HOFFMASTER BEACH

Next on the agenda for our Lake Michigan Beach Tour was our second stop, Hoffmaster Beach in Muskegon.  When we drove into the campground we were very pleasantly surprised that it was in the woods.  Unlike the asphalt campground of Grand Haven, Hoffmaster was real camping.  We were in a spacious campsite on dirt in the woods.

We both loved it!

We set up camp and jumped on our bikes to go exploring.  We rode around the different campgrounds and then headed for the beach.  

The beach was a bit of a hike.  We weren’t able to ride our bikes the whole way so we walked it part way.  The beach was extremely windy and cold and the water was as rough as an ocean.  I actually love a cold beach with a rough ocean.  If I can get warm, it makes me feel cozy and relaxed.  I found a large piece of driftwood and got comfortable while Kevin explored the beach.

Unfortunately, that was it!  Not much more to say about Hoffmaster.  There were no rocks to run, no piers for fishing, again no alcohol allowed but there was a fire pit!!  One at each campsite.  We had a campfire that night for a short while and went to bed.

The next day, I was content hanging around the campsite reading and peoplewatching but Kevin was a little bored.  Not much for him to do.  The smoke from the campfires was kind of looming within the woods along with the smoke from the Canadian wildfires and it started to bother both of us.  So we went into town and had some dinner, went to a movie and called it a day.

We also noticed that other than a playground for the kids, there wasn’t much else for them.  Some of the kids were riding bikes and scooters but they couldn’t swim or even play in the water (at least not that day because of the cold and wind) so they were bored.  The campsite across from us had 7 children under the age of 10 and they were unruly!  A lot of fighting amongst them and crying and tattle-telling.  The parents were constantly scolding them and it just did not seem like anyone was having fun 🙁

The next day we headed to Ludington Beach, Tour stop #3.

What we liked about Hoffmaster:

Large, private campsite in the woods;

Fire pits for cooking and enjoying at night;

Beautiful beach with driftwood;

Showers and restrooms were clean

What we didn’t like about Hoffmaster:

No water or sewer hookups;

No place close by to fish;

Unreliable wifi connection

No water sports (kayaking, paddleboarding, etc.)

No rocks to run;

No bike trails that we saw;

No alcohol allowed

Rating

So, this might surprise you but Kevin preferred Grand Haven over Hoffmaster because there was more to do at Grand Haven.  We both did not care for the campsites but we really liked the beach, the piers and the town.

For those reasons, Kevin gives Hoffmaster a rating of 5, whereas he rated Grand Haven a 6.

I kind of preferred Hoffmaster’s woodsy atmosphere because I am more about hanging out at the campsite, cooking outside, playing games and reading.  I’m not as much of an explorer or doer as Kevin.

So I am rating Hoffmaster a 7, just above Grand Haven.  But of course, I would go back to Grand Haven just to keep Kevin happy and busy …………….. mostly busy 🙂

What’s that saying?

Busy husband, happy wife! Yea that’s it?

I’m sure of it! 🙂