Great Lakes extended road trip
 

I am just beginning to to plan an extended summer 2018 road trip for my husband and I
- over sixty, able to hike but not bikers etc.
- trip length 5 to 8 weeks if no family / business emergencies.
NO CAMPING LOL

FOCUS Scenery, nature, unusual experiences, maybe golf if nothing else to do. Love waterfalls and lighthouse views.

CONS - not into cities or historical sites particularly ....although we have read about the Erie Canal road tour and are intrigued.

After experience with Forum help on a 2015 western trip, would not even THINK of starting this without all of you! There were sights we would never have been able to enjoy without this community.

Prelim plan to travel from Florida around Memorial Weekend, moving fairly quickly along east coast
( we can always cover those states on shorter, future trips from Florida)
spending time in Maine for Acadia and New Hampshire before starting the lakes.

Definitely intend to renew our passports before then, so we can cross to / from Canada for most scenic routes. LOVE local roads vs interstates

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and tips - or skips.

You must go to the UP; drive around the circle of it- it is awesome, then if you head down through Michigan (the most beautiful State as far as I'm concerned and I've been to all 50 plus over 50 countries), drive across the bridge and stay in St. Ignace. Traverse City is nice and drive down the lakeshore of Lake Michigan. Send me a note if you stop in Dowagiac- I'll buy you a glass of wine!

New York State - The 1,000 Islands. Niagara Falls.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula has many scenic opportunities including Tahquamenon Falls (and a great many other Falls), Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Keweenaw Peninsula, Porcupine Mountains, Isle Royale National Park, Cut River Bridge, and Kitchitikipi Springs.

Most people go to Mackinac Island for the lack of horses and for the history, but once you get away from the small town, it is 85% State Park and not crowded. It was actually the 2nd National Park in the US after Yellowstone, but there was no Park Service back then and when the Fort was closed there was no one to administer the park, so it was turned over to the State of Michigan.

Consider driving across New York State using state Rt 20... it runs across the top of the Finger Lakes, is near the Erie Canal, and runs by Letchworth State Park... there are dozens of possible attractions, wine regions, and scenery...

You can pick it up near Albany and ride it west, all the way to the Buffalo Niagara region...

Thanks everyone!
Just getting started, so I am sure I will be back with more questions

@awesomemom I will keep that wine in mind.
Wineries in the various states are on our list too

Apostle islands in Lake Superior are definitely worth seeing.

We traveled through the upper & lower peninsulas last summer. There is so much to do in Michigan.

In the UP, we came upon Sault Ste. Marie's Engineer's Day, when the Soo Locks are open for one day a year. It demonstrated the history and mechanics of the giant Great Lakes ships, and we found it fascinating. In 2018, it will be on June 29. You can also walk across the bridge to Canada that weekend, which was fun. There are basic restaurants & hotels in Sault Ste. Marie.

We stayed at the Best Western in Munising. You can take a boat tour out on the lake to see where the ice caves form in the winter. Beautiful scenery.

Mackinac Island is beautiful, especially after the day trippers depart. You can hire a bike to ride around the 8 mile path around the island's coast.

Another stop was in Holland, home of the iconic red lighthouse. And a must-stop is the Deboer Bakkerij for a simply amazing breakfast, and you'll want to bring some bakery treats for the road!

The Ford Rouge plant in Dearborn is interesting, with an American history museum as the starting point.

There are so many things to explore!

Recently read a post about Maine - something about "mud season and black fly season" .... is there a timeframe to avoid Acadia NP ?

No camping..meaning no tents? What about cabins/yurts? Or are you looking for hotels only?

Are you looking to circumnavigate each lake?

Lake Superior is huge and the Canadian side can be fairly remote but amazing. I'm mostly familiar with the Minnesota side of Lake Superior (generally called the North Shore). There are quite a few waterfalls and state parks along that stretch.

Check out a couple links below for more on waterfalls and lighthouses. I'm sure there are lighthouses on the Canadian side of Lake Superior but that website seems to focus on the U.S. side only.

http://www.lighthousefriends.com/lake_su.html

https://midwestweekends.com/plan_a_t...minnesota.html

I forgot to mention, you should also post on the Canada forum for ideas.

If you do come to Michigan & go to Mackinaw City or to Mackinac Island stay away from booking any hotels through the Mackinaw City Chamber of Tourism. 14 hotels owned by the Lieghio Family & they are run down, unsanitary & the management will treat you like dirt if you complain. I've been to Mackinaw several times & I think this last weekend was one of my worst experiences. The Upper Peninsula is beautiful especially if you can see Pictured Rocks & Tahquamenon Falls. There are many beautiful quaint little towns all throughout Michigan. M-22 is usually a ride people like to endeavor! Suttons Bay the Peninsula, Harbor Springs, Elk Rapids, Charlevoix, Grand Haven, Saugatuck! So many! If you come, enjoy!

Motels I have stayed at and can recomend in Mackinaw City include the Riviera, Holiday Inn Express, Rainbow, Clearwater Lakeshore, Beachcomber, American Boutique Inn and Deerhead Inn B&B. None are owned by the family mentioned.

Michigan 2020 planning
 

I’m not BuffaloGirl, I’m sure she’ll chime in. The Canadian side offer a direct full views of the Falls, while from the US site you’’ll be viewing them from the over the top / side combination. Also, if you’re not pressed for time, the Niagara Falls City offers lots of charm besides those crowded touristy spots. Check out the “Things to do”

You reeled me back. Haven't been on here in a couple of years, but was emailed the tag. Late June is active, but not so busy that you need reservations far out, unless there is a specific place or room you really want. It is busier around the 4th of July, but the real peak is about July 10 - August 20.

Another thing about booking sites. Most places on Mackinac Island do not use them and if you are on a booking site, after the first handful of listings (less if they are booked), the places listed are on the mainland. I'm sure that there are people who arrive at the Island thinking they are staying there, only to discover that their hotel is not on the Island.