Cadillac, Michigan: State Park, Dining, Brewery

June 2022, 2 nights, weekdays

Views from campsite 36 in William Mitchell State Park in Cadillac
Tent above is on campsite 40

William Mitchell State Park, Campsite 36

We have stayed in this campground many times before, and you can find more park details in my previous posts by typing the park name in the search box, or clicking on one of the labels at the bottom of this post. We made our reservation last minute, and initially booked campsite 11, as there were not many sites left. When we arrived, we asked about open sites, drove through the park, and then changed to campsite 36. We had a decent view of the lake our first evening, as there was only one campsite taken between us and the lake. 

Campsites 38 (tent on left) and 36 in William Mitchell State Park in Cadillac

Atlanta, Michigan: Clear Lake

 June 2022,  3-nights, weekdays, campsite 164

View of Clear Lake from the trail behind campsite 164 in state campground

Reservations and arrival

This was our first visit to this campground, and we had a difficult time deciding between the lower and upper campground. We ended up choosing a site in the upper campground, and would definitely choose that area again. The lower campground is closer to the water and beach; however, we decided that area would be busier and less private. There was not too much activity during our stay mid-week, although reviews I have read online do indicate that there is more activity in the lower campground on weekends.

Arrival and check-in was super easy. The only thing out of the ordinary was that we were given a paper about ATV rules, as there are many ORV trails near this campground.

Clear Lake State Park campsite 164
Below: view of campsite 166 through side window

Campsites

We thought our campsite, 164 in the upper campground, was one of the best in the park. It is secluded on all sides, and it was easy to walk down the short path to the water where we tied up our inflatable boat. Initially, we had thought the lower campground sites would be closer to the water for this; however, they are actually not significantly closer.

Clear Lake State Park campsite 164
Above: trail to lake from campsite

There is a trail next to campsite 164, and behind it; however, there are plants between the trails and the campsite, so it is still partially secluded from walkers.

Grayling, Michigan: Lake Margrethe State Forest Campground, Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Local Breweries

May 2022, 3 nights, weekdays-weekend

Picnic/beach area from road in Lake Margrethe State Forest Campground

Arrival at Lake Margrethe State Forest Campground, campsite 5

This campground is about 1½ miles off M-72 west of Grayling. The picnic and beach area is located across from the check-in spot before the campsites.

Campground map of Lake Margrethe State Forest Campground

The campground has three loops. If this is your first visit, I suggest stopping at the check-in board to view the map (photo above) to see how the park is laid out, because there are no sign posts with lot numbers or info at the drives in. The only signs at the campsite loop entrances and exits are one-way signs. This was our first visit, and fortunately, our instincts took us to the last loop in, and the first waterfront site was vacant.

Campsite 5 in Lake Margrethe State Forest Campground

Battle Creek, Augusta, and Galesburg, Michigan: Fort Custer Recreation Area, Biking, Breweries

May 2022, Weekend-weekdays, 4-nights

Campsite 23 in Fort Custer Recreation Area

Fort Custer Recreation Area, Campsite 23

We arrived at this campground from Waterloo State Recreation Area without having dumped our tank or filled with fresh water, since the sanitation station in that park is not near the campground we stayed in. Upon arrival at this park, we learned there had been a construction issue a few days before our arrival, and there was no water at the sanitation station. We were able to dump our tank with no rinsing, and then had to drive a mile back out to the ranger station to fill our water tank. It would have been nice, if the state had sent an email providing this info to incoming campers before arrival! I mean, they do send us many confirmation and reminder emails before arrival. 😳 In talking with the staff member at the check-in booth, we learned that the campground host would be delivering fresh water to campers that needed it later that evening. I was glad I had learned about this, and then observed the host delivering the water, because he did not stop at our site. He stopped to give a case of water to campers across the road from us, who already had water from the days before, and then prepared to exit on his cart. I walked up to talk with him, and then we received a case of water, as well. Nice that our state park provided this; sad that the campground host was not doing his job.

Campsite 23 in Fort Custer Recreation Area
Fire pit on the right in the bottom photo is on site 21

Most of the campsites in this campground are quite nice with shade and privacy trees. We made our reservation last minute, and site 23 is just an okay site, in my opinion. It is secluded on the two backsides, and open to the road and campsite 21. It is level, and the ground covering is mostly dirt. Fortunately, campsite 21 was not in use during our entire stay. Two different campers stayed for only one night each during our four-night stay.

 Whitford Lake picnic area in Fort Custer Recreation Area

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Brecksville, Ohio

May 2022, Weekend and weekday

This park is along the route we took to West Virginia with easy access from I-80. We had initially planned to stop on only one day; however, our plans changed due to construction at the falls. Our original plan was to visit Boston Mill Visitor Center and Brandywine Falls by car, and then hike Ledges Trail on the way to our nearby hotel. When we arrived, we learned the parking lot at Brandywine Falls was under construction, and that the only way to get to the falls was a 5-mile hike (roundtrip). We did not have enough time to hike both areas, so we hiked Ledges Trail the first day, and then stopped again on our return to hike to the falls.

Cuyahoga River behind Boston Mill Visitor Center

Boston Mill Visitor Center

The visitor center was open when we stopped on Sunday afternoon; however, it was not open when we stopped in the afternoon on a weekday. It was fully staffed on Sunday, and employees were very helpful. There is no charge to enter the visitor center, or to hike the trails.

Ledges Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Ledges Trail

It is quite easy to hike this entire trail, although many people walked to just the main viewing spots. It is a beautiful hike. The entire loop was less than 3 miles.

Ledges Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Overlook near picnic area below

Maumee, Ohio: Home2Suites by Hilton Maumee-Toledo

 May 2022, 2 queen beds guestroom 417

Diamond perks and check-in

I had reserved a king guestroom; however, there were no king guestrooms available on the top floor when I checked in, so I chose a queen guestroom instead. I spoke with someone at the hotel before arrival and when I arrived to make sure. The front desk agent handed me two bottles of water when I arrived.

Guestroom 417 in Home2Suites by Hilton Maumee, Ohio

Guestroom 417

We loved this guestroom. It was comfortable, clean, and well soundproofed. During our arrival check-in, the front desk agent had mentioned that sometimes this side of the building is loud with the UPS hub activity from the building behind the hotel. We did not think the noise from the facility was loud or bothersome at all. Possibly, the noise is louder on lower floors.

Guestroom 417 in Home2Suites by Hilton Maumee, Ohio

The guestroom was spacious, and contained all needed kitchen supplies. There was a divider curtain between the sleeping area and the seating area.

Bathroom in guestroom 417 in Home2Suites by Hilton Maumee, Ohio

The bathroom shower was nice, and the towels were good quality.

Breakfast buffet in Home2Suites by Hilton Maumee, Ohio

Cumberland Maryland: Fairfield Inn & Suites, Area Trails, Dining, Brewery

May 2022, weekdays, 2 nights, Fairfield Inn extended king guestroom 419

It has been a few weeks since my stay at this hotel, so I am sharing only minimal info that I recall clearly. If I had been traveling alone, I would have chosen the new Hampton Inn at the next exit north of town. I chose this hotel because it is in a good location with businesses nearby that my husband would enjoy.  

Back of Fairfield Inn & Suites in Cumberland, Maryland from bicycle path

Arrival and check-in

We had not eaten before we arrived at the hotel in the late afternoon. Since it was before check-in time, I went inside to ask the front desk clerk for nearby dining recommendations within walking distance. She provided a printed sheet and verbal recommendations. See the dining section at the bottom of this post for more information about that. I had not received a notification via the app before we returned to the hotel, even though it was almost check-in time. The agent assigned our room when I asked if we could check-in.

Guestroom 419 in Fairfield Inn & Suites in Cumberland, Maryland 

Fairfield Inn standard and extended king guestrooms

We were initially assigned a standard king guestroom on the top floor. I believe it was guestroom 400. This basic room was extremely small, and I wish I had taken a photo before I returned to the front desk. The one small cushioned chair in the room was so tight in the corner, it was up against the bed and wall. It did not look like there was room to walk behind the [second] desk chair if I had been sitting at the desk. Again, if I had been by myself, I would have just let it go. However, since there were two of us staying two nights, I returned to the front desk to ask about a larger room. The agent reassigned us guestroom 419, which met our needs much better.

Guestroom 419 in Fairfield Inn & Suites in Cumberland, Maryland 

Guestroom 419 was similar to most Fairfield Inn rooms I have stayed in before. The bathroom was near the entrance. The beverage center was located in the entry between the bathroom and sitting area. The sitting area was next, and the bed was at the end of the room near the window. The complimentary enhanced internet (for elite members) did not work worth a crap, and would barely load anything the second evening when the hotel was more full. I probably would have requested a refund, if I had paid for this.