Michigan 1st Time Visitors

We are thinking about a 8-10 day vacation to your beautiful state this summer and would fly in from Phoenix (which airport?) and rent a car. We are more into exploring,discovering and enjoying natural beauty, small towns, peaceful walks/boat tours along the beach/forests. Not at all interested in urban/city visit. Can you suggest possibly 3 locations to base ourselves in? We love the water! Thanks in advance for your help, Susan in Arizona.

Michigan 1st Time Visitors

Traverse City, Petoskey and Mackinac Island. Fly to TC if you can, otherwise settle for DTW. Book your reservations to stay a night or two at Mackinac Island as that will be busiest and hotels toughest to get (just like the Grand Canyon NP in AZ), then work your itinerary around that. Lots of towns and places to explore along the lake Michigan shoreline.

Michigan 1st Time Visitors

Ha! Leave it to another Arizonan to reply to my inquiry in the Michigan forum! Thanks Redrox!

The other option would be to fly into Grand Rapids. I know American Airlines connects to Grand Rapids through both Dallas and Chicago. From Grand Rapids head to the Ludington area, spend a few days exploring the Ludington/Pentwater area. Then head north stopping at Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes to climb the public climb. I would then stay in Traverse City, Charlevoix or Petoskey for a few days. Explore the little towns along the way. If you stay in Charlevoix make sure to go rafting on the Jordan River. You will feel you are in such a remote yet beautiful area! Finally, head to Mackinac Island. This is a must! It is such a unique place. Take a bike ride on the only highway in the US on which no motor vehicles are permitted! It is lovely!

We just returned from a great trip to Scottsdale. Many of the vistas in Northern Michigan produce the same breathless ';ahhhh'; moments as those we experienced in beautiful Sedona. We didn%26#39;t make it to the Grand Canyon on this trip but I%26#39;m sure we will on the next!

Have a great trip to Michigan! Moms

Moms, you still have not made it to the GC? LOL.

I can%26#39;t really add anything to the advice given by the AZ guy and the NJ lady. Jeez.....

They are both originally from MI though, so I will let them have the say. :)

Thanks to momstravel and tymetraveler as well, i will start studying your suggestions and undoubtedly get back with more questions.

Cross the Mackinac bridge, go W a few miles on US-2 to a Lake Michigan beach site(basically just an area with a wide shoulder to park on) and jump in the big lake. Nice sandy beach. Much of US is very scenic. Tour the Keeweenaw peninsula, far N point of the state..like New England coastline but fresh water. Stay at the rustic but clan Keeweenas Mountain lodge in Copper Harbor.

Base yourself in Glen Arbor/Traverse City(dunes area), St. Ignace(straits), Houghton(raw natural areas Copper Country and Porcupine Mountains)

I mean, much of US-2 along Lake Mich is very scenic)

Thanks Bingbangboom for your specific recommendations, these all sound like what we are looking for. AZ.

Hello AZFan,

If you want to see the other 1/3 of Michigan you may want to look at the Upper Peninsula. Lower Michigan is fine but to see real small towns and wilderness the UP is the place to see.

Here are some web sites about the UP

www.exploringthenorth.com/mich/mich.html

http://hunts-upguide.com/

http://www.travelbaysdenoc.com/

http://www.marquettecountry.org/

www.superiortrails.com/up-michigan.html

http://www.superiorsights.com/

http://www.upmichigan.com/

If you are going to the Soo you should take a ride to Tahquamenon Falls. It is the 2nd largest falls East of the Mississippi

I will pull out my map %26amp; check these out Yooperbacker, thanks for the good suggestions and links, AZ.