Brian,
Your plan is good, and while I like Wisconsin, all the remarks so far are accurate. There is the Manitowac Maritime Museum, The EAA Museum in OshKosh (of course they are on opposite sides of lake Winnebago) but look up Peshtigo. There is a museum there with everything that survive a fire far larger than the Chicago fire. Same dates, but the telegraph went down and nobody heard about it for three days. Almost nothing survived.
When you get to Michigan, things get very pleasant. Lots to see. When you get to Tahquamemon, if you need a place to dry camp, there is a snowmobile area parking lot just west of Paradise that is little used in the summer. It is quiet and nice, but light is the only thing provided. It is a great stop on the way to the museum at Whitefish Point. My wife thought a lot of it, but I could not stay. (I lost friends on the Fitz.)
When you get down to Sault Saint Marie, find one of the two campgrounds on the river (neither is FHU). Then get to the visitor center to find out when they next plan to flush a ship through. There is a peanut gallery. Both the River of History Mueseum and the Valley Camp are good. (Some of VC was a problem for me - Still. You think I would get over it) but both are good. The Tower is not all that good.
Consider your timing here. The ferry from St. Ignace to Machinac Is. is usually less crowded (I was told), but shop both Star Line and Sheplers as schedules and prices vary. I have not been to the island by ferry in many years.
Now you are ready for the lower peninsula. Mackinaw City is a tourist trap. The west side of the state is beautiful. There is a Dark Sky Park just west of the bridge and a friend takes his 10" reflector there several times a year.
I am out of time for now, but if you come back with questions, I will try to field them.
Matt
