Mackinac or Holland?
 

I am trying to plan a long weekend getaway in mid-August with the family to either Holland, MI or Mackinac Island. We will have two little ones (18 month twins.) We enjoy shopping, good restaurants and a nice beach where we can relax and get some sun. We will be driving from Indianapolis, but don't mind the difference in drive time. Any suggestions on the best place for a quick family getaway...either Holland, MI or Mackinac Island (probably would stay in Mackinaw City.)

I live in Holland, so I'm biased, but I'd prefer Holland to Mac City.

I'd bet the water's 10 degrees colder at Mac City, and a possibility of stony beaches. Holland, pure sand.

In addition to Holland State Park (and Grand Haven S.P.), our county is blessed with some beautiful county parks, of which probably 3 or 4 are on Lake Michigan between here and GH. Just right for the twins (my granddaughter twins enjoyed them).

Good restaurants here, GH, and Saugatuck.

I grew up in Mackinaw City and return there at least once a year. There are so many things to do (many of them free) and the area is beautiful. We were at the Beach House Cottages in Mackinaw last weekend and it had a beautiful beach.

That's quite a lot of additional driving time, lhohman, especially for only a long weekend - and with two toddlers, too.

Are you planning on coming up I65? You need to include *substantial* additional time due to road construction delays. It will probably take you more than 3.5 hours DT just to get out of IN and you still are more than 1.5 hr. away even from Holland.

But, if you don't care: It's not even a contest, IMHO. Mackinac Island. Although it definitely is a big step down to stay off the island.

If you were will to consider staying in Saugatuck or Douglas, maybe even Fennville (10 miles inland from the other two) - yes. Holland - no. Sorry, tomboy.

You need to be aware that this certainly won't be cheap long weekend; and the better options are probably already booked solid (months ago). Should have been looking no later than the end of April for the best choices.

Most better places will probably require a two-night minimum stay on weekends. If the location is having some type of special festival weekend, they may require a three night minimum stay.

Sorry for the extra post but I should mention this, if you are even thinking about swimming...

Lake Michigan is especially prone to rip currents, caused by weather, structural items, and/or lake bed erosion - particularly in Northern IN and the entire SW to the Western shoreline of Michigan. This includes Holland, Grand Haven, etc.

If the weather again becomes stormy or even windy - as it has been so much of this summer - you might have to consider alternative options. However, you need to be aware that it isn't only bad weather which causes rip current to occur.

If you do a quick search, you'll see that beaches along this stretch of Michigan close *often* (every year at times) because of rip currents. You'll probably find a lot of articles about the unfortunate drowning victims and those saved from rip currents in these areas, as well.

Whatever you do, I strongly warn you to only swim when and where there is a lifeguard on duty.

Holy smokes, now I'm scared.

Seriously, I doubt lohman2015 will be taking the twins out near the flags. At 18 mo., they can somewhat walk; that's why they're called toddlers. My grand-twins were in the water at that age; there's a pretty gentle slope to the beach, so at about 10' out from water's edge, they'd be at about knee high; at 20' out, maybe waist high. Close enough to watch from shore, and to jump to assist if they fell.

I've NEVER felt a rip current that close to shore in 70+ years. Those drownings mentioned have occurred almost invariably on stormy days, or the next day, with folks who were swimming in 6' plus deep water, 200' from shore.

If you didn't like I-65, try I-69 to I-94 and then west.
Or US-131 straight north from Indianapolis to St. Joseph MI, then north on I-196. Though not an true expressway, it's limited access almost all the way.

tomboy, why don't you just tell the folks how many drowning fatalities have occurred in Lake Michigan. Tell them how many times every single year you read (news print) or hear (radio or TV) - or maybe you were even present at the time - of these tragedies.

Don't know? Here is the current tally, as of the end of July 2015. NOTE: There were another (at least) two drownings in the first days of this month - and it appears they may be attributed to rip currents. glsrp.org/statistics/

Here is another website to review: greatlakes.coastguard.dodlive.mil/2013/05/rip-currents-what-they-are-the-dangers-how-to-escape-2/

The really unfortunate aspect is that the percentage of these drowning fatalities in Lake Michigan keeps rising exponentially.

The National Coast Guard posts their annual warnings every single year.

Rip currents do *not* only occur during high waves, heavy winds - or sometime quite soon thereafter. Lake bed erosion can create them as well as structural elements, such as piers and breakwaters. Here is the **OFFICIAL WORD** on this, the NOAA website on rip currents: ripcurrents.noaa.gov Read bulleted point #4, if you don't believe me.

All anyone needs to do to see how much of a danger rip currents are in Lake Michigan - just Google it. You will see. I'll wager you will receive millions of hits.

To the OP: We are adults here and it is the responsible thing for an adult to warn another of a known hazard - so that the necessary precautions can be taken to avoid it. As I stated above, if you are so inclined to swim, please do so only at beaches when and where there is a lifeguard on duty.

If you take a look at these URLs which I have provided, you will see that there is a common thread stated clearly in them: They ask that everyone pass along this information. To educate the public of the dangers of rip currents in Lake Michigan. To make it known to visitors, who might not know of them. So perhaps these needless tragedies could be avoided - or at least lessened.


People need to realize that swimming in Lake Michigan is exactly like swimming in the ocean. Because Lake Michigan is, in fact, a great inland sea and has the same characteristics. And they need to be aware of the dangers and take the necessary precautions.

Public safety should be the #1 concern.

Sheesh!!!

OK, there's a thunderstorm tonight; winds today probably averaged 25+ mph. I wouldn't go swimming right now, much less take the grandkids. But then, I have common sense.

From the glsrp site provided, it seemed that 90% of the drownings were Chicago area. One drowning in the 3 years given was in our area. That's one, as in 1, in a 36 month period. No rip tide involved. That kid jumped off the end of the pier; had never been in Lake Michigan before; apparently hadn't been to smaller lakes; had no idea how to swim. Duh!!! One doesn't have to be a brain surgeon to know you shouldn't jump into water over your head if you don't know how to swim. Darwin award.

I doubt if the original poster plans to toss the 18 month old twins off the end of the pier so they can practice swimming. At least not tonight.

The original poster may not come back. It has been two weeks and that was the only post they ever made.