looks like a beach, sounds like a beach...

The Great Lakes...

...so vast that they are called inland oceans...

This was our first time visiting any of the huge lakes and I have to tell you, it was a strange experience.  Strange?  Yes...

You see, they really ARE like inland oceans.  There is water farther than your eyes can see...

...there are winds and waves...

...sand dunes and the grasses that grow at a typical beach...

...even the sounds are very much like being at the ocean.  The only thing missing is the smell!  That wonderful salty smell that only the ocean has.  It was a strange thing to see and feel all these things that scream ocean, only there was absolutely no smell.  I caught myself breathing deeply several times expecting salt air and almost choking because it was just THAT weird to me (maybe i'm what's weird, but that's ok too ;)haha!).

Anyway, lack of smell aside, we really enjoyed our time there.  We took a walk along the edge of the water, then we drove back over towards the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center. 

"hello :)"

"look, mom, a water horse egg!"...indeed it is...

The Florida Tropical House on Lakefront Drive

We had stopped by earlier in the day to pick up Jr. Ranger books and while we were over there we paid a visit to the Chellberg Farm.

There are lots of trails in this section of the park, we followed the one that led past the sugar barn where they make maple syrup...

...and on to the farm...

When we were done at the VC, we decided to take a little drive...

to MICHIGAN! 

Indiana was state number 45 that we have visited and Michigan makes 46, woohoo :)!  We basically gave Michigan a "high-five", just to say we've been there, and then we had to turn back around and make some Western progression. 

***Michigan, we'll for sure be back one day when we have time to stay for a while.  Soon, I hope, because from what I've seen and heard you sure are pretty...