Northeast Lower Michigan: Rifle River Recreation Area

September 2019, Weekend, 2-nights, Primitive campsite #152

Additional photos and information about the recreation area can be found in my Facebook album.

Sign along the road after check-in

Advance reservations and arrival

Rifle River Recreation is 4,449 acres located within the AuSable State Forest. The recreation area includes seven lakes, three ponds, seven miles of trout streams, and four separate campgrounds. Since this was our first visit, choosing a campsite was not an easy task! Grousehaven is the only section with electricity, and this is the campground we initially considered. We have a 35' fifth wheel, which is quite tall, sometimes making it difficult to camp in primitive campgrounds with narrower roads and low branches. After a bit more research, I decided we would not have any trouble getting to any of the campgrounds. We reserved site 152, which is a primitive site in Ranch campground, and hoped for the best. When we arrived to check-in, the representative said we had a fabulous site. It is about three miles to Ranch campground from the entrance on a winding dirt road, so it takes a bit of time to get there pulling a trailer.

Ranch campsite 152.

Ranch campsite 152

This site is spacious and grassy; we loved it! I actually thought all of the campsites in Ranch campground were great. The sites that are not on the river were also grassy and somewhat private.

Ranch campsite 152.
Chairs in the distance are on campsite 153.

Benzie County, Michigan: Betsie River Campground, Betsie Valley Trailway, Betsie River, dining, and more

September 2019, Weekend, 2-nights, Campsite 57

Water conditions in Frankfort the weekend of our stay.

Bestie River Campground reservations and check-in

We had hoped to take our boat to Frankfort and stay at Harbor Lights Resort Marina (details in one of my previous Frankfort posts); however, the boating forecast was not good, so we decided to camp instead. Just a couple of days before the weekend, we called, and were able to reserve the last available pull-through campsite at this park to accommodate our 5th wheel. The owner said that the sites along the perimeter against the woods are not large enough for us. I thought the cost was a tad steep; $37 a night for 30 amp with water hookup, and $35 for 20 amp with water. Friends of ours stayed here a couple of years ago, and told us the breaker kept blowing on their 30 amp site. We did not have that problem, although the campground website says the following for 20 amp sites: If ya try to run a toaster, hair dryer, coffee pot and microwave all at the same time while eating pop tarts and watching satelite TV...well ur gonna watch us flip breaker switches. If you can camp without all of the bells and whistles goin' at the same time you will be fine.

We paid one night's deposit when making the reservation, and the balance at check-in. We were allowed to check-in early, as there was no one on our campsite from the night before.

Campsite 57 at Betsie River Campground.

Betsie River Campground site 57

The pull through sites in this campground are set up to face each other (with alternating connection locations), and the fire rings can be placed wherever you want. There were at least six fire burn spots on our site. The alternating hookups are great, if you are camping with others; however, we had hoped for more privacy, since we were camping alone for the first time in several weeks.

Another view of campsite 57 at Betsie River Campground.

Paris, Michigan (Mecosta County): Paris Park & Kayaking Muskegon River

September 2019, Weekday-weekend, 3-nights, Campsite 62 

Paris Park campsites 58, 60, 62, and 63

We camped on site 62, and friends camped on site 58. We initially wanted sites 60 and 62; however, 60 had been reserved by the time we finalized our plans to visit. If you want two sites together, sites 60 and 62 are two of the best campsites in this park. If you are camping alone, and want privacy, be aware that these campsites are very open to each other. We parked our truck next to the line to create a bit of privacy between 60 and 62.

Click on photo to enlarge it

On the reservation site, campsites 58 and 62 both say they accommodate a, "Large RV or 5th Wheel;" however, it was tricky getting into both of these sites. Additionally, I was verbally told that site 63 would accommodate a 5th wheel (even though the online information says it is a tent site), and neither of us would have gotten on that site because of the trees and incline.

Campsite 58 is tricky, because there are many trees on this site. Our friends barely fit on the site with a 28' 5th wheel with one slide out. We actually had to remove one of the posts until they had parked. We were obviously not the first ones to do this because the post was loose when we checked it.

Chanhassen, Minnesota: Holiday Inn Express and Suites

August 2019, Weekday, 1-night, King guestroom 305

Platinum perks and check-in

Check-in time at this hotel is 3:00 PM, and I arrived just after 2:30 PM. After the agent asked if I was checking in, and I said yes, she pointed to the check-in sign on the wall and said check-in is not guaranteed before 3:00 PM. This was before she even requested my name or checked to see if my room was ready (it was). I was a bit put-off by the way she said this, and the remaining check-in process was not any better. 

As she requested my ID and such, a man entered the hotel and stepped up to the counter near where I was standing. He spoke with the agent a moment, and then waited while she finished my check-in. During the process, she placed the check-in paper (with all my personal information, including complete name and address), then my driver's license, credit card, and room key packet with number, all on the counter face up with the information highly visible to anyone standing at the counter. In fact, she placed the items so indirectly in front of me, that when she had set the paper on the counter, the man standing there asked if it was for him. Unbelievable! (referring to the agent; not the guest)

I did not receive a room upgrade, although I did receive a room on the top floor.

King guestroom 305 Holiday Inn Express Chanhassen, MN

King guestroom 305  

Overall, this was a nice guestroom. I was happy with the location and sleep quality. The mattress was comfortable, and the sheets were good quality. I liked the suitcase bench, and Keurig coffeemaker. there was also a small fridge and microwave in the guestroom.

Fife Lake, Michigan: Spring Lake State Forest Campground

July 2019, Weekday, 1-night, Campsite 16

We had previously seen the state forest campground signs for this park on our way north, and wanted to check it out to see if it had enough room for our 35' fifth wheel. We were traveling north with our boat this trip, and decided it was good time to see the park.

Overhead view of Spring Lake State Forest campground
Click on photo to enlarge it

Arrival and site availability

The entrance into the campground is pretty much straight in from 131. The road is not very wide, and someone in a truck who was leaving the park, pulled off the road, as we could not have passed each other while pulling our boat. The boat launch drive veers off to the right just before the campground loop. 

We arrived on a Wednesday shortly before 5 PM. There were several sites available; however, the lake overlook sites were taken. We chose campsite 16, which is about the largest campsite, so we would not have to unhook our boat. 

Campsite 16 at Spring Lake State Forest campground

Austin, Texas: Courtyard by Marriott Austin Airport

July 2019, Weekdays, 2-nights, King guestroom #402

Check-in and Platinum perks

I checked in online before I arrived, and I received a notification via the app telling me when my room was ready. As a Platinum guest, I received a breakfast coupon for breakfast both mornings. I had requested late checkout, as I had an evening flight the day of departure. The agent did not confirm this at check-in, although a different staff member did accommodate this request when I inquired the following day.

Guestroom diagram from back of door

Guestroom 402

This guestroom is at the end of the hall on the 4th floor of this 5-floor hotel. I did not hear any overhead noise, although I did hear a lot of noise from hallway activity the first evening. The doors in this hotel are quite heavy, and the late night guests were not as thoughtful as the early morning guests about letting the doors close quietly. The windows are well soundproofed, and I was not bothered by any airport noise.

Guestroom 402 view from in front of closet

The bed was comfortable, and the desk work area was sufficient. A panel under the desk slid out for more room. There were electric outlets at the desk, and next to the bed.

Desk/entertainment area (refreshment center on right) for guestroom 402

The guestroom contained a coffeemaker with supplies, ice bucket, glass glasses, a small fridge, and a microwave. There was a charge for the bottled water visible in the photos.

Bolingbrook, Illinois: Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Bolingbrook

June 2019, Weeknight (Wednesday), 1-night, King studio #414

Platinum perks and check-in

I arrived before check-in time (around 2PM), and then waited in the lobby for about an hour for my room. This was not a problem, since I was able to work on my laptop, although it was surprising. Usually, after I have checked in on the Marriott app, I get a text early in the morning telling me my room is ready way before check-in time. Other than the standard Platinum bonus points, I did not receive any extra perks for my status. I received two candy bars, after I spun the wheel behind the check-in counter, and that is the space it landed on. All guests get to spin the wheel when checking in.

King suite 414 at Residence Inn Bolingbrook Chicago

Guestroom 414

I loved this guestroom. It was clean, comfortable, and spacious. The photos on the hotel website are a good representation of the actual guestroom.

King suite 414 at Residence Inn Bolingbrook Chicago

The desk area was large, and the view out the window faced northwest. The kitchen contained everything needed.