We're roadtripping to Michigan at the end of this month. This is a short trip with a couple of obligations, and we'll have two days of "free-ish time." We have "been there, done that" with the major suspects: DIA, Henry Ford, Motown Museum, Detroit Zoo, and so forth. I'm struggling to find things to do for our free-ish time.

On one of those days we need to be in the thumb area by late afternoon. Thinking of doing a lighthouse driving tour along Lake St. Clair, but not certain it would fill the entire day.

Questions 1 and 2. For something kitschy, maybe Frankenmuth? Any interesting stops/restaurants along the Bloomfield Area-Frankenmuth-Port Austin-Port Huron route?

For the remaining day, the slate is blank. We're not terribly interested in visiting our alma mater, Michigan; we did that in 2018 when DS graduated, and that visit will hold us for a while.

Question 3. Day trip options include Belle Isle or Grand Rapids, though we are open to other suggestions?

On the drive home we're hoping to stop at the Toledo Museum of Art. From there we could have lunch in the Akron area or carry on to the Pittsburgh surrounds for a later lunch. We've noshed at Primanti Bros. so we don't need to do that.

Questions 4 and 5. Akron and Pittsburgh will likely be our lunch stops both northbound and southbound. We'll drive a handful of miles off I-76 for something worth it. Suggestions?

Thank you.

Maybe a half mile from I76 Monroeville exit is a bakery where I got tht best cake I ever had in my life.
Moio's.
Moio's Italian Pastry Shop | Bakery | Monroeville, PA

lots of food options nearby. this is east of Pgh.

I don't know Detroit or SE Michigan at all, but have flown over Lake St Clair a few times and I doubt the shoreline is very scenic, and the water is green with algae later in the summer so pretty shallow.

Anyway, been to Grand Rapids many times, lots of brew pubs although that doesn't work well with a day trip.

Highlight for me was the Frank Lloyd Wright House, hardly anyone knows about it and it is an excellent restoration. Last week of May there's one ticket available each day 27th and 29th. You could try to stand by with a second person. Plenty of tickets June 3rd. No charge but reservation required. https://meyermayhouse.steelcase.com/

The Meijer Sculpture Garden https://www.meijergardens.org/

I"m having trouble following your itinerary. It sounds like you intend to drive from Detroit to wherever your home is which sounds like somewhere near I76 in Pennsylvania east of Pittsburgh or farther. That's a pretty long trip if you intend to stop in Toledo and visit a museum plus stop for a special lunch the same day.

YOu could visit Toledo from Detroit on one of your free days and then not spend the time doing that on your drive home, it's only about 60 miles (Art Museum is very good and you could visit the Great Lakes Museum). I would rather detour through Cleveland myself on that trip home instead of doing Akron both ways. Various things to do in Cleveland.

mrwunrfl, my DH is always down for a good pastry. I've put it on the map. Thank you!

tom_mn, I think we're leaning toward Grand Rapids. We have American Horticultural Society Membership that includes the Meijer Garden; plus, on our road trip last autumn we visited the Truman Library and liked it enough that touring another presidiential library (Gerald R. Ford) might fill the day if we can't get tickets to the FLW house. Thank you!

Christina, we'll be driving from the metro Detroit area to our home in Northern Virginia, about 8 hours. Theoretically we could arrive at the Toledo Art Museum when it opens, then reach the Pittsburgh area around 2:00 p.m. for a later lunch. By "special" I only mean something that's not a CrackerBarrelBee's Steak 'n Donuts place. NOT that there's anything wrong with those restaurants, it's just not what we're looking for. Alternatively, we could also tour the Toledo Art Museum on our arrival day, given that we'll be departing quite early.

There are now 2 tickets on the same tour for the Meyer May House on both the 27th and 29th.