All the good advice on worthy sights closer to "home" - Troy has lead me to plan Greenfield, dinner train, Meadowbrook, The Ford, Frankenmuth & Bronnors(for the kidles)Meadow Brook Hall,Motown Museum(just for nostalgia I think it's just a studio converted fm garage).

Besides the recent Michigan chill(frigid in early Oct already!)deters me from going further north. Anyone with ideas for a good restaurant for Thanksgiving for a family of 12 on the reasonable side? I don't have equipment or ingredients to cook in our corp. condo.
I don't feel so desperate for activities now, thanks to you all for your comments which have saved me money, travel time and probable disappointment of schlepping a clan from HI, CA and NYC up to Mackinac in late Nov!

Did you want your restaurant close to Troy? What's reasonable per person? $20/pp too high/low? Let me know and I will suggest away. As I stated in another post www.metrotimes.com has a comprehensive restaurant review section. I think it will be imperative to make reservations, etc just to ensure whatever place you choose is open.

$20/pp for Thanksgiving is very reasonable! No we don't have to be around Troy as we probably would have exhausted the offerings around here which is also a high rent area. We were surprised that many moderate eateries had higher prices than NYC or SF. We also have young children who can't (and shouldn't)sit through formal presentations and lingering courses. Would appreciate your input.

Hmmmmm. How about Rochester? There's the Kruse and Muer restaurant on Main St. It's one of my favorite resaurants in the area. Also in the downtown area, but a bit more pricey, is the Rochester Chop House/Kabin Kruiser restaurant. The Kabin Kruiser portion is less formal and less expensive. Not sure if they'll be open on Thanksgiving, though, and not sure if children would really like it. If you head towards the city, you could do Greektown! That might be fun and very different for Turkey day. The saganaki (opa!) would probably make the kids ooh and ahh. My husband says that the Pegasus restaurant in Greektown is great. Or there's Hockeytown Cafe. across the street from Comerica Park. I've never eaten there, but it's a neat atmosphere. This is a tough one!! Let me think some more and see what I can come up with!

Actually the rest. my husband recommends in Greektown is the Cyprus Taverna. Any chance you might be in Detroit for the Thanksgiving Day parade? That would make downtown Detroit convenient.

How about skiing in Northern Michigan? We've had great snow at Boyne the last 4 years. Puts you in a Christmas mood right away!! Nothing like being in a hot tub with the flakes flying all around...

Thanks for the ideas - Greektown will be different. Skiing would be logistically difficult for so many of us. Dragging out ski gear and outfitting the children for a brief visit is daunting. Years ago we used to do Tahoe and Breckinridge when the clan was smaller and less scattered. I will explore Greektown restaurants open for Thanksgiving.

Cloud, I live in Troy and would like to pass on some Thanksgiving dinner suggestions:
Camp Ticonderoga, 5725 Rochester Road, Troy. 11 a.m.-midnight. Traditional turkey dinner and trimmings; $14.99 adults, $7.99 children under 12. Limited menu also available. 248-828-2825. (CLOSE TO HOME BASE)

Clarkston Cafe, 18 S. Main, Clarkston. Noon-6 p.m. Turkey and trimmings; $16.95 adults, $8.95 children 5 and older. Also prime rib ($18.95), pork loin ($15.95), portabella mushrooms plus shrimp and scallops ($16.95) and whitefish ($16.95). 248-625-5660.
(CLARKSTON IS A HALF HOUR DRIVE NORTH ON I-75)

Holly Hotel, 110 Battle Alley, Holly. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Victorian Thanksgiving dinner. $21.50 adults, $9.95 children 6 and older. 248-634-5208. (HOLLY IS A BIT FARTHER NORTH ON I-75, ABOUT FORTY MINUTES, BUT IS A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT FOR THE HOLIDAYS. HERE'S THE WEBSITE FOR THEIR DICKEN'S FESTIVAL: http://www.hollymi.com/dickens.htm
MOST OF THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING. YOU MIGHT WANT TO SPEND THE NIGHT...?)

Hope you enjoy your visit to our beautiful state! Cheers!

Frankenmuth is still foisting fried chicken (how German) on people? Oh dear. I guess it is recommended because of the Christmas decoration shop but it really has nothing you haven't seen many other places.

I think Greenfield Village is a lovely idea. The Dearborn Inn used to have a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and I'm sure they still do. I recommend circling the Village on the old steam locomotive and then doing the village by foot or carriage. The Eagle Tavern which is located on the Green and has no electricity (candle light) authentic beverages and food has done Thanksgiving dinner in the past. The village will be decorated for Christmas by then. It would be a wonderful experience. My kids always looked forward to our visits there and it truly brings history alive. I always found it more interesting than Williamsburg.

http://www.hfmgv.org/village/default.asp

LMF

When I was a kid (5 decades ago), Hartwick Pines State Park (near Grayling or Gaylord) always fascinated me. Extremely large virgin pines and an interesting lumbering/Paul Bunyon display. When you're a kid, and from a large city, you can't tell the difference between a big pine and a big redwood/sequoia.

I've printed out Maggi and LilMs rec's. Many thanks for sharing Thanksgiving celebration ideas!

Cloud I would second LilMs recommendation of Camp Ticonderoga- they have several moderately priced dishes, and all are wonderful. I would also add Andiamo's to your list- they have several locations all throughout the area. Check out www.andiamos.com. Another option for sightseeing is the Edsel and Elenor Ford House in Grosse Pointe, MI.

I would NOT recommend the Clarkston Cafe!! Terrible meals the last couple of times I was in there! The Holly Hotel is a GREAT idea! I've never eaten there (it's on my list) but I've heard the food is wonderful.

I had my wedding reception at the Holly Hotel and it is indeed wonderful. The food is spectacular. Not much else to do here, but the restuarant is wonderful.

Cloud, I don't know if you are still looking for dinner ideas, but I was perusing the Holly Hotel site tonight, looking to FINALLY go and try it myself, and saw this on the upcoming events page.
http://www.hollyhotel.com/eventspage.htm

Sounds delish! And very reasonable!!