Fayette State Park, MI

Mommy always gets really excited when we sail to Fayette, MI. “Kona! We are going to your favorite place!”  I never really understand her, all I know is we have to take a long boat ride to get there. Sometimes it is scary and she cuddles me underway and sometimes it is a really nice sail.  This past trip it was so nice coming up Big Bay de Noc that we sat on the deck and watched as Captain sailed us really close to the escarpment.

Once we dock in Fayette my nose reminds me why I love it here so much. All the memories! The beach, the frisee field and the hikes!  I also really love it here because it is one of the few places where my people always grab a dock and I don’t have to take a dinghy ride to do my business.  The docks here are super simple and mommy says that is why. I think mommy also loves all the attention the boat and I get when tourist come to chat with us on the dock. 

We are in a state park, so mommy keeps me on the docks or on a leash while the park is open.  The days are really long so she can take me for an early morning walk and late evening walks that let me play off leash.  But even last night when she was playing Frisbee with me a park ranger drove by.  He rolled down his window and said “I’m just making a U-turn!” and waved we took that as a good sign that as long as I’m a good dog and away from the public I could continue to play.

Fayette has at least three places where I can go swimming and many open spaces for Frisbee.  Being a historical mining town set amongst the escarpment the views can’t be beat.

I can swim at the Slag Beach.  Slag beach gets 2 paws mostly because it is 100% rocks and not very large.  It can be busy especially around sunset so I don’t even get to play.  The nicest thing about this beach is the water drops off quickly so when my humans get to play ball I am swimming most of the time.  Mommy says we can’t take any rocks from this beach as they are part of the history of the old mining town, even if she enjoys picking them up and admiring them.

I can swim at the public beach.  This beach is half a mile down a dirt road, just past the camp ground.  For sure a 3 Paw beach.  We like to visit when it isn’t the weekend so the crowds here are usually pretty light.  We often see more humans down further in the marked swimming area. I make my own swim area to the north and have it all to myself.  The beach here is mostly sand and sand bottom underwater as well. 

I can swim at the “Frisbee pitch” at mom calls it. Right by our boat there is a nice green space. We have seen humans get married here and it overlooks the entire park.  There are some pilings leftovers from the company town that I have to avoid as I can’t swim amongst those and would get stuck. I can also play Frisbee here which is my prefer game of choice.  3 our of 4 paws as it is very public and I have to be on my best behavior to recall should people show up.

 Overall I give Fayette 4 out of 4 paws with extra tail wags for hikes and ice cream for my people and being a dock dog.  While each place isn’t quite perfect, my overall time at Fayette is very happy and mom is right, I love it here.