Hello, good people. I have been planning a trip to northern Michigan for my wife and I. We are planning the trip for the Week of October 11th to October 18th. This will be our first trip to the area (we live in Texas).
I have been reading through the posts and have become concerned that we may be making this trip a little too late in the year. Two of our most desired activities are "leaf-peeping" and Mackinac Island. It sounds like we may be too late to see either of them at their best. Our dates are set, but our desitination is not necessarily set. So...before we make a bad choice, do you think this is too late for this trip? Thanks for your help.

There was a report on here by swalter some time ago- and do a search for it.

I remember her noting what was open and what wasn't. I do remember we posted at length about Traverse City and the Mongolian BBQ there- as we both loved it.

And I remember her saying that she liked it much more than "normal" because when they were North- so much was closed and the resort they were in had no full restaurant and was using up its reserves, so it had no full fresh menu.

Honestly, it might be fine, but it might be very chill and rainy.

I'm a Southern MI person, so I can't tell you exact locations but do know that there are numerous places above Manistee that are doable and gorgeous.

Thank you. I found the thread you were speaking of. I'm afraid it didn't clear things up. It sounds like we would be right on the edge of both the color and enough things being open to enjoy the island. Does anyone else have any thoughts about this?

By mid-Oct many of the restaurants and shops on the Island will be closed for the season. Major facilities, such as the state park, should be open.
For fall colors I think you're right on the edge, probably a bit past the peak, but still enough color for great "peeping."
You might consider the Travese City area, should be just the end of the wine grape harvest and more places will likely still be open. Also since you're a bit further south, the leaf colors might be closer to their peak.

Thank you. I had been planning to go to the Traverse City area also. Since I've always wanted to see Mackinac Island, perhaps we'll just make a day trip there and then move back towards the south.

I saw some pictures on one thread showing the Mackinaw Strait bridge last Labor Day. The waves and clouds looked very foreboding. Does the weather get stormy like that very often during the fall?

You should be pretty close to the peak time for color in the Traverse City area at that time.

One wonderful thing is that even stores that close for the season (in the outlying areas) stay open through Oct. TC is only a two hour drive from Mackinaw City and I would advise you to drive US 31 between the two. That will take you through Petoskey and Charlevoix and you could make a side trip also to Harbor Springs, which is lovely.

Since you are planning on a fall trip you might want to stop in (hope I get the spelling close) Frankenmuth, which is a year round Christmas "destination". Very cute town with some quaint restaurants and all decorated already (well the decorations never come down) for the holiday season.

Have a great time.

If you are looking for a nice place to stay in Traverse City, I can highly recommend tamaracklodgetc.com These condos are right on Grand Traverse Bay and are really beautiful. Check out tripadvisor for great reviews.

I am a native Michigander and have been going to Traverse City for decades. This is our new favorite place to stay in TC.

Have fun in Michigan!

Thank you for your responses. I had looked at both the Tamarack Lodge and the town of Frankenmuth (appears to be a must for my wife). I'll continute with my planning but now I know a little more about what to expect. Thanks again!

castro, we were in the Petoskey area 2 years ago the same time you are going this year and the leaves were beautiful. Out at Boyne Falls where the new indoor waterpark is, they were doing free trips on the ski lift so you could enjoy the beautiful colors.

Now, we left there and went on up to the lighthouse and then spent the night in Marquette. We had planned to go on to the very northern tip (whatever that is called), but got up and it was snowing and they were predicting 12 inches on farther north, so we chickened out and headed "south" to Wisconsin!!!

Not sure about Mackinac Island this time of year. We went one year over Memorial Day and I almost froze my tatas off.

This year we will be arriving on October 18th for some much looked forward to steelhead fishing on The Manistee. Fun fun fun.

Northern Michigan is so beautiful. Enjoy your trip.

Even if the leaves are beyond peak in northern Michigan, you are still likely to see great color from the mid part of the lower peninsula to the south. Not sure if you will be driving or flying to Michigan but there will be good color to be seen!

Macinac Island may be iffy----could catch a nice indian summer day or it could be cold! Still a pretty place

The Tamarack Lodge is beautiful. I wouldn't mind living there the units are so pretty! But the last I heard, they still hadn't built their pool, so if that is important to you, you might want to check out another property.

Rapunzil is correct. The Tamarack Lodge hasn't built their pool yet. It is not something that matters to us, so I didn't think to mention it - sorry. I think they may have pool privileges at one of the nice hotels nearby -- not necessarily convenient, but certainly doable. It is my understanding that they will build a pool in Phase II.

I, too, could live in a condo at the Tamarack Lodge. Unfortunately, I think it would be cost prohibitive LOL.

Late October weather can be really iffy. We can definitely have the cold rain-all-day days. Think Ireland.

Here is a great foliage average site:

http://www.foliagenetwork.com/default.php

If you look at the archived maps from the foliage reports you will see that as of last year anyway, you would be dead on, if not a week early.

Are you driving up? Otherwise Frankenmuth is very far. Or are you flying to Detroit and then flying? If so then that would be right on your way.

According to the Mackinac website, you will still arrive before the end of summer weekend which is the 25th.

http://mackinac.com/content/general/events.html

And I see the carriage tours are still running:

http://www.mict.com/new/rates.html

We did a conference on Mackinac at the end of September and it was great. The air is crisp, not so many tourists, and lots of sales.

This time of year will also be GREAT apple orchard time. Do a search on Michigan apple orchards. A must do.

Are you into football at all? I see you are coming a Saturday to Saturday, so you might miss any college football games.

I love that area in the fall. It is my favorite time. Just absolutely plan on cold rain. I LOVE wearing my rain gear and walking around a little town and finding a cute bookstore and a nice tea shop and just listening to the rain. My favorite bookstore is in Harbor Springs. I think it is called "Between the Covers". There is a nice coffee shop across the street. Also in Harbor Springs is a very nice store featuring crafts and jewelry from local artists and not crazy prices. We do a ton of Christmas shopping there. You should call them for hours:

http://www.whistlingmoosegallery.com/

There is a group of restaurants owned by the Staffords. One of them is in Harbor Springs and the planked whitefish is amazing. They have several great restaurants and some very cute inns.

http://www.staffords.com/

Another great place to stay is the Inn at Bay Harbor. If you request it, they will build a fire for you in the evening by the bay and put out a complimentary s'more basket so you can make your own:

http://innatbayharbor.com/

Another nice indoor thing to do in the rain is tour the coast guard cutter. You can just drive up if it is in port and someone will give you a tour (although I just saw that tours are now available by appointment). They just bought a new one a few years ago and it is gorgeous. The ship is in Cheboygan, not far from Mackinaw City. 231-597-2030

http://www.cheboygan.com/cuttermackinaw.php

So for that area, you probably want to hit Mackinac Island (I got married on it ), Harbor Springs (although it might be very closed that time of year), Cheboygan for the coast guard cutter, and Petoskey. Petoskey is the largest city in that area, which means more things will be open, and it really isn't that large. They also have a brand new casino if that interests you.

As you head over to Traverse, the Old Mission Peninsula is where most of the wineries are located. It is a gorgeous drive along it. You can see water on both sides. It completely feels like California.

http://www.oldmission.com/

Lots of cute places to stay there. One of these days I'm staying at Chateau Grand Traverse.

http://www.cgtwines.com/theinn.php


So, to sum up, fall is my favorite time up there. You will love it. You will be cold, but they have nice sweater shops. You will get wet, so bring some good rain gear (golf-type rain gear). You could even get snow. (Gasp - the "S" word!) Or it could be 65 and sunny everyday. (But I doubt it). Don't cancel your trip, but please make plans to come see us again in the summer.

Oh, and one last thought. On Mackinac, be sure to warm yourself up with high tea at the Grand Hotel. I believe you can have your fee to visit the hotel credited toward your meal.

http://www.grandhotel.com/otherhotelrestaurants.html

HAVE FUN!

I am actually in the midst of making our own reservations for my husband's conference in Traverse City in September. I tried to get into Chateau Chantal to stay, but apparently you have to book a year in advance. But he did have a couple of nights in October. You should check on it.

http://www.chateauchantal.com/