Restaurants:

Subway -  Fremont and White Cloud

 

What-a-Pizza - White Cloud (located in the old "Sallys" restaurant infront of Houseman Foods

 

McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Spanky's Pizza, Chee Peng Chinese, Arby's, The Blind Squirrel Tavern, Side Street Cafe, Sameul Mancino's Italian, Moon Dance Cafe and misc. other little cafe's.  All of these are in Fremont.

 

Daniels (also has an ice cream stand during the summer) - Hesperia (Great for an inexpensive breakfast)

 

Newaygo Brewing Company - Downtown Newaygo.  Brand new micro brewery in 2015.

 

Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday, Big Boy, Blue Cow Cafe (highly recommended) and Crankers Brewery - Big Rapids

 

Brown Bear Restaurant in downtown Shelby (on the way to Silver Lake Sand Dunes).  I've been told this is the best place in central west Michigan to eat.  HUGE BURGERS.

 

Grocery Stores:

Houseman Foods - White Cloud

Wal-mart - Fremont (would recommend over Houseman's Foods)

Meijer - Big Rapids

White Cloud, Hesperia and Fremont all have Dollar Stores.

 

Sports:

 

Golfing-

Water's Edge Golf Club - Fremont   18 hole course, public welcome

Summer Breeze Golf Course - Fremont

Northwood Golf Course - Fremont

 

Bike Riding -

There is a nice, paved 5.5 mile bike loop in Fremont called "Town & Country Path".  Very scenic. 

 

Watersports-

Wisner canoe/tube/kayak rentals- Newago, MI on the Muskegon River (20 minute drive) www.wisnercanoes.com

 

Canoe the Pier Marquette River-Baldwin, MI (30 minutes north)  This is a great river to canoe or kayak as well.  We would recommend using Baldwin Canoe Rental (www.baldwincanoe.com) or Ivan's Canoe Rental (www.ivanscanoe.com)

 

Tube/canoe/kayak the White River right at the home provided you bring your own tubes, kayaks or canoe.  There aren't any rentals in the White Cloud area and we don't have any to offer but if you look on Amazon.com, you can find some great tubes for tubing.  Look for a tube called "Intex River Run I".  They run about $18.67 each when purchased individually or as low as $89.00 for a pack of 6 tubes. Tubes are a GREAT way to experience the beauty of our river.  Ask us where to put into the river and tube to the cabin property.  Takes about 2.5 - 3.0 hours.  Private with Natures beauty abound!

 

Wave Runner Rentals- the closest place to rent wave runners on a lake is a place called Parrots Landing located in Mears, MI (right next to Silver Lake Sand Dunes, about a 50 minute drive to the west.) www.parrotslanding.com

 

Fishing-

Fish from the riverbanks at the cabin.

Betts Guide Service - Guided fly fishing on the White, Muskegon and Pere Maquette Rivers. (www.bettsguideservice.com)

 

Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowmobiling, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, ATV Rentals, etc

Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing - The closest ski hill is Caberfae Ski Resort, which is about a 1 hour drive north in Cadillac, MI.  The skiing and snowboarding is much better there and they also have groomed cross country ski trails. On their website, you can find some great ski deals. www.caberfaepeaks.com

 

Snowmobiling -

    Your own sled- you can start and end your ride from the cabin.  The main trail system is just a 3 mile ride East of the cabin on M-20.

    Renting a sled or an ATV- The closest place to rent snowmobiles is a 30 minute drive north to Baldwin, MI and you can rent from Wolf Lake Motel & Resort (231-745-4101).

 

   Cross-Counrty Skiing - 4 Miles east of the cabin, there is a trail system called "North Country National Scenic Trail -White Cloud".  You can Google (Traillink.com) to find it.  They are not any groomed trails at that trail system but I am told that the cross country skiing on the North Country National Scenic Trail is beautiful.

 

   Snowshoeing - A great place to go snowshoeing is the Loda Lake Wildflower Sanctuary.  The link is listed below.  You could also drive over to Fremont and go on the "Town and Country Path".  It's a 5.5 Mile paved loop.

 

Misc. (perfect "day trips")

 

Manistee National Forest hiking and snowmobile/ORV motorsports trail heads are just 3 miles east of our home. This is also the location of the "North Country National Scenic Trail" that is over 4,600 miles long and stretches from N. Dakota through 6 states (including Michigan) to New York.

 

Loda Lake Wildflower Sanctuary -  Located about 6.6 miles east and and then 6.8 miles north of White Cloud. This is part of the Manistee National Forest and has a self guided walking path that has 39 numbered viewing stations along the path.  The longest path is 1.5 miles and is on relatively flat land.  Here is the link to their website.  http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/eastern/LodaLake/index.shtml

 

Lake Michigan beaches are about 35 minutes west.

 

Ludington/Pentwater Beaches and shopping About an hour Northwest of the Cabin along Lake Michigan.

 

Siver Lake Sand Dunes are located about a 50 minute drive west and slightly north along Lake Michigan. This is a great day trip.  Climb the dunes, ride the dunes with Mac Wood's Dune Rides and swim in Silver Lake along the dunes.  Go to Silver Lake State Park to access the dunes. Be ready to "HIKE" up some BIG Dunes.  It's absolutely spectacular! Be sure to stop and grab a GREAT BURGER from "BROWN BEAR" restaurant in Shelby (located in downtown Shelby just east of US31.  Phone number is 231-861-5014.

 

Mac Wood's Dune Rides (Silver Lake Sand Dunes) - We would HIGHLY RECOMMEND doing this during the summer.  It is a great experience, great views of Lake Michigan, Silver Lake and the enormous sand dunes. www.macwoodsdunerides.com

 

Michigan's Adventure Amusement & Water Park is only about 40 miles southwest near Muskegon.  A great day trip! Go get tuckered out at the park and then return to the cabin for a wonderful evening around the campfire.

 

Horseback Riding - Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, MI has horseback trail rides for all levels of experience. 

There is also a great place called Rainbow Ranch in New Era, MI.  Rainbow Ranch also does horse drawn sleigh rides during the winter months.

 

Indoor Water Park - Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, MI has an indoor water park. (www.doublejj.com)

Rothbury, MI is about 38 miles west of the cabin.

 

Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park - Alto, MI What can we say but AMAZING!!!  This park is unlike any typical zoo because it's PRIVATELY OWNED on 80 acres about 20 minutes east of Grand Rapids, or about 1.3 hrs from Rainbow Reel.  You can literally feed SO MANY of the animals with your own hands...even the beautiful Giraffes.  We recommend to buy the feed (crackers, carrots & bird seed sticks) so you can feed the animals. Trust us when we say this place is worth the drive.  Much cheaper than any other zoo type of a place that we have ever attended. www.boulderridgewap.com

 

Big Rapids and all their associated stores, restaurants, home improvement stores, etc is just 25 miles east/northeast.

 

Dunham's Sporting Goods store is located in Fremont if you need to purchase tubes, kayaks, life jackets, etc.

 

Fremont also has several parks available for kids.  You'll find playground equipment, basketball courts, picnic areas and many other activities. 

 

 

 

Photos below are of our family enjoying a day trip to Silver Lake Sand Dunes along the Lake Michigan Shoreline.  We even took a trip on the Mac Wood's Dune Rides.  Drive time is just 45 minutes from the cabin.  A PERFECT way to spend a day!