W.J. Hayes State Park

Two lakes, a beach, and room to breathe. W.J. Hayes State Park sits on Wamplers Lake Road in Onsted, out in the Irish Hills, with public grounds spread across two lakes - boat launch, fishing, swimming, and geocaching all on the menu. Open every day from 8 AM to 10 PM, with a Michigan Recreation Passport getting you through the gate.

The beach is the headline. Grassy with picnic tables, grills, and shallow water that families consistently call out as great for kids. Affordable concessions are on site if you didn't pack a cooler, and the bathrooms and campground both have a clean reputation worth knowing.

Trade the car for trees and water for a few hours, then loop back toward Tecumseh or anywhere else around the Irish Hills for food. Easy outdoor reset that costs less than most of the alternatives in the area.

Dogs are welcome and the layout is approachable enough for short visits. Bring a chair, a cooler, and a plan to do not much. Worth the drive from Ann Arbor on a summer Saturday.