South Haven: The Land of Blueberries and Fanny Packs

The last time Kevin and I camped alone was in the summer of 2004.  Married just over a year, and with an adorable chocolate lab in tow, we headed to the Northwoods of Wisconsin...I brought a book, Kevin a fishing pole.

Since that trip our family has grown by two children and decreased by one 130-pound brute of a chocolate lab.  We have become busier, our patience has worn thin, and quiet time is at a premium.  So, in need of some time away, I hit the Internet and begin browsing.  Of course I begin with an idealistic Caribbean cruise, then mosey my way through links for quaint Bed and Breakfasts...but who am I kidding, there is no way I'm leaving my kids long enough to go on a cruise, and there is no way Kevin and I are social enough to pretend to enjoy eating breakfast with strangers.  Hmmm, what to do, where to go?

I hate making decisions like that, so when I ask Kevin what he'd prefer, he tells me, "book it, and tell me when and where we're going."  In those moments I contemplate downtown Chicago hotels and ritzy restaurants because I know how much he LOVES the big city [insert eye roll here].  So, after much frustration and a great deal of campsite investigation, I settle on Van Buren State Park near South Haven, MI.  Apparently we can't eat breakfast with strangers, but we are completely comfortable with community showers and bathrooms...what is wrong with us?

After packing our little square car to the top, our get-a-way begins.  This time instead of a book and a fishing pole, we have a Kindle and smart phones in tow.  We dropped the kids at Grandma and Grandpa's and they barely noticed we left...as long as you don't count Connor's kicking tantrum.  Two and a half hours later we arrive at our excessively sunny camp site looking forward to a bit of sand and solitude. 

And that's precisely what we got...no children to chase, no noses to wipe, no arguments to settle.  We took a few trips to the beach for sunsets, strolls and even a swim.  We walked the pier to the light house,  rode our bikes through the campground, ate quiet, simple uninterrupted meals, picked enough blueberries to last us through September, saw more fanny packs than we knew existed, ate huge ice cream cones and enjoyed every minute of our campfires. 

Nothing fancy, nothing over-the-top...yet, completely wonderful.