2 UP Michigan Questions
May 11th, 2004, 09:18 AM
#21
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Here's my two cents...skip Charlevoix and do Petoskey/Harbor Springs..there is oh so much more! Actually, I live in Petoskey, and the traffic depends largely on the weather...if it is cooler, not many people come up. If it does get warm early, we will be busy.
Gas prices will however, also have an effect on the amount of travel "up north" this year!
Gas prices will however, also have an effect on the amount of travel "up north" this year!
May 11th, 2004, 12:30 PM
#22
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I am a Michigander too and we have a beautiful state - in particular "up north". We also especially love the whole western coastline of Michigan. Mackinaw Island and the Grand Hotel are unique and romantic (no cars allowed - you can rent tandem bikes). The Mackinaw Bridge is a wonder. Tacquamenon Falls State Park in "da" U.P. is extraordinary. http://www.superiorsights.com/inform...quamenonfalls/
I must give you one MAJOR warning: I-75 is practically the only easy north/south route. Around Holly/Grand Blanc the expressway squeezes down to one lane and the traffic jams here are so bad that you want to tear your hair out. (I was caught there driving my Mom home last Sunday evening about 6pm.) Avoid this area during rush hour times and especially on a Sunday afternoon/evening when everybody is coming home from up north. If there is any other way to go, take it! Trust me on this one.
I must give you one MAJOR warning: I-75 is practically the only easy north/south route. Around Holly/Grand Blanc the expressway squeezes down to one lane and the traffic jams here are so bad that you want to tear your hair out. (I was caught there driving my Mom home last Sunday evening about 6pm.) Avoid this area during rush hour times and especially on a Sunday afternoon/evening when everybody is coming home from up north. If there is any other way to go, take it! Trust me on this one.
May 11th, 2004, 02:35 PM
#23
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http://www.leelanau.com/dining/
Try that link for dining in the Leelanau area. That's the only area of "up north" that I've ever dined out at.
I can recommend the Bluebird from my experience & Hattie's is supposed to be good as well.
Try that link for dining in the Leelanau area. That's the only area of "up north" that I've ever dined out at.
I can recommend the Bluebird from my experience & Hattie's is supposed to be good as well.
May 11th, 2004, 06:24 PM
#24
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Whenever we are in the area we make sure to stop at Tapawingo, reputed to be one of Michigan's best restaurants. Here is the website:
http://www.tapawingo.net/
You might find this article from the Detroit Free Press (Best of Michigan 2003) helpful:
http://www.detnews.com/2003/entertai...ngsupnorth.htm
http://www.tapawingo.net/
You might find this article from the Detroit Free Press (Best of Michigan 2003) helpful:
http://www.detnews.com/2003/entertai...ngsupnorth.htm
May 14th, 2004, 09:35 AM
#26
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Please let me get this out of my system - having lived in both peninsulas of Michigan, I really need to say that the two peninsulas, while both are beautiful, are very, very different from one another. Even Petoskey, while considered "Up North", is worlds away from the U.P. It is very nice, but it is a city. It is fun, upscale and trendy. It is definitely located near some of the most scenic, beautiful areas of the state.
I'd like to recommend a different driving route. If I was coming from the south and heading to northwest Michigan, I would avoid the I-75 Detroit-Flint-Bay City-Saginaw mess completely. Too much congestion for my liking and not very pleasant to see either. (Can you tell I'm no city-slicker?) I'd suggest taking US-23 to Brighton (north of Ann Arbor), then head west (actually northwest) on I-96 and pick up US-27 north out of Lansing. Then take US-27 north to I-75.
Depending on how far you want to drive in one day, from Louisville to Ann Arbor is about 5-6 hours. (I have driven that route before.) Ann Arbor can be an interesting place to stay and there are lots of hotels there.
Restaurants "Up North" - Vivio's in Indian River has fantastic pizza. Vivio's special - yum! Legs Inn in Cross Village is something very different (interesting ambience) and good ethnic food. Boone's Long Lake Inn, outside of Traverse City is very good. If you happen to cross the bridge (you know, "THE BRIDGE" - the Mackinac Bridge), you have to try a Pasty.
If the weather is nice, you can rent a pontoon boat and travel the Inland Waterway. The Inland Waterway goes from Crooked Lake (just north of Petoskey) thru the Crooked River, to Burt Lake, thru the Indian River to Mullet Lake, and then down the Cheboygan river to Lake Huron. It goes thru 2 locks, and takes a long day to do it all - but you can do part of it. There is a marina in Indian River that rents pontoons and I think one on Crooked Lake. We've had great luck fishing on Mullet Lake, but I've heard that they're all good.
There is so much to do that you'll really have to pick and choose what you really want to do. And if you enjoy the outdoors, you definitely should schedule another vacation to see the U.P. The western U.P. (the Keweenaw, The Porcupine Mountains, etc) is my favorite place on earth (any time of year).
Have fun!
I'd like to recommend a different driving route. If I was coming from the south and heading to northwest Michigan, I would avoid the I-75 Detroit-Flint-Bay City-Saginaw mess completely. Too much congestion for my liking and not very pleasant to see either. (Can you tell I'm no city-slicker?) I'd suggest taking US-23 to Brighton (north of Ann Arbor), then head west (actually northwest) on I-96 and pick up US-27 north out of Lansing. Then take US-27 north to I-75.
Depending on how far you want to drive in one day, from Louisville to Ann Arbor is about 5-6 hours. (I have driven that route before.) Ann Arbor can be an interesting place to stay and there are lots of hotels there.
Restaurants "Up North" - Vivio's in Indian River has fantastic pizza. Vivio's special - yum! Legs Inn in Cross Village is something very different (interesting ambience) and good ethnic food. Boone's Long Lake Inn, outside of Traverse City is very good. If you happen to cross the bridge (you know, "THE BRIDGE" - the Mackinac Bridge), you have to try a Pasty.
If the weather is nice, you can rent a pontoon boat and travel the Inland Waterway. The Inland Waterway goes from Crooked Lake (just north of Petoskey) thru the Crooked River, to Burt Lake, thru the Indian River to Mullet Lake, and then down the Cheboygan river to Lake Huron. It goes thru 2 locks, and takes a long day to do it all - but you can do part of it. There is a marina in Indian River that rents pontoons and I think one on Crooked Lake. We've had great luck fishing on Mullet Lake, but I've heard that they're all good.
There is so much to do that you'll really have to pick and choose what you really want to do. And if you enjoy the outdoors, you definitely should schedule another vacation to see the U.P. The western U.P. (the Keweenaw, The Porcupine Mountains, etc) is my favorite place on earth (any time of year).
Have fun!
May 14th, 2004, 09:53 AM
#27
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Vivio's in Indian River!
I haven't had their pizza in nearly 40 years, but every once in a while something will remind me of th unique taste their sauce had.
BTW, I consider The Bridge, "My Bridge" and have a Mackinac Bridge photo site at http://www.mightymac.org/ It includes photos from the 50th Anniversary of the ground breaking, taken a week ago today.
Keith
I haven't had their pizza in nearly 40 years, but every once in a while something will remind me of th unique taste their sauce had.
BTW, I consider The Bridge, "My Bridge" and have a Mackinac Bridge photo site at http://www.mightymac.org/ It includes photos from the 50th Anniversary of the ground breaking, taken a week ago today.
Keith
May 14th, 2004, 10:40 AM
#28
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Just to add yet another option for you, the ferry across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc would be worthwhile if you wanted to make a side trip up to Door county which is absolutely "worth it".
From Manitowoc to the tip of door county is probably another 2-3 hours and you could easily spend a week up there exploring light houses, beaches, parks and some excellent dining and fine art shopping.
From Manitowoc to the tip of door county is probably another 2-3 hours and you could easily spend a week up there exploring light houses, beaches, parks and some excellent dining and fine art shopping.
May 14th, 2004, 10:45 AM
#29
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Hi mum....is US 27 North the same as BR127 or 127? How long is the drive the way you have suggested from Ann Arbor to Traverse City? Also, would you pick I-75 back up above Midland and Bay City?
Also, what is a Pasty? I sure hope it is something sweet and savory!
Also, what is a Pasty? I sure hope it is something sweet and savory!
May 14th, 2004, 11:15 AM
#30
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Pasty, pronounced Past-tee, are beef, potato, onion, carrot & rutabaga (just a touch) wrapped in pie crust like a turnover. The Welsh miners coming to the UP brought them and they were adopted by other groups.
For a regional dish, I prefer the whitefish and maybe a slice of rhubarb pie
Keith
For a regional dish, I prefer the whitefish and maybe a slice of rhubarb pie
Keith
May 14th, 2004, 02:38 PM
#32
The BEST pasties would be found in the upper peninsula. Yes, there's a significant diffence between great and adequate pasties, as with anything.
If staying in the Traverse region, stick to regional "cherry" specialties. One such is cherry juice; we buy concentrate in 1 qt bottles; good for joint pain.
I understand there are good wineries up there.
If staying in the Traverse region, stick to regional "cherry" specialties. One such is cherry juice; we buy concentrate in 1 qt bottles; good for joint pain.
I understand there are good wineries up there.
May 14th, 2004, 02:53 PM
#33
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The Mackinaw Pasty and Cookie Co. has been voted the best pasty in the state for the last 2 years, by the readers of the Detroit News: http://www.mackinawpastie.com/
For whitefish there are hundreds of places to choose from. In some communities, even the Big Boys do a decent job. In Mackinaw City there are several good places, but I will mention only two: Darrow's Restaurant (simple, quality home cooking) or take away at Scalawags Whitefish and Chips.
Keith
For whitefish there are hundreds of places to choose from. In some communities, even the Big Boys do a decent job. In Mackinaw City there are several good places, but I will mention only two: Darrow's Restaurant (simple, quality home cooking) or take away at Scalawags Whitefish and Chips.
Keith
May 14th, 2004, 06:19 PM
#35
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Just to be completely accurate, 127 and US 27 are not the same road throughout Michigan. 127 runs north from Ohio from Hudson, MI to Jackson. US 27 comes up from the south through Coldwater before it merges into 127 in Lansing. I agree that this is a nice alternative to i-75, particularly due to the constructionon I-75 this year---worse than ever before IMHO!
May 17th, 2004, 06:04 AM
#40
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127 just blends into 75 - follow the "to mackinac bridge" directional signs all the way up north. you can't go wrong. only one x-way up there.
just north of clare on the x-way is a big comfort stop with all kinds of info on michigan, maps, brochures, info specialists, picnic tables. a good place to take a break.
just north of clare on the x-way is a big comfort stop with all kinds of info on michigan, maps, brochures, info specialists, picnic tables. a good place to take a break.
