Mid Michigan Travel

We are thinking of three days in middle Michigan over the 4th of July. We%26#39;ll take the ferry to Muskegon from Milwaukee and then, where to? We%26#39;ve done all the Lake Michigan coastal areas, the dunes, Traverse City, Mackinac, etc. We kind of want to just drive around and have a look at a new place we%26#39;ve not been before, but we aren%26#39;t looking for antiques, quaint, or big shopping. We like artsy, as opposed to quaint. We%26#39;ve heard about the Dow Gardens outside Midland - they sound interesting. Also hiking in state parks or National Forests. Lastly, are there any middle Michigan destination resorts with good restuarants? (Not golf resorts though.) Last time we were in Michigan we drove from Petoskey south to Muskegon and said ';HHmmm - place looks pretty, may be we ought to explore the interior some time?'; Any suggestions?

Mid Michigan Travel

I suggest that you head to Grand Rapids. The Meijer Gardens are spectacular. There are many wonderful restaurants and hotels as well as great museums. Yes, it is more of a city but it offers the option of touring the countryside.

If you want to head to Midland, you could stay in the Bay City area. There are several hotels on the water that sound very nice. Or you could head to Gaylord from Midland and stay near Gaylord.

As for non-golf resorts, I don%26#39;t have any suggestions. Many of the resorts in Michigan are either associated with golf or casinos. If you don%26#39;t mind a golf resort (you wouldn%26#39;t have to play), I love Boyne Mountain and Bay Harbor. Both are Up North and not really in the middle of Michigan, but both are lovely. Moms

Mid Michigan Travel

If you%26#39;re going to be in the Midland area, you can visit the Marshall Fredericks Museum on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University.

Fredericks was on the faculty of Cranbrook and has works at several major sites including the US State Department, the Cleveland War Memorial, Young Center and zoo in Detroit and the 1964 World%26#39;s Fair.

Info and directions are at: http://www.svsu.edu/mfsm/home.html

Dow Gardens is a very nice garden to view. They also give tours of the Dow home, though by appointment only, I believe. However, there really isn%26#39;t much as far as hiking in state parks near Midland. Bay City State Recreation Area (a state park) has a great bike trail, but that isn%26#39;t really hiking. Midland also has a fairly decent ';Center for the Arts,'; which has a wide variety of exhibits. I think I would look into Mom%26#39;s suggestion of GR!

Actually... right outside of Midland is the Chippewa Nature Center... it might be just what you%26#39;re looking for! There are at leaset 7 different trails, some paved, some still naturaul... I think you%26#39;ll have a blast!

http://www.chippewanaturecenter.com/

We use to go there all the time... and LOVED it... but haven%26#39;t been in a couple of years!

I forgot all about Chippewa Nature Center.....duh.... :(