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My sweetie and I are both between jobs and live in Bloomington, Indiana. We're looking to take a few days to drive up to saugatuck (or thereabouts) to be near a big body of water in a charming town. Looking for cheap but nice accommodations, nearby beach (swimming not necessary, just a great view), cute shops and good eats. Any ideas for two broke but willing travelers? We can spend about $400 not including gas money. Thanks!
Upper Michigan ideas for a broke but willing traveler?
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This time of year is great for camping. Check out the Michigan State Park system. The parks should be a lot less crowded now.
A tip about your post...when you mention "Upper" Michigan, everyone is going to think you mean the upper peninsula. Saugatuck is lower, lower Michigan.
Leave the swimsuits behind. Water temp last Thursday 71. Today---50. Should bring the fish in.
The Holiday Inn Express never seems to have any business. Maybe they are "flexible" in their pricing.
Food: Chequers; Clearwood Country Club ($10 dinners); Everyday Cafe;
I don't know too much about Saugatuck, but Grand Haven is just north of there about 20-30 mins and is a kind of hip summer hangout of sorts. They even have an incredibly cheesy "singing fountain" with free "performances" at night. I definitely wouldn't go there just for that, but if you are up for a laugh (in my opinion) after checking out the sights, head to the fountain.
For $300 you can get camping equipment (tent, sleeping bags, stove, light, etc.) at Target or K-Mart that will last you many weekends of camping.
http://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm
A good place in the UP to use that camping equipment if you decide to buy it.
check out www.priceline.com to name your own price. go to www.betterbidding.com , www.biddingfortravel.com and www.hotwire.com to get a real hotel deal, which is where you can save most money.
35 years ago a great boss recruited me to Grand Haven and, showing me the sights on interview night, drove us past the "world's largest musical fountain", which he had been instrumental in its develpment. A complex engineering effort for the time. I was hard pressed not to giggle. (got the job)
Cheesy? a very descriptive adjective. But some locals never miss a performance, can you believe.
The world seems full of such attractions, which are best advertised in the USA.
There's "world's largest smiley face water tower" in Nebraska, for example.
I could go on, but
haha. Well, it mesmerizes kids and it sure as heck made me smile. I certainly didn't appreciate the engineering feat that's for sure. I bet if your boss heard the audio that played along with it when I was there some 7 years ago now (so this criticism is dated), he would chuckle too.