Location for Proposed Midwest Forums Rally

[overlander64]

Greetings All!

This is a follow-up survey to the one posted about dates. It would probably be helpful to know a preferred location for the Rally as well. It seems that the Upper-Midwest has been the focus of the related thread, so I will include options for the states that have been discussed.

Kevin

[Pick]

Picked up a Michigan camping digest at the Cleveland RV show. There is no shortage of campgrounds in Michigan. I have never camped in Michigan.

[jcanavera]

If you consider Missouri the western side of the Midwest, Ohio east, you will probably find that Illinois or western Indiana is probably equidistant from most of the midwestern states.

Jack

[ALANSD]

As a southerner, I could possibly make a rally in Indiana or Illinois.
Trailer Life has an article on a nice Illinois town this month..also Southern Illinois near to Kentucky..would be quite accessible. Are we talking about June or July?

[Silvertwinkie]

I would love to have one of these around here!

I could make almost anything in:

Northern Illinois
Northern Indiana
Southern Wisconsin

I will say though, for those who don't mind not having utility connections, there are some absolute gems in the upper penninsula of Michigan that I would recommend every day of the week and twice on Sunday, particularlly in the Iron Mountain area and Munising. Most will not find these places on those new campground books. You have to have the old Rand McNalley book or know the area to be able to navigate on the DNR's (Department of Natural Resources) website.


Regards!

Eric

[73ANDY]

How about somewhere near Jackson Center, Ohio?
Or has this been mentioned and I missed it.

rick

[bhsl8]

I second what Eric said. In particular, the Porcupine Mountains State Park is incredible. It actually has two camping units, one with lots of outlets, showers and flush toilets and one that is a little more rustic without amenities but half of which does allow generators. There are miles of hiking trails, easily accessible waterfalls and the Lake of the Clouds all for your viewing pleasure. Admittedly, it is a bit out of the way but it is my favorite place to camp in the Midwest. The park is on Lake Superior just north of the Wisconsin border and a bit west of Ontonogin, Michigan.
Brouck

[jcanavera]

While there are some real nice places in the states that form the borders of the Midwest, I still think our best chance to get this off the ground (at least for the first time) is to select something that evens out the driving for most folks.

Jack

[Jabba]

I agree that would be a fair way, still. What is going to be the cutoff date? I think Kevin started the poll and gave it a 30 day run, it's got to be getting close to the end...

[overlander64]

Greetings Jason!

The poll was posted on February 5 with a 30-day run. If my calculations are correct, the poll has another four days to run.

Kevin

[Jabba]

Okay, Thank You for the info Kevin. I guess Saturday we'll have to move on something...

[Silvertwinkie]

How about the Mississippi Palaceds? That is pretty centrally located. If I recall there is a state park there that isn't too bad either.

I like the post that Brouck posted but maybe it is a bit far for some. Traversing Illinois south to north and then Wisconsin might be a bit much.

Eric

[bhsl8]

Hey guys, as I look at the results now northern Wisconsin looks like the winner. Obviously that can change in four days but I agree that someone who wants to come from the southern part of this area might have second thoughts about traveling so far or vice versa. So I guess what I'm asking is, what has all this gotten us? Also, have we decided on dates yet?

If we have two or three clear winners instead of just a simple plurality we can have a runoff. Maybe we need to have a runoff anyway of the more centrally located options. What do you all think?

Brouck

[Jabba]

Having spent a week home sick, which ate up a week of my vacation time, I unfortunately wouldn't be able to make a northern WI rally this year; it's a little too far for a weekend for me. A run off would keep me in the running!

[jcanavera]

Northern Wi, would also put me out of the picture.

Looks like 19 of the 31 votes cast deal with Indiana, Illinois, or southern Michigan. Seems that if we find something in the middle of all this and assuming the date is ok, you can get up to 2/3 of the respondees to attend.

Jack

[bhsl8]

As much as I would like to believe that northern Wisconsin is the center of the world I think Jack has made good sense.I guess I think somewhere in Illinois probably is the most logical. I know nothing of parks in Illinois other than the Mississippi Palisades that was mentioned earlier. May I ask again if we have decided on a time period for this soiree?

Brouck

[Jabba]

I think sometime in June seemed to be the most popular, so far...

[apple 1]

Jack is correct, if we keep to Northern Indiana, Southwest Michigan or Illinois we will keep it with in 4 hour tow for most. Any more than 4 hours tow is too far for a weekend rally.
Jim