There is a new state law that you can’t drink on popular rivers in Michigan between Memorial Day and Labor Day. This has been a huge discussion in my community since drinking while canoeing, floating and fishing is pretty big lol! Many of those who make their living on the rivers feel that their businesses will be decimated.
Anyways, I thought you aren’t suppose to drink alcohol on national park land, I did a search and didn’t see anything. I don’t know about the Platte, isn’t not one of the rivers listed in the alcohol ban.
But FYI for those who would like to use the rivers in Northern Michigan, there will be a lot less drunk people on the AuSable, the Pine and the Manistee rivers this summer.
Changed my avatar to a picture from October 5 last year. But I have other pictures from the same time period where it’s very green, especially around the lake
Southwest Michigan in early Sept. can be nice. Assuming we have a normal summer, the lake water will be warm enough – 70ish. Beaches are great. Towns are great. You could hit a bunch of towns – all about 30 min to 1.5 hrs. away from each other as you travel north. Or just hang out somewhere like New Buffalo – a place like this: https://marinagrandresort.com/ O’hare to New Buffalo is about 1.5 hours by car.
Since you’ve already done New England, I do like your idea of the area around Santa Fe and would include Taos and also going up in and around Telluride CO. If you can time it with the aspen foliage season, that would make a nice trip. We were there a few years back at the end of September/beginning of October and it was very beautiful. Aspen also holds its film festival around that time of year so you could build that into the trip if cinema interests you.
@doschicos, I spent a couple of nights in Telluride in September, probably 20 years ago, and it was a highlight of our trip. We also went to Moab Utah on that trip, which we really liked.
@mom60 - consider October, flying into ABQ, enjoy the International Balloon Fiesta (largest hot air balloon gathering in the world), rent a car and make your way to Santa Fe (or take the train from ABQ - about 90 minutes).
My Sister in law used to live in Telluride. I thought no it was 20 years ago but I remember the trees being amazing. We went to Moab on that same trip.
I’m going to make a few sample itineraries and see what my H thinks. I know if I don’t plan something we won’t go anywhere. He mentioned both going back to New England or going sailing in Tahiti. Just two extremes!
@deb922 Wish they’d extended that no drinking rule further than they did! My family has a cabin on a section of the Au Sable that isn’t covered by the ban. Drunk river floaters are a huge nuisance. They trespass, poop on our dock ?, and make a general ruckus in an otherwise peaceful place as they raft their canoes & coolers past. But… in general, I agree that a trip in Sept to the northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan is a great idea.
Another vote for Michigan–circle tour or you could just stay in the UP, which is not touristy at all and is beautiful and scenic in early-mid September. There are many camping opportunities. Isle Royale National Park is amazing. Other UP sites: Tahquamenon Falls, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Sault Saint Marie and the Locks, Les Cheneaux Islands, and Mackinac Island (no cars and most tourists are gone by mid-Sept). Also, on Labor Day you can walk across the Mackinac Bridge (5 miles). It’s crowded, but fun, and there are amazing views from this suspension bridge that connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas.
@doschicos That has happened on 4th of July weekend a few times. The river is pretty cold and the large groups who drink a lot are mostly that week. Some on August weekends, but by Sept the party has died down. Plus, it is kind of over in the center of the mitten, so not really near Lake Michigan or Traverse City, and a couple hours south of Mackinac.
We just came back from a weekend in the Fingerlakes area of NY. Ithaca is lovely, hiking along the gorges is pretty amazing and the wineries are plentiful and many have nice light lunches as well. However if you want foliage, I’m guessing Septemeber is early.
Our votes depend on where we are from. So many overlooked by the rest of the country places in Wisconsin, Chicago and Michigan. The glaciers did quite a sculpting job on most of the area, forming the great lakes (there is an unglaciated area in SW WI, btw).
Keep in mind that higher elevations in CO will get cool and have snow in Oct. Sept can be really nice (fewer afternoon storms in the mountains than in summer).
