Vacation to Escanaba: DNR Pocket Park

Each day of our vacation, Dave still had to go to work. He was taking a Forest Protection Officer class, which taught more about interacting with the public and diffusing confrontational situations, and now that he's done, he has his FPO status and can write tickets, if necessary. The class took place on the U.P. fairgrounds in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Pocket Park.















It's basically what it sounds like--a tiny park tucked into a little corner of town.












































It was gorgeous and so well maintained. The focal point of the park is the pond, which is shaped like Michigan's upper peninsula.





























There was also an archery range and a rifle range that is open during the state fair.





























Jed had a great time petting the animal targets when we met Dave for lunch on Tuesday.















We climbed the stairs to the fire tower. I can't remember now if it is just a replica or is an actual fire tower that they relocated to the pocket park, but it was full of antique equipment used in fire towers, like fire extinguishers, maps and binoculars.















Jed loved peeking at the stuff in the fire tower--and Smokey Bear!















Jed found a broken fishing bobber and carried it around the rest of the week.















Thursday, we went back to have lunch with Dave again. After we ate, we pulled out the fishing tackle that they keep in the garage at the park and tried our luck with the sunfish/bluegill hybrids stocked in the pond.
We had a blast! We caught so many fish--about 20 in half an hour.















Dave caught the first fish.




















We tried to get Jed to hold the pole when a fish was on, or to touch the fish once we had reeled it in, but he wanted nothing to do with it.















He thought it was fun to see us dealing with them, but when we encouraged him to get close, he would run away, yelling "I don't like that!" We'll make a fisherman out of this boy yet--never fear!















I have never caught sunfish before and was surprised at how fierce they are for their size.















A tiny guy escaping from Dave's hands.

I am really glad we could explore the pocket park. It was so pretty and we had so much fun climbing around and fishing. I feel so lucky that Dave's job takes us so many cool and interesting places and that we get to see and do so many things! It was a great week in Escanaba--a perfect "last hurrah" as the three of us before our baby brother joins us in just a couple more weeks.