UP in mid October

[duff]

I think we are heading up to Michigan in mid October. Never been north of Ludington. What is worth doing. Been looking at Mackinaw but getting overwhelmed and looks very expensive.

I will be with 2 kids under 12, my wife and maybe mom in law.

[bill9068]

If you can check out Mackinaw, the boat ride is worth the effort.

[lawrencecountyhunter]

We did a lap around Lake Michigan in the summer time a few years back. We mostly stayed close to the lake, jumping from State Park to State Park.

The only thing I cared about at Mackinaw Island was the fort. It was pretty neat, with costumed interpreters and reenactments. Everything else on the island, from what I saw, was just overpriced shops and restaurants.

Oswald's Bear Ranch is a black bear rescue center. The enclosures are huge, not like a zoo. The Bears usually hang close to the fence though, since you get a bag of apples with your price of admission to feed the bears.

Other than that, we mostly stayed in the campgrounds and swam in the lake. I would like to go back someday and tour Lake Superior, especially the Painted Rocks National Lakeshore area.

[bill9068]

Amen brother, the fort was the main draw on Mackinaw, I have a service buddy who lives in East Jordan Mi. Hes a big big fisherman doing the tournament circuit so we saw a lot the lake. Duff, if you make it up then try to go to the fisheries they have there, its free and neat to see the salmon in different stages of growth. Lots to see and do thats free.

[Jamie Brooks 1John5:13]

Aug 16, 2016 19:49:54 GMT -5 duff said:

I think we are heading up to Michigan in mid October. Never been north of Ludington. What is worth doing. Been looking at Mackinaw but getting overwhelmed and looks very expensive.

I will be with 2 kids under 12, my wife and maybe mom in law.

I remember taking my wife not long after we got married in 1984.  I put $50 in my pocket and the rest in my shoe ...yes shoe.  I was afraid of pick-pockets.  

Anyway, i wasn't there 30 minutes and was taking off my shoe.

The Grand Hotel is a really nice place.   The movie, Somewhere in Time was made there.  I liked the movie.

We rode horses there too, but it was at the end of their day, and mine wanted to go back to eat.  He had his mind made up.

[featherduster]

Northern Michigan in the fall is my favorite stomping grounds,here are a few attractions my wife and I have enjoyed.

#1 choice www.exploringthenorth.com/toonerville/trolley.html

#2 www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm

#3 www.nps.gov/apis/index.htm

There are so many beautiful locations and of course you must stop and sample the smoked fish www.cutriverstore.com/?page_id=12 or www.yelp.com/biz/cross-john-fisheries-charlevoix

I most enjoy going by way of Illinois,Wisconsin and over the UP and back by way of Traverse city. Macinack Island is an expensive tourist attraction and for the most part it is shut down by that time of the year.

Other than the food We find along the way we most enjoyed a great day on the toonerville trolley.

The biggest problem you might encounter is finding a places to stay because of the fall colors.

I have the GPS locations of several dozen great places to stay, eat and shop.

I would be up there this fall but the wife wants to go south this year so we are going to Nashville and Memphis in October.

[steiny]

Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks are a couple UP must sees.

[stevein]

Say ya to de UP eh. Day speak a different language up there. Fun to listen to some real yooper talk.
We were up there over the fourth. If you have never over the Mighty Mac it is worth the trip. Better yet go up over Labor Day and walk the bridge that is super cool.
We stayed at the Dockside Best Western in Mackinaw city. They serve a breakfast bar like a lot of hotels. Within easy walking distance of the Tourist traps there. There are restaurants close by too. Also got a discount on the ferry to Mackinaw island. The shuttle picks you up and drops you off at the dock.
The whole area is a tourist trap and you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a fudge shop (they all give free samples).
The island was not that impressive to me. Wife booked a horsebus ride around that gets you around. Jon Snow the Grand hotel looks like it would be a great place to stay but I understand you have to pay just to walk around it's grounds. I was told it is called the Grand because that is about one night there costs.
There are two forts, Michilamacinac on the lower pen and Ft Mackinaw on the Island. Michilamacinac is fur trade era and the fort on the island is post civil war. Both have interpreters.
The Soo Locks, Whitefish point, Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks are all great to see. The Agawa Caynon train ride is neat too. We took the boat tour out to pictured Rocks many years ago.

[HighCotton]

Aug 17, 2016 6:22:18 GMT -5 steiny said:

Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks are a couple UP must sees.

We've done this trip with the family years back. Camping. I'll just say frigid nights. And then we went to Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum with a few lunches at Red Flannel Saloon in Paradise!

[Woody Williams]

Sleeping Bear Dunes on the way.. Young feller like you could probably climb to the top...

[steiny]

for Sleeping Bear Dunes on the way there or back.
It's gorgeous.

[welder]

We were up there this past July,as soon as you cross the bridge,go to Clydes Drive-in and eat,VERY reasonable prices and the best burger I have had.