My husband and I visited Leelanau State Park for the fourth – or fifth – time over the weekend of Juneteenth in 2025. This was the first time we’d ever rented one of the three cabins available to rent at the park. We’d camped in tents the other times.

Leelanau State Park is located at the tip of the aptly named Leelanau Peninsula roughly 45 minutes north of Traverse City.

Nearly all of the campers in the park were using tents, though we did see a few van campers and maybe a couple of travel trailers.

Two of the cabins are virtual twins – the Hemlock and Spruce cabins located near the front gate. Both will sleep four and have electricity, a microwave, an electric wall heater and a fridge.

I’m actually surprised that one of the cabins wasn’t called “Cedar,” since those trees are so prevalent in the campground. It smelled so nice!

Outside each of the cabins  there is a covered front porch (we’d never stayed in a mini-cabin with one, it was pretty baller) a real covered charcoal grill, four Adirondack chairs and a fire pit. Restrooms were of the rustic vault variety, and water had to be obtained from spigots situated throughout the campground.

We thought the water provided in the campground was a bit too “rusty” looking to actually drink, but we did use it for our solar shower, and to wash our hands. We used the same LaCroix that we used for mixing drinks at night to keep us hydrated during the day!

The third cabin is called Evergreen and has a different, slightly more spacious layout. It would be more ideal for families, while the other two are ideal for couples. Or families who don’t mind being cramped!

I did not take photos of this cabin since it was occupied while we were there. That is just not how I roll (respect other campers’ privacy is my motto).

You know who didn’t respect privacy? A raccoon who paid a visit to our “sister” cabin on the third night of our trip.

My husband and I were sitting by our campfire when I heard a loud clatter. Turns out it was a…

The critter was helping itself to a Jeffrey Dahmer sized cast iron stock pot filled with whatever it was the Gen Z couple next door to us decided not to put away when they went to bed. He or she stuck half of its body into the pot and nommed on it with very, very visible gusto.

My husband took the opportunity to use his new night vision goggles to watch this happening. Sadly, he hasn’t gotten the hang of using all of its features yet, so we don’t have a recording of this or a photo. You’ll have to use your imagination!

This raised questions – first, why did they leave food outside in an area that recently had a bear sighting (flyers posted about it throughout the park)? Also, why use a huge stock pot to cook for… Just two people?

What’s funny is the guy’s Instagram wannabe influencer girlfriend wearing a crop top, leggings (so so impractical when it’s hot and humid) and a messy ponytail –  wasn’t interested –  at all – in what he’d cooked for dinner. Poor guy – he’d obviously gone to considerable effort to prepare this gargantuan meal over their campfire. More for him and Rocky Raccoon then? 🦝 😋

Our first two nights, we had pretty nice weather for sleeping. That third night though…good thing I brought a couple of little fans to help keep us cool!

I’m tellin’ ya – summer 2025 just showed up like immediately, didn’t it? No advance phone call or text letting us know it was coming? More like “Hello, I’m here now, get your bug spray or Thermacell, like right now, and for f—s sake stay away from the beach because I brought a zillion of my friends. By the way, sand flies are my friends – are y’all cool with that?”

It seemed that the very second temps reached 85 degrees Fahrenheit – the flies were setting up camp on the beach with their little tiny beach umbrellas, tiny Yeti coolers, inflatable toys and itty-bitty solar radios. Even the high cut merino wool socks I put on to discourage them did absolutely NOTHING to stop them from feasting on my ankle flesh with the same gusto as the trash panda on that last night! I think they all go to bed early, because they don’t tend to be bothersome after dark.

It’s all good! When you camp, you’re in the house of Nature, after all. Remember that the wildlife has to put up with YOU more than anything else! As a human, all you can do is try to adapt. This means don’t leave food lying outside! And prepare for the  bugs as best as you can! Also, raccoons can’t open Igloo Playmate coolers that have the little side button (though they will try).   We learned this the hard way on a camping trip years ago (our cooler has claw marks on it)!

Here are some more shots from our trip..