Warning! This will be long ~ but hopefully packed full of good info! We made the most of our 2ish days

1st Michigan ROCKS. Had been there 10 years ago and loved it more now.
Left Sun am from No IL (Fox Lk) and took the Mapquest route suggested. Avoided the Dan Ryan which is under construction but still might have been a bit faster than 294.

We stayed at The Landings Inn which is on Water St on the river. Small Inn ~ very nice and clean. Private. Close enough to town but just enough of a walk to make it be quieter. GO THERE. Should mention...considered staying at The Ship N Shore Boatel. It looked cool but my SO is a bit more selective than I am ~ that is a very old style hotel. I almost chose this but decided against it when they told me all rooms have been smoked in but they put a machine in there too eat it. He was much more happier with my choice ~ it could be a nice, FUN place but was not our style.
Side note....we also looked at the Beachway. Its an older style hotel also. Looked nice but to us the draw back was that it was across the river ~ a 3 mile drive to town after the chain ferry closes at 8 PM....after dinner and drinks.....we like walking.

Sun - We had drinks and some shrimp at The Butler and caught Living Soul. Good Jimmy Buffett and More tribute band. They were perfect for the place...not too loud that you could not talk over and very talented. $2.00 cover for those that would care.....we don't.

Dinner at Coral Gables.....we enjoyed the food but would not go back based on the service ( steak knives and potatoes after we were done with main meal) We found other places later that looked good.....but after a few drinks at the Butler we were hungry and ate at the 1st place we found on the water.

After eating took advantage of perfect timing and took a ride on the Star of Saugatuck for the 7:45 cruise. Well worth the $15.00 a piece to see the houses, hear the history and enjoy the ride.
Drinks after that at Wally's Bar...great band and noted that the food smelled great!
Nightcap at the Butler...perfect. Day 1 was a good day.

Day 2...breakfast at Pumpernickles......great place...the Cinnamon Bread is to die for....so is the omelet and tator's.
Had a nasty leg cramp so took advantage of Massages By Steve for a 15 min leg rub....smile...I could walk again......(more water.,....less rum).
Shopped until the sun came out. Enjoyed it all but Good Goods stands out. Ventured over to Oval Beach for a few hours. Entrance fee is good for all day. Beach was great...very pretty. We both commented that it was hard to believe this was Michigan and not Florida. Water was cold.

Went for dinner at The Butler...prime rib was excellent and so was the service. We really liked this place. Has a touch of class but is not snobby....good food and pride in a family run old business.
Went back to the beach to catch a fantastic sunset. (sure this is Michigan?) It was perfect...one of the best sunsets I have ever seen topped off by swinging on the swing set after it set looking over Lake Michigan. Might sound silly but it has been a rough year and at that moment I was so totally happy and actually cried a few tears while on the swing....might have been the wine at dinner...wink wink.

Went back to town and had ice cream at Kiwans....yum.
walked around a bit and had a night cap at the Boathouse.

Should note. We were there on Sunday and Monday nights.
Sunday night there was stuff going on and open later but Monday was pretty dead. Was hard to find a quiet place to sit and have a few glasses of wine before bed. If you enjoy this.....suggest you have a bottle on hand in your room incase you are just not ready to turn in but might enjoy sitting on the deck for a bit before turning in.

Our plans had been to take the car ferry back to Milwaukee but did not realize I should have made reservations well over a week in advance. Turns out it need repair anyway. Decided to take our time heading home.....hit Chicago about 9pm ~ hopefully past the traffic and home by 10ish.

Ride home we took our time and visited the towns along the way. Stayed on the BLUE STAR HIGHWAY into So Haven....walked on the beach there. Lunch at Fish Tales.
South Haven looked nice. A bit more spread out. Condos/accomodations on the beach with a good walk to town to other activities. Fish Tales was good....service and food.

Stopped at a few antique stores along the way...a house where they sold painted gourds for bird houses.
Pulled off into Rocky Gap County Park.....nice roadside location that you can head down to the beach from. Slept off lunch.....picked up driftwood for my glass art.

Stopped in St Joseph. We were shocked....this larger town rolled up its streets very early for a Tuesday. None of the cute downtown stores were open and it was only 7 pm.
SO commented that it looked like a nice town but please don't book us there or we would be looking for things to do at night. We don't need much but there was nothing going on.
From there we continued to make our way down Blue Star Highway (avoiding the Interstate) which turns into Red Arrow Hwy into New Buffalo. We wished we would have gotten there earlier. Lots of cool looking antique stores / farm markets etc. Watched our last Michigan sunset for the year on the beach in New Buffalo. (Town looked interesting....will go back)
Time to go home. Took US 12 towards 94. Don't do this. It was a little spooky around the Dunes in IN. This road was slow and dark and deserted. Kept hoping we would find the expressway as we hit the area around the steel mills.
Finally found 94.
It was a Tuesday night at almost 9pm. Traffic on 294 was awful. Should have took 90 even though the Dan Ryan was under construction....we would have saved time. Sat at at toll booth for an hour.

This trip was great. Michigan is one place I will visit again for sure. My SO was very surprised ~ He kept saying...its like being a million miles away.

Sorry this was so long. Hopefully it will be of help to others. It sure was fun taking a few minutes and reliving it!

So glad you had a good time! Thanks for the update.

Darn. The secret is out. People will now be flocking to Michigan in droves!

Great trip report, Bagsarepacked! And I'm so glad you liked Living Soul too - aren't they a riot? I've been a 'groupie' for years. They're coming to Grand Rapids in a few weeks and I'll be there!

I also probably should have warned you about Coral Gables too. It used to be a lot nicer about 10 years ago. Glad you liked the Butler though. And I'm really glad you had the chance to hang out at Oval Beach and enjoy our Michigan sunsets. I enjoy them as often as possible.

Next time you come back, let's meet for a margarita at the Butler!

Travel Addict ~ I will let you know when we will be there next time. Most likely next summer at this point.
We had such a good time. I would love to go poke around New Buffalo before it closes up for the Winter but with traffic the way it was......would be too long.
Where in MI are you?

Gosh........could go for breakfast from Pumpernickles right now!

Dang it! Now there's going to be even more traffic tomorrow night! Glad you had fun Bags!

DO NOT LET YOUR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES READ THIS......we are trying to keep Michigan a secret!

My part is becoming less and less secret. But that's ok. If any of you ever do bring off a GTG in SW or South Central MI, let me know and I will try to make it.

Thanks, bagsarepacked, for your great report. And if you like adventure you might like to go down the Silver Lake Sand Dunes in a jeep next time. That's really nearly undescribable.

I wish I could have told you more specific traffic details. There is a way to get around the toll booth that backed you up coming home. I do this ride almost every other week and I have plotted circles around most of the IL/IN border glitches at this time.

I cry viewing my lake sunsets nearly once a trip. Honest! Even wineless.

Thanks for the report. It brought back many memories. Next time you drive that way, stop for a walk on the beach at Michigan City, In. Another best kept secret. The beach is lovely and the catwalk out to the lighthouse is great. We slipped our boat at the marina there for 8 seasons and miss it so very much.

We just did that, cd, early June this year when we decided not to fight traffic but to just veg for awhile before heading back to Chicago and the very ill there.

It was truly wonderful and gave me a renewed strength. I was amazed at the growth in Michigan City as well. We have used the boat launch there, but never the marina.

JJ5
The marina there is the best ever. The docks are new and have everything except cable. We had wonderful neighbors and the sunsets out on the lake, as you know, are beautiful.

I'm from Grand Rapids, Bags. Sorry to hear you won't be coming back until next summer though. Fall here is gorgeous too!

And to all the other Michiganders who posted here... I definitely think a Michigan GTG needs to be planned. My votes would be for Saugatuck, Grand Haven, Pentwater, Traverse City, or Mackinac Island - all my favorite places. Where are you from?

Gee, maybe I could even write the trip off as a business expense...um, yeah... marketing research! :-"

I would try, but North would be hard for me this year. I'm in Cass County, just South of Paw Paw (exit 60 on 94).
Big Fish Lake, between Marcellus and Lawton (two closest towns).

Travel Addict ~ A GTG ~ I wanna come!

cfntmpn ~ Giggle...I think the secret is out based on the traffic I sat in at 9pm getting back to Chicago.
Was funny to see so many IL plates in the beach parking lots we were in.

JJ5 ~ you mean there is an easier way?!
If you ever feel like it ~ wanna write it down for me? Might mean I get to go back sooner <grin>.
You make that trip that often ~ are you from IL? Where may I ask?

JJ5 - You're not very far away from me - maybe a Saugatuck GTG would work the best for you? Then maybe we can talk Bagsarepacked into coming back too???

bagsarepacked, I'm from Tinley Park IL (SW Chicago Suburb) with a lake house retreat in Big Fish near Marcellus/Lawton (Cass County). Most years I go to MI about 30 times, but this year was very different as my Mom was terminal, died July 7 and my Dad has had 2 strokes since April and now needs 24 hour care with live in help at home.

There are several of us on here who do (bi/state people )it, swalter518 being one.

We don't wait for that toll booth but either go all the way to the left through the IPASS or exit before this blockage and use side streets to get to the other expressways. We get to 57 or reconnect with 80, go to Ridge Rd or once in awhile all the way to Rt. 30.

travel addict- this year is very hard for me to "know" or plan because of the state of relatives etc. and with semester starting now. But I would very much like to do this in 2007. Don't forget. I just wouldn't like to plan and not to show. I've only actually made it to MI, 4 times this entire season.

I hope to move to MI permenantly as my first residence in about 4 years. And possibly travel from Dec. to March many years. Michigan is the love of my life, really.

JJ5 - I'm really sorry to hear about your mother, and now your father's illness too. I lost my dad a few years ago and know how much it hurts to lose a parent. You seem like a wonderful person to take care of your parents like you do - the world needs more people like you!

And I really hope you can achieve your dream of moving to your lake home as soon as possible - sounds like you've definitely earned it!

As for a Saugatuck GTG, if anyone else is interested, let me know. I'm thinking possibly a Sat. in September, or maybe waiting until Spring. I have a really busy October - starting with 7 nights stay at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse. Really looking forward to that!

Oh, tell us all about your trip when you get home!

I would be interested in a Spring trip.
The rest of this year is sort of busy for me.

JJ-I am sorry to hear of your loss also. I lost my Dad years ago in 88- I was in my early 20's he was 53. I miss him still so much everyday.
I understand the year you are having. The last 12 months have been sort of sad for me too. Ended a 3 yr relationship ~ good thing to do but very hard and in Dec I found my Mom in her house after she had passed from a heart attack. I am the only kid with none of my own....sort of feels weird to be all that is left. Thank goodness for a wonderful man in my life.
You will get through this......and when you do your Michigan trips will be even more special to you.

If you are ever up near me let me know.
We can raise a toast to our parents.

I will, bagsarepacked. Fox Lake gives you a longer ride to MI. My sister lives in CarolStream, IL and she's only 49 and in her 7th month of chemo and radiation for breast cancer. I'm just full of good news this year. But her prognosis is good.

I have a huge extended family, 3 grown kids, 5 tremendous grandkids and 1 terrific guy We met when I was around 50 and he has been with me since. I love to travel and I love Michigan. It's vinyards and hills remind me of a more spacious and greener Italy.

We will have to meet in IL. Do you know that there is a GTG in downtown Chicago on Sept. 14th? Faina is coming in and Fodorites are welcome. So far only about 4, I think. Post here if you are interested in details.

My guy goes up by you to fish all the time, he is early retired from GM after working there 33 years. Lucky him.

Wow... JJ5 - The hits just keep on coming, eh? I'm sorry to hear your sister is ill too. Nothing like a little stress in your life right now!! Really glad to hear your sister's prognosis is good though. And since bad things seem to happen in three's - I sure hope you're done for awhile. You've sure had your fair share of pain and sadness in the last year. Plenty of positive thoughts go out to you! (and they're from Michigan, no less!)

Are you going to Faina's GTG in Chicago? I was thinking about seeing if I could arrange to go - assuming they'd let me in on it! But it's probably going to be a last minute trip if I go.

Hang in there!!