Sleeping Bear vs Kelley's Island / Cedar Point

Trip A is what we did, and would still do (the kids are grown and gone now). My kids had just as much fun running down the dunes into Lake Michigan as they did on a day trip to Cedar Point. Plus you have Empire Beach, Crystal Lake, etc. nearby. You can rent an inner tube and float the nearby river that empties into Lake Michigan too. Campfires at night in peace, saving some $$ cooking instead of amusement park concessions, you get my drift.

I'm a bit biased I suppose. Cedar Point is only an hour away from us. I never understood the desire to spend a bit of money to go stand on hot pavement and wait in line for a thrill ride. Just not my cup of tea.

Have done both, although maybe 20 years ago. Tough choice. Agree with Bob806 that Sleeping Bear has some major dunes and natural areas. But Cedar Point has the most amazing roller coaster collection, probably in the United States, but definitely better than any in my area. Coasters at Cedar Point were two to three times the length of any at Kings Dominion, the best alternative in VA.

Look again at the schedule. Neither area seems to require 5 days in my opinion. Why not 3 days of quiet and family time at the Dunes and then two days for Cedar Point area. When the children are young, a good approach is to attempt to have a variety of experiences for them to remember and someday replicate for their own family. Really tough to avoid a tight schedule when you only have a week or two of vacation.

My wife and I are retired now and we have been revisiting some locations to see things in more depth. Too bad our careers don't offer the choice of doing things at leisure when the children are young.

Another vote for Sleeping Bear Nat'l Lakeshore, probably because we've volunteered there and know how fantastic the whole area is. If you go, definitely take the gentle float trip down the Platte River across from the Platte River campground. It ends at an awesome beach.

Bottom line...you know your kids better than us. Would they go for lovely beaches, dune climbing, a ferry trip to South Manitou Island as a day trip, the float trip or just being kids in nature surroundings or would they go for the amusement park better?

How about you do trip A and include a stop at Michigan's Adventure? It will be on your way from Holland to Sleeping Bear Dunes. If I am not mistaken there is a camping resort very close to the park. You could also move to Hoffmaster or Muskegon State Park to be closer for that day.

Michigan's Adventure probably isn't as grandiose as Cedar Point, but they have some good roller coasters and a great water park. Lines probably would be shorter than Cedar Point. The park is actually also owned by the same company that owns Cedar Point.

I too would spread it out a bit. a couple days at each to get some fun out of what each offers!

Yes, Cedar Point is a great amusement park. much better than any Six Flags.

ktosv wrote:
How about you do trip A and include a stop at Michigan's Adventure? It will be on your way from Holland to Sleeping Bear Dunes. If I am not mistaken there is a camping resort very close to the park. You could also move to Hoffmaster or Muskegon State Park to be closer for that day.

Michigan's Adventure probably isn't as grandiose as Cedar Point, but they have some good roller coasters and a great water park. Lines probably would be shorter than Cedar Point. The park is actually also owned by the same company that owns Cedar Point.

"This" It's the best of both worlds; and besides that it's a whole lot cheaper then Cedar Point. One more thing, if you are planning on staying in the area of Holland SP, Grand Haven SP, Hoffmaster SP, or Muskegon SP, you better get your reservation right now! You may already be too late to get in, they book up full 6 months in advance.

This is all an "according to taste" thing, but we will do the west coast of Michigan again before we go back to Cedar Point. If you LOVE coasters, there is no better. Not just cost, but that would make me think twice about the Ohio plan. There is camping at CP and Kelly's, but the ferry to Kelly's (check me on this) is probably going to nick you for a Franklin. The sites are E-only and ~30/night. Lots of hiking to do and the groves are impressive.

I was thinking as I started that 3 days in Holland is a lot, but we used to go about every other year. We did spend a whole day just on Windmill Island the first year. And then we walked the town and went over to buy the kids new shoes (Klompen - DW is Dutch). By the time we saw the museum and gardens and went to the fun parks, we had killed all the time we had. I later years, we would only go for a day. Drive one evening (it is 4+ hours for us), bivouac somewhere and hit the sights the next day and Maybe do the backhaul after dinner, but this was after we had done the run a few times. The Dunes will wear kids out fast. Try to get the to the "Ghost Forest". I couldn't get there with the GK because I have a knee that is giving out.

Matt

We did Sleeping Bear Dunes last year and I would pick that again in an instant. Still so much more we could have done and explored along the coast and over to Traverse City.

Yes, we have reservations at Holland and Platte River. We have a spot right on the beach in Holland. I have heard there isn't much to do in Holland but the kids will want to hit the beach. Maybe we just do two nights in Holland, two at the amusemant park and 4 nights at Sleeping Bear. It would be alot of packing and unpacking although better than being at work!

Duck Creek RV park is next to Michigan Adventure and looks really nice.

bgradert wrote:
Yes, we have reservations at Holland and Platte River. We have a spot right on the beach in Holland. I have heard there isn't much to do in Holland but the kids will want to hit the beach. Maybe we just do two nights in Holland, two at the amusemant park and 4 nights at Sleeping Bear. It would be alot of packing and unpacking although better than being at work!

Duck Creek RV park is next to Michigan Adventure and looks really nice.

Take the kids to Cherry Republic while visiting Sleeping Bear. That was my kids favorite part of the trip.