lmrussell

Does anyone have any idea for eight 40 year old women for a 3 night weekend trip. Heard that their are places around Michigan Lake that are beautiful but have never been there. Looking to rent cottage on water, or inn and want restaurants and bars within walking distance, if possible. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

annesherrod

When is the trip?

lake MI is great but unless you have booked a cottage already for the summer, there is little chance you will find one that you like. I have been in that situation once. You could probably find an Inn or hotel though. Saugutuck is nice. It is not to far up the coast where you could get to from Chicago Airport quickly.
There are bars and restaurants and shops to keep you busy. There are beaches too for a swim...

Have fun!!

lmrussell

Thank you very much for that info. We would like to go in July or Aug. I will look into a hotel/inn. Thanks again!

travel_addict

Have you considered Mackinac Island? My girlfriends and I go up there every year and have a blast. Check out Mackinac.com or Mackinacisland.org.

Some of my other favorite places on Lake Michigan to consider are Grand Haven, Saugatuck, Pentwater, Manistee, Frankfort, and Petoskey. You may be able to still find some rentals - check the local Chamber of Commerce sites or visitor's bureaus.

lmrussell

Thank you! No I have never heard of any of those places. Actually I have never even been to Michigan. So I will look into these as well.

travel_addict

Where are you coming from and what do you like to do when you & the other women get together? Are you looking for a wild night life, or just some good restaurants with a bar or two afterwards? And what about shopping or outdoor activities?

The reason I like Mackinac Island is that there are no cars allowed on the island - just bikes and horse & carriages. You can rent both on the island too. There's a nice trail that goes all the way around - about 8 miles I think - and it's great for a scenic bike ride. If you want to bring your own bikes, there are bike racks everywhere and you can bring them over on the ferry for a small fee.

The downtown area, which is where 90% of the accommodaions are, has plenty of good restaurants and bars. They even have a pub crawl tradition up there. (No cars, no drunk driving!) There's lots of cool shops, some parks, and beautiful old homes (more like mansions) all over. There's plenty to do for a long weekend, plus you're surrounded by water which is always a good thing!

Let me know if you want more info about Mackinac Island, or any of the other cities I mentioned earlier.

Heidi

lmrussell

Thanks Heidi. Most of us are actually coming from Pittsburgh. We have gone to PutInBay, Ohio before and I was trying to talk the group into going to Key West(which is one of my favorite spots) but I think we will save that for next year. One of my friends would be coming from Chicago that is why we were trying to find something where each of us can drive to. I appreciate your description. That sounds exactly like the type of place that we would like! Want to be able to go out for drinks, but dont want to drink and drive. Want to hang out by the water and "catch up." Sounds quite charming too. Already started looking at the site you mentioned. Thanks again for great info.

travel_addict

You're welcome - glad to help. If you end up going, here's a couple of suggestions for places to go:

- The Grand Hotel - you can eat there without having to stay there. They have a great lunch buffet - very worth the price. Plus, afterwards, you can hang out on the big front porch and walk the grounds. You can do this without lunch, but there's a $5 (?) fee - might as well enjoy a lunch!

- Horn's bar & the Pink Pony usually have some great bands and are fun places to hang out at.

Also, the Inn on Mackinac is a great place to stay. There are lots of other good places, but what I like about this place is the huge wrap around porch. It's great for morning coffee, afternoon naps, or happy hour. It's also a few blocks away from downtown (easy walk) so it's a bit quieter at night. We always bring our own alcohol and munchies and have happy hour on the porch before going out.

Have fun wherever you go!

dmkujat

...if you've ever seen the movie "Somewhere in Time" you will see Mackinac Island at its finest. If you haven't seen the movie, rent it and I guarantee you will want to visit there. I live in Petoskey, so if you would like any info, feel free to email me at [email protected]. Petoskey has a great shopping district and great restaurants, as does nearby Harbor Springs. I guarentee you will love it. However, late August/Sept. is your best bet for visiting, as July is PACKED!