Shawnee National Forest: Pounds Hollow Recreation Area, Cave-In-Rock, Garden of the Gods, and more

April 2024, 5 nights

We visited Shawnee National Forest in 2022 and loved it. We were passing through on that trip, and did not have much time to explore, so we returned with our camper this trip. You can find more information via the 2022 link above, and there are more photos of the area in the Shawnee Forest Facebook album.

Above: View from the road around the campground looking up toward the first loop
Below: Campground registration board

Pine Ridge Campground in Pounds Hollow Recreation Area

According to the website this campground has 35 sites, which are all first come, first serve. There are actually four loops in the campground with sites numbered as high as 76. The very first loop on the right was closed in April; however, the other three loops were open. This campground has fresh water at the entrance and a couple of pit toilets in two of the loops. There is no dump station, no flush toilets (except in the picnic and beach area), and no showers. The cost is $10 per night/$5 senior rate.

Campsite 43 in Pounds Hollow Recreation Area - Pine Ridge Campground

The first loop on the left has sites with electricity. We arrived on a Tuesday, and there were only three campers in this loop. Site 41 (or first choice) was taken, so we chose site 43.  Site 43 is the most secluded site in this section with trees on all sides. The campsite is mostly flat; we had to use one leveling block under each tire on the driver's side.

Above: looking at campsite 43 from site 42 in Pine Ridge Campground
Below: campsite 37 in Pounds Hollow Recreation Area/Pine Ridge Campground

We liked most of the campsites in this campground, and I am sharing a few more photos here. The two end campsites in the primitive loop (no power) straight ahead when entering the campground area are great sites. Unfortunately, I did not get any photos of those.

Above: campsite 40
Below: campsite 41

There was quite a bit of pollen, many tent worms, and many bees during our stay in April. We did not have any mosquitoes, and the flies were not too bad. It was quiet during most of our stay. The only somewhat noisy day was our last night, which was Saturday. Overall, we loved this campground and would definitely stay here again.

Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest Illinois

Recreation 

We visited Garden of the Gods again, and enjoyed it just as much as we had the first time. 

Indian Point Trail at Garden of the Gods in Illinois

Montrose, Illinois: Montrose Village Campground

April 2024, weekday, one night

Sunrise from inside our camper on site 4 in Montrose Village Campground

We had originally planned to just sleep in a Walmart parking lot or someplace similar for this one night. I learned about this self-service campground, with a minimal overnight rate, shortly before our trip, and we decided to stay here instead. The information I had read online from previous campers, said that it is $5 for a primitive site, and $15 for electricity. I could not find any actual information or a website for the campground.

Registration and firewood at Montrose Village Campground

Arrival and registration

There was a self-registration box, as others mentioned. This is on the front of the building with flush toilet restrooms. We paid $15 for a power site, and set up on site #4. I deposited a check, which was processed from our account about 10 days later. There is also a donation box for [almost free] firewood.

Our trailer is on site 4 in Montrose Village Campground

Petoskey, Michigan: Stafford's Perry Hotel, downtown, shopping, winery, brewery

March 2024, weekday, one night

We had a wonderful stay in Stafford's Perry Hotel in 2021, so we decided to book the spring getaway package for this stay. The weeknight Classic King room rate of $159 included: a $25 breakfast voucher, $40 in Noggin Bucks, and $50 in downtown shopping dollars. We thought this was a fabulous rate!

Views from guestroom 426 in Stafford's Perry Hotel

Stafford's Perry Hotel classic king guestroom #426

This guestroom is located on the top floor in the northwest corner of the hotel. We had a partial view of downtown and of the bay. Although it was not as spacious as the bay view guestroom we had in 2021, and it did not have a balcony, this was still a great room. It was clean, and we appreciated the views. 

Guestroom 426 in Stafford's Perry Hotel in Petoskey, Michigan

The comfortable bed was topped with good quality sheets and pillows. The room was well soundproofed, and the sleep quality was excellent.

Guestroom diagram on back of door in guestroom 426 in Stafford's Perry Hotel
Below: entrance to library across the hall from guestroom 426

Niles, Michigan: Holiday Inn Express

February 2024, weekday, one night

Platinum perks and arrival

I reserved a 2 queen bed suite at this location because the price was reasonable, and we wanted a room with a sitting area (there were no king suites available). We had an excellent arrival experience and received an upgrade to a family suite. Before the front desk agent gave us the upgrade, she asked if a room on the second floor was okay, since my profile request is for the top floor. 

Suite 213 in Holiday Inn Express in Niles, Michigan

Queen family suite #213

This guestroom is huge! We loved the sitting area, and the separate bedroom. The guestroom diagram, which shows that this guestroom has a connecting door is incorrect. This room does not have a connecting room door.

Suite 213 in Holiday Inn Express in Niles, Michigan

Plainfield, Indiana: Staybridge Suites

February 2024, weekdays, 2 nights

View from guestroom 418 in Staybridge Suites Plainfield, Indiana

Platinum perks and check in

I reserved a king studio, and received a nice upgrade to a one bedroom suite before arrival. Check-in was efficient, and I received my bonus points within a few hours of check-in.

Guestroom 418 in Staybridge Suites Plainfield, Indiana

King one bedroom suite 418

This guestroom is located on the top floor. The sunset both nights of our stay was amazing. The couple of photos I am sharing do not fully capture the beauty we witnessed.

Guestroom 418 in Staybridge Suites Plainfield, Indiana

Holland, Michigan: Marriott Courtyard, hiking, downtown

February 2024, weekday, one-night

View from guestroom 509 in Holland Marriott Courtyard
Above: sunset           Below: sunrise

Double queen guestroom 509 in Marriott Courtyard

Using points, I reserved a two queen bed guestroom with a balcony. We did not need two beds; however, a king bed guestroom with a balcony was not available. I was glad that we were able to reserve a balcony guestroom using points.

Guestroom 509 in Holland Marriott Courtyard

This guestroom is on the top floor, and overlooks downtown. It was clean, comfortable, quiet, and spacious. Refreshment amenities in the guestroom included a Keurig coffeemaker with supplies, ice bucket, and small fridge.

Guestroom 509 in Holland Marriott Courtyard

Ports of Call from Carnival Venezia: Princess Cay, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, San Juan, Miami, Nassau, Freeport

January and February 2024

Princess Cays on Carnival Venezia January 2024

Princess Cays, Bahamas: January 8AM - 4PM

Princess Cays is a tender port, and we received a printed paper with tender instructions the night before. The paper actually contained information about priority tender boarding for passengers with excursions. I presume they just used the same notice for platinum and diamond guests, too. After breakfast, we walked to the showroom boarding area, where boarding was already in process. We arrived on the island before 9AM.

Princess Cays January 2024

We walked to the right after getting off the tender boat, as we had heard this area is less crowded than the main side. It was definitely less crowded. In fact, we decided not to have lunch on the island after we saw how crowded and busy the main area was later in the day. The lines for lunch looked like utter chaos. Some in our group stayed; however, my husband and I returned to the ship.

Princess Cays January 2024 from the less visited side of the island

This was our first visit to Princess Cays. The water is beautiful; however, the island and beach area is much smaller than Half Moon Cay. If you just want to enjoy the beach and water, there are plenty of lounge chairs available on both sides of the port dock.

View from our pool chairs at Margaritaville in Grand Turk

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos: 11AM - 6PM

We have been to Grand Turk several times, and you can find more information about this port by clicking on the label at the bottom of the post. We have previously done beach days at this port, as well as the Junkanoo Party Bus, Rum Mixology & Beach shore excursion. This time, we decided to just have margaritas at Margaritaville. 

Carnival Venezia at Amber Cove January 2024
Below: Amber Cove pricing - visible if you click on it to enlarge