Day Trip - Michigan
 

Having moved from Michigan 18 years ago I am really out of touch as to some possible day trips.

We will be visiting the metro detroit area and would like to spend a day "away from home" with my folks (mid 70's), brothers, sisters, neices, nephews (12-21). A friend suggested the Port Clinton dinner cruise...? Any comments on this?

We are able to travel about 1 - 1.5 hours one way and Canada is also an option since we all have passports.

I am looking for ANY suggestions....Thanks!

I know Mackinac Island is popular. Is there any chance you could do an overnight? I think it's a little far for a day trip but thought I'd throw it out there since you haven't gotten other suggestions. Have you ever been to the Henry Ford Museum? Friends of ours went there and enjoyed that and Greenfield Village.

Frankenmuth is about the right distance and you can do the ighlights in a day trip.

I have a short trip report here on Henry Ford and Greenfield: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ord-museum.cfm

You could also go to Crossroads Village near Flint. It has several preserved buildings and a railroad like Greenfield Village, but is a bit more manageable if you want to combine it with a trip to Frankenmuth or something else (http://www.geneseecountyparks.org/CRVDefault.asp).

If you opt to head south of the border, you could visit Fort Malden in Amherstburg which was built to defend Canada against those nasty guys across the river during the war of 1812 (http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/on/malden/index.aspx). From there, you could head to the Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary (www.jackminer.com) and Point Pelee National Park at Canada's southern-most point. The park has trails, canoeing, bike rentals and bird watching (http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/on/pelee/index.aspx).