[jeanniepep]

Everybody has had some great ideas! I orginally thought that some of the smaller towns surrounding Traverse City would be nice (i.e. Torch Lake) but along Lake Michigan there are some really great towns. I'm not sure if South Haven was mentioned but it is nice too, and not too long a drive from the Kzoo International Airport. Saugatuck is full of nice little independent artsy shops and reminds me a little of Petoskey.

Since I'm on the east side of the state, I have to give a shout out to the northern tip of the thumb: Caseville has an adorable little downtown and is right on Saginaw Bay, plus their annual Cheeseburger in Paradise festival is insanely fun. Sand Point is gorgeous but you better have a ton of money!

[jmlowman]

When is the Cheeseburger in Paradise festival? We're going to be in Flint from July 3-11th.

We used to go to the beach at Caseville when I was a kid. It's much nicer and more developed now. My grandparents often would go somewhere for the summer, either Caseville or Charlevoix, and I enjoyed visiting them.

[niceguy19125]

Originally Posted by SusanHH

Have heard that Mich. is beautiful, ad as we need a break from Florida heat in the summer am looking for a cottage style abode. Maybe some acreage, but have specific criteria:
-near a nice, small town
-only a few hours away from a city with an airport
-not overwhelming humidity or bugs (have eough of that in FL)
-golf and water for fishing

-not too far north so that we could use it for a 'white' holiday and spring break.

I have only been to Ann Arbor and found it lovely, but too big and developed. I would like to be near a place with charm

thanks

Without a doubt, Saugatuck/Douglas, in SW Michigan on Lake Michigan. You're 2 hours from either Chicago-Midway or Detroit...and lately Grand Rapids, which is just 40 minutes away, has had fares competitive with the other two.

The $4.49-a-Gallon Vacation to Saugatuck, Mich. - NYTimes.com

[sunshineann]

I personally like Lake Ann, or then you have Interlochen as well.