Best route to tour most of Michigan-Help!

Old Jan 18th, 2017, 03:05 PM
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Best route to tour most of Michigan-Help!

Hi, My family of 4 (teen kids) will be visiting many cities in Michigan. We are flying into Detroit and have about 10 days.We would also like to drive into Windsor for a day or two. My problem is that I can't figure out the best route...it seems that there is so much driving time, as there are many locations without things to do in between. Here are the cities / places we are planning on visiting:

Detroit and drive across bridge to Windsor
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (Glen Arbor)
Mackinaw City
Tahquamenon Falls State Park, UP
Maybe Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (this might be too far NW)
Saugatuck
Holland
Frankenmuth
Saginaw
Petosky ? (is it worthwhile)
Traverse City ? (is it worthwhile)
Flint ? (is it worthwhile)

Thanks!
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Old Jan 18th, 2017, 09:18 PM
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Hi family of 4!

We live in Michigan and can help you out. I actually did an article on my new blog that will show you many of these places. The route takes you up the West side of Michigan along the coast. DEFINITELY the really pretty side. Flint - not worth while at all, Detroit - is OK, but honestly just too busy to enjoy. The cities on my blog go up to Traverse City - MUST do, but no farther north. If you have time, go further up north. Petosky is gorgeous and anywhere in the UP is amazing. I am in Grand Rapids and its a great city with lots to do as well, then I would head over here from Detroit, over to Holland and up to Traverse City along the coast (US 31).

Here is my link: http://livea4blife.com/top-5-places-...-west-coast-2/

Glen Arbor is fantastic too! Here is a video we made when we went there - http://livea4blife.com/

We are getting ready to head out RVing the country. Where are you from?

Hope this helps you out - if you have any further questions, feel free to ask!
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Old Jan 18th, 2017, 09:19 PM
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If you want to write us direct (this is my first time on fodors) you can email [email protected]
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Old Jan 18th, 2017, 09:28 PM
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Welcome to Fodors Livea4BLife. Good info but just a heads up 1) advertising is not allowed on Fodors (yes you linked to your blog but your site is commercial) and 2) we like to share info here on the forums not behind the scenes

So -- definitely join in and continue to participate but probably not with the commercial links/e-mails . . . If the editors think someone is advertising they will ban the account.
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Old Jan 19th, 2017, 01:21 PM
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Thanks for the info, Livea4BLife. I will check it out. We figure we would go to Greek town either the first or last night in Detroit. I also think there is an outdoor market on Saturday mornings there. To answer you question, we are from South Florida (Ft. Lauderdale area) Any recommendations in Windsor?
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Old Jan 19th, 2017, 02:05 PM
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In the Detroit area, I would suggest you visit Henry Ford's Greenfield Village in Dearborn and, of course, the Detroit Institute of Art.
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Old Jan 19th, 2017, 05:27 PM
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Shoutout for Dearborn, my childhood home, visiting the Henry Ford Greenfield Village or the Museum. Always enjoyed the Village more, especially the Swanee riverboat. Fun to be outside and venture into homes and businesses from ages ago. Then a visit to Ann Arbor having lunch at Zingermann's Deli and a walk on the campus of University of Michigan, my alma mater.

I would skip Flint, Saginaw & Winsor. Sleeping Bear Dunes is the best!
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Old Jan 20th, 2017, 10:23 AM
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Just a suggestion for Detroit. Visit the Eastern Market on Saturday morning, have lunch in Greektown and then visit the Detroit Institute of Arts or the Detroit Historical Museum in the afternoon. You could then walk to any of the wonderful restaurants in midtown for dinner. Maybe take a ride on the People Mover from the Greektown station inside the casino. If you have a sweet tooth, do not miss Astoria Bakery.

On your second day you could drive to The Henry Ford. I am not sure if you could fit both the Village and the Museum into one day so you may have to pick.

Unless there is something specific that you want to see in Windsor, the only draw I see is the casino. To be honest, Windsor does not have much to offer. In the summer they have a beautiful park along the river but you can see the same from the Detroit River Walk.

There is nothing to see in Flint.

There is a lot of driving in Michigan. Detroit is the Motor City.
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Old Jan 20th, 2017, 04:41 PM
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Hello Staci,

I don't think you said what time of year you are visiting. Also, it would help if you stated what sort of activities you and your family enjoy.

Thirdly, You say you have about 10 days to visit, and you have listed 13 areas / cities to visit. I would recommend that you cut that list at least in half. I will agree with others that Flint and Windsor can be deleted from this trip. Pictured Rocks is very pretty, but I agree that it is too far of a drive with this many stops on it.

I think Saginaw and Frankenmuth can be eliminated also - Frankenmuth is a nice touristy town, but on the opposite side of the state from the majority of your destinations. Saginaw does not have any great locations that recommend themselves. Tahquamenon Falls are beautiful, but perhaps you can see those on a future trip, since it will add a bit to your road traveling.

Lastly, since you are going to Mackinaw City, I would recommend a day trip to Mackinac Island; there is plenty of historic sites to visit there. If I had a choice of either seeing Petoskey or Traverse City, I would take Petoskey. Both are great towns, but Petoskey is a good deal smaller and more doable in a short time.

Good luck.
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Old Jan 20th, 2017, 04:44 PM
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P.S. - Livea4BLife posted, "Detroit - is OK, but honestly just too busy to enjoy."

I have no idea what that means. And Detroit is far more interesting than "just OK".
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Old Jan 20th, 2017, 05:01 PM
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Thanks to everyone for your feedback. I will take Flint, Saginaw, and Windsor off the list. Gardendiva,I am looking forward to exploring the Eastern Market and love the Greek town idea for lunch. Bedar, I think we will spend the afternoon at the Greenfield Village. Gailscout, how far is to Ann Arbor from Greenfield Village? Maybe we can do dinner at Zingermann's Deli. Sounds like I have Day 1 set to go! MargaretandTony, we plan to travel in mid. June. We enjoy exploring the outdoors, culture, food, etc. Not too big on museums when we travel because we do that a lot at home. Thanks again
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Old Jan 21st, 2017, 10:19 AM
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staci1 - about 40 miles, or 1 hour.
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Old Jan 21st, 2017, 12:57 PM
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staci1, the Detroit Historical Museum is a condensed history of Detroit. You can see the whole thing in less than 2 hours. I am not much of a museum person either but this kept my attention.

One other place I forgot to mention. The Guardian Building. It is one of the most beautiful buildings that I have every been in. They offer tours but just visiting the lobby is wonderful.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 06:14 PM
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Staci---What interests you in Saugatuck & Holland? (that's where I am) Depending on your interests, I could suggest yeh or nay.
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Old Jan 24th, 2017, 05:15 PM
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Thanks, gardendiva. I will consider the museum and check out the Guardian Building for sure. In Saugatuck, I am interested in checking out the art galleries, shops, restaurants, etc. Any specific places to check out? In Holland, we are planning to visit the windmill, the Nelis Dutch Village. Is there a good place to stay in the area? Thanks
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Old Jan 24th, 2017, 05:16 PM
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The Saugatuck/Holland reply was directed to tomboy. Thanks
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Old Jan 24th, 2017, 07:00 PM
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Numerous galleries in Saugatuck; some good restaurants: Lucy's Little Kitchen, Belvedere Inn, Clearbrook Country Club (2 mi from downtown), Butler; in Douglas (across river) Everyday People Cafe; in Fennville: Salt of the Earth***

The Holland windmill might be interesting. The city makes quite an effort to plant quite a variety of plants there. Holland was won top awards in the America in Bloom contest five years running. So make an effort to view the municipal plantings.
Drive by the pickle factory...all Heinz' pickles in the US are made here! Used to be, all Lifesaver candy was made here also, until the government-subsidized sugar price got so high that the plant moved to Canada (under Nafta).
We have some nice art galleries, also. Holland is somewhat of a silent retirement mecca. A nicely maintained, modern downtown. Several good restaurants: Butch's***; Boatwerks; Alpenrose; Pereddie's; Salt & Pepper. There are numerous others of good quality, but those are our favs.

Dutch Village??

There are many chain hotels (and Haworth Inn) in Holland, one in Saugatuck.

You're from South Florida, so I won't point you to Lake Michigan. But our county parks are (from this non-native's perspective) exceedingly and remarkably attractive. The best is Rosy Mound Natural Area, about 15 miles north. A concrete walkway from the parking lot thru the fore-dunes, then up the dunes (maybe 130 steps) to the top of a large dune, overlooking Lake Michigan from maybe 150' up.

Hope this is helpful. Enjoy
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Old Jan 25th, 2017, 02:42 AM
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tomboy, Awesome feedback. I will be going to the pickle factory for sure, will research the restaurants. I'm very excited. I'll try to check out the dunes at the Rosy Mound. We will be visiting dunes in other locations. Is there much difference? It is sure a novelty to us because Florida is so flat. Thanks again.
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Old Jan 25th, 2017, 06:15 AM
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Glad it's helpful.

The pickle factory's just a drive-by; as industrial buildings go,it's a C-. No big loss if you don't see it. It's interesting to me that one building can supply 300MM people's pickles. Or Lifesavers.

Re dunes: unless you're a dune maven, one must consider time.
If you want the BIGGEST dune, I'd say Sleeping Bear Dune at National Lakeshore, near Traverse City. But that's maybe 3 hours out of a day (an hour going, an hour coming, an hour gawking) if you were staying in TC. Versus Rosy Mound (maybe 70% as high) 15 minutes from Holland. Then there's Mount Pisgah, a high dune (maybe 60%), a county park right IN Holland (150 steps to the top). Much depends on your available time...in Holland, and in TC. If time were tight both places, but I did want to see a dune (they're higher than the ones at Kitty Hawk NC), I'd do Pisgah.
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Old Jan 25th, 2017, 06:16 AM
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Oh, re the Upper Peninsula: Pictured Rocks is nice, but quite a drive. Not too much other than pine trees on the way.
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