Our RV Camping trip to Montague, Michigan: Part II - Blue Lake, Silversides & Grand Valley

This is Part II of our RV Camping Trip to Montague, Michigan. "Part I - Getting There is Half the Fun" detailed how getting to our destination was delayed two hours when one of our camper tires sheered its bolts and ran loose down the highway, trying to pass us in the fast lane.

Part II - Blue Lake, Silversides, & Grand Valley

We arrived at our destination, White River RV Park & Campground in Montague, Michigan, at about 6 o'clock Saturday night. It's several miles off the highway, but the route is very clearly marked so it was not difficult to find in the least. The roads leading to it are paved, but also curvy so be sure to follow the speed limit.

Once we made it to White River RV Park we were very happy with choosing them for our campground. It can be somewhat dicey when picking out a private campground. We tend to opt for state parks whenever possible, but the nearest state parks, especially the very popular PJ Hoffmaster State Park and Muskegon State Park, were completely full that weekend. When choosing a private campground, I always check RVParkReviews.com to see what others had to say about that particular park before I make the reservation. Fortunately, White River RV Park lived up to its positive reviews.

It's a sprawling campground with its campsites arranged in several "pods" of distinct areas of several dozen campsites to as few as a handful. Several campsites were seasonal, but the camper trailers were of high quality and well kept. The far majority of campsites looked to be non-seasonal.

The bathrooms/shower buildings were about as clean as I've ever come across from a private campground. They were kept clean by the "Clean Team," which looked to be at least one pair of workampers who obviously very good at their job. A word of caution, they insist on keeping to their cleaning schedules, so plan your showers accordingly.

Other facilities include a large, heated pool, camp store, dump station, cabin and RV rentals, recreation hall, picnic shelter and plenty of playground equipment. I would suggest not choosing a campsite too close to the pool, unless you don't mind loud kids having loud fun.

The boys playing cornhole, the campfire just getting going
and a relaxing evening well on its way at White River RV Park.

Most campsites looked to be as spacious and level as ours. Our site, #323, was along an outer row, which we tend to prefer so we only have neighbors on either side and not in front or behind us as well. Narrow at the front, it opened out as you got deeper into the site. Mature pine trees looked as if they've been tended to, and their pine needle droppings acted like a carpet of sorts on the sandy ground.

The campsite included electric and water in the same location near the back corner of the site, right where you want them for easy hookups (other campgrounds have them in separate locations, or shared location between two campsites; making hook-ups problematic).

White River RV Park is part of the Best Parks in America network, and deservedly so. We would recommend them to family and friends, and we would not hesitate to camp there again.

The area attractions are plentiful. The nearby White River is serviced by the Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery, and the Lake Michigan shoreline, only 15 minutes away by car, features the Silver Lake Sand Dunes. Also, Michigan's Adventure, an amusement park operated by the same people who run Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, is just as close.

In fact, the highway exit for Michigan's Adventure is the same as it is for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, which is the main reason we were camping where we were on that particular weekend. Our oldest son, Lucas, was finishing up a 10-day stay at band camp, and we were there to pick him up and watch him and his fellow campers perform at an end-of-camp concert. This was my first experience with band camp, and Blue Lake blew me away. If you have a son or daughter interested in music or other performing or fine arts, Blue Lake is worth investigating. They tapped into his enthusiasm for music, and grew it by leaps and bounds. What more could you want?

Ben and Luke outside the U.S.S. Silversides.

This happened on Sunday morning. By Sunday afternoon, we took off for the next area attraction, the World War II submarine the U.S.S. Silversides. A bit pricey for admission (about $15 for adults; $10 for kids), only the boys and I took the self-guided tour. It included a decent museum, a 17-minute film and a walk-through tour of the sub. A tour of a retired Coast Guard cutter also was included, but this was a definite downer due to its poor condition. The Silversides, however, was worth the price of admission. The sub was amazingly intact. Think of any WWII movie that included a sub, and you'd be easily convinced they used the Silversides for its set. Any trip to Muskegon ought to include a sidetrip to the U.S.S. Silversides.

That night we enjoyed hobo pies, or campfire pies, or pudgie pies (and whatever else they're called) over the campfire. A quick rain had us running for shelter, and a rousing game of Apples to Apples inside the camper. Our youngest son, Ben, won, by the way.

Hannah and Chelsea shucking corn on the cob.

The next morning we set a new record. We cleared camp and were on our way before 11 a.m. We had to leave early because on that day's agenda was a campus tour of Grand Valley State University. Our daughter, Hannah, and her friend, Chelsea, who was with us on this trip, are both going into their junior year in high school. We found GVSU to be extremely appealing. Everything seemed new, the programs seem solid and the student amenities were outstanding.

We left that afternoon, and, with all tires intact, we made it home without incident. So, despite a hairy trip there on Saturday, the weekend was a good one.