Hey all, Johnny Marbles here.
Ok, so it has been over a year since I posted anything on the reviews sites I started last fall. Here's the skinny; Johnny's life tanked a little. It happens, right? Just as things were starting to pick up here at West Michigan in Review (and all our sister sites), Johnny and the missus had a falling out and I decided to go back to driving truck over the road. Months passed and I couldn't keep everything going on the review sites, so they hung in limbo.
But now I'm back in the area and should be stable for a while (cross your fingers for me, would ya?). Some of our reviewers left the area, others moved on in their lives and so on. So it will take a little bit of time to sort out a new crop of folks to bring you clandestine reviews of places to eat, play and shop here in West Michigan. Once we get everything back in place, WMR will be back up and running full tilt again. I hope to have all that in place by the first of 2011 and we can start a new year fresh.
So that's that, let's hit the road again and see what we can find to review!
Johnny Marbles.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Monday, September 21, 2009
Rothbury Music Festival and Double JJ Resort, Rothbury Michigan
Ok kids, lets start with one of the big camping events as our opener here at Camp West Michigan:
The Rothbury Music Festival
Rothbury Festival Site
Double JJ Resort Site
Every year tens of thousands flock to the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury Michigan, just off US 31 north of Muskegon for the Rothbury Music Festival over the 4th of July weekend. Camping there is something of an experience compared to most other camping locations and events along the lakeshore, as almost everyone who comes into the event camps on the resort property. The organizers do a great job of taking care of their campers and have many interesting amenities you might not expect, like solar powered cellphone charger stations and event wide recycling.
A quick search of the rothbury site will let you know about all the activities beyond music that happen, and will give you a list of who is expected to play.
But this is Camp West Michigan, not just a review of the Rothbury Music Festival! Let's tell you a little more about the Double JJ (like fun trivia... the JJ stands for “Jack and Jill”!).
They have a lot to offer at the Double JJ Ranch and Resort beyond the huge music festival over the 4th of July weekend every year. Here is a little except of their site info:
“Welcome to Western Michigan's premier family vacation destination, Double JJ Ranch, Waterpark and Golf Resort - home of the ROTHBURY Festival! With the addition of our indoor waterpark, Double JJ now offers three unique activities all at one resort.”
No joke, they do have an extensive indoor water park, so if you decide that you want to get on a water slide over Thanksgiving break, you now can! They even have the tallest indoor water slide in Michigan. A lot of folks choose to stay at the Double JJ when they are in the area to visit Michigan's Adventure Theme-park. That seems a little like cheating though... you get a full day of rides and water slides, then go back to the hotel for more water slides. We have to suspect you would be fairly pruny after that as well.
Beyond the Rothbury festival and the water park, there is plenty to do at Double JJ including the Arthur Hills designed Thoroughbred Golf Course (which got 4 ½ stars out of 5 by Golf Digest, and a very favorable review in Golf For Women). There is also the riding stable with miles of scenic horseback trails, RV hookups, rustic cabins and campsites and even vacation suites and condos.
Some of our snowbird friends use the Double JJ as a base camp on their way out of the state, as they take in the fall colors before fleeing the coming winter for warmer climates. Some of the amenities of the RV area include:
Open April to November
At this time, the RV Park cannot be booked online, so please call our reservations department at 1.800.DOUBLE JJ (368-2535) to inquire about RV Park reservations.
Three Types of Sites Available:
Full Hook-up
Electric & Water Only
Primitive Sites
You'll find all the "necessities" right here, too:
20 to 50 amp service
Modern bathhouse
Laundry
Dump station
On-site restaurants and snack bars
Firewood for sale
Picnic tables and fire rings
Playground
Horseshoes, tennis, basketball, volleyball, tetherball and stilts
Petting farm and pony rides
The Back Forty Swimmin' Hole, with an activity pool, zero-depth entry pool, hot tub and the awesome 150-foot waterslide
So as you can see, there is plenty of amenities there, and their rates are quite reasonable as well (though they vary, and at press time we did not have the most current yet – we will update once we get those in hand). If you find yourselves looking for a one stop family vacation spot “up north” we would recommend the Double JJ as a place to look and and consider.
The Rothbury Music Festival
Rothbury Festival Site
Double JJ Resort Site
Every year tens of thousands flock to the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury Michigan, just off US 31 north of Muskegon for the Rothbury Music Festival over the 4th of July weekend. Camping there is something of an experience compared to most other camping locations and events along the lakeshore, as almost everyone who comes into the event camps on the resort property. The organizers do a great job of taking care of their campers and have many interesting amenities you might not expect, like solar powered cellphone charger stations and event wide recycling.
A quick search of the rothbury site will let you know about all the activities beyond music that happen, and will give you a list of who is expected to play.
But this is Camp West Michigan, not just a review of the Rothbury Music Festival! Let's tell you a little more about the Double JJ (like fun trivia... the JJ stands for “Jack and Jill”!).
They have a lot to offer at the Double JJ Ranch and Resort beyond the huge music festival over the 4th of July weekend every year. Here is a little except of their site info:
“Welcome to Western Michigan's premier family vacation destination, Double JJ Ranch, Waterpark and Golf Resort - home of the ROTHBURY Festival! With the addition of our indoor waterpark, Double JJ now offers three unique activities all at one resort.”
No joke, they do have an extensive indoor water park, so if you decide that you want to get on a water slide over Thanksgiving break, you now can! They even have the tallest indoor water slide in Michigan. A lot of folks choose to stay at the Double JJ when they are in the area to visit Michigan's Adventure Theme-park. That seems a little like cheating though... you get a full day of rides and water slides, then go back to the hotel for more water slides. We have to suspect you would be fairly pruny after that as well.
Beyond the Rothbury festival and the water park, there is plenty to do at Double JJ including the Arthur Hills designed Thoroughbred Golf Course (which got 4 ½ stars out of 5 by Golf Digest, and a very favorable review in Golf For Women). There is also the riding stable with miles of scenic horseback trails, RV hookups, rustic cabins and campsites and even vacation suites and condos.
Some of our snowbird friends use the Double JJ as a base camp on their way out of the state, as they take in the fall colors before fleeing the coming winter for warmer climates. Some of the amenities of the RV area include:
Open April to November
At this time, the RV Park cannot be booked online, so please call our reservations department at 1.800.DOUBLE JJ (368-2535) to inquire about RV Park reservations.
Three Types of Sites Available:
Full Hook-up
Electric & Water Only
Primitive Sites
You'll find all the "necessities" right here, too:
20 to 50 amp service
Modern bathhouse
Laundry
Dump station
On-site restaurants and snack bars
Firewood for sale
Picnic tables and fire rings
Playground
Horseshoes, tennis, basketball, volleyball, tetherball and stilts
Petting farm and pony rides
The Back Forty Swimmin' Hole, with an activity pool, zero-depth entry pool, hot tub and the awesome 150-foot waterslide
So as you can see, there is plenty of amenities there, and their rates are quite reasonable as well (though they vary, and at press time we did not have the most current yet – we will update once we get those in hand). If you find yourselves looking for a one stop family vacation spot “up north” we would recommend the Double JJ as a place to look and and consider.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
A few words about Camp West Michigan
Hey all, webmaster Johnny here. I wanted to take a moment to better explain what Camp West Michigan is all about, and give you a feel for where we are heading. First, let's start by saying Johnny's idea of camping is a hotel without room service. But some of our reviewers love to really rough it. Others are RV owners.
Our goal here is to provide you with not only information about West Michigan campgrounds, but possible lists of things to see along the roadside and nearby around these campgrounds. This is going to take a little time to pull together, but hopefully soon it will be a great source of information on a nice little get away here along Lake Michigan.
One of the things that will take a little time to fully organize is the site specifics that everyone is clamoring for; number of spaces, facilities, amenities and RV hook ups, and any special features like lake or river access. Ideally, we hope to include photographs of some fo the more spectacular locations, and those may take a bit of time to get posted.
So whether you are a visitor from out of state, or a local who did not realize how many neat little get away locations we have, I hope you find someplace interesting to you and your family here.
Webmaster Johnny.
Our goal here is to provide you with not only information about West Michigan campgrounds, but possible lists of things to see along the roadside and nearby around these campgrounds. This is going to take a little time to pull together, but hopefully soon it will be a great source of information on a nice little get away here along Lake Michigan.
One of the things that will take a little time to fully organize is the site specifics that everyone is clamoring for; number of spaces, facilities, amenities and RV hook ups, and any special features like lake or river access. Ideally, we hope to include photographs of some fo the more spectacular locations, and those may take a bit of time to get posted.
So whether you are a visitor from out of state, or a local who did not realize how many neat little get away locations we have, I hope you find someplace interesting to you and your family here.
Webmaster Johnny.
Welcome to Camp West Michigan
Hello all!
At the suggestion of one of our reviewers, we have created a little weblog to review campgrounds in West Michigan. Hopefully you can find a nice little get away for some rest and relaxation here.
At the suggestion of one of our reviewers, we have created a little weblog to review campgrounds in West Michigan. Hopefully you can find a nice little get away for some rest and relaxation here.
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