Memorial Day means Camping
I would love to go camping this weekend. Even though the forecast isn’t exactly stellar for the upcoming holiday weekend, that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying some of the great facilities this great land has to offer. Since I am unable to head on out into the boonies, here are my recommendations so you can take advantage. I will just live vicariously through your good times.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Pros: Close to Chicago, nice wooded areas with fishing lakes, privacy in the group areas, they said “bong”
Cons: Group areas have to shit in pits, closest regular toilets are quite a trek, the rangers can be kinda poopy
The Indiana Dunes
Pros: Close to Chicago, ginormous sand dunes that are great for running down at high speeds, good hiking
Cons: I thought that The Dunes were a dry campground, but I can’t find anything about alcohol being prohibited on their site. Anyone know for sure? I know we went there in the past with my extended family, and I will never forget the site of my dad and his 5 brothers dumping out can after can of beer as the ranger looked on. This was the epitome of sweet when I was 14.
Kettle Moraine
Pros: One of the most beautiful campgrounds in the area with a crapton of activities, a nice & late checkout time of 3.
Cons: A little bit further of a trek, but worth it.
Devil’s Lake
Pros: Huge campground, so it is pretty easy to get a site. One of the best swimming lakes EVER.
Cons: A really far trek, so make sure you wanna drive that far. Also, it is in close proximity to The Dells. That is never a good thing.
Update: Looks like alkies are not welcome at The Dunes. After some more discussion with my coworkers, and some googling, I found this tasty morsel on the general Indiana gov site…
Alcohol: is strictly forbidden at Indiana Dunes State Park and in all youth camps. At other properties, both daily visitors and campers are asked to be responsible when drinking alcohol. Possession of alcohol by persons under the age of 21 is against the law in Indiana; and this will be enforced.
Wyalusing in Wisconsin kicks mucho ass. I make it there once or twice a year without fail. Be-a-yoo-tiful.
Yo Tank, any photos from your recent trip to Wyalusing that you could share?
Wow. Uh, sorry about the whole no-drinkie-in-Devil’s Lake thing. I ruined it for everyone.
Here’s a shot of the grounds from last October. It really is beautiful up there.
http://www.mondochicago.com/albums/wi_camping_10_04/wi_camping_10_04-Pages/Image75.html
Wow! I had no idea it was so scenic. Thanks!
Yep, Indiana Dunes State Park campground is dry. Has been for a number of years. Wasn’t that way when I was a kid growing up camping there. Sort of ruined things not being able to enjoy a beer or three around the old campfire.
Ok, obviously beer would be a bit too easy to spot, but how about some hard liquor/soda mixture? Do they really come around and sniff your cans? What the crappy?
I camped at Indiana Dunes once with 2 groups of drunk, loud, fighting thugs surrounding us.
I don’t want to sound like a tea-tottling grandpa, but these groups weren’t the “having a good time” drunks, they were the “let’s burn our tents and beat each other up” drunks. Rangers didn’t arrive ’til 1 or 2am.
I choose to drive a few hours more into Hoosier National Forest, find a nice place miles any other humans and get drunk and burn my own tent. Same for Wisc, but the N. F.’s are several hours away, even from Devil’s Lake.