Michigan / Wisconsin with kids question
 

I'm planning a trip out there next month. Two moms, four kids.

We are going to be staying at a friend's cottage on Lake Huron for a couple of days. We want to see a bit more of MI before we head off to WI. The original plan was to head up to Mackinac Island then over the UPI to Northern Wisconsin and come down. As much as I hate to miss Mackinac Island I'm wondering if we'd be better off doing something like Sleeping Bear Dunes on the West Coast of MI, then taking the car ferry from Ludington over to WI. The car ferry is having a deal right now where kids ride free. It would shave off a good deal of driving.

Thoughts? What would you do with the kiddos (ages 4-7).

Thanks!

I'm not sure where you are in WI but we just made the trip from MN through Eagle River to the UP and down to Petoskey. On the way back we went through the UP on 2 and then down 41 to 29. While we enjoyed the drive over (stopped to see our daughter - not very direct) there was almost nothing to do either way and the drive back was just pretty boring. We couldn't even find a golf course. If you can cut out some of the drive, I'd say do the ferry. The kids are pretty young for Mackinac Island anyway. Just my opinion.

No, thank you that's the kind of advice I'm looking for!

Yes, Mackinac is great, but driving across the UP is long and boring.

With the kids at the ages you have stated, I think the Western shores of Michigan (Petosky, Big Bear Dunes, etc.) would be a much better choice than Mackinac Island. The island offers shops, horse drawn carriages, no traffic except bicycle traffic, and a lot of interesting history. It is not really designed for children but rather touristy adults. From experience I can tell you everyone enjoys vacations with children more if the children are able to run around and play to get rid of all their energy. The beaches are great. Traverse City has a great cherry festival with a nice child friendly parade around this time, but I am not sure when during August you plan to travel. Also there are football related activities in Green Bay as well as maritime museums near Sturgeon Bay and south along the Lake Michigan shore as well as many places to just be on the beach and enjoy the lake. Highway 2 across the UP is not real interesting, but it is beautiful with pine trees and scenery. Young children will only see that beauty for about 5 minutes and then it will be all the same!

I live in WI and often drive through the UP to visit a grown daughter in Maine so I don't have to drive through Chicago traffic. Highway 2 is long and scenic. It takes forever to get to Green Bay. I vote for the car ferry, although even with kids free, it is expensive.

When you land in Manitowoc my kids still love Beerntsen's. http://beerntsens.com/ It is an old fashion candy shop but also has a small soda shop with tiny dining area. All the old 1930's oak cabinets and tables are still used. They serve simple kid friendly foods like grilled cheese sandwiches and applesauce plus soda fountain favorites like malts and egg creams.

There are some state historical places in the area like the Wade House http://wadehouse.wisconsinhistory.org/, which my kids kind of enjoyed. The EAA Museum is in Oshkosh if they like airplanes. http://museum.eaa.org/ Many families love the Door county area but you are already kind of doing those things in MI.

I hate to say this but I think what your kids would really love is the Wisconsin Dells area. Maybe a 3 hour drive from Lake Michigan. http://wisdells.com/ From age 2 to their adult years my kids loved Noah's Ark waterpark. There is also a newer one, Mt. Olympus,that has rollercoasters in addition to the waterpark...might be too much for the 4 year old. Maybe someone else can comment.By the time it opened my kids were already about 10 years old.

The Dells Boat ride is wonderful, the Duck rides very entertaining (and bumpy as the ducks drive along the roads and then go right into the lake-your kids would love it) but my favorite ride is the horse pulled carriage rides through Lost Canyon. Wisconsin Dells is very "touristy" but fun. For some calm activities in the area you could go swimming or take short hikes at Devil's Lake State Park, go to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo or take a train ride with the Mid-Continent Railway. There are almost too many things to do.

If you drive south an hour you will be in Madison. The farmer's market on Capital square Saturday morning is famous. My kids always loved it and there is usually some kind of entertainment going on besides just the vendor booths.A great place to pick up a picnic lunch.My kids always loved to walk through the capital rotunda and look up! Close to the square on State Street is a wonderful children's museum. Oh, on the way into town eat at Ella's Deli http://www.ellas-deli.com/ Be sure to buy tickets for the carousel. The zoo in Madison is also nice, smaller than the Milwaukee Zoo and seems better for younger children. Olbreck Gardens has a nice butterfly house.

Not far from Madison is Cave of the Mounds. Nice tours and nice place for a picnic. http://www.caveofthemounds.com/ Also close to the House on the Rock. House on the Rock is pretty overwhelming but my kids still like to go there, especially for all the music machines. http://www.thehouseontherock.com/HOT...actionMain.htm

If you head to Milwaukee the Milwaukee Public Museum is always a favorite.