I'm interested in any golden retriever groups in Michigan, specifically within a 2 hour radius of Grand Rapids. I'm not interested in training groups, but more just play dates, gatherings, etc to meet new people who love their goldens as much as I do.
Thanks! I feel like I'm the only one on the west side of Michigan. I think it would be easy for people to get together in the Detroit area. There seem to be quite a few members in that area.
There is an amazing dog beach on Lake Michigan in Muskegon. It has a great picnic area, too. Not sure people would be willing drive across the state for the day, though.
We are actually in the Detroit area as well. About an hour north of the city. However, my wife and I wouldn't be opposed to a west Michigan trip. I don't have a dog beach that I like in our area, and we love the Muskegon-Holland area on the west side.
The park in Muskegon is wonderful. My cousin takes her black lab there all the time. I've only been there a few times and when I was there, I basically had the beach to myself and my dog. It's very easy to get to off of US 31. You just take the Sherman Rd exit, head west and drive until it runs into Lake Michigan.
If you and your wife have a free day for a road trip, please let me know. Josie and I would love to meet up with other golden owners.
That would be wonderful. Maybe the first part of May, I'll throw some Saturday and Sunday dates out there and see if we could get a few of us together. We could do a west side gathering at the beginning of the summer and maybe an east side gathering late summer, early fall?
I think the beach in Muskegon would be the perfect place to meet over here, as long as the weather is good. For all of the east side people, start thinking of a place that we could meet over there.
Also, we need to start collecting the Michigan members names. We have our three so far. I know of a couple of others, that can be added to a private message, as well.
I thought of you when I started putting the list of Michigan members together. It's about a 5 hour trip from Chicago to Muskegon. I would love to meet Duke and Charlie, too!
Let us know when you are meeting up. I have lots going on but might be able to come. I'm having lots done in my backyard and trying to get things coordinated with all the contractors after the freeze law is lifted.
Good luck with the backyard. I've been working on mine for the past few weeks, but still have so much more to do. It sounds like you're under major construction. Make sure you take lots of before and after pictures.
We are south of Detroit. I'm having artificial turf installed. I just had a vinyl privacy fence installed as well as as motorized awning installed on the back of my house. I need some cement work done before the turf can go down. It looks like maybe the frost law will be lifted next week so hopefully the cement work can get done. Pictures when complete.
I'm in northern Oakland county near Pontiac. I wouldn't mind a drive to the west side but would also be interested in getting together with folks in southeastern MI as well.
We are in the same area it looks. We are north of Pontiac as well.
West side trip - Off the bat we are available May 17th and 31st weekends. Along with the June 7th weekend. Figured I'd start throwing some dates out there.
Probably way too early for a lot of people... but I will be out that way on May 23-24th for a dog show in Kalamazoo.... I plan on taking the extra hour west to get the dogs in the lake. <-= Allison, thanks for the tip on the dog friendly beach. Last year we broke the law and took the dogs out on the beach past some "No dogs" signs. To which if anyone asked, I would have to ask if it was worse having dog foot prints in the sand or what some crazy people left behind there. <- The dogs dug up chicken carcasses to my astonishment.
It is amazing what people leave behind on our beautiful Michigan beaches and state parks. It's very frustrating. My dad spent the last few days that the ice was safe on their lake picking up beer cans, trash, and propane canisters. He collected four garbage bags full from the beginning of ice fishing season to the end. All of that junk would have ended up in the lake once the ice went out. The DNR did hand out a few tickets after my dad called to complain about the mess around some fishing shanties.
Stevensville is only an hour away from Kalamazoo and has a dog friendly beach on Lake Michigan, too. I've never been there, but here's the link: Grand Mere State Park It does say the walk to the beach is long and moderately challenging.
If you have the time, the drive to Muskegon from Kalamazoo is not bad at all. About 1 1/2 hours. Very easy access to that beach as long as you don't mind a few stairs.
Our schedule fills up pretty quickly with three kids in school, husband who travels and our frequent trips up North. It might be tricky to fit in a trip out to the West side of the state, unless we happened to be headed that way (We've done a couple trips to Grand Haven, but nothing planned out that way on the near horizon).
But, I would definitely be up for a meetup in SE MI anytime! A half a day is much easier to fit into the schedule than a whole weekend.
Hey fellow Michiganders! I don't know how I missed this the first time but I would love to be included! Getting a free weekend to go to the west side might be tough- weekends in the summer are crazy busy for us but the SE meet ups sounds great. Keep me in the loop please!! Thanks!
I've only been to one (orion oaks dog park) in Lake Orion. I wasn't a fan, there were some wild dogs there, with owners having zero control. Since they were pit bulls we left. I don't want to judge the park off one visit, but I don't want to take the risk.
Well, my city has one, but it is supposed to be for residents only, and is pass-protected. I could check with the city about having a meet-up there, but not sure how it would go over.
Someone I know takes her dogs to Wetzel State Park for hikes. She says they have some small ponds and trails. I haven't been yet but was thinking of taking Molson soon to check it out. I can't say for sure it will be a good option but I can let everyone know after I go
This post is making me homesick! I grew up downstate and we would take trips up north all the time in the summer. I wish my puppy could experience Lake Michigan! A road trip might be in order once she gets older!
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