OT: Suggestions for vacation ideas in Northern Michigan
Everyone:
The family and I are thinking about spending a week at a resort in Northern Michigan (we are a family of four, with children aged 8 and 7). We are looking at late July.
Can anyone offer ideas for nice resorts (we are willing to spend for a real nice place) or things to do?
My apologies, but I live in Florida and my experience in Michigan was limited to Detroit and my years in AA.
Thank you in advance.
Ditch the resort and get a cabin around Sleeping Bear national lakeshore. Do it.
Seconded. That's a beautiful part of the state and often those "cabins" have granite counters and are much less camp-like than you think. Airbnb has a ton of places up there
Thirded? Except, expand that to a cabin anywhere along Lake Huron or Michigan. Cabins are usually less well kept than the hotels, but they provide an on-the-beach experience you aren't going to get out of a holiday inn -- campfires on the beach and such. Great fun and one of my favorite vacations.
OK....um, fourthed. Let's see how long this goes.
if you like fire pits and beach stuff, check vrbo for a house in the Leelenau Peninsula. Wineries everywhere, nice little towns and such. Great relaxing. I forgot the time you said but if you go late enough in the summer there are a bunch of apple and cherry farms where you can get awesome "heirloom" type varieties that have fallen by the wayside because they don't hold up well to mechanized picking and packing.
get a place on our near the beach and you can't go wrong. go all over the Leelanau peninsula, visit traverse city, Manitou island.
homestead has decent condos, bit cabins are much better experience.
only option that compares would be to head up the the upper peninsula near the pictured rocks/grand isle area. actually more beautiful and less expensive but it is a trek and getting up there.
I'm a camper / canoer / kayaker who has taken my kids at similar ages up north in LP and into UP a few times.
Mackinaw City
Rustic Cabins are available at Wilderness State Park
Colonial Michilimackinac - 18th century restored large wood stockade fort and fur trading village
Historic Mill Creek Discovery State Park - crafts and operating saw mill
M119 tunnel of trees scenic drive from Cross Village to Harbor Springs
Traverse City / Leelanau Penisula
Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore - Pierce Stocking Drive M109 - scenic drive with many turnouts and views: hiking available. Dune hiking along M22.
Canoeing on the Jordan River - 1, 2, or 3HR easy canoeing river in scenic wilderness area start at Graves Crossing SFCG
Close UP (60 M from Mackinac City)
Upper & Lower Taquamenon Falls - rent canoe or rowboat to take to island at lower falls
Whitefish Point - lighthouse and museum at historical treacherous point on Lake Superior
Stop to buy and eat smoked fish and pasties (traditional meat, potato, and rutabaga pies eaten by miners in the UP)
Mackinac Island (day trip w/ ferry)
only if you like overly touristy little shopping village w/ horse drawn carriages - not my cup of tea. It does have a stone-walled fort, Fort Mackinac and the Grand Hotel Resort (real pricy but can be toured for a price)
Distant UP
Munising (124 M from Mackinac City) - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - 3 HR scenic boat cruise of Lake Superior rocky cliff coastline colorfully stained by minerals.
waterfalls - the UP has a 100 of them.
We've had many trips up there, especially when the kids were younger. And there's lots of things to do. Plus, it's very scenic with the Straits, Bridge, and various Islands & lighthouses.
Wilderness State Park is a hidden gem that is very close to Mackinaw City - uncrowded most of the time and gorgeous sandy beaches on Lake Michigan. You can also go across the Bridge to the beaches on the U.P. side which are also really good.
Mackinac Island is a must see, at least a day trip. If you can stay overnight there it's even better. But, the 8 mile bike ride around the Island is a must do for families. It's almost completely flat, so it's easy especially if you take your time and stop along the way. They also have the Fort on the Island which is good for families - plus they have a restaurant up there with possibly THE best view in Michigan.
There are lots of hotels to stay at in both Mackinaw City and St. Ignace on the U.P. side. The latter is cheaper if you're on a tight budget.
Good luck with the trip.
Excited to see responses. I've lived in Michigan for 20 years and I've not done much traveling in the state at all. It's a damn shame, too. My parents aren't the outdoors types and we always did a lot more traveling abroad.
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I wasn't quite as limited in my state travels as you were, but I never saw the Mackinac bridge until after I turned 20, and didn't go to the island until after 30 when my wife and I went.
And it's unfortunate, because Michigan is a magnificent state. The natural beauty, the Great Lakes (with Lake Michigan's incomparable beaches), the massive forests, the Bridge, the waterfalls, the Island... It's outstanding. When we drive home now we go through the UP and we love it. When we get out to Sleeping Bear or to Mackinac Island or even just one of the lakes we have a blast.
Some of it benefits from an adult perspective, but my kids have enjoyed things like the Dune Climb just fine.
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Is the bomb.
I love Torch lake...There is a small bed and breakfeast called 'The Inn Torch Lake" in Aden MI. Beautiful. It's close to Traverse Citry (~20 minute drive), Shorts (~20 min drive), Old Mission Wineries (~25 minutes), and obviously on the water. Plus their is an Indian Casino not far away (~15 minutes) and other touristy sites: Sleeping Bear Dunes, Petoskey, etc...
torch lake is an amazing place. I keep talking about going back
I go to Shorts every day when I am up north at Torch. I love having a pint or two mid-day and then bringing a growler back to the lake.
Do you wear jorts to Shorts by Torch?
Are talking about the UP or northern lower Michigan? If the UP, I would suggest Marquette as a great place to go
I always spend 7-10 days in Copper Country. http://www.keweenaw.info/
On your way to Copper Country you could spend a night in Munising as it has has the Pictured Rocks and a cool glass bottom boat tour. http://www.munising.org/
if you do make it to the U.P. Bond Falls is a must see. They are the best little known water falls in Michigan.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g42554-d1845661-Reviews-Bo…
Here's another pic:
Great pics of Bond Falls! I also like the Presque Isle River Falls:
I suspect you could get a discount.
FWIW, I'm a UP/Sault vacationer but if you're just coming up once I'd recommend Grand Hotel Mackinac Island and then take a day trip to Tahquemenon Falls.
Yes do the Grand Hotel. Just make sure you remortgage your house first.
Treetops too soon? Edit beaten to the punch
Mackinac Island. The Island House is a cool place, I would recommend. A couple other cool ones whose names escape me.
There's a lot of great stuff in Northern Michigan, but if you're only gonna do one thing and you want it to be unique, I think it has to be Mackinac. You get to go over the bridge and ride a ferry before you even get to your destination. Ride on the horse drawn carriages, rent bikes and go all the way around the island. See the history of the forts. It kind of has it all.
You forgot to mention the fudge.
Of the "up north" vacations I got to do as a kid (not extensive by any means), I remember being totally entranced by Mackinac Island. I really wanted to stay in the Grand Hotel. Come to think of it, my wife and I would like very much to vacation up there.
Isle Royale is surely a magnificent destination, but it is waaaaay more remote than most of the other ideas here. It can only be accessed by boat, and one must either go to the northern fringes of the UP or swing by me on their way to the Minnesota arrowhead.
Which is to say that the OP's trip from Florida to the Michigan border will be roughly the same length as the trip from the Michigan border to the Isle. It's a hike.
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tough travel to get there, but unrivaled in the state for natural beauty
Isle Royale was far and away my #1 choice for my honeymoon. My wife wanted Hawaii.
So naturally we went to Hawaii.
Grand Traverse Resort just renovated their 17 story Tower. Saw some pics on Facebook and the new rooms are awesome.
If you're looking for a Resort experience I'd highly recommend stayIng there because Traverse City is so close by. Other Resorts in Northern Michigan are nice but they don't have TC so close by. 3 beautiful golf courses, expansive beach club and a luxury spa for the wife.
Boyne is also nice but it's in the middle of nowhere.
We had a pretty good experience at The Inn at Bay Harbor in Petoskey last year - it's family-friendly with enough to keep everyone entertained, and in northern Michigan terms, you're not too far from many of the major attractions (i.e., and hour or two). Upthread, someone suggested a cabin near Sleeping Bear Dunes - that's not a bad idea either. We've done that too and you're still close to plenty of good stuff.
This is the answer if you can afford it. Stay on the water with a beach and a pool. The resort bar/restaurant is excellent and not overpriced. Smores at the bonfire every night. There's even a little bevy of shops and another bar nearby the marina.
The next day bike into Petoskey along the absolutely beautiful shoreline, spend the day there, in town and walking out to the lighthouse (brekkers at Roast & Toast is a must).
Next day hop in the car and drive 20 minutes over to Harbor Springs, spend the day there (you can also bike it if your family's into longer bike trips, it's a gorgeous ride).
Next day, drive 20 minutes (or bike) the other direction and head to wonderful Charlevoix. It has a totally different feel from each of the others (all are unique), walk along or sit by the canal and watch the boats go by. Eat dinner outside at the little amphitheater where some talented local will be singing with a guitar. Good food and shops all over.
Next year you can decide if you like one or the other and want to stay there, or do the wonderful circle all over again. Call your friends in Florida and tell them the snow here is not so bad.
My family and I have been going to Traverse City for 25 years. We stayed at Arbutus Lake for this whole time, and this year we are going to Suttons Bay.
Plenty to do in the sun for the kids, lots of wineries and cider for adults. Honestly, when most kids year revolved around Christmas, ours was Traverse City.
I'm biased but anywhere in Leelanau county is great, particularly closer to the Dunes.
Yes. Leelanau County is awesome. I think there's over 30 wineries on Leelanau Peninsula alone. 8 or so on nearby Old Mission Peninsula. Highly recommend 2 Lads and Bowers Harbor Vineyards if you're into wine tasting.
Check out Empire, Mi. Very close to Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City Area. Many people rent their homes out for a week or 2 at a time. My uncle does this with his home. It's just off the public beach in Empire. There is about 10 homes on this stretch. Lake Michigan in front. And another lake in back. Sleeping Besr Dunes just down the beach. He goes through a local real estate firm for the rental. I can't remember what firm. But these houses are really nice.
are you planning on treating yourselves and the kids to some time at the beach on the big lake(s)? Keep in mind that Lake Superior rarely warms enough for swimming (other than the extreme eastern end of Lake Superior, in particular the Brimley area). Northern Lake Michigan (along the southern coast of the UP), on the other hand, is quite often pleasant for swimming.
I went to Macinac Island when I was a lad. I do not recall much about it, though.
3 days I'd love to experience again!
The fudge there is worth the trip alone.
Saw this while watching Fowler win the Players Championship last weekend.
I love Rickie. He is my favorite golfer.
He's color blind but definitely a good dude
you can stay at the edgewater inn right in town. rent a boat, swim at the beaches walking distance from the hotel, great shops in town, restaurants, take a boat over to beaver island for a day, rent a fishing boat and spend a 1/2 day or whole day on the big lake.
traverse is more cosmopolitan type touristy, but there is a lot to do, including going out to the sleeping bear dunes with your kids.
torch lake has become a zoo for the most part and would not suggest it for a family with young ones. it's pricey too.
One of our families most enjoyable times was a weekend in Charlevoix. Lake Michigan on one side of the village and Lake Charlevoix on the other. Great boating, fishing and ultimate relaxing. Have recommended to many here in St. Louis who were asking for similar tips on a Michigan vacation. But you really can't go wrong on Lake Michigan. Except Muskegon.
has some very things to offer, starting with two State Parks with sandy Lake Michigan beaches, Muskegon Lake, and Michigan's Adventure amusement park. Plus Grand Haven/Spring Lake area is only 5 miles to the south. LOTS of fun things to do in and around Muskegon once you look around a bit.
Home to the USS Silversides, a Gato class submarine from WWII. It is now a floating museum with a shored based museum/gift shop.
There you have it. You can't go wrong anywhere on Lake Michigan--even Muskegon is an inviting area!
I would recommend the Vista Grand Lodge in Munising and a Pictured Rocks Cruise.