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Old 03-02-2012, 10:34 PM
 
Location: Central Florida
136 posts, read 329,593 times
Reputation: 497

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Just starting to look for information. Planning a road trip from Florida to Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota spring of 2013 and need ideas of the best things to do/what not to miss for a week in each state. We are retired and like parks, quaint towns and cities, lighthouses, museums, etc. We are not boaters or fishermen. Don't mind driving from a central point or 2 in each state. We drove to Oregon & Washington last year, Utah, Montana & South Dakota the year before. We usually make a circle within the state to hit the best spots but this may be more of a zig-zag.
No definite dates yet but before summer. This is a warm winter and know next year could be different. Not familiar with your weather but we don't mind cold as long as it doesn't snow too much in April/May. By the way, we are having high 70's and 80's here.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
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Old 03-03-2012, 12:43 AM
 
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, MI
302 posts, read 769,211 times
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I just got back from a trip to Ann Arbor; the University of Michigan has a Natural History Museum, an Art Museum and an Archaeology Museum which are all free to get into. The Art Museum was actually pretty big, they had Picassos and other works by famous artists.
The campus itself is very nice, well worth a visit.
I took some pictures which you can look at here University of Michigan - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeverett55/sets/72157629485134357/ - broken link). Keep in mind that this is late February early March, if you are visiting in May it will be much less sparse.

214 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeverett55/6942354515/ - broken link)


Mastodon 01 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeverett55/6942037917/ - broken link)


208 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeverett55/6942380279/ - broken link)

If you are looking for something unique to Michigan you should check out the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. The Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak is also very nice, pictures of which you can find here Detroit Zoo - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeverett55/sets/72157627555157711/ - broken link) .
I don't know if you are planning on going all the way up to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but there are some unique small towns here, such as my hometown of Sault Ste. Marie. Sault Ste. Marie is the oldest city in Michigan, founded in 1668; there are many old and historic buildings here. Sault Ste. Marie is home to the Sault locks, which allow passage between Lake Huron and Lake Superior. Many tourists come here every summer to see the locks, take boat tours and gamble at the Casino run by the Chippewa Indians.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeverett55/6218206125/ (broken link)


The Soo | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeverett55/6151126280/ - broken link)


http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeverett55/6218722280/ (broken link)


Pictures I've taken of the Sault can be seen here Sault Ste. Marie - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeverett55/sets/72157627554254157/ - broken link) .

Last edited by ManoftheNorth; 03-03-2012 at 01:03 AM..
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Old 03-03-2012, 09:01 AM
 
Location: Jackson, MI
107 posts, read 187,887 times
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I would also recommend South Haven very nice quaint town. They have a wonderful beach with a lighthouse. Very nice shops, restaurants and wine tasting. Also, Traverse City nice wine tasting there as well with a Casino (if that interests you). Also Petosky, nice beach you can look for Petosky stones. They have nice shops as well. Grand Haven, Ludington (beautiful sunsests on the beach). I would definitely make a trip to the UP if you can. It is beautiful there as well.
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Old 03-03-2012, 10:02 AM
 
Location: Grosse Ile Michigan
30,708 posts, read 79,793,239 times
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I think you will want to take a tour of Novi.


(Just kidding).


Detroit is a sports town. See if you can get tickets to a game.

Lots of theaters here too.

what kinds of things do you like?
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Old 03-03-2012, 01:05 PM
 
Location: west mich
5,739 posts, read 6,933,177 times
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Important museums: Detroit Institute of Arts, Henry Ford Museum.
The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village - Pure Michigan
Exhibits
Detroit Institute of Arts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Here's a lighthouses (with access) guide. My favorites, on Lake Michigan, are Leelanau state park and Old Mission peninsula light.
Michigan Lighthouses - Pure Michigan Travel
Michigan Lighthouses - Pure Michigan Travel
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Old 03-03-2012, 01:36 PM
 
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, MI
302 posts, read 769,211 times
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If you are planning on heading up north, you should also consider visiting Mackinac Island. Mackinac island is an island between the Peninsulas, there is a resort town there as well as a park/forest. Some of the major attractions include the Grand Hotel, the Governor's mansion, and Fort Mackinac, which is an old colonial era fort now museum.
The entire island is considered a National Historic Landmark. There are no fast food restaurants or chain stores on the island, and no automobiles are allowed. Tourists ride horse carriages or rent bicycles. There are many old fashioned homes and buildings, as well as numerous shops. it is really a very unique place.
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Old 03-03-2012, 01:51 PM
 
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,568 posts, read 81,147,605 times
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Do they still have the Traverse City Cherry Festival? I remember going to that one year, and it was a bit silly yet fun. Might have been closer to summer, though.
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Old 03-03-2012, 02:17 PM
 
Location: Central Florida
136 posts, read 329,593 times
Reputation: 497
Default Thanks for the replies

Sounds like great suggestions. This will help us get started on our planning. My husband loves sports so we will look into anything related. When we decide on what to see we will plan our route to get there. We will probably drive into Michigan from Ohio/Toledo I-75. Thank you for the info!
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Old 03-03-2012, 02:42 PM
 
10,114 posts, read 19,401,000 times
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If you have time, go to the UP--Upper penisula. The bridge connedting the upper and lower penisulas is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.
Check out Thaquamenon Falls Then, come back down through the west side of MI, Traverse city is very nice. I'm surprised no one mentioned Holland, its near lake Michigan. Settled by dutch, you'd be in time for the tulip festival---google for times, etc.

You also might want to check out Frankenmuth, a German town, more in the center of the state. Restaurants, gift shops, the usual tourist stuff, but still a nice place.

Don't let anyone talk you into Detroit, that's just my opinion. sure, there's lots of nice stuff to see and do, but its surrounded by ghetto. Its not a place to get lostIf you don't know exactly where you're going, you could make a wrong turn and get lost in a very dangerous part of town. The roads are confusing, they were laid out years ago, many are one-way, it isn't worth it, unless you're looking for a "thrill-ride"

Hope you enjoy your trip!

Speaking of thrill rides, try to check out the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, along Lake MIchigan. they did have buggy rides there when I was a kid, check it out.
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Old 03-03-2012, 04:05 PM
 
Location: west mich
5,739 posts, read 6,933,177 times
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"Quaint" towns: Glen Arbor, Leland (Fishtown), Empire, Northport, Suttons Bay, Frankfort/Elberta, Arcadia, Onekama.
You should drive up M-22.
The bridge & Mackinaw City are nice, as is the UP Marquette area.
Leland Michigan Chamber of Commerce :: Fishtown, Lake Michigan & Sleeping Bear Dunes
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau
Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions
Bing Maps - Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions
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