Off-the-beaten-path destinations, small adventure ideas, and gear for those yearning to breathe the big air around the incomparable coastline of Lake Michigan. Delivered FREE once a week.
The Medicinal Day Trip
Published 4 months ago • 9 min read
Enjoy better sleep, reduced mental fatigue, less inflammation, improved focus, and sharper memory with this one simple tactic!
It is scientifically proven that a well-executed daytrip is pure medicine for maintaining peak physical and mental health. Make it a regular part of your wellness routine. Here's how to do it right.
Steep blow outs at Grand Mere SP, Stevensville, MI
Ah!... a daytrip, Fellow Travelers, is as simple as adventure gets. When you find yourself with a short stretch of time on your hands, don't overthink it. Brew your coffee, find a place on a map, throw some things in a backpack, and go.
Properly executed, a well-timed day trip can feel like a real vacation 🗺. You can take one anytime you feel the stresses of your work, the city, crowds, noise, and constant pressure to have more and be more --and find relief in nature.
Those few hours you spend there are better than any medication, meditation, yoga class or trip to the spa, (and certainly much more beneficial than a cocktail 🙄).
Seriously, go before the day's to-do's get the better of you.
You may not need to climb this enormous blowout to get to the beach at Grand Mere State Park, but you will have to do some climbing over some frustratingly loose and hot sand.
What I love about this photo is that is shows that a relaxing day doesn't have to be a lazy one. In fact, putting in some exertion before you put your feet up is precisely what makes a proper day trip so good for your well-being. You can recreate the experience of a strenuous adventure, with a reward of some respite at the end, even if you only have a small amount of time at your disposal.
Those steep blowouts, the treacherously narrow dune ridges, the winding, puzzling network of trails will deliver you eventually not to a sprawling people-watching beach, but to an endless narrow sandy strip with soft waves beckoning you for a cooling swim.
Ecopsychology, Fellow Travelers. There's a missed career opportunity for me!
I've been shouting about small and frequent outdoor adventures from my keyboard, and little did I know that there's an actual science dedicated to this very topic!
But do we really need reams of research to confirm that something as basic as spending time outside in nature is good for us? Doesn't it just seem, well… natural, and also intuitively obvious?
Nevertheless, as a long-time proponent of outdoor microescapes, I feel bolstered by a couple of official studies, which indicate that even brief, but regular, outdoor excursions can have big physical and psychological benefits.
Study #1, conducted in 2019 by Ecopsychologist Michael White found that just 120 minutes spent in green space every week invariably led to better psychological well-being.
Just two measly hours!
I am not surprised by those findings. If you asked me to participate in a study that required quiet outdoor time two-three times a week, I'd be all over it: "No, I can't possibly wash the dishes right now. Remember, I'm participating in a study!"
Study #2 is not so much a study, as it is a result of research conducted by Rachel Hopman, a professor of psychology at University of Utah, which established that we need 20 minutes in green space 3 times a week, 5 hours a month in semi-wild spaces, and 3 days annually in actual wilderness for our health.
At a minimum.
Dr. Hopman’s findings were quickly packaged as the 20-5-3 Rule, and transposed onto the previously developed Nature Pyramid, similar to the food pyramid that most of us are familiar with, to help illustrate how our outdoor time should best be allocated.
Fortunately, forest bathing, rewilding, greening, ecotherapy, biophilia and digital detox don't require a doctor's prescription or insurance coverage. All you need is a bit of time, and a plan.
And that, I have for you below:
OK, so now that we're on the same page regarding the non-negotiability of outdoor time, where do you go? Especially if you want to be both near Lake Michigan and away from crowds.
There are soooooo many places you could go within a relatively short distance from Chicago. But I chose the ones below for the following reasons:
They are located less that 2 hours from Chicago, but directly on Lake Michigan lakeshore
Getting to the lakeshore at these sites takes a bit of effort, and therefore provides a more secluded experience
The lakefront at these locations has a wilder, more rustic feel than what you would find at a typical public beach
Let's go!
Grand Mere SP, Michigan
This quieter, less crowded next-door neighbor of the popular Warren Dunes State Park is home to towering dunes, interdunal lakes, and 180° views of Lake Michigan.
(BTW, its name is the bastardized version of "grand marais", which means "great swamp", but I love the fact that it's also the word for "grandmother". I always think of it as "Grandma Park", assuming that grandma has kept in decent shape and can truck it up the dunes. 👵🏼😉)
There are about 4 miles of trails forming a loop through open dunes and the wooded areas of the park, but they are neither marked nor particularly well-maintained.
A 2-mile hike around Baldtop, involves steep climbs through soft sand (or, in winter, lumpy snow), but will reward you with lung-fulls of fresh air, gorgeous scenery and excellent views.
Grand Mere is a prime example of dune succession from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems. The interdunal lakes reveal the progression from open water turning into marsh, then woodland swamps and closed bog forests. The park sits along about a mile of Lake Michigan beach, which --when not covered with shelf ice and accessible-- it a great place for mid-hike picnic.
Unlike in Indiana Dunes, where wandering off-trail is deeply frowned upon, at Grand Mere, foot trails criss-cross the dunes in an intricate pattern, making it virtually impossible to stay "on trail". You're unlikely to get lost, though, since if you move in a direction generally away from the lake, you will find yourself back on the main trail that skirts one of the marshy inland lakes and takes you back to the parking lot.
NOTE: After you leave the shade and thicket of the marshy woods, you must cross the long stretch of dunes in order to get to the beach, and on a hot day, the sand is like coals. Foot protection is an absolute must for you and your canine companion!!
An easy 1.5 hour drive from Chicago is a Milwaukee County park with an opportunity for a short but breathtaking hike. No lakefront park in the immediate Chicago area offers anything rivaling the rugged terrain and spectacular lake views.
Seven Bridges Trail is part of the larger Grant Park in South Milwaukee. It consists of about 2 miles of officially designated trail, plus a network of footpaths through dramatic ravines and along the edge of a precipitous bluff along Lake Michigan.
Grant Park stairs lead to tantalizing lake views. Image credit: On Milwaukee.
The trail actually has a total of 10 bridges over a meandering creek at the bottom of the ravine. The final bridge at the bottom spans the ravine offering gorgeous views of the creek spilling into the big lake, reflecting the colors of arching tree branches and the sky. Stretching out is both directions is a secluded beach area, where, even in summertime, you can pass several peaceful hours away from the crowds.
Located north of Milwaukee along Lake Michigan shoreline, this nature center merits a day-long visit. There are 6 miles of hiking trails over 185 acres of forests, ponds, prairies, and lakeshore, plus raptor programs featuring 15 different birds of prey.
The visitor's center is a sustainably designed building that's an exhibit in its own right. Hiking the trails is the best way to explore everything this spot has to offer, and there's something here for visitors of all ages and abilities.
The Observation Tower provides a sweeping view of the nature preserve and Lake Michigan. For those seeking a more remote hiking experience, there's a low-traffic Woodland Loop complete with a spot called Solitude Marsh.
Another great (though sometimes muddy) area for visitors looking for some alone time is the West Meadows Loop. You’ll walk along a few ponds, where you can see Eastern Bluebird houses, prairie flowers in summer, but likely not run into anyone else.
When you're done exploring the trails, you can head down to Lake Michigan and the beach. Like the other two areas cited here, it takes a bit of effort to get there, which protects it from excessive crowds and urban commotion. Plus, look at the shade!
If you can't manage a drive out of Chicago, here's a phenomenal option for a car-free day trip: you can use your bike to get to possibly the only slice of wild beach in Cook County, IL: Openlands Lakeshore Preserve.
To make this a successful day-trip, you must not dawdle, or you will find the day slipping away from you, and you will feel rushed. The idea is to have a relaxing one-day vacation.
Leave early. Ideally, have your daypack ready the night before. Have your coffee, shower, and just head out before other things start to intrude.
Pack compactly but well: chair or hammock for lounging, swim suit & towel in summertime (a light blanket might be a good idea in the fall), book or journal, sketchbook, knitting, whatever is your thing.
Whether you use my suggestions, or plan your own outing, pick a trail with a decent length, someplace that requires you to put in a little effort to get to the destination. This is how you get away from crowds.
Choose a location with a scenic and/or secluded mid-point stop, and set up your "camp".
Bring along some food and beverages you can enjoy, so that you can really relax and sink into the place, rather than rush around trying to figure out where to get lunch. I recommend real food, such as:
Precooked omelet or potato-egg scramble with slices of bacon.
Pack or buy a sandwich (you could get one of the spectacularly delicious Reubens from David's in New Buffalo, see below). If you wanna get fancy, a wonderful addition to an improvised outdoor sandwich is a small portion of treats from a grocery olive bar.
Pieces of roast chicken, or any similarly portable dinner leftovers that can be enjoyed unheated.
Insulated container full of home-made ice tea. Leave the lemon out to put in just before drinking.
Don't forget utensils!
You can pack your food with a little ice-pack, but I find that on these short trips, wrapping everything in a beach towel I'm bringing along anyway works just fine.
You can get to Grand Mere via I94, but I strongly suggest getting off at exit 19 in Indiana, and following Route 12, which becomes Red Arrow Highway in Michigan. You will find wonderful local delights such as Over Yonder Dunes Gift Shop featuring local crafts and vintage finds; David's Deli & Coffee, a bustling coffee house in New Buffalo, more than holding its own against the nearby Starbucks; or Whistle Stop grocery just north of Union Pier for bracing coffee, delectable scones and lunchtime edibles.
If you're heading toward Milwaukee, you may want to take a quick detour in Racine to visit the historic Wind Point Lighthouse.
And, because a trip back home can be a bit of a downer, why not stretch that vacation vibe, and stop for a beer on the way back?
On a summer afternoon in Milwaukee, you can't do better that Hubbard Park Beer Garden, a cozy and rustic hideaway with views of the river, a log lodge, and plenty of shade. You can walk off the beer at the nearby Riverside Park, featuring beautifully naturalized trails.
On the Michigan side, stop at Ghost Isle Brewery with gorgeous views of the Galien River complete with a bald eagles' nest. Afterwards, head out to the nearby Galien River County Park with an elevated tree walk, and aerial marshland views.
By the time you're ready to head home, rush hour will be over 😀.
We're never out of ideas for how to incorporate those medicinal outdoor microescapes into your life!
Off-the-beaten-path destinations, small adventure ideas, and gear for those yearning to breathe the big air around the incomparable coastline of Lake Michigan. Delivered FREE once a week.