I think we are going to try for a 2 week summer trip to Michigan (upper mostly) next year. Start giving me some ideas of places to stay and things to see. Perhaps restaurants or certain foods not to miss. If you have a personal itenirary that you did, feel free to post of send to me.

Funny, you ask. At this time last year, we planned our trip to Michigan this year. We came through Canada to Port Huron and went up to Frankenmuth for a day. Great little Bavarian town with nice restaurants with German food and Bronner's the world's largest Christmas store - not to be missed.Then we traveled up to Manistee on the western shore of MI. We stayed at Little River Rv resort - great place!!!! It helps I won 400 in the casino. That was our home base and we saw the many sights and little towns all around - Did the Silver Lake Mac's Dune Buggy ride high on the sand dunes, shopped along the way and went north to Great Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park. Great places in between. After four days, we left and stayed in St. Ignace on the Straights of Mackinac at Lake Shore RV Park - another gem. From there we took day trips all over the UP - Soo Locks, Whitefish Point, Mackinac Island (loved that place), Mackinac City and the jack Pine Lumberjack Show. On our travels we stopped at many points in between. It was a beautiful trip with lots of sand dunes, water everywhere, quaint towns, fudge, whitefish in every restaurant. Contact me for more information. We would have loved to have done more but we had an unexpected trip to the hospital while there.

Up North MI is big,, but I will throw out some restaurants worth checking out. Will start from the south and head north..Big Rapids MI - Schuberg's Bar (rated one of the top ten burgers in MI this year)Cadillac MI - Hermann's European Cafe (esp the escargot and Jager Schnitzel "Hunter's Style")Gaylord MI - Gobbler's (save room for pie, or do like my wife and I do and have it first.. The Applejack Turkey sandwich is my favorite)Indian River MI - Wilson's River Edge Restaurant ( only been there once, was really good, hear they have amazing breakfast)Millersburg MI - Three Cedar's (used to be the Millersburg Inn and was closed more than it was open, but some new blood bought it and are doing a great job with it..)St Ignace MI - Clyde's Drive In.. (Also rated one of MI top 10 burgers this year)Brevort MI - White Tail resort I think it's called. (Little greasy spoon on the east side of Brevort on the north side of Rt 2. Really good food and amazing bread pudding)Munising MI - Navigator (have only had breakfast there, but also really good food)Houghton MI - Victoria's Kitchen (only open for breakfast and lunch, I have only eaten breakfast there, but eat there every opportunity I get. Vicky makes really great food!)As for what else to do besides eat, especially if going to the UP grab these two books, they will keep you busy199 MI WaterfallsTraveler's Guide to MI lighthouses

Upper Peninsula:Don't miss Pictured Rocks. The best way to see it is from the boat tour, it's a 3 hour trip but totally worth it. Or you could use your own kayaks if you have them. Also a good spot to check out is Tahquamenanon Falls. The upper falls are larger and more grand than the lower falls. There is also a campground there but I have never stayed at it. It is nothing nearly as spectacular as Niagara, but it is 100% NOT commercialized. There are no shops or go-carts, etc. It's all forest and natural. Close to the Falls is White Fish point with an amazing lighthouse and keepers house (my favorite part), and a maritime museum. If you head over to the Soo Locks there's a restaurant in Sault St. Marie called antlers.....amazing!Any trip to Michigan makes a trip to Mackinac Island necessary. No vehicles are allowed but you can take or rent bikes. The area is VERY hilly so if you're not in the best of shape, older, or have small children your best bet is to take a horse drawn wagon ride. We got a package deal that included the ferry trip to/from the island, wagon ride, tour of Fort Mackinac, and visit to the blacksmith shop. The island is known for their fudge. In fact on our last trip, we had fudge for lunch.We used Brimley State Park as our home base for all of these places. We were 1-2 hours from all of the sights we wanted to see. The best part of this park is that you can get sites that back up to Lake Superior. There is a tree line but you can take a path right to the beach. Lower Peninsula:Really you can't go wrong with anything on Lake Michigan. Lake Huron is also nice but not as spectacular as Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear Dunes is fantastic. It is close to Traverse City, which is very touristy. This area is known for cherries and has a festival every year. You can find cherry everything, salsa, jams, etc. We go to Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Mears every year. We have a dune buggie we drive or you can rent buggies, quads, etc. We've done this for 16 years, PM me if you want more info.Ludington is the most sought after state park in Michigan and basically impossible to get into. We did go and it was very nice, but a day trip would be fine as the sites themselves were terrible, (all dirt and super small). The beach was amazing but it's the same beach we visit in Silver Lake.

All nice suggestions. In the upper we like Indian Lake State CG near Manistique. There are lots of activities at the park and other nearby. It is a beautiful lake and the other mearby state parks are unique. Check them out.....

I can't add much to what the others have said, but the one thing I do know is if your are a fan of biscuits and gravy don't bother ordering it. Haven't found any place in MI that decent biscuits and gravy. Lake Michigan is beautiful, with lots of history and beautiful lighthouses. Enjoy your trip.

Michigan | Good Sam Community

Tripalot
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Is the Yooper Store still in existance in the U.P. I remember stopping there a few years back and it was a fun place to look around. They had lots of weird and different "stuff".
wbwood
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Tripalot wrote:
Is the Yooper Store still in existance in the U.P. I remember stopping there a few years back and it was a fun place to look around. They had lots of weird and different "stuff".

Apparently so.
troll3193
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Tripalot wrote:
Is the Yooper Store still in existance in the U.P. I remember stopping there a few years back and it was a fun place to look around. They had lots of weird and different "stuff".

For sure, drove by it last weekend. Also if going that far north, this is just East of Marquette...

http://voices.yahoo.com/lakenenland-free-scrap-iron-sculpture-park-michigan-508814.html
scbwr
Explorer II
Aug 22, 2013
Another huge vote for the Sleeping Bear Dunes....simply incredible area that you have to see to really appreciate. Mackinac Island nice to see once..but really quite a bit of a tourista trap unless you can stay there and get past the typical tourist stuff. But, it's nice to explore at least once. Although we didn't get to really spend anytime there, Traverse City looks like it could be fun, and there is that huge campground right across the street from the beach!! Exploring the shores of Lake Superior or Huron look like it would be a lot of fun. We hope to be heading back there in the very near future now that we're living in the greater Cleveland, OH area! Enjoy!
JesLookin
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Also don't can't miss Da Yoopers.
Pops
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
A Great Lakes trip from NC is doable in 2 weeks, we did the following in Sept, 2012
Day1, leave NC
Day2, stop at RV Hall of Fame(Elhart), on to South Haven,MI- free night at Waterfront Skate Park parking lot on Lake Michigan shore.
Day3,halfway up Lake MI shore with stop at Silver Lake St Pk to ride DunBuggies on Silver Lake Dunes, night at Manistee Nat Forest, Pines Point CG.
Day4, continue up western MI on Lake MI shore to Sleeping Bear Dune Nat Lakeshore, night at DH Day CG.
Day5, over to Mackinaw City, night at Mackinaw Mill Creek CG.
Day6, up to Sault Ste Marie(Soo Locks), night at Aune-Osborne RV.
Day7, Whitefish Point(shipwreck museum), Tahquamenon Falls, night at Lower Falls CG.
Day 8-9, Pictured Rock Nat Lakeshore, take boat tour, both nights at Hiawatha Nat Forest, Bay Furnace CG-next to PRNL, west entrance.
Day10-17, From here we went on west to Porcupine Mtn St Pk(Lake in the Clouds & Presque Isle), south to Door Peninsular, next to Wisconsin Dells(Duck boat ride), south to Springfield(Lincoln Museum), east toward home.(Total 3200 miles)
Our other alternative return route was:
Day10-16, return to lower MI going down east side(Mackinac Island, Lake Huron, Lake Erie), east to Cedar Point(Amusement Pk), then south toward home.
Shot-N-Az
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
I'm posting so I can find this thread later. Great info in here. Thanks!

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