Surprise Invitation at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
On our family’s first-ever day in Wisconsin, we received a ‘Superior’ welcome.
July 14 – 17
Little Sand Bay, Russell Township, Wisconsin
Apostle Island National Lakeshore, Lake Superior
“If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5
One of the tricky parts of planning this trip is booking campsites at high demand summer destinations for our scheduled dates. A lot of time goes into researching highly reviewed RV parks near national parks and then securing reservations for our dates at big enough sites with the utility hookups we want. The park we choose has ripple effects on our visit to the area, so it’s worth the effort to fuse together these details as seamlessly as possible.
The first reservation I made for the trip was in September 2024. The reservation was for Yellowstone at the end of August 2025—a full 12 months out. I’ve been working our trip backward and forward around that benchmark reservation ever since, booking near the most competitive parks first then circling back to fill in the gaps.
One of the gaps was in Wisconsin. After crossing through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, we’d need a stop about 4-5 hours down the road. After some research, I discovered the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on the coast of Lake Superior in the small stretch of Wisconsin between Michigan and Minnesota. This spot checked many boxes, so I penciled it in and found a park near the town of Bayfield, but I waited to book the site until I found out if friends who live in Wisconsin could meet us.
It turns out I waited too long. When I went to book the big park with all the amenities, it was sold out of sites we could fit in. I scrambled to find a backup, but several of the small municipal parks nearby didn’t take reservations. Others were a long drive from the main attraction, the Apostle Islands. And then there was the fact that this area is under snow half the year, so there just aren’t many campgrounds to choose from.
I combed through a Facebook group looking for campground recommendations. And that’s where I found out about a tiny municipal park on Lake Superior called Little Sand Bay Campground that DID take reservations. And it was right beside an Apostle Islands Visitor Center. Score.
The campground had no online booking system so I called and a lady confirmed they had a site open for our dates. They didn’t take credit cards, so I mailed a check for $20 to hold the site.
Indeed, it did.
As we were driving into Wisconsin after our magical 10 days in Michigan, an unfortunate forecast was also arriving in town—a full two days of rain. Sadly, we were only scheduled to be there two days.
Nick and I talked through the plan. The most affordable way to see the islands from the water would be another $200 boat ride with 50+ passengers, a ride that would be very similar to Pictured Rocks, except in the rain on rougher waters. We decided we’d just skip the big boat ride this time and see what we could from the shore between storms.
A Veteran’s Invitation
We arrived at the campground and discovered that check-in wasn’t at an office, as it had been at every other campground. Here, check-in is at a bulletin board. As I was slipping our check into the box to pay for our site, a flyer on the board caught my eye.
“Are you a military veteran or active duty camping at Little Sand Bay campground? A local military veteran is generously offering to take you and up to 5 additional for a 90-minute boat tour of the Sand Island sea caves and lighthouse.”
Further details shared that the boat was a 26’ Boston Whaler and the boat’s owner, Captain Hal, had 10 years of local boating experience. Curious, I left a message at the number provided, not expecting a boat ride to work out between his schedule and two days of rain.
Captain Hal texted back quickly asking about our schedule and our campsite number. He stopped by our site that evening. Around our campfire and beneath a rainbow, we sorted out details for the possible boat ride the next day, weather dependent.
After accepting defeat on seeing the sea caves, waking up to a favorable forecast felt like a moment of triumph. Captain Hal happened to be wide open that morning to take us out before storms rolled in around lunchtime.
Making this invitation even more exceptional was the fact that Captain Hal’s boat was in a slip at the marina across the parking lot from our campsite. So that Tuesday morning, our first day ever in Wisconsin, our family walked the 100 yards to the marina and boarded a Boston Whaler on Lake Superior with our new friend, Captain Hal.
Being greeted in Wisconsin by Captain Hal and a rainbow.
The water to the left of the tent is the marina. So close!
Excited footsteps stumbling into a boat day
For the next two hours, Captain Hal took us to see the impressive sea caves surrounding Sand Bay Island. As we traversed the rocky shores, he shared the backstory of the National Park Service acquiring the island, as well as the history of the lighthouse. He slowed down to point out eagles hovering above their nests. He took us along the shoreline to see cliffs and archways that otherwise required a minimum 4-mile hike to reach—something the two days of rain wouldn’t have allowed.
During the boat ride, Captain Hal shared about his service in the Army. He had a low draft number, but instead of taking his chances, he finished school and joined a commissioning program with the Army. He served his required years, mostly in Europe in the early 1970s. Then he continued on with his life, a career in agriculture, and raising a family in the Midwest. As we swapped stories with this stranger-turned-friend, I couldn’t help but think what a different experience it must have been for those choosing to serve or being called up at such a perilous time in our country’s military history.
From spotting the bulletin board post to disembarking from Captain Hal’s boat, I was floored by the hospitality of this local veteran to have a standing invitation to take visiting strangers on a boat ride simply because of their military service. I left Captain Hal’s boat with a renewed awe for the military community past and present, across services and generations. I don’t know what the Lord has in store for our family’s future, but I hope that creating this feeling of welcome and wonder for others becomes part of it.
And Then There Were Cheese Curds
Just ten minutes after we stepped onto the dock, rain began to fall. It absolutely poured for 24 hours.
Rain rain go away
What’s the spell for ending storms?
After a jam-packed few weeks on the road, we embraced the forced down-time with a showing of Harry Potter and a rare dinner out at a restaurant in Bayfield, where we experienced the magical wonder of Wisconsin cheese curds.
Nate: “Life is good. But with cheese curds, it’s even better.”
Also at this dinner, I brought question cards (thanks to the thoughtful gift giver), and we spent the time answering questions about travel. In turn, this sparked some great questions from the kids about Nick’s time in the Navy. Sadie asked, “Dad, what did you actually do on your deployments?” And Nate asked, “Dad, what’s the most intense thing you did during training?” I’m not sure what it was about a rainy night in Wisconsin that prompted the sudden curiosity about their dad’s line of work, but their questions made for rich conversation.
The next day after more rain and great sleep, we ventured out to a nearby waterfall and hiked the bright green forest beside Lake Superior.
Siskiwit River Falls—a series of cascades
Apostles Island National Lakeshore hike
We came back for dinner around the campfire, a perfect way to warm up after the chilly 55-degree day.
This guy… looking more and more retired
Shortly after we finished eating, a familiar truck pulled up to our site. Captain Hal came to check on his boat and stopped by to say hello. He joined us around the campfire, and we shared more stories about boats and military life, as we would with any friend. It is wild how knowing just one person in a new place can make you feel so much more at home.
As Captain Hal stood to leave the campfire, I handed him a thank you note and a copy of My Dearest Bea. I couldn’t think of a more fitting way to thank him for the boat ride than by sharing letters written at sea by a fellow boat lover.
As I learned reading my grandfather’s letters, and as Captain Hal reminded us on Lake Superior, the depth of the military community transcends generations, politics, conflicts and wars. Growing up, serving in the military was not on my radar. The closer we get to the end of Nick’s Navy days, I’m finding myself more and more grateful the Lord carved out my path to be part of it.
Because moments like this highlight that each of us—whether serving or accompanying those who serve—become part of something so much greater.
Thank you, Captain Hal, for a magical first stay in Wisconsin!
After it stopped raining, Wisconsin sent us off with this beautiful sunset over Lake Superior. Captain Hal’s boat (on the left) is smiling back at us :)
For those just finding us, hello! Inspired by the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25, our family is embarking on a yearlong RV road trip in 2025-26 to celebrate my husband’s retirement after 20 years in Naval Special Warfare—and our 24 years together through it all. We hope this trip will give us space to reset and reflect before civilian life begins.
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