avafluty Posted January 16, 2018 Report Share Posted January 16, 2018 We plan to visit friends in Chanhassen MN this summer and move east from there. I would appreciate any and all suggestions for sites to see and routes in MN on the way to MI and what to see in MI besides Mackinac Island. Thanks! Ava Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpcoll01 Posted January 16, 2018 Report Share Posted January 16, 2018 Any kids with you? If yes, the waterparks at Wisconsin Dells are worth a day or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Bigfoot Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 We enjoyed the Painted rocks Lake shore boat tour and the Glass bottom boat ship wreck tours. Both out of Munising MI. In the iron mountain area, stop in and see the worlds largest steam powered water pump if you are into mechanical things ,its also attached to a pretty neat little mining museum .and a tour of one of the iron mountain iron mines is also in order. Marquette MI has some neat things to see like the ore docks where train after train of iron ore is unloaded into the Lakers for transport to points east. plus we found the area to have some very nice restauranWhite fish point has a good ship wreck museum and is the location of the ships bell from the Edmond Fitzgerald . We also took a locks tour though the locks at Sault St Marie. The other thing I ill say is bring a jacket , last summer when it was 105 in Dallas it was 56 deg on several mornings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2gypsies Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 You didn't say if you were leaving Minnesota to come into Michigan from the south or north but I'd recommend north via Hwy 2. As soon as you enter the Upper Peninsula stop at a visitor center for the 'waterfall map'. There are some pretty ones on the western side of the UP and most are easy to get to. Here are some suggestions driving west to east in the Upper Peninsula: Porcupine Mountain State Park, Keweenaw Peninsula - (Copper Harbor & Fort Wilkins Historic State Park) Munising and tour Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore (photos best on sunset cruise), Taquamenon Falls State Park to tour the Great Lakes shipwreck Museum, Sault Ste Marie to watch the big ships come through. Then south on I-75 to the Mackinaw Bridge - can take the ferry to Mackinac Island (yes, it's spelled both ways - Mackinaw and Mackinac) from both sides of the bridge (St. Ignace is the quiet side). Once you cross the bridge head down Hwy 31 along the lakeshore. You'll find fun small towns to explore in a beautiful setting. Petoskey, Charlevoix, Traverse City and over to Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore. Try to get a site at the Platte River campground at Sleeping Bear. It's an awesome spot. Canoe the Platte River from the campground area (rentals) down to Lake Michigan for a relaxing, safe trip. Day trips from there: Leland and take the ferry to South Manitou Island for a day trip. (We volunteered at Platte River campground and gave the lighthouse tours on South Manitou so they hold a special place for us.) Drive all around the Leelanau Peninsula. Interlochenn State Park hosts a world known music camp all summer. Take in a performance by the World Youth Symphony - awesome! From there you could travel all the way down either coast - west along Lake Michigan (more crowded and popular) or on the quieter east side on Lake Huron. Mid-state - Hartwick Pines State Park is interesting because of the logging museum. The farther south you get the more people you'll encounter. Have a great trip and make reservations ASAP. Michigan is a very popular state in summer! Full-timed for 16 YearsTraveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avafluty Posted January 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 THIS IS AWSOME!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! Exactly what we were looking for. We have never traveled this neck of the woods an have no idea what to see. We are boomers that love to site see, learn history, and hike. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS!!!! Ava Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted January 20, 2018 Report Share Posted January 20, 2018 Watch out for large blue ox’sz along Hwy 2 "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjhunter01 Posted January 26, 2018 Report Share Posted January 26, 2018 Can't go wrong if you just follow the shoreline roads, each of the 5 lakes are unique and worth their own trips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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