Beaches

The first time I touched the gulf coast water, I was shocked with how warm it was. The color was muddy, it smelled of salt, but not nearly as potent as some of the coastline along Seattle in the summer, but it was obviously ocean- with waves, sandy beach with washed-up (and often dead) flora and fauna, and lots of shells. Zoë and Megan both had a wonderful time, as did Travis and I, any chance we got to drive the hour to the beach.

When I first saw Lake Michigan, it was from the Chicago side. It's impressive, as you can only see blue water to the east as far as your eye can tell. It was usually blue-gray, as I'd expect a (pollute) lake near a city to be, although on really clear days the water looks almost blue. It has the more distinct smell of lakewater, not the briny ocean.

Then, we went to Silver Beach, the Michigan side of Lake Michigan. I was dumbfounded! White sand from the sidewalk down to this georgous blue water that had gentle waves breaking on the sand. Seagulls, shells (ok, they are freshwater muscles, but still shells!), drift wood pieces... wow. Of course, the smell was clean- more like I imagine lake water should smell, and there was some vegetation. The water is not nearly as warm as the gulf (doesn't even come close), but it was still pleasant in the shallows.

Of course, Zoë was right at home splashing in the water and digging in the sand. Megan (who was only 10 months at the time) started eating rocks. Yuck.

Since it's only a 40-minute drive from our house to Silver Beach (even faster than our trips to Galveston or Surfside from our house in Texas!), I've made it a goal to get to the beach once a week (excepting the month I'm preparing for, gone to, and back from Utah). We're two-for-two at this point, and we're so glad we've had some great friends to play with! It was only 64 degrees when we went the first time. The water was very chilly, but the kids still got in, and the adults still got burned! The second week the high was nearly five degrees warmer, and the water was a little better (but still cold!) and we had as much fun!

Zoë loved collecting shells and telling the others how to build a castle.

Megan loved digging in the wet send and trying to find the right combination of water and sand to make sandcastles (she largely ignored Zoë's slave-driving instructions).

Miranda enjoys eating the snacks, and playing in the sand- not digging, but actually running around, putting her head/belly/toes in sand pits. She has no interest in the cold water, but doesn't mind playing in the sandy "mud".

Zoë makes a perfect base for a sandcastle.

Megan is trying to get the right combination of sand and water to make a castle wall.

Zoë ready to go try out the playground as the water was too cold.

Miranda playing on the "bigger kid" playground,

heading up the stairs to go down the slide (see video below)