Questions for you Michigan Folks!

I presume you're talking about N. Manitou Island or S. Manitou Island cause Manitou Island is another 400 Miles away. In any event, what do you plan to do on Beaver Island or North or South Manitou Island? Other than fishing or hiking there ain't nothing else there. Wouldn't be worth the ferry ride to me but everyone is different. If it was me, I would spend a day at Tahquamenon Falls, Whitefish Point, and/or the Soo Locks, instead. Actually, if it was me, I would skip Holland, Platte River and Petoskey and head to the UP instead anyways. Been there done that; I would head further north. Just Me.

Bid has it mostly right, the islands other than Mackinac have little attraction unless you already know people there. Mack is all set up for one day visits. Capable walkers can do it all on foot. It is a tourist trap, but the fort is and some other are good stops.

You will be too late for tulips, but there is still a lot to see in Holland. If you are sailors, the charter could be a good time, if not, then it could be a real bore and the weather is a big issue. As long as you will be that close, a day at Sleeping Bear could be good, but not knowing about your tribe....

If you do cross the bridge$, then Bid's points are good. Watch them flush a ship or two. The Falls (both) are a short but good show. The Museum at Whitefish is good. Mary went in, but I can't.
Leave the house at the Soo and take the truck the 75 miles to get there.

If you have more questions, come on back.

Matt

Haven't done the Manitou or Beaver ferries but decades ago, when we lived in MI we used to cruise from our Grand Haven port up and down Lk MI and cruised to the Manitou's. Basically all there is, AFAIC, are hiking trails. When in ports like Leland where a ferry does depart, those boarding the ferry appear to be die hard hikers and tenters. Wasn't my cup of tea.

Beaver was just slightly more interesting in that there is an actual town at their dockage. Very small and not all that touristy. 2 restaurants if I remember right. Walk from one end to the other in 10 minutes type of thing. All this was 40 years ago so much (doubt it) may have changed.

Also cruised to Mac Island. Great port. Extremely touristy - extremely! A really fun overnight IMO. Though we would stay in the harbor, the experience would be the same in a hotel. The last ferry of the evening leaves and the island quiets down (some) and becomes a bit more intimate. You can feel like you are 'special'. Plenty to do there for a couple of days. The ferries, which leave from both St Ignace and Mac City are fun rides. I've also taken them as recently as last summer. Don't know about Mac City route but the first few ferries in the morning from St Ignace add 15 or so minutes to their trip to detour under the Mighty Mac. It is an inspiring sight from the water - was always in awe as we went under it during the Chicago Mac sailboat races.

Sounds like you are a water-phile/beachie. If so you should like Holland SP. A good alternative (better AFAIC) would be Grand Haven SP cause the channel walk into town is really fun and the channel traffic watching is more interesting. Some parking lot type camping. Holland has some better off water areas for camping but the parking lot camping areas of both parks would be my beach camping choice. Pentwater SP is very very similar but less hectic.

Love camping at the NP at Platte River. Be sure to visit the port of Frankfort and drive to Trav. City and especially into the Leelanau Peninsula - Leland, Suttons Bay, Northport are must sees.

Petosky is nice, at least for boaters. There is a good SP along the shore isolated from town. I can't imagine as a tourist, spending 4 days in Petosky. Beaches are stony. I'd rather take a day and roam the Leelanau Peninsula, and drive along the lake through Cross Village etc up to the UP area.

I wouldn't spend more time in the Mac area than what you need for the island. The towns of Mac City and St Ignace aren't worth it IMO. As someone else mentioned, the rest of the Upper Peninsula is worth it. For starters and nearby, try Cedarville and Les Cheneaux area for marine museums, a tour of a hand crafted boat building school, and at the right time, a large wooden boat festival *google it for dates*.

I don't remember what parts I revisited in 2015 vs 2016 but those seen in 2016 are linked in by trip journal linked in my signature.

FWIW

Mackinac and Beaver are polar opposites. Beaver is not touristy. You'd go there if you wanted peace and quite to explore the island. You go to Mackinac for the tours/people/activities/touristy stuff.

We volunteered at both Platte River - Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Park and also gave the lighthouse tours on South Manitou Island. During that time we lived on the island - an awesome experience. We left our RV in the park's campground on the mainland and filled coolers with 10 days of food for the island. We returned to our RV for 4 days and then repeated the process.

South Manitou is rustic. When you get off the ferry it will be lunch time so you sit at picnic tables. There are no stores so bring everything you need. After lunch you have the option of a motorized history tour of the past residents' areas. You will also have time to take the lighthouse tour. If you don't do the motorized tour you would probably do the lighthouse tour, walk and play on the beach areas, explore the lake, meandering down the lanes and just have a relaxing afternoon. There's a small visitor center to explore and historic homes to view - some are not occupied and some are occupied by park rangers or volunteers, such as we were. The ferry leaves late afternoon. (This is when it was quiet time for us with no one else around except the rangers). The only overnight accommodations are for backcountry tenters. You won't even see the campground as they hike out to it. North Manitou Island is strictly a backpackers place.

Mackinac Island can be a fun experience especially for children. No cars are allowed but you'll see plenty of horses and can take a carriage ride. There are bike rentals to make a loop of the island and lots of fudge shops. :) There are a LOT of people but if you leave the main street via a bike you can get away from the congestion.

Beaver Island is inbetween the two others. There are also bike rentals. We got stranded overnight on that island during a horrific storm. We arrived by a small boat wearing only our swimsuit and t-shirts.... a very interesting night, for sure. :) It was just going to be a quick day trip on a whim while visiting friends.

It's all a beautiful area. Have a great trip!

2gypsies wrote:
We volunteered at both Platte River - Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Park and also gave the lighthouse tours on South Manitou Island. During that time we lived on the island - an awesome experience. We left our RV in the park's campground on the mainland and filled coolers with 10 days of food for the island. We returned to our RV for 4 days and then repeated the process.

South Manitou is rustic. When you get off the ferry it will be lunch time so you sit at picnic tables. There are no stores so bring everything you need. After lunch you have the option of a motorized history tour of the past residents' areas. You will also have time to take the lighthouse tour. If you don't do the motorized tour you would probably do the lighthouse tour, walk and play on the beach areas, explore the lake, meandering down the lanes and just have a relaxing afternoon. There's a small visitor center to explore and historic homes to view - some are not occupied and some are occupied by park rangers or volunteers, such as we were. The ferry leaves late afternoon. (This is when it was quiet time for us with no one else around except the rangers). The only overnight accommodations are for backcountry tenters. You won't even see the campground as they hike out to it. North Manitou Island is strictly a backpackers place.

Mackinac Island can be a fun experience especially for children. No cars are allowed but you'll see plenty of horses and can take a carriage ride. There are bike rentals to make a loop of the island and lots of fudge shops. :) There are a LOT of people but if you leave the main street via a bike you can get away from the congestion.

Beaver Island is inbetween the two others. There are also bike rentals. We got stranded overnight on that island during a horrific storm. We arrived by a small boat wearing only our swimsuit and t-shirts.... a very interesting night, for sure. :) It was just going to be a quick day trip on a whim while visiting friends.

It's all a beautiful area. Have a great trip!

Thank you! We look forward to checking out the area.