West Coast Michigan vacation! We're pumped!

One day is not enough to do both Mackinaw City and and Mackinac Island.

If you come back down along I-75, there are some good places to visit.

Great plans and some good parks. At sleeping Bear be sure to go up the peninsula and go to Fish Town. Little scenic city in wine country.

Traverse City on the way to Petoskey will also be good. While there be sure to visit Charlevoix and the Mushroom Houses in town. Castle on the south side of the lake from the old Sears fortune is also good to visit.

Enjoy the time.

If you go to Sleeping Bear, there is a spot where you can run down the dunes to the Lake Michigan and it's really tempting. However I was about dead on the climb back up.

Northern Michigan is a beautiful area no doubt, I think you will enjoy it.

Dan

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A trip to Harbor Springs should be on the schedule. While there have some of Tom's Mom's cookies. People stand in line to buy them! They take pride in their marina and its supposedly clean water.
In Mackinaw City you must have a Pastie (pronounced like in the past-ee) and visit Mamma Mia's pizza restaurant and the little theater on the 2nd floor with a video of how the bridge was made and many souvenirs of what the workers used to build it.
On the Island rent bikes or a horse drawn carriage and ride the nine mile path around the Island. If you are feeling flush have lunch at the Grand Hotel. ($10 please to walk along the porch) We usually have lunch at the Golf Club across the street (no sleeveless shirts allowed).
When in that area we usually stay at the Mackinaw Mill Creek Campground.
BTW Mackinac is pronounced the same as the town; not ending in ACK!

Check out Wilderness SP too, a lot closer to Mackinaw and some great camping.

Enjoy the trip.

rjxj wrote:
The Apache trout grill on Traverse bay has great food.

Be prepared for an hour plus wait !

So many great government parks along the coast, really no bad choices. Almost any town along the way has at least one good restaurant, and touristy things to see and do.

I recommend Fort Michilimackinac directly under the bridge in the city. Don't bring the camper.
Sounds like a great vacation. Can't wait for summer!

Be aware that you will need to buy a state parks pass. I would recommend that you get a year pass as it will work out cheaper than the day pass. I think that MI is the only state around that double dips into your wallet. Camping doesn't include daily pass. I know when I camp in OH the daily pass is included in the camping. Here is from DNR Website:
$32 - Non-Michigan annual pass
$9 - Non-Michigan daily pass

Holland beach park is my normal Memorial Weekend camp. Beach is build on sand so all paved like a parking lot with hookups but your right there at the lake and channel to inland lake so lots of boats to watch.
Randu