Where is the craziest place you’ve ever had a sleepover?
Was it a unique hotel?
Maybe a camping trip under the stars or a night in the trees in a hammock?
For me, it was a World War II submarine!
So why did I have a sleepover in a submarine and even more specifically, next to a torpedo?
It was a “camping” trip for my son’s Cub Scout pack. Instead of heading to “camp” though, we stayed in the USS Silversides.
A little bit of history in the submarine: The vessel, which is docked in the Muskegon channel that leads out into Lake Michigan, was used in World War II. It sunk 30 vessels and destroyed another 14 making it one of the most successful submarines during World War II.
We started the sleepover adventure at the USS Silversides Museum where the scouts took part in their ROV class to learn about buoyancy and what makes a submarine float. They also built a remote-controlled underwater vehicle.
Next, it was dinner {we ordered pizza} followed by a movie and tour of the Silversides as well as the coast guard cutter, McLane, which is docked right nearby.
From there we chose our sleepover quarters, had a bonfire by the edge of the water where the scouts made s’mores, and had free reign of the museum until 10 pm.
Afterward, we hunkered down for the night. For those wondering, no they didn’t take the submarine underwater with us onboard, and no I didn’t feel the waves rocking us through the night but I could hear the waves crashing against the vessel.
Honestly, it was such a cool experience and I’m so glad I did it. I definitely recommend visiting this unique attraction. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind overnight group outing, this sleepover is a must!
