Campground Review:
We were totally surprised at how much this park had to offer! What a gem Ludington State Park is right on Lake Michigan surrounded by tall sand dunes, dense woodlands, and lakes – all of which make for a great outdoor playground. The park is 5,300 acres and lies just north of downtown Ludington (which is super cute and has a couple of great brew pubs.) The campground has three loops for RVs and tents and another area that is a walk-in tent only section. Sites in the center of the loops are more open whereas those on the outside back up to a tall wooded berm providing shade and a bit of privacy. It is a typical state park where some sites are level and some are not and they vary in length. All sites have a firepit and picnic table and easy access to the electric post. Sites don’t have water or sewer but there is a dump/water fill station on your way into/out of the park that is really easy to get in and out of. And there are some water fill-up stations in the campground. The park has modern restrooms that were cleaned daily and never a mess during our visit. We camped here in the fall, so the summer crowds were not gone but I can imagine this park is very popular in the summer.
We took full advantage of the hiking trails and loved that we could just walk out our door and have access to 18 miles of trails. The hike to Big Sable Lighthouse was beautiful as it wound through the woods and out over the dunes. All the hiking trails are great but be aware that some go through areas open to hunting and we did encounter a couple of deer hunters. The other hike that is really pretty is the Skyline Trail which gives you a great birds-eye view of Lake Michigan and the giant sand dunes.
Some other great features of this park are the four-mile Canoe Trail that winds through the marsh, access to bank fishing from boardwalks and a very nice boat launch, and two concession/rental pavilions where you can get food and drinks and rent paddleboards, bikes, canoes, row boats, tubes, and kayaks. The parks beach area is the biggest draw and has a large parking lot and bathrooms making access very convenient.
Product Review:
As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I get products to test products and gear from time to time. On this trip to Ludington State Park, I tried out a pair of Oofos Women’s OOlala Sandal.
The very first thing you notice about these shoes is how the thick and soft the foam is and how shock absorbent they are. These are ohhhh so squishy and comfortable! You will also feel the tremendous arch support which I have never found in flip flops or sandals before. This is such a welcomed feeling since I suffer from plantar fasciitis and the arch support alleviates this pain and is feels great under my high arches. At Ludington State Park, I spent a lot of hours hiking and jogging so after long periods of exercise, I slipped on these shoes and got amazing relief and comfort as if I was walking on clouds.
The sandals are roomy and comfortable and I didn’t feel like the strap was too tight or too loose across my foot. The size I ordered ran true to the size and width I normally wear. There are lots of color and style choices that will appeal to a wide range of people. I choose the marsala color and really like the way they look. The price may be higher than other brands of flip flops or sandals but I think you will be amazed and the ergonomics design of this shoe that is also stylish and so comfortable. I did have a bit of trouble adjusting to the strap that runs between my toes as it was wider than what I was used to. But after a few days my feet seemed to adjust and all was well.
Another reason to buy a pair is that this company donates $10 of every pair of the Project Pink collection sold to breast cancer treatment research. You just have to love a company with a philanthropic attitude. I would definitely recommend these shoes for anyone, especially those with foot pain and wanting extra support. They were recommended to me and I want to pass on that recommendation as they are everything as advertised on the website.
