Around Elk Lake: Find the fun in April

Around Elk Lake: Find the fun in April: Just because it is rainy and the fog is rolling in and out over the lake doesn't mean you have to follow in my dog, Sassy's, foot...

Find the fun in April

Just because it is rainy and the fog is rolling in and out over the lake doesn't mean you have to follow in my dog, Sassy's, footsteps.  Yeah sure, once in a while you can take a day and flop on the couch, but there is so much to do up here around the lake, even in April.  There are two publications that I think are really beneficial to find out what is happening around Elk Lake and the surrounding towns.  They are, "Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine" and the "Elk Rapids News".
The "Traverse" Magazine is published once a month and always includes events that are going on in that month along with dining and interesting articles about local people and businesses.  In the April 2017 edition, one of the articles talks about camping in April and the advantages of camping this time of year. 
As a side note, when my son was in high school, he and about ten of his friends talked me into taking them camping for a weekend in March.  I have vowed never to do that again!  However, I believe I would like to try camping in April with a bunch of friends (no more camping with high schoolers!).  In fact just the other day, I passed the campground in Traverse City and there were a handful of campers there.  Maybe they read the article too.
"Traverse" Magazine also often lists classes that you can take just for fun, like gardening, painting and cooking.  Some of the classes mentioned are given by private citizens and local businesses while others are through the local community college.  Taking a class is a great way to meet new people and have fun while you learn.
The Elk Rapids News is a small newspaper that often highlights local people and focuses on what is going on at the schools in Elk Rapids.  It also includes calendars of events, much of which happens in the libraries of Elk Rapids, Bellaire and Alden.  In fact, the libraries in these villages are quite active with not just the usual storytime for children, but also they host activities such as knitting and playing mahjong.
And when you get a weekend like we had his past one where the sun is out and the southerly wind blows across the lake, there's nothing like cleaning out the garden and spying the crocuses and other flowers that are pushing through the soil and heralding the end of winter snow and the beginning of warmer, sunnier days.

 

 

Elk Rapids News. Weitschat, K. (Ed.). Elk Rapids, MI.

 

Traverse: Northern Michigan's Magazine. Fellows, D. (Ed.). A MyNorth Media Publication,

     Traverse City, MI: Prism Publications, Inc.