Best Cabin Camping near Gaylord, MI

If you have a big Class A RV and need a full hook up and a pool, this place will work. We paid $165 a night and were surprised that it was just a gated community for RVs with a pool. Lots of the amenities were broken or not available (hot tub jets broken, no hot water for showers, movie room broken). Some of these may be due to covid or just like of upkeep. Our site had a nice paved pad, but it wasn’t level and the concrete was painted so we were slipping off the levelers. The coach house had very limited hot water. Gas fireplace and grill was provided. The vibe of this place was gated community and not camping- wry little trees in property. A fine location to access the Petosky are. Overall we found it overpriced and boring. We thought it would be luxury for the price, and it was “meh.”

Campground Review: Leelanau State Park is a gorgeous campground on the very tip of the Leelanau Peninsula which is surrounded on 3 sides by the crystal clear waters and sandy beaches of Lake Michigan. Though only 15 minutes outside of the village of Northport, it feels very remote. The wooded campsites are relatively spacious, some with a great amount of privacy, others very open and right on the water. All have firepits and picnic tables, but we were not able to find water spigots near the sites on the lower level, those closest to the lake. They can accommodate everything from small tents to large campers and even have a couple of small camping cabins for rent. There are pit toilets scattered throughout the campground (which are rather stinky compared to other campgrounds we’ve stayed in, but this seems to be how all Michigan State Park pit toilets smell), and no showers. Showers are available for $2 at Traverse City State Park, which is about an hour south of this campground. TC is the major city on the peninsula and the one you must drive through to leave the peninsula. In addition to opportunities to swim, kayak, sail, paddle board, etc., this park has gorgeous hiking trails located a few miles south on the peninsula, a playground for the kids, a fully restored 19th century lighthouse, and a cool museum dedicated to the use of Lake Michigan during WWII. As the fog rolled off the water and in and out of the campground during our visit, we realized the importance of this historic lighthouse for the area surrounding the peninsula.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27J0AgpsbEU

Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I was able to test the new Roanline market place at roanline.com. They carry a number of different brands and I selected the United by Blue 25L Rift Backpack to test out while camping at the Leelanau State Park campground in Michigan. We used this pack while hiking on the beautiful trails within this state park. This pack fits in as well on the trail as it will in the boardroom, or commuter train. It has a sleek profile and clean, tight lines which give it all the class of a briefcase while offering the versatility of a backpack. I expect it to last many years of regular use.

What I like most about this pack:

1. Quality construction with a compact, efficient use of space.

2. The specialty pockets hold everything for which they are intended: laptop, smartphone, water bottle / travel mug, etc, while still allowing space for plenty of extra layers, lunch/snacks, etc. It has more volume than it looks like from the outside.

3. It is super comfortable and stays in place even on the bike.

4. The single carrying handle is well-placed, strong, and very comfortable – nice one!

Some things I wish this pack had:

1. A hydration hose “slit. This seems like an oversight, because the main pouch easily holds a large water bladder.

2. A waist-belt, making it more comfortable with the pack weighed down.

3. An integrated rain fly. I am afraid to get this pack dirty – it looks too nice!

Product Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNbzM_-q2EU&t=2s

Product Link: https://journal.roanline.com/2017/01/06/3-pieces-of-gear-to-help-you-weather-winter-in-the-east/

Campground Review: This very popular campground is a few miles from downtown Traverse City, on the edge of Grand Traverse East Bay, Lake Michigan and fills up very quickly during the summer months. It is open year-round though and the fall is gorgeous in Michigan. As a city-based campground, it has many amenities and makes for a great alternative to paying much higher prices for the hotels, motels, and B&B’s in the area. This is a nicely wooded campground, and though the sites are spacious, they are rather close to each other, so not much privacy. But, given that this campground provides direct access to the TART Bike Trail (which can use to get to Traverse City, the Leelanau Wine Trail, or many other points north) and there is a safe, over-the-road walking bridge that takes you to the beach on the bay, we didn’t spend much time IN the campground itself. The various sites accommodate everything from small tents to large RV’s and all come with electricity. There are even two small camping cabins available for rent. The immaculately clean bathrooms and showers are free to campers. Firewood and ice are available onsite by the office. The only major drawbacks are that you can hear the road (which is pretty busy most days) and there are railroad tracks next to the campground (though we never heard a train and were told that it was infrequent).

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loWrZLOItQc

Product Review: As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I get gear to review from time to time. On this excursion, we took the Saris Freedom SuperClamp 2-Bike Rack for a test spin while camping and wine tasting via the Leelanau Bike Path, which is accessible from Traverse City State Park in Traverse City, MI. We were in the market for another bike rack and had researched various racks just before this one arrived. We think this is a pretty good option for the price point.

What I like about this rack:

1. It secures to the vehicle trailer hitch via a threaded bolt rather than a pin; this holds the rack securely and minimizes swaying of the bikes as we go down the road. A locking attachment to this bolt discourages theft of the entire rack.

1. The bikes are held securely by clamping to the wheels and don’t contact the frame. Our previous bike rack was a hanging rack which did some damage to the paint job on our frames --NOT an issue with this rack.
2. The rack is very easy to use, simple to set up, and holds the bikes securely.
3. It comes with a lifetime warranty. When our first rack arrived, one of the plastic wheel cups was cracked, but one quick call to the company and we had a whole new rack within a few days. Nice!

Room for improvement:

1. The integrated locking cables stow away within the frame of the rack, which is cool; but they aren’t long enough to thread through the high-clearance frame of my husband’s mountain bike – so we can only lock down his back wheel not the frame. The cable will accommodate most traditional bike frames, but they aren’t thick enough to really secure the bikes for anything longer than a run into the grocery store anyway, so we’re adding another lock when necessary.
2. The straps which secure the wheels are a little awkward to use, both securing and releasing. You have to use two hands to do this, and reaching the straps for the bike closest to the vehicle is a bit tricky.
3. When the bikes are off the rack and it is folded into its storage configuration, we have no problem opening the tailgate of our truck; but, with both bikes on the rack, getting into the back of the truck is difficult. If you have a hatchback, make sure the bikes are the last thing you load up!

Product Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpgajt1V1Yc

Product Link: https://www.saris.com/product/superclamp-2

Get ready, Gaylord! Alpen Bluffs is shaping up to be an incredible new resort destination in Otsego County, set to open its doors in May 2025. With a whopping 271 sites, including a fantastic mix of 30 cabins and 14 yurts, there's something for everyone. RV enthusiasts will appreciate the full hookups, convenient concrete pads, and versatile 30/50/20 electric outlets. But Alpen Bluffs isn't just for RVers– the whole family will be thrilled with the impressive list of amenities already planned, including pickleball, a dedicated bark park for furry friends, the exciting Inukshuk Shores aquatic playground, gem mining, and mini golf, with promises of even more to come! While we eagerly anticipate the late 2025 opening of The Bluff Club with its resort pool and unique container bar with a smoker, the initial offerings alone make Alpen Bluffs a must-watch and likely a must-visit for a fantastic family getaway in Northern Michigan.

If you are looking for a camping getaway, this may not be the place for you. It is always bustling with action, but can be lots of fun! I would definitely say this is geared more towards children and families than an escape into nature. There is a camp store, turbo bikes, a variety of family activities, a pool, playground, bike park, equipment and rentals, laundry facility, cabins, cottages, and yurts for rent. This is also a pet friendly campground, so there are many dogs. Probably one of my favorite parts was dodgeball... and the multiple bike trails that connect to the VASA trail system.