Questions for you Michigan Folks!
All- Our family will be travelling north from Indiana to Michigan this June. Here is our trip plan: Stop 1 Holland (3 nights) Stop 2 Platte River (4 nights) Stop 3 Petoskey (4 nights) We a...
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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!
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!
