2bamafan

In May, I'm going to take my 14 yr old son and my 7 yr old daughter to Mackinac Island. We have 4 full days for the vacation and I'd like to check out some other charming places within 100 miles. Also, I'd like to keep the kids entertained at some other places in the vicinity. Any recommendations?

jlm_mi

It does depend to some extent on what you and your children enjoy doing. But, my first thought is to recommend the Petoskey area for a day or two. There are beaches (for walking only this time of year) and areas to gather Petoskey Stones (Michigan's state stone) along Little Traverse Bay. Here's a link to a picture of a Petoskey Stone if you're not familiar with it:

http://www.petoskey.com/pstone.html

Petoskey has a wonderfully quaint downtown with several streets of shops (including a fun toy store and a few book stores). There are fudge and ice cream shops as well.

I'm not sure exactly how far it is from Mackinac, but Tahquamenon Falls in the Upper Peninsula is a beautiful natural area to visit that you might enjoy.

If you have specific interests please post them. There is much more to do, so I'm sure others will offer other suggestions.

swalter518

Definately Tecuhmenon (sp?) Falls, it's beautiful and too far a drive. Also, Traverse City is great and your kids would love climbing the dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes.

SuzieTrue

While at the Falls, go to Whitefish Point. There is a wonderful musuem about the Edmund Fitzgerald of Gordon Lightfoot song fame.

droolpatrol

I don't how much of northern Michigan you are considering, but I thought Traverse City was a neat town and the area between TC and up to Northport and Leelanau County. Pretty towns and the lake in that area on a sunny day is brilliant. Won't be warm enough to swim unless you are "polar bear club" types, but nice nature, biking, hiking, dunes, good food, good wine, good scenery and good people.

ElCheapo

May will be a little on the chilly side in Michigan's U.P. but I second the trip to Whitefish Point on Lake Superior and the museum there, as well as Tahquamenon Falls in Paradise. The falls will be impressive at that time of year from the spring runoff.

I would also like to recommend Kitchitikipi Springs at Palms Book State Park. It's Michigan's largest freshwater spring and it's so quaint and quiet there. It's a nice drive along U.S. 2 that follows the Lake Michigan shoreline and we always enjoy stopping at the Cut River Bridge on the way to Kitch-iti-kipi. The bridge is sort of scenic, but what's great is the short hike down to the shoreline and wading in the water when you get there. We like to go down via the steps and walk back to the parking area via the trail. Trust me, kids love it and it's a nice break from driving.

Have fun!

Cali

We recently had a wonderful 3 week trip to MI and loved the whole area along Lake Michigan from Traverse City to Mackinac Island - many neat towns along the way, including Charelvoix, Harbor Springs and Petosky. A beautiful Area.

Keith

You are getting plenty of good info.

The two biggest things not mentioned are Mackinaw City and Sault Ste Marie.

Mackinaw has Fort Michilimackinac, a reconstructed community from the 1700s, which has crafts people, weapons demonstrations and the longest running archeology program in North America. The lighthouse near the fort and Mackinac Bridge is being restored and you can climb to the top of the tower. There is also a 625 acre Mill Creek park on the shore 3 miles out of town with a reconstructed lumber mill from the 1790s.

Mackinaw has better (and less expensive) shopping than the island. The Crossings has a live theater and a free Laser Light Show at Dusk. Plus there are several places in town for miniature golf and the like.

The two biggest things about the Sault (55 miles away) are the Locks and Canada. Actually the larger community at the Sault is on the Canadian side and the kids might like visiting another country.

The Locks between Lake Superior and Lake Huron have many huge freighters passing through each day. There is a park where you can watch the boats go through or you can take a cruise through the locks. If you go to the Canadian Soo, you can actually walk over the gates at the smaller lock on that side.

If you go down to Petoskey, which is less than 40 miles away, you should first go over to Cross Village. Visit Leggs Inn www.legsinn.com/history.html then take M-119 with its spectacular drive through the trees and along a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.

I have photos of the area at mightymac.org

Keith

jlm_mi

If you are going to take your children into Canada without their other parent, you should have a signed note (don't know if it needs to be notarized, but probably). from them granting permission for the trip. I've known a couple of families who were turned away at the border for not having this. With family kidnappings being a concern they apparently have really started to be careful about this.

AnnaR

Keith: went to your website, cool pics but wondered why you said to avoid the "Zoo-De-Machinac Bike Ride" ??

cassidy2002

Pictured Rocks. Definately. In da UP, eh?

I also second the suggestion by droolpatrol to do the TC, Northport, Leelanau Peninsula. I think that there is a "circle tour" you can take along the Bay continuing on to Lake Michigan shoreline. VERY beautiful, oh how I do love the beauty of my state!

Keith

AnnaR,

Thanks for asking, you are the first!

Zoo-De-Machinac does not provide the services that most organized rides provide. I'm sure that they have many repeat riders, but someone who has been on other rides is likely to be disappointed in the support.

Zoo-De-Machinac is mainly about the parties the night before and following the ride. The ride route is beautiful, but they provided little support in the way of directions & markings, I saw no people driving the route to provide emergency assistance & bicycle repair, and they don't arrange rest stops. The only food or water they provide is a box lunch at Leggs Inn.

They mislead people by saying "anybody who is in average physical condition should have no trouble going the distance." I had no problems, but people that were not regular riders found the 50+ mile route with significant hills in the first half too much. Particularly since many riders in the part of the US are not used to riding up hills.

The ride is one way and they only provide transportation back to your car for an additional $18.50.

The event is a cash cow for the organizers, rather than a bicycle event put on by people wanting to provide a service.

I do recommend the Big Mac Shoreline Scenic Tour. It provides much more for much less money. It has routes from 25-100 miles, several rest stops, good food, home baked cookies made by members of the local community, and (weather permitting) the following day there is a rare chance to bicycle over the 5 mile long Mackinac Bridge. Plus a ferry ride back.

Keith

2bamafan

Many thanks for all of your help! I'm very confident that we'll have a wonderful time in Northern Michigan.

jlm_mi, I wanted to comment on your great advice. Last year, I took my kids to Niagara Falls WITHOUT a signed note from my ex-wife. The Canadian Border Patrol asked numerous questions and I didn't think that they were going to let us into Canada! I won't make this mistake again!

AnnaR

Thanks Keith for your reply. We are from Michigan but have always left the state for vacations, this summer we plan on seeing our great state. The Zoo bike tour sounded interesting, but did get courious about why you wouldn't recommend it. I look forward to any more Michigan tips!

JJ5

Thanks, I am a South Michigan devotee, but do appreciate all the above- as I will print out and try to use next summer or fall. It's a big and beautiful state and I hope to be a primary Michigan resident someday.

gbhost

If you take the advice of some to visit Taquamenon Falls and Whitefish Point, you should know that you will be not just in the boonies, but the back woods of the boonies. We thought the falls and the shipwreck museum at Whitefish Point were great, but hotels, restaurants and other things to do in this desolate part of the UP leave a little to be desired - unless you're in to wilderness....

I personally would recommend the Traverse City area for the kids. There are plenty of kid friendly things to do, lots of restaurants and shopping and plenty of nature and water nearby to get away from it all - including the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Keith

Anna, you don't mention how long you will be taking your vacation, but here is a sketch...

Start in the Traverse City area. TC itself is nice and has some great motels along the water, but I would rather stay 2 or 3 nights at a motel or B&B in Leland or Suttons Bay on the Lelenau Penisula. While there visit TC, Sleeping Bear, the Old Mission Peninsula and some wineries. This would be a nice area to bicycle.

Then head up US 31 to see Charlevoix, Petoskey & perhaps stay a night in Harbor Springs. If you are a Hemingway fan, loop through Horton Bay and visit the Horton Bay General Store.

From Harbor Springs, you might bicyle on your own along M-117 (the "Tunnel of Trees") to Cross Village and back. Then continue along that same route by car. Be sure to visit the Good Hart General Store & Leggs Inn. I am not that impressed by the food at Leggs Inn, but you should really see the interior.

Continue on up to Mackinaw City and make it your base for 3 nights. Day trip up to Whitefish Point & Tequamenon Falls and perhaps the Soo Locks. (Side note: I was at the Locks Friday and saw two freighters pass through. The closest was about 20 feet away) PLan to do hike a bit or rent a boat at the falls and search for agates on the shore at Whitefish Point.

Day trip to Mackinac Island. In addition to the other atractions, take the bicycles along and do a loop of the Island and maybe visit the interior.

Do some of the Mackinaw things I mentioned above. You might schedule your visit to include one of the Lighthouse tours conducted by Sheppler's Ferries and the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association.

Other things to do in the area include several Native American casinos, Wilderness State Park, smaller parks held by Little Traverse Conservancy. http://landtrust.org/


Best time to go - mid May to mid October. Avoid mid July to mid August and avois TC in early July (National Cherry Festival), if you don't like crowds.

Take some warm clothes whenever you go.

Keith

rapunzll

The area from Traverse City on up to the Straits is beautiful. I live and work (in tourism) in Traverse City, so I am somewhat biased, but TC is just a two hour drive from Mackinac and there are pleasant towns in between. Harbor Springs looks like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting, and seeing as you have kids, ask where the deer park is. Legs Inn in Cross Village is fun and has good food. Petoskey has good shopping and a nice toy store as well. TC however has the most to offer IMO. If the weather turns bad, there is a Childrens Museum in town as well as a zoo, with animals native to Michigan, but I am not sure when they will open for the season. Check out: http://www.mytraversecity.com/ If you would like an area guide, call 1-800-872-8377 or 1-800-TRAVERS

Paul

You are receiving great advice thus far. I must admit that my favorite area to stay Up North is in Traverse City, somewhere on one of the bays. The water is so calm and peaceful. T.C. is a great central spot to get out and do some exploring to some of the locations listed above. In addition, there is just so much to do in Traverse City proper. The kids would love the minature golf, the Cinch Park Zoo, etc.

One thing that I did think of that wasn't mentioned however, is a hotel that might come in handy, especially if the weather is rainy/cold. I have not stayed there, but The Great Wolf Lodge has an indoor waterpark. It's a relatively new hotel. I live in the Detroit area and know of many families who head Up North just to stay at this facility. I'll include a link at the bottom of this post.

If you would like a kitchen in your room, I could recommend The Pinstead Reef. While an older property, it has an indoor pool, kids video room, livingroom/bedroom, and full kitchen. It is also well maintained. The views of the sunset off of the balcony and onto East Bay are awesome. Your balconies also lead to a stairway right down to the beach, which is the only resort in the area I know of that offers this feature. {You don't have to go through a hotel lobby in bathing suits to get to your room.} It is also located directly across from the State Park, where I have enjoyed many evening strolls admiring the campers having fun around their campfires.

Have a terrific time. You are heading to a beautiful part of the country. I have taken summer vacations in Traverse City for many years - way back to when I was a kid with my parents and two brothers. {My, how it has grown!}

http://tc.greatwolflodge.com/default.asp

rapunzll

The Great Wolf Lodge is really popular, but a word of warning.... It is also expensive! I think the cheapest rate there that I have seen is around $159.00 or so.

The Pinestead is fantastic value for the money, but they can be hard to get into because they are so popular and their rates are so low compared to similar properties.

Oh, I just thought of something.... if your son is a skateboarder, there is a skate board park at the civic center and also a really nice kids playground.

Paul, there are other places on the bay that would have patios leading directly out to the water, but in May, they aren't going to be doing any swimming. ;-)