About That Hopkins, Michigan (June 22 - 28 )

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello from Hopkins, Michigan! Hopkins is located a few miles south of Grand Rapids. It is here that we are taking a break from our travels for a ten day period. Hidden Ridge is an RV resort that is one of the best we have seen in the country. Huge concrete pads with lots of room between RV spots gives us the spaciousness that we have come to appreciate in our travels. The amenities at the resort are great for adults as well as children. The picture shows our Class B overlooking one of the three lakes on the property. People from nearby Grand Rapids leave their motorhomes, Fifth Wheels or trailers on seasonal lease spots making it very easy to enjoy the area on the weekends. Though busy on the weekends, it is very quiet during the week.

 Notice the concrete pavement.

This is a huge plus in rainy weather!

On Sunday we toured Holland and Saugatuck, Michigan. Both towns sit on the shores of Lake Michigan. Great shops, friendly people and delicious food make the towns so much fun to visit.

 Bear is welcome at the barbecue restaurant.

 Lots of green in Michigan

Both towns boast a boardwalk along the docks of their inner harbors. Boating in Lake Michigan is huge.

On Wednesday we drove to Grand Rapids to see the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. This beautifully done museum sits on the Grand River and is a wonderful testament to this President.

 President Gerald R. Ford
At the entrance to the museum

 A bronze of the former president as he was when he became an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts.

 Flowers outside the museum

The final resting place of Gerald and Betty Ford.
It is located a short walk from the museum.

The front of the museum

The Grand River flows in front of the museum. There are several bridges for pedestrians to walk across. 

Grand River

 Grand River
It was a rainy day.

On Friday we drove to Fennville, Michigan. This tiny town is the headquarters of the Crane Orchards and Pie Company. These pies are famous throughout Michigan. The farm was started in 1916 and grows cherries, peaches and apples. It is called a "farm to table" business, meaning that they use local produce as well as their own.

An orchard

 October is apple season and Cranes is known for their cider.

We shall leave Hopkins, on Tuesday,  for The Great Lakes Naval Training Station (located near Chicago) as we continue to circle Lake Michigan, heading to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Thank you for your interest in our travels. It is hard to believe that we only have two months of full time RVing left.