Michigan, Traverse City to Indian River
Jun 7th, 2003, 05:29 AM
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Michigan, Traverse City to Indian River
Hi,we plan on flying into Traverse City,spending the weekend there and driving towards the Indian River area for the rest of the week. Any hotel & must see areas around. Can anyone suggest a nice cottage on the water around Indian River? Would also like to check out casinos in the area. Would love to here your suggestions. We have never been to that area. Plan to go last week of July. Thanks for your help.
Jun 7th, 2003, 01:46 PM
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Millie;
I live in the Petokey area, and I can tell you, you will not be disappointed with the area, or things to do. Without knowing what your specific interests are, I would suggest you contact Holiday Accomodations in Petoskey, or the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce (231) 347-4150 for suggestions for a cottage. Burt Lake is located near Indian River and is beautiful, but pricey. For a smaller lake, try Crooked Lake, which is just north of Petoskey. There is one casino in Petoskey, Victories, which is located on US-131 just south of the city. There are also casinos just north of the Mackinaw Bridge in and around St. Ignace, if you wish to drive up to the Upper Peninsula. If shopping is your thing, you will enjoy Petoskey's Gaslight District and Harbor Springs. On your way up from Traverse City, you will want to stop in Charlevoix, which is right on Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay. If you have specific interests, let me know and I will help you out with suggestions.
I live in the Petokey area, and I can tell you, you will not be disappointed with the area, or things to do. Without knowing what your specific interests are, I would suggest you contact Holiday Accomodations in Petoskey, or the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce (231) 347-4150 for suggestions for a cottage. Burt Lake is located near Indian River and is beautiful, but pricey. For a smaller lake, try Crooked Lake, which is just north of Petoskey. There is one casino in Petoskey, Victories, which is located on US-131 just south of the city. There are also casinos just north of the Mackinaw Bridge in and around St. Ignace, if you wish to drive up to the Upper Peninsula. If shopping is your thing, you will enjoy Petoskey's Gaslight District and Harbor Springs. On your way up from Traverse City, you will want to stop in Charlevoix, which is right on Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay. If you have specific interests, let me know and I will help you out with suggestions.
Jun 7th, 2003, 03:57 PM
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Thanks dmkujat for your reply. we are supposed to meet some friends in Onaway just for a few days and they are not from Michigan either. Would you suggests we fly into Petoskey instead of Traverse City ? When we started making plans, I looked on a map & thought maybe we would see more of the state by flying into TC instead of Petoskey. What do you suggest ? Thanks a bunch, Millie
Jun 8th, 2003, 06:45 AM
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You don't fly into Petoskey. The Emmet County Airport is about 20 miles north at Pellston. Tiny airport with few flights. All are Northwest Airlines (though Continenal will show flight numbers for the NWA flights).
The flight time options into Pelston are very limited and the costs tend to be pretty high. I'm not sure if rental cars are available there. Only one or two of the flights are jets.
Since the airlines have cut back on the number of flights, ths cost into Traverse City has also gone pretty high. For the 4th of July, the cost this year is about double last year. The rental cars are also limted in selection and fairly expensive.
You might also consider flying into one of the larger airports in the southern part of the state and driving north. Not only is the cost lower and the number of options greater, it is often as quick once you allow for the plane change.
For example: driving from Grand Rapids would probably save a couple hundred a person in air fare and cut the rental costs in half. The drive from Grand Rapids to Indian River is about 3 hours.
Keith
The flight time options into Pelston are very limited and the costs tend to be pretty high. I'm not sure if rental cars are available there. Only one or two of the flights are jets.
Since the airlines have cut back on the number of flights, ths cost into Traverse City has also gone pretty high. For the 4th of July, the cost this year is about double last year. The rental cars are also limted in selection and fairly expensive.
You might also consider flying into one of the larger airports in the southern part of the state and driving north. Not only is the cost lower and the number of options greater, it is often as quick once you allow for the plane change.
For example: driving from Grand Rapids would probably save a couple hundred a person in air fare and cut the rental costs in half. The drive from Grand Rapids to Indian River is about 3 hours.
Keith
Jun 9th, 2003, 06:56 AM
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Millie;
I would have to agree with Keith...if you are budget concious, there are some better fares flying into Grand Rapids, Lansing or Flint. They are all about a 3 hour drive to "up north", and in fact, Flint would be the quickest route up I-75 to Onaway. Now, the question would be, do you want to save money and get to your destination (Onaway/Indian River) quickly, or would you rather spend a few extra bucks and take your time driving to Indian River and take in some scenery? If you have the time, stick with your original plan of flying into TC and driving up US-31 along the water. Some really cute towns, nice views too. But give yourself a full day to come up so you can stop in Charlevoix and Petoskey and do a little shopping. You can fly into Pellston, it is a small airport, but fine if you can get a reasonable fare and the time works out. They have put in more jets and better times for the summer, so you might have better luck with it. You would be closer to Indian River, but then you would have to go south to get to see Charlevoix, Petoskey and Harbor Springs. A MUST, is the drive up M-119 from Harbor Springs to at least Cross Village. It is one of the most scenic rides in the USA! And up in Cross Village is a great little restaurant, the Legs Inn, right on the water and authentic Polish Food...really a great stop. If you want other restaurant ideas for Charlevoix, TC or Petoskey, let me know!
I would have to agree with Keith...if you are budget concious, there are some better fares flying into Grand Rapids, Lansing or Flint. They are all about a 3 hour drive to "up north", and in fact, Flint would be the quickest route up I-75 to Onaway. Now, the question would be, do you want to save money and get to your destination (Onaway/Indian River) quickly, or would you rather spend a few extra bucks and take your time driving to Indian River and take in some scenery? If you have the time, stick with your original plan of flying into TC and driving up US-31 along the water. Some really cute towns, nice views too. But give yourself a full day to come up so you can stop in Charlevoix and Petoskey and do a little shopping. You can fly into Pellston, it is a small airport, but fine if you can get a reasonable fare and the time works out. They have put in more jets and better times for the summer, so you might have better luck with it. You would be closer to Indian River, but then you would have to go south to get to see Charlevoix, Petoskey and Harbor Springs. A MUST, is the drive up M-119 from Harbor Springs to at least Cross Village. It is one of the most scenic rides in the USA! And up in Cross Village is a great little restaurant, the Legs Inn, right on the water and authentic Polish Food...really a great stop. If you want other restaurant ideas for Charlevoix, TC or Petoskey, let me know!
Jun 9th, 2003, 09:06 AM
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Keith, I-75 is ALWAYS under significant construction!!! 
Actually, they try to keep the mess down to a minimum, and I would just avoid trying to drive "up north" on a Friday evening...it is a mess all the way from the Detroit area to at least West Branch. If you come up almost any other time, it won't be bad. I haven't been downstate since last month, but I will be going down in a week, so I will see how bad it is!
Actually, they try to keep the mess down to a minimum, and I would just avoid trying to drive "up north" on a Friday evening...it is a mess all the way from the Detroit area to at least West Branch. If you come up almost any other time, it won't be bad. I haven't been downstate since last month, but I will be going down in a week, so I will see how bad it is!
Jun 13th, 2003, 01:52 PM
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Hi, thanks for all your help. After much consideration, we have decided on sticking with our initial plans and flying into Traverse City. We will rent a car and head north. Would love suggestions on a nice hotel and good restaurant in TC as well. Nothing real expensive, but someplace we can sit and have a drink and enjoy a good meal. What casino would you recommend? We probably will spend both weekend in TC, heading north in the middle of the week. Also wondering if fresh cherries will be available or will they be out of season. Thanks so much, Millie
Jun 17th, 2003, 06:56 AM
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Millie;
Cherry season can vary from year to year depending on the weather. Many times they have to ship cherries in for the Cherry Festival in Traverse the middle of July!!! Usually though, the middle two weeks of July are about average for cherries...and they are terrific!
I don't eat much down in Traverse (in fact I avoid that area in July because the traffic on 31 can be unreal) but I hear Minerva's is good (downtown TC) also on US-31 coming north from TC there is a Mountain Jacks' and several inexpensive but just fine restaurants like Ruby Tuesday's, and Mabel's. Downtown Traverse City has lots of good restaurants too. As far as hotels, you might want to contact the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce on the web for a list...there are many that are right on the bay and have a beautiful view. As far as casinos, just about 15 minutes north of Traverse is the Turtle Creek Casino, which is large and always busy. Also in Petoskey is Victories Casino, which is smaller but busy too. Plan on spending some time in downtown Petoskey and in Harbor Springs, which is just north of Petoskey. They are both lovely towns and offer great shopping and restaurants too. Have fun up here..the weather should be great!
Cherry season can vary from year to year depending on the weather. Many times they have to ship cherries in for the Cherry Festival in Traverse the middle of July!!! Usually though, the middle two weeks of July are about average for cherries...and they are terrific!
I don't eat much down in Traverse (in fact I avoid that area in July because the traffic on 31 can be unreal) but I hear Minerva's is good (downtown TC) also on US-31 coming north from TC there is a Mountain Jacks' and several inexpensive but just fine restaurants like Ruby Tuesday's, and Mabel's. Downtown Traverse City has lots of good restaurants too. As far as hotels, you might want to contact the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce on the web for a list...there are many that are right on the bay and have a beautiful view. As far as casinos, just about 15 minutes north of Traverse is the Turtle Creek Casino, which is large and always busy. Also in Petoskey is Victories Casino, which is smaller but busy too. Plan on spending some time in downtown Petoskey and in Harbor Springs, which is just north of Petoskey. They are both lovely towns and offer great shopping and restaurants too. Have fun up here..the weather should be great!
Jun 17th, 2003, 03:58 PM
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Just home from Traverse City today - had a lovely time and fantastic weather. The beach is very fine this year. Had an excellent meal at a new restaurant called, 310, located downtown at 310 Cass. Excellent food, very nice setting, great prices. Our table had scallops, beef tenderloin, and a sirloin steak special. They have Tappas, sushi, crab, fish, etc.
Stayed at Beach Haus Hotel. The cleanest place I have ever stayed. Call them first. I stayed in a spa room on the ground floor and it was lovely. I also stayed 3 doors down at a timeshare, Pinestead Reef Resort. This has a kitchen, living, dining, bedroom, etc., but does not sound like it is what you will be looking for.
Other great restaurants might include, Refelctions (great sunset dining room), Windows, and the "something-or-other" Trout restaurant - where boats can also drive up. Another great restaurant downtown is Poppycocks, which also does vegetarian quite well - and excellent in-house desserts. The restaurant list in endless in Traverse. Have a great time!
Paul
Stayed at Beach Haus Hotel. The cleanest place I have ever stayed. Call them first. I stayed in a spa room on the ground floor and it was lovely. I also stayed 3 doors down at a timeshare, Pinestead Reef Resort. This has a kitchen, living, dining, bedroom, etc., but does not sound like it is what you will be looking for.
Other great restaurants might include, Refelctions (great sunset dining room), Windows, and the "something-or-other" Trout restaurant - where boats can also drive up. Another great restaurant downtown is Poppycocks, which also does vegetarian quite well - and excellent in-house desserts. The restaurant list in endless in Traverse. Have a great time!
Paul
Jun 18th, 2003, 12:43 PM
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Hi Keith,
I have been going to the Pinestead Reef for years. The restaurant that used to be attached to it is now history. In it's place is a new hotel. It has a small pub that serves off of a small bar menu, but nothing like the outdoor/beach/deck dining and bands that it used to have.
Happy Trails~~~~~~
I have been going to the Pinestead Reef for years. The restaurant that used to be attached to it is now history. In it's place is a new hotel. It has a small pub that serves off of a small bar menu, but nothing like the outdoor/beach/deck dining and bands that it used to have.
Happy Trails~~~~~~
Jul 10th, 2003, 05:49 PM
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Hi, we are leaving from New England next week flying into TC, will rent a car and travel north, towards Petoskey. Where would you suggest we stay our first night. In Petoskey or Traverse city?
Jul 11th, 2003, 06:51 AM
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First off, I would get a reservation. This is the peak season.
As to which one...there are many more options in TC, both for motels and for other things to do. Guess it depends on what activities (if any) you would like to do before you stop for the night.
For lunch with an interesting view, stop at the Weathervane in Charlevoix (about 2/3 of the way to Petoskey.
It is right next to the drawbridge over the Charlevoix River on US31. This time of year, each half hour, the bridge is raised to allow the bigger boats to pass between Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan.
Keith
As to which one...there are many more options in TC, both for motels and for other things to do. Guess it depends on what activities (if any) you would like to do before you stop for the night.
For lunch with an interesting view, stop at the Weathervane in Charlevoix (about 2/3 of the way to Petoskey.
It is right next to the drawbridge over the Charlevoix River on US31. This time of year, each half hour, the bridge is raised to allow the bigger boats to pass between Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan.
Keith
