I posted this a month ago and received just one response - thought I'd try again. How is the hotel Bay Winds Inn in Petoskey, Michigan? Staying there in June.

...I may have already replied to your other post...but I live in Petoskey, and thought I could help you out. The BayWinds is very nice, but very much like a "chain hotel". If you are looking for something more of the flavor of the Gaslight District (downtown Petoskey - Victorian, etc), then I might suggest the Perry Hotel downtown, or the Terrace Inn or Bayview Inn located in historic Bayview. If you need more info on Petoskey, I would be glad to help you out...just e-mail me at [email protected]

What else might you be looking to do here?

Thanks for the info. I've been looking up things to do on the internet and have also received information by mail. It looks like a beautiful area. We have 3 kids - boys that are 16 and 12, and a girl who is 6. We thought about stopping at the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes either on our way up or on our way home. We also want to go to Mackinac Island, go up to Tahquamenon Falls, Shipwreck museum. I know some of this is more of a drive than I'd like but we still would like to go to some of these places. We also thought about going on a short rafting trip at Big Bear Adventures. Does any of this sound good to you? Thanks for your help.

It sounds like a great trip...I take it you are going to be up here for around a week? Those are all great things to do with the kids....I did them all with mine too! If you are planning on staying in PEtoskey the weekend of June 14th by chance, make sure you make reservations right away, as their is a huge soccor tournament in town and many, many people! Otherwise, it still is before the heavy tourist season, so you shouldn't have any problems with lodging in any of the places you expect to visit...once the week of the 4th of July hits, the lodging gets tight around here! I can't remember if the Bay Winds has a pool, but that would be a good choice if it does because the waters of Lake Michigan rarely warm up until August, and this year, it is especially cold, so I don't think you will be doing much swimming in the Bay..even the kids will find it tooooo cold!

It is a lovely area, and you have picked out many of the highlights...I especially love Mackinac Island, and still try to go at least once a year to bike around it before or after the tourists leave! Have a great time up here. If you need any other help, let me know or stop in at the Visitors Bureau when you get here...its right in the center of town at the Gaslight District! Lovely, quaint shopping by the way!

Thanks. We'll probably stop in at the Visitor's Bureau. Coming the end of June.