Northern Michigan advice

Walleye fishing. Not really much in the Cheboygan area except peace and quiet and fishing. A day trip to Mackinac Island and Mackinaw city is easily doable. Other than that just enjoy the R&R. If you happen to catch any Walleye don't forget to cut the cheeks out to cook up too. The round spot just under the eye that looks like another eye is the cheek and they are like a scallop.

The beach on Lake Huron is nice.

Chain of lakes area (Indian River) that's nice to boat around in.

Day trip to Petoskey, has a neat downtown area.

Tourist trap Sea Shell City has a few interesting things.

Already mentioned, Mackinaw City. There's a restored colonial fort, and a bunch of other attractions.

The Upper Peninsula is a completely different experience. You should try it some time !

You are not far from Traverse city for a day trip (lake Michigan is warmer) and into wine country (mission peninsula) also go to the locks in the UP about 1 hour + drive at lot of history there and casino. 186 water falls in the UP.

Good luck have fun in our wonderful state!

Go the other way and visit Sault Saint Marie. Very old town with a lot of history, and the Soo locks are there. If you have passports, pop over to Canada for a little international experience too.

Head down to Grayling and visit Hartwick Pines, see some of the last remaining "old growth" forest in Michigan.

Head up to Paradise and visit the Tahquamenon Falls

Pick up some fresh sweet cherries at one of the roadside stands. They're grown around Traverse City and Lupton. If in Mackinaw City, get some homestyle cinnamon bread and pecan rolls at the little bakery a block north of the dock entrance. There are several nice lighthouses to see around where you'll be... one in Mackinaw City, another just west of town (2 or 3 miles maybe?), and a couple more toward Rogers City.

Take jackets; it can get cool along the big lakes, especially at night. Mackinac Island is typically about 10 degrees cooler than the mainland. I pack a warm coat whenever I go to MI, and sometimes I've been glad I did.

Pictured Rocks is a couple hours away. Take the boat tour - beautiful place.

all sounds great! thanks for the responses!

Whitefish Point Lighthouse hasn't been mentioned (at least not that I saw, skimming your responses). Not far from Tahquamenon Falls. Very interesting visit, with a museum there devoted to Great Lakes shipwrecks.

Do not miss Mackinac Island!

Also a few hours drive is Kitch-Iti-Kipi (Manistique) ... truly beautiful crystal clear cold water spring with a self service viewing barge / platform you can row across the pond. The government keeps it stocked with huge cold water fish. The drive along US-2 follows the North shore of Lake Michigan and is one of the most scenic in the state.