Each year, it becomes more and more difficult to find a vacation home that will accommodate our growing family.  With nine adults and four young children, we would need some extra space and rooms for sleeping.

My parents found a place on Long Lake in Hale, Michigan for the second week of July.  Since it would be part of the hottest time of the year, we wanted to be near a lake where we could swim and fish as well.

Leaving from Columbus, Ohio, we made a quick stop in the adorable village of Frankenmuth and had finally arrived in Hale towards late afternoon.  We stopped at the grocery for some items that we would be using for the week and learned that the weather had been extremely hot.  So hot, in fact, the cute little town of Hale could not keep their ice cream cold.  We realized that there was no other place hotter than Hale.

After unpacking, we checked out the pontoon boat that we would be using for the week and found the firepit where we would later make s’mores.  It had been a long day of travel, so we found our rooms and slept in until the next morning.

Reflections on Long Lake were our early morning views from our back yard.  There were geese, rabbits, chipmunks and the sound of frogs that kept us entertained.

I decided to walk close to the rental home with a trail around the perimeter of Long Lake.

Happy Gunnar kept us entertained posing for photos and enjoying his toys.

While Erika liked to pose on the balcony.

We had finished unpacking and settled into the house after breakfast.  The kids were eager to blow up the inflatable pool for a late morning swim.

We were able to distract the children for a little while when we promised them a ride on the boat.  Everyone was excited to cruise along the lake, find a great swimming spot and a place for to fish.

Long Lake is 4.5 square miles with an average depth of 26 feet.  With 88, 272 feet of shoreline, its maximum lake depth is 88 feet.   Surrounded by beautiful homes, Long Lake has been a vacation spot for many residents of Michigan.  Nearby, there are thousands of acres of white pine, oak, ash, cedar, maple and beech trees, providing lumber throughout the state as well as Ohio, New York and Canada.  Lumbermen were known to haul wood across Long Lake transporting to various locations.

After we docked the boat, the kids were excited for another swim in their kiddie pool, so we watched them until it was time for dinner.  Of course, Bennett was the last one out of the pool.

Erika snuggled up with Daddy after a long day of vacation.

Gunner hung out with grandpa, while

Grace played one of her games.

Bennett finally came in from the pool and dried off before dinner.

We played a few games before bed and it was time to watch the sunset over the lake.   What a fun day packed with watersports and we’ll be ready for another activity-packed day tomorrow.

Have you been to Hale, Michigan?  Stayed on Long Lake?  I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my family vacation to Hale, Michigan and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do: 

• Relax on the lake…swimming, boating fishing

Where to Stay: 

• We went through VRBO to find this lovely lake house in Hale, Michigan.

Where to Eat:

Long Lake Bar & Grill
5002 E. Main Street
Long Lake, MI  48743
Telephone:  989 257 2017

Dock your boat at Long Lake Bar & Grill and enjoy some hamburgers and fries.  Check out Uncle Kracker’s “Smile” video which was filmed in this area.

What to Eat: 

• Better Made potato chips
• Biggby Coffee
• Chipati – pocket bread stuffed with salad
• Detroit-style pizza where the toppings are under the sauce and loaded with cheese
• Hummer – drink made with kahlua, rum and ice cream
• Pasty – pastry shell with savory fillings
• Vernor’s Ginger Ale