Planning a trip from South Central PA to Mackinac Island in Mid Sept. Never been to MI before so any suggestions on what to see along the way would be helpful. Would like to spend at least 1 night on the island but really can't justify $420/night for the Grand (son's leaving for college - we're trying to forget about empty nest)

Only place I would like to stop is Grayling so my husband could fish for a day. Does anyone know how much an out-of-state tag is?
Any great places to stay near the Au Sable River for him?

Thanks for any help.
PS We are in our 50's, rather casual, my husband very active (I've got lyme disease so I can't do as much as I once could) but we do like to see as much as we can when we hit the road.

Fishing:
Your cheapest option per the Michigan DNR website is a Code 125 Non-resident 24-hour all species fish license ($7). Otherwise the annual license will run you between $34-42. Check out http://www.mdnr-elicense.com/welcome.asp

Mackinaw Island:
Other accomodation choices worth considering: Lilac Tree, Main Street Inn, Island House, Iroquois or Chippewa

Sight to see:
Michigan really has a ton to offer so maybe getting a better idea of your interests (shopping, wineries, nature) will help Fodorites to make suggestions.

Some of the more recommended activites include a visit to Greenfield Village / Henry Ford Museum, Rouge River Factory Tour, Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit Zoo, Frankenmuth, Dow Gardens, Shopping at Birch Run Outlet Center, Comerica Park, Cranbrook Institute of Art & Science Center, Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes...the list just keeps growing

If your husband likes to fish, then you have to stop at Cabela's in Dundee [on US 23]. This place has it all.

Are you planning to stop before you get to Grayling? If so, Dundee is a good place since all of the hotels are new in the last few years.

Grayling has a few motels with a Holiday Inn being the largest. For fishing, you have a choice on the license -$7, $34, $42. These go from a 24 hour permit to unlimited all species. Not much else in Grayling except fishing and canoeing.

Have only stayed on the island once for a conference and that was at the Grand.

Thanks for the info. The $7.00 license sounds like the way to go for fishing.

We like senic drives, sightseeing, some hiking (depending on how my day is going), seeing small quaint towns, wineries would be nice, some shopping but more in the small towns. Hubby hates to shop!!! But Cabelas does sound like it might trip his trigger.

We thought we would spend most of our time in the upper part of the state and trying to skip the big towns this trip.

We like to stay in historic hotels, B&B's and small unique places, not large resorts with hundreds of rooms.

What can we expect for the weather in mid September?

I appreciate all help you can give.
Peggy

Yes, the Ford Museum is awesome. We stayed in Grayling back to back years at Penrods. Jim (the owner) is great. Has 10-12 cabins (no air) right on the Au Sable. He has a canoe livery on site. Eat at Spikes in Grayling

Mid-September should still be good weather. You should plan on cool nights but you could easily have temps in the 70's.

You could easily spend one or two days at The Henry Ford. The village has historic buildings including Edison's lab and Stephen Foster's House. The indoor museum is known for its transportation collection. Check www.hfmgv.org.

Close by is Henry Ford's estate on the grounds of U of M-Dearborn. The pool has been converted to a moderately-priced restaurant and is open for lunch Tues-Fri. The menu and info are at www.henryfordestate.com.

If you decide to stay around the Detroit area, you may want to look into the Dearborn Inn Marriott. It's a historic hotel built in 1929 and has replicas of famous Americans homes behind the main building which are divided into suites.

If you need a break during the drive, a nice place to stop and walk is the Catholic shrine in Indian River (exit 310 on I-75). The focal point of the shrine is the 55-foot crucifix with a 28-foot figure sculpted by Marshall Fredricks.

years ago we went to mackinac island.. but then we went further up to the manitoulin island area and can definitely recommend this area as being pristine, fewer tourists, and a back to nature experience, but great accomodations and food.

we stayed at the island lodge, but visited many other nice places.

http://www.island-lodge.com/

i found mackinac a bit harrowing each time a ferry came into port.. lines for the bathrooms , lines for ice cream, lines to rent bikes, lines to rent a horse..

we didn't stay on the island, nor did i feel it would have been worth the money.

this was "pre-internet" so, i imagine now a traveller would know how to avoid that down side.

You are picking a wonderful time of year to go up. Crowds and costs are down. The weather is usually quite nice (But take warm clothes - just in case).

The best bargains for a room on the Island will probably be at the B&Bs, but most of the places should have specials by then.

You don't say how long you will be up there. Many people would suggest returning partway down the west side of the State - Petoskey, Charlevoix, Traverse City. That area is great, but there is something special about September in the Eastern Upper Peninsula - Tahquamenon Falls, Soo Locks, White Fish Point.

Either way, you won't go wrong.

Keith
http://www.mightymac.org

Be sure to check The Grand's website. My husband and I stay every year and towards the end of summer (september) they usually run buy 1 get 1 free night stay!