the state parks as they book up within minutes of when they open the reservation systems. You should be able some private campgrounds with stuff for kids.

[Dick_B]

Since answers are not rolling in you might want to do Google searches for `______ tourism' and put the Michigan town in the blank space. The problem with responses may be with having to entertain the children.