Michigan advice needed
 

My DH, daughter, SIL, and I will be traveling to Ann Arbor in June. We will have 3 additional days to spend in Michigan. We like beautiful scenery, not-too-strenuous activities, sightseeing, and exploring communities. I'm considering heading north and driving counter-clockwise around the bays. Or we could head west and stay put somewhere on the Lake Michigan shore. We will head home from the southwest, possibly stopping in Chicago. Suggestions?

We spent a wonderful brief vacation exploring the Lake Michigan coast from Sleeping Bear Dunes to Harbor Springs. It is a lot like New England, where we live, and we could happily have spent another week.

Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City, Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Torch Lake/Elk Lake areas. Beautiful water and scenery, and great little towns, all in a relatively compact area.

I live in Grand Rapids and LOVE Lake Michigan. The Sleeping Bear Dunes area is awesome, but it is a ways from Ann Arbor and not on the way to Chicago. If you are thinking of going from AA to Chicago, you will be along I-94. I have heard Marshall is a nice historic city, but I have never been there.
You could head directly west towards Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, however a little to the north you will find South Haven, Saugatuck, Holland and Grand Haven, which all have good restaurants and shops, and are good places to stroll. There are several wineries in southwest Michigan.
You might check out the official tourism site:
http://www.michigan.org

Are you trying to do this on a weekend?

If so, you need to realize that most of the better lodging in these areas - IF you can find it at that time of year, because they are booked up for 6 months (sometimes as much as a year) in advance - will probably require two-night minimum stays.

Three night minimum stays are normally required on major holiday weekends.

Thanks everyone!
We will most likely leave via I-94, even if we don't stop in Chicago. Hopefully, we can find lodging along the Lake Michigan shore! I don't usually wait this late to make travel plans, so I hope it works out.

I would start with one noght on Mackinac Island, then head down the Lake Michigan shore.

In addition to the communities which mrpink mentions, be sure to visit Cross Village (stop for a meal at Leggs Inn), and drive M-119 to Harbor Springs. The narrow road winds through a canopy of trees and along a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.