WACKO plans around the Grand Rapids Regional...

I'm firming up my plans for the Grand Rapids Regional and thought I'd throw out some ideas and see who salutes.

I'm going to fly into Grand Rapids (Gerald R Ford) on the Thursday prior (June 5), hoping to arrive early enough to pick up a rental car and drive down to Grand Haven to shoot photos there Thursday evening.

I guess then I'd drive up to Holland and stay at a hotel (have we picked one yet) Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at the same location.

I'll plan on shooting photos of Holland (and others on Friday).

Friday night, I assume we can have a WACKO gathering for dinner and a photographic shoot at Holland at sunset (and after).

Saturday breakfast - either at the hotel or with other WACKOs before departing for Grand Rapids for the Regional.

After the Regional, return to Holland for another WACKO event, probably dinner and a return to Holland Lighthouse viewing or another one nearby (Big Sable?).

On Sunday, I'm leaving early to drive to Port Huron to visit my parents and friends and return to PHX on Tuesday or Wed out of Detroit.

I know there is the Michigan City Lighthouse event on Sunday and I assume many of those going to the regional will head down that way before disbursing.

So. What's the suggested hotel in Holland? Where should we meet to eat? Which lighthouses should we hit on which days?

For those heading to Michigan City, if you plan to stay overnight Sunday there, does anyone have a suggested hotel and place to meet and eat that evening?

I'm open to any and all suggestions.

John,
Just made reservations (earlier this afternoon) at the Holland Holiday Inn for the McBee's, Sunshine and us. Got rooms for $83.30 a night (King Bed). We'll be checking in late on Friday on out Sunday morning. Checked 11 hotels closer to Grand Rapids but everything appears to be booked.
In Michigan City again I would suggest the Holiday Inn. It's reasonable (about the same price as the local Comfort Inn). It has a Damon's restuarant. This is where most of us stay when we go up to work on the lighthouse. In fact we're staying there this Friday and Saturday as this is our HLC work weekend.

Kate & Dave,
Looks like there are two Holiday Inns in Holland...
Holiday Inn Express and
Holiday Inn Holland
Which one do you have reservations at?
Thanks,

For those of you looking to book rooms in Holland here is the scoop.

For Dave and Kate if you chose the Holiday Inn it is on the south side of Holland. If you chose the Holiday Inn Express it is on the north side of town.

Near the Holiday Inn Express there is a Hampton Inn, a Fairfield Inn, a Best Western Inn and a Country Inn. There is more food on the north side. This is the area that is growing. There is an Applebees, a Panera Bread, an IHOP, a Red Lobster, a Dairy Queen, two Chinese restaurants, a Culvers, a Brann's a Burger King, a Wendy's, a McDonald's and some that I most likely have forgotten. It would be easier to meet on the north side for any caravaning to Grand Rapids, or Michigan City. Besides that we live on the north side. So of course that is a better side of town. LOL

Mary and Jeff

I booked at the Holiday Inn, not the Holiday Inn Express. The rooms at the Express are currently $101.15 (just checked). That is why I booked at the regular Holiday Inn. My cost for a comparable room was $83.30 at the time I made the resrvation (yesterday pm).
Although we realized that there are more retuarants on the north side we couldn't justify the added expense.

The Cana Family is coming up on Friday and booked at the Hampton Inn until Sunday morning. We'll take in the WACKO event on Friday, but after the Regional we're going to a West Michigan Whitecaps baseball game,(merging a couple of our loves)

Current rate at the Hampton Inn is $119.00

Mike

I changed my itinerary to arrive at Chicago Midway about noon on Thursday, June 5. I figure I can hit Michigan City, and St. Joe and perhaps Grand Haven Thursday before sunset.

Flying Southwest. Under $200 RT out of Phoenix and back from Detroit.

Please keep the ideas and plans coming.

Try calling the HI Express directly and tell them the price you have at the HI and ask if they can match it. Chances are they will -- if they are not sold out.

We have reservations at the Fairfield by Marriott for three nights beginning Thursday, June 5. Special Events rate is $110.00. Can also use Marriott awards, but for the three nights it takes 40,500 points instead of the normal 27,000.

Also made reservations at the Holland Holiday Inn. Our rate there is 69.00 for Thursday, but goes up to 99.00 for Friday and Saturday.

Look forward to meeting everyone in Michigan. We got a room in Holland ($79/nite plus tax) at:

Country Inns and Suites

They still had rooms available when we booked earlier this week and its about a block from the Holiday Inn Express.

Made my reservations at the Country Inn & Suites - Ken Reese and I are rooming together.

If you book on the Internet and agree to prepay for the full stay (no cancellation possible), the rate is $69.

Hope we have a good turnout.

We are staying in Jellystone RV park in Grand Haven not too far from all of you in Holland. Let us know about any WACKO get togethers. We are arriving about June 1st.
Ruthie & Terry

I'm still looking into the possibility of going to this event. I have checked air to Grand Rapids. It is double the cost to fly in to Grand Rapids than to Chicago O'Hare.

Now a couple of questions:

1. How long does it take to drive to Holland from Chicago?

2. If I stayed Thursday night until Sunday in Holland, then drove down to the Michigan City lighthouse on Sunday, how long do you need to plan to drive there?

3. Is there hotels in the Michigan City area and can you "just wing it" to find places to stay without having reservations?

Thanks for any help.

Check and see what it costs to fly in and out of South Bend, IN...

It would be a lot easier to get to Grand Rapids from and real easy to get to South Bend from Michigan City.. 112 miles about 2 hours

Chicago O'Hare is a long way away from Grand Rapids... 201 miles about 3:45 with big time traffic potential

It may be even be better to fly into Detroit and drive across Michigan.. 157 miles about 2 hours and 50 minutes

Lorie - Southwest flies into Midway and Detroit. That affects the cost of the other airlines into and out of Grand Rapids, etc.

I searched Southwest and Expedia - cheapest seems to be Midway on Expedia about $306 RT flying in on the 5th, home on the 9th.

For others - don't forget that June 5 is just one month away - better rates if you buy 30 days in advance. Buy now or pay more.

Check other sites such as www.cheaptickets.com. Got any airmiles you can redeem?

Lorie,

As for hotels, I'm not so sure I'd wing it. I checked a few hotels in Grand Rapids and they we're filled, and the ones in Holland seemed to be getting that way. I'd at least have a room booked. Holland is a pretty popular weekend get-a-way spot in the summer. Those rent-a-car seats can give you quite a neck ache trying to sleep in them!

Mike

I have had reservations at the Country Inn for a while. We have stayed there before, and it was a nice motel. We have also stayed at the Holiday Inn in Holland, and I would not stay there again. There are some hotels in Grand Haven with not-too-bad rates (Best Western Beacon Inn), but you have to reserve Friday & Saturday night (can't stay just one night).

Michigan City has a number of motels - Comfort, Holiday Inn and a number of others (and one at the casino). On a Sunday night I would think you would be OK.

FWIW, you could fly Delta from SLC to SBN and return for $371, a little more than Midway, but a whole lt less headache and traffic! Hope you can work it out.

Dave

By the way, if you stay at Country Inn, search for AAA or AARP rates if you qualify. I have a rate of $71.10. Big difference between this rate and John's $69 rate are that the 71 can be changed or canceled, and is paid at check in. The 69 rate can not be changed or canceled, and you pay now.

Dave

Ok, I'm there!

We might be crazy but my husband John and I are still flying in to Chicago O'Hare. I hope the traffic doesn't tie us up too bad but I have round trip tickets on Delta direct to Chicago for $258.00. The main reason for staying with O'Hare is that any other airport I looked at to fly in to, we would have to change planes and would take several hours longer than flying direct to Chicago and just start driving.

We are flying in on Thursday and arrive around 2:00pm. We will be driving to stay in Holland at the Country Inn & Suites from Thursday night until Sunday. Please keep me informed of any plans for those days.

On Sunday, we will head back down to Michigan City for the events there and spend the night.

Another reason to fly in to Chicago, we want to visit the Grosse Point lighthouse on Monday. We'll spend Monday night somewhere in the Chicago area (any suggestions?) and head home on Tuesday.

This is going to be so much fun. I haven't been to anything with HL's since the Baltimore reunion.

Glad you made the decision! We'll look forward to seeing you and John there.

Thursday at 2 should be a good time to fly in to O Hare. Figure on taking about an hour total to get your luggage and rent a car. Traffic will start getting heavy around then, but if you take 294 around the city, figure on taking about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get to the Michigan/Indiana border. Then it should be smooth sailing from there.

Mike

I just booked my flight. Had to decide between this and the Chesapeake Chapter's New Point Comfort trip. But, the photo opportunities and other events were too good to pass up here.

I am flying into South Bend Thursday. Should arrive aroun noon time. I am staying at the Country Inn in Holland. Hope to get some good sunrise(?)/ sunset photographs of some of the lights as well as attend the wacko gatherings.

Keep me informed on the plans for the weekend.

Great Bryan...it will be good to see you again.
Ruthie

After doing some searching on the internet, I have a suggestion for dinner on Saturday.

Location: South Haven, MI (1/2 hour from Holland)
Name: Three Pelicans Restaurant
Address: 38 North Shore Dr.
Phone: 269-637-5123
Description: Casual harborside dining as well as a multi-level outdoor deck. Fresh seafood, lobster, prime rib, calamari, sandwiches and salads. Yards of ale, extensive wine list.

How does this look to all of you?

Nice choice Frank. There are only 2 restuarants in SH that I'd recommend and this is one of them. The other is Clementine's Saloon / Restuarant, but it doesn't have the atmosphere that we are looking for. It does have great food.

Anyway, if it is decided to gather here I'm sure that us and the McBee's will attend. Sounds like another fun WACKO evening.

Would a WACKO attending the Grand Rapids regional help out a WACKO who cannot go. I would like to get two regional event pins from the event. If anyone can get two for me, I would gladly pay $5.00 each. Please let me know.

For those who want to see/photograph along the Lake Michigan shore during the GR event.

St Joe & South Haven
Within a reasonable drive of Holland if you wnat to base there are St Joe and South Haven to the South. St Joe is about 50 miles south of Holland. You can photograph from both the park to the south of the river as well as Tiscornia park on the north. Getting to the park on the south is a bit easier than getting to Tiscornia park. The sun is setting pretty much off the end of the pier this week when you're standing on the north pier. The shot posted below was taken last week from the south pier.



South Haven can be photographed from about three different locations. The beach to the south, the pier to the north, or up on the bluff with a longer telephoto. The shot of the wave below was taken from up on the bluff.




Holland
Big Red in Holland can easily be photographed from the state park on the north side of the channel but getting to the south shore to photograph can be a major pain courtesy of the local residents who think the lighthouse is their's exclusively. The view from the south at dawn can be spectacular and is worth what can be an appreciable walk if you can't get to the lighthouse parking spaces provided by the DNR (this is courtesy of the gated guardhouse courtesy of the residents who don't want you there.)



Grand Haven
Going north you get to photograph Grand Haven easily from both the south and north. This time of year, at sunset, shooting from the south is the better choice due to the angle of the sun when it sets. GH is an easy drive from GR.

The shot below was taken from the South Beach in September.



Muskegon and White River
Going further north you get the two lights at Muskegon then White River. From Holland to Muskegon is about 35 miles. If memory serves, White River is probably 15-20 min north of Muskegon depending on how fast you drive.



Little Sable
Little Sable, which will be opened for climbing for the first time this year, is a healthy ride further up the coast. Probably 30 min on US 31 and another 15-20 min on side roads getting out to the lighthouse from US 31. For those not familiar with the area the Michigan Gazetteer if you can copy the appropriate pages is worth having handy when you're driving to the lights. I'll try to remember to bring mine along if folks want to xerox appropriate pages.

The shot of Little Sable was taken from the beach to the south of hte lighthouse looking north. Good silhouette shots can be had at sunset from the parking lot.



Luddington and Big Sable
The pier light at Luddington is about 60 miles or an hour north of Holland. After you get beyond GH and Muskegon, the speed limit is 70 and a nice drive. The turn off to go out to Little Sable is at Shelby as you come up from the south or at Hart if you plan to stop on the way going back south. The Ludding pier light is easy to get to and to photograph. Big Sable is in the state park and is 1 1/2 miles of walking to get out to it. There is a road out to the lighthouse but it is only opened for the docents to get out to the lighthouse or by special arrangement.



The shot of Big Sable was taken in an ephemeral pool one day last fall on the walk out to the lighthouse. I made it with a 65# camera backpack and 12# tripod that I can't recommend...



For people wanting to photograph, there are a number of photos of each of these lights - with the exceptionof Muskegon, which I haven't gotten around to building a gallery for - on my website. The following link will take you directly to the gallery selection page - click the individual photos for the gallery for that light.

http://www.coastalbeacons.com/greatlakesgallery/michigan/michigan_mod_gallery.html


Gary

Who needs photos when we can look at yours Gary? Who could do better???

Of course if you want Wackos in the background, or photos of Wackos sleeping on the pier dreaming of those early morning shots, I guess you just have to be there!

I'm sure your directions and information will be much appreciated by those who want to visit these lighthouses, either during the regional or at other times.

I much appreciated the basic directions and suggestions, in anticipation of my trip.

However, I think I'll just stay home now that I've seen your pictures of these lights again.

Like Mombo sez: who needs to go anymore?

Hey John, I thought you said you'd be sure to be up, i.e. awake for some sunset shoots? Thanks, Mombo, you're too kind...

Easy way to find Little Sable is to follow the "Mac Woods Dune Rides" signs into Silver Lake, then turn left at Mac Woods place. It has been several years, but if I remember, the road that starts at Mac Woods wanders around a little bit before ending up in a parking lot for a state beach????? You can by-pass that by a few yards and park almost at the light.

One of you Michigan loacals let me know if I'm wrong here. For those four wheelers out there, Silver Lake State Park is (or at least was) a great place to take the old truck and play.

Dave

A photo of the Eberhard center now appears at the top of the HL home page -- and there is a link to a map and driving directions to the building.

www.HarbourLights.com

Check the upper right-hand corner of the page.

For those headed to the GR Regional who plan to shoot photos at dawn - John, going to be a taker this time around? - or sunset, I was out at the lake last night to shoot the sunset at St Joeseph. The lake is still quite cold temperature-wise and the breeze coming off the lake last night, about 15 mph which is not uncommon, was quite cold. While the air temp may warm up by the time the regional rolls around, the water temp of the lake doesn't move all that quickly. Warm jackets, sweatshirts, or sweaters would seem to be warranted. I'll no doubt be back at the lake to photograph between now and when people start to make their way to GR and will let you know if there's a miraculous warm-up next week!

Gary

OK, I've kept my slide scanner busy this evening. Here's last night's sunset at St Joe!






Was it worth the chilly wind? You be the judge.

Gary

I would say YES! Great pitures, Gary!

That first one is my favorite!

AK & I plan to be in the area for the entire weekend. My Mom lives in Saugatuck so we will be staying there. We plan to attend any/all Wacko functions, including the trip to Michigan City on Sunday - so please keep this post alive as to side trips, Wacko dinners, etc.
With Dave getting us into the Grand Haven Inner Light, maybe the Saturday dinner should be in
Grand Haven.
We will be traveling to Holland from Detroit on Friday afternoon, and returning to Detroit Sunday evening after Michigan City get together. If anyone is flying into Detroit and needs a ride, contact me and we'll see if it can be worked out.
Regards,
Roger

I'm thinking of possibly photographing at Holland at dawn on maybe either Friday the 6th or Saturday the 7th from the south beach. Getting there if the guard house isn't open is going to involve a bit of a hike... possibly a mile or more depending on how far away we end up having to park. The alternative would be to shoot at dawn at St Joe from out by the outer light in the length of the pier which would give us a dawn silhouette of the inner light. Just some thoughts... If anyone has any interest, let me know...

Gary

I'm game for any photography sessions. I am planning on shooting a bunch over the weekend. Keep me informed as to what is planned.

For those going to the Regional on June 7th here is a Map to help to find the Grand Valley State University Eberhard Center and the parking lot.. The Regional is to be from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM..

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