Laura_A

I wasn't going to post, but could now use some help with my itinerary. Here's what I have so far, starting on July 9. We're 60-ish and very active, enjoy most sights and outdoor activities. Hate to move hotels so often, but want to see as much as possible while we're there.

Wed - visit Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, spend night nearby
Thurs - drive shoreline up to Petoskey (maybe including Leland peninsula); night in Petoskey (note: will probably skip Traverse City since it's Cherry Festival week and we don't like crowds)
Fri - Drive shoreline to Mackinaw City, walk around (maybe husband can golf 9 holes)
Sat - spend day at Mackinac Island, 2nd night in MC (doesn't seem worth the trouble and expense to stay on the island)
Sun - Soo Locks, Tahquamenon Falls, Whitefish Point, spend night in Paradise
Mon - Pictured Rocks & Munising, spend night in Marquette?
Tues - Keweenaw Peninsula, spend night in Copper Harbor?
Wed - drive/hike on way to Lake Gogebic (Bergland)
Thurs - hike and/or fish; second night on Lake Gogebic
Fri - drive to Minneapolis to visit a friend.

MargaretandTony

Laura, WOW ! Just looking at your itinerary makes me exhausted ! I would respectfully suggest that you cut back on the number of points / places you intend to visit, otherwise, you will be spending MANY hours every day just getting from place to place. (Sunday looks especially challenging - I would EITHER go to see the Locks, or the Falls; I don't think you will have time to see both without exhausting yourself.) My wife and I (also 60's) visited Mackinaw City about two years ago - frankly, It was very middle-class touristy, with a million T-shirt and fudge shops; it's OK if you have some grandkids with you, otherwise I would pass it up.

My wife and I visit Petoskey a couple of times per summer. I would recommend not dining in any of the restaurants that have an Ernest Hemingway connection - sadly, they seem to coast on that connection and offer mediocre food and indifferent service.

Good luck, and have a great trip (Remember - quality, not quantity. Less is more.)

Laura_A

MargaretandTony-Thanks for your feedback! I was wondering about Mackinaw City and to tell you the truth, Mackinac Island too. It was fine when I was a kid, but maybe it's all too touristy for me now. Do you still enjoy the Island? Other than renting bikes and enjoying the views, there's not much I want to do there--I doubt we'd have lunch at the Grand Hotel, nor do we eat fudge--so maybe we should skip it. Or we could visit the island on Friday and only spend Fri night in Mack City, then 2 nights in Paradise which would allow more time for the Locks and Falls. If you don't mind, I'd like to hear more about your favorite places and how you would structure the trip. Others too!

MargaretandTony

Laura - My wife and I have a cottage that we spend most of May - October at in the northern Lower Peninsula, about 100 miles from Mackinaw City, and 90 miles from Petoskey. Although we have visited Mackinaw City in the last several years, and Petoskey in the last two months, I haven't been to the Island in 30 or 35 years, so I can't comment on that. I do know that in July the island will be loaded with tourists, and no doubt $12 hamburger and fries. Not my sort of entertainment.

Unless you intend to spend a great deal of time visiting the Sleeping Bear Dunes, and will get to your hotel late, I would suggest NOT staying in the area but pushing on to a hotel in Petoskey that same night (which contradicts my advice about doing too much in one day). If you drive the Lake Michigan shoreline to Petoskey in the evening you will get beautiful sunset views, and there is enough to do in Petoskey for an extra day. If you are taking bikes with you there is a very nice bike path between Charlevoix and Harbor Springs that goes right along the shoreline - I think it's called the Little Traverse Wheelway. It is very scenic.

Pat_in_Mich

I have to disagree with MargaretandTony. Your Sunday does have some driving but nothing I would consider unreasonable. It's only about an hour drive from Mackinaw City to the Soo. We've been to the locks several times and usually spend about an hour there. Then about 1.5 hours to the Falls and 1-2 hours there. Then 40 minutes to Whitefish Point. But we like to get an early start and be fairly active all day. Your style may differ.

As for Mackinaw City/Mackinac Island, yes it's touristy but there is also history there. There are 2 forts, one on the mainland and one on the island. Here's some information about some of those places:http://www.mackinacparks.com/parks-a...nd-state-park/ There is also a lot of natural beauty on the island.

We stay in Mackinaw City for a weekend most years and find it very enjoyable.

MargaretandTony

I've done an archaeology dig in Fort Michilimackinac, Pat, so I am quite familiar with it and the newer one on the island. In fact, Laura said that she has visited both locations in the past. After spending an hour at the fort, you have your choice of 15 different ice cream parlors, a dozen fudge shops, or 20 T-shirt shops. Not a lot of active things going on.

As far as making all of the places in the U.P., sure, it's doable in a day - delivery truck drivers make more stops than that in a typical day. My question is, why would you want to? If a person is on vacation, shouldn't the sight-seeing schedule be relaxed and enjoyable, rather than a check list of places to cross off a list?

Pat_in_Mich

It doesn't seem particularly rushed to me, but we each have our own style of vacationing.

To the OP: Enjoy our beautiful state!

Keith

MargaretandTony, When did you dig at Michilimackinac?

There is a LOT more to do in Mackinaw City than there used to be. Of course it depends on your interests. The following are all new attractions in the past view years

Mackinaw Maritime Museum in the 290' retired WW2 Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw.

Restored (free) 1869 McGulphin Point Lighthouse.

Headlands International Dark Sky Park (free).

Heritage Village lets visitors explore life in the Straits of Mackinac as it was in the late 1800's and early 1900's (free).

Mill Creek Discovery Park has added zip line, forest canopy walk and climbing wall.

Jack Pine Lumber Jack Shows (OK, this one is probaby best for the grandkids.


And older attractions like Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, lighthouse cruises, parasailing, special events almost every week, and just enjoying & photographing the beautiful 5 mile long suspension bridge.

Pat_in_Mich

Thanks for the reminder about the Dark Park, Keith. We wanted to go last year but the weather wasn't cooperative. We're hoping to have better luck this year.

Heritage Village is new to me. Perhaps we'll check it out. I noticed on their website that their Heritage Festival is the weekend we'll be there.

Keith

Pat,

I assume you know about M199, Cross Village & Legs Inn?

Pat_in_Mich

Keith,
I have heard of Cross Village and Legs Inn, although I've never been over there. Do you mean M119?

Keith

Yes, that was a typo.

Just thought that if you were going to the area fairly often, you might check them out. The drive through the forest along the Lake Michigan bluff lives up to its hype and Legs Inn is cool with its folk art and Polish food. A Polish immigrant started building the restaurant about 1930 and continued to work on it and add more art for decades.