Our September trip so far includes Holland, Traverse City, Upper Peninsula, Mackinaw Island and sites within.

Now finishing itinerary when we leave St. Ignace and heading south I-75 to visit the Ford Museum the next day. Planning on stopping in Frankenmuth - is it worth it, or just shopping? Any other stops on this route you can suggest. After Dearborn, returning home to Ohio. Thank you!

The child in me would scream, "Absolutely stop in Frankenmuth," as my sister and I did while driving home from "Up North" on so many weekends in the 1980s. Zehnders was our family go-to for a big lunch before heading back to our house.

As an adult I'd probably still stop for the kitsch and perhaps a Christmas tree ornament from Bronners. DH and I lived in Austria for 7 years, so we'd likely skip any Schnitzel dinner. Just saying.

Founded by German Lutheran immigrants in the 1800s, Frankenmuth is known for its old-fashioned European ambiance with its Franconian-inspired architecture. Known as Michigan’s “Little Bavaria” eat German food at one of its high-quality restaurants. Be sure to cross the covered Holz Brucke Bridge (Holz Brucke means wooden bridge in German). Many people still speak an archaic dialect of German. May be too touristy for some.

I have been going to Frankenmuth for over 60 years. I have never heard anything close to German spoken in that city. It is a cute little town. The chicken dinners that are famous for have deteriorated over the years. Sad.

You're going to have such a beautiful trip! Drive along M22 as much as possible while you are up north!

In the Traverse City area I'd recommend the following: Château Chantal for wine tasting with a view, Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor (if you've never been before you have to try the cherry salsa I promise it's awesome, you can also taste everything they offer so this is a great afternoon stop if you're a touch hungry), hike Pyramid Point for an amazing view from the dunes (it's not too long of a hike and pretty easy), Hop Lot in Suttons Bay is also a great spot for dinner and a beer. Another great stop is Leland, great food and fun shops to walk around in Fishtown.

On Mackinac Island, you should absolutely go to the Grand Hotel. I believe it costs $10 to get in if you are not a guest, but you'll be kicking yourself if you don't. It's stunning, the porch makes for a great photo and the grounds are beautiful. I'd also recommend biking the island! It doesn't take very long (8 miles around I think).

Bronner's is the stop to make in Frankenmuth.

When you get to Dearborn, stop at Shatila for pastries if you've never been!

I'm actually working with the National Scenic Byways Foundation to build a new GPS app that allows travelers to customize their routing experience as well as the points of interest and food options they see along the way. It's called Overlook Maps and it will be going live later this year, hopefully before your trip!

How was your trip? Did you stop in Frankenmuth? Did you see Mackinac Island?

My parents took me to Frankenmuth multiple times when I was a kid. My mom always insisted on stopping at the outlet stores at Birch Run. Then we would on to Frankmuth, eat some kind of big lunch at Zehnders, and walk along Main street and gawk at the junk for sale in the stores. I was about 16 last time I was in the outlet stores and Frankmuth. Frankenmuth is a tourist trap. Outlet stores are a tourist trap too. I have no use for them - they sell outdated or discontinued styles, factory damaged goods, and other junk that wasn't judged to be fit to be sold at the regular retail stores. The shopping district on Mackinac Island is a tourist trap. And if you have to buy souvenirs and locally made junk food like fudge, you can buy it in Mackinaw City. If all you want is a tourist trap shopping district, they have that in Mackinaw City. I have not been to St. Ignace. Mackinac Island can be a nice place if you see the fort and walk some of the trails in the state park portion of the island.