I grew up in the midwest and my folks had a small camp outside of Mackinaw City (Trail’s End Bay). For several summers in college, I worked on Mackinac Island. It’s beautiful, but it’s not at all like Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard. I’ve lived in MA since 1982 and have a house on Nantucket (I have only been to the Vineyard a few times.)
Ways Mackinac is different from Nantucket: There are no cars on Mackinac Island. You get around by bike or horse carriage. Once the day-trippers leave, the place is empty. It’s a quick trip on the ferry from St. Ignace or Mackinaw City to the island. The island is small (it’s only 8 miles around the entire island.) There used to be a road race around the island–it was fun and I wasn’t much of a runner, but I enjoyed it. I don’t know if there’s still a race. The beaches are mostly rocky and the water is very cold. No ocean waves. There are lots of tacky gift shops and fudge stores in a small downtown. (Much better shopping on ACK if you like shopping.) The Grand Hotel is very nice–old school formal. There are trails for walking and bike riding. A few tourists attractions–an old fort, etc. The last time I visited was in 2009, so maybe it’s changed.
I would be more inclined to stay in northern lower Michigan than on Mackinac Island. I think the Lake Michigan beaches in the Sleeping Bear Dunes are outstanding, and there are so many wonderful restaurants, wineries and classy (rather than touristy) shops. Traverse City area is a nice base. You could do nothing other than enjoy the natural beauty of the area, or you could explore for days. The area is pretty safe Covid-wise.
Can anyone share what the cross country drive might be like in Nov. or Dec.? We need to return to the PNW from the Midwest, crossing the mountains. Prefer to drive since there are 2 of us, and 2 pets this time.
I was born in California and have lived my entire life here and have not spent time in the Midwest. The Michigan travel advertising worked on me and a trip to Michigan is on my bucket list.
My D and her husband are talking about flying to Mexico for a vacation beginning of November. I think it’s a terrible idea. They would be back two full weeks before they plan on coming to my house for Thanksgiving.
We just got back from our first trip during COVID. We went to Asheville via car with y son and his GF. We stayed in a condo, and we did a grocery order from Harris Teeter for our first day there. We spent a lot of time outdoors (6 days of hiking. Planned to do biking and white water kayaking, but son took a tumble off his bike so couldn’t do biking and rafting). We mostly ate outside, but our favorite restaurant had table very far apart inside, so we ate there twice. The “worst” point of the vacation re:COVID was when we had to stop and get gas on our way home. I decided to use the bathroom inside, and there was a mom with three kids, none of them masked, plus others on my way to the ladies room.
In Asheville there were lots of people without masks, but we could usually maintain our distance. On the trails we’d all put our masks on and turn the other way when people walked by.
We felt pretty “safe” the entire time, but we’re not sure we’ll take any additional vacations anytime soon. We have a wedding in a resort town to go to in November, but we are a little nervous about that, because we know the others attending don’t take COVID as seriously as we do.
@kjofkw We traveled from Chicago area to Seattle during Thanksgiving time. My suggestion is to keep your options open on the different routes (northern route vs a more southern route) and be flexible. We used I-94 going west from Chicago but used I-90 going back east because of possible snow storms. We also had to go through Snoqualmie Pass so we were very aware of the possible conditions going over the pass. Decide where you want to stay before heading out and make reservations. We didn’t make reservations coming back until we knew which route we would be driving.
@Marilyn the Michigan advertising worked on us as well! I “discovered” Mackinac island on some top 10 list on some website a few years back. H was somewhat interested, but it seemed $$$ for us to get to and so many other places to go.
But add in “Somewhere in time?” H loves that movie. When we started dating, he had me watch it. I learned Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini because of it. We had no idea it was filmed there. I told him and we brushed off our DVD and rewatched it last night. Now H is ready to go.
But it’s still $$$ so I’m wondering about just day tripping it there and seeing other stuff around Michigan. I guess I’ll have time to researched since I don’t see getting on a plane any time soon.
I grew up in Michigan then we lived in Chicagoland for 40 years. Between visiting my parents back in the day, and numerous short vacations to the west coast of Michigan, we were there regularly. We especially enjoyed fruit picking trips, especially apples and pumpkins in the fall. The first major rest stop coming in from Chicago often had a fruit stand and free samples. Favorite destinations included St. Joseph and Saugatuck. I’m only guessing, but assume the state will be inundated with Chicago area families driving there this fall.
Mackinac Island needed a longer vacation so we only went a few times. We circled the island on horseback and bicycle. The Grand Hotel used to charge a day fee for tourists coming up from town unless you had a meal reservation. But we learned how to bike around from the far side, park the bikes off the porch, and stroll on in without being questioned.
@ClassicMom98 you can definitely do Mackinaw Island but not stay on the island. You’ll likely save a lot of $$! You even enjoy it as a full day trip and then see other parts of Michigan mentioned above.
Our only “get away” this summer was to Lake Michigan on the SW corner of Michigan - yes, I think that is a lake get away area for lots of Chicago people since it’s only a 90ish mins - 2 hour drive depending where in Chicagoland you are. That was our first trip to that tip of the state - Lake Michigan does not disappoint no matter where along the coast you stop. One fun thing if you’re traveling a good distance of the Lake Michigan coast is to do a lighthouse stop tour.
We rented a place in Ocean City NJ for a week. It’s not that long a drive from where we live, and it was a very nice change of scenery. We were pleased with the Covid restriction compliance there. Good social distancing and masks everywhere. We spent lots of time outdoors.
We brought a lot of food etc with us, but did order out from our favorite places. We had a nice porch on which to eat.
Even the stops on the Garden State Parkway were fine. Not crowded, lots of cleaning folks, and things way spread out.
It’s our only vacation of 2020, period. So we enjoyed it.
I’m just afraid to fly. The thought of being in a metal tube with recycled air for hours with people of unknown provenance is just not something I can deal with right now. I do not think I will be comfortable with flying until there is a vaccine. I wish I were not afraid. If my father is in extremis I suppose I will get on a plane to get to him as by this point, if I infect him with Covid, it’s not what’s going to kill him.
So, we got all excited about Hawai’i. I like the thought of everyone having to have a test to get in. (Made me feel safer about that leg of the trip on a plane). We were almost ready to push the button, but then I git to thinjing what is open. So glad we didn’t because a
lot of our favorite restaurants are closed.
We drove to our cabin in the Maine mountains this weekend. On the way up, we first stopped at a large supermarket. I saw seven people not wearing masks. And then DH ran into a mom and pop store in the middle of nowhere. He was the ONLY person in the whole store ( employee or customer) wearing a mask. That surprised me, since there have been outbreaks in remote Maine counties recently.
My run/walk partner traveled to Connecticut weekend before last. She and I walked together after her trip. We were outdoors the whole time but we didn’t wear masks. Then she found out she was exposed to someone in CT who tested positive! Ack. Fortunately, she and her husband tested negative. But it did bring everything close to home for me. I’m going to ask her for details about her exposure and if she plans on changing her behavior at all in light of this scare. I know she’s planning on going to South Carolina soon to see her brother. I guess I will just not get together with her for a couple of weeks after she returns.
My husband drove from the Chicago area to Denver. Drove straight through and only stopping for gas and food. He said he was uncomfortable in Iowa since he saw the majority of people not wearing masks. People in Colorado, on the other hand, wore masks everywhere even while hiking, biking, running, etc.
I play tennis and have not been wearing a mask but based on the new Covid findings I might need to wear while playing.
We were supposed to go camping this weekend in the mountains by San Diego. We found out yesterday that the campground is closed as a precaution for fire danger (no fires in the area). My H and grown Ds along with D1’s bf and their dog were all going to camp. We talked yesterday about getting an Airbnb near Palm Springs, but it is still so hot in the desert we decided against it.
D1 talked to a friend that had camped through a site called Hipcamp. It’s like an Airbnb for camping on people’s property. We found a place this morning and booked it. It’s also in the mountains about an hour from our place. They do have toilets and showers and the reviews for the place look good. We all love to tent camp and hike and the weather looks like it will be in the mid 70’s in the day and high 40’s at night. I’m excited to go somewhere different and it looks like we will be well distanced from other people.
@showmom858 we ran into the same issue with our upcoming camping. The USFS has closed a lot of campgrounds as a precautionary measure due to resources being stressed so thin. We ended up booking in Morro Bay at a state park. Not quite the mountain camping we had first planned.
I would be interested in how the Hipcamp experience goes. I looked at a few spots before our last camping trip in the summer but couldn’t find a spot on our route that would take a dog.
Well, my close girlfriends (we have been in a bubble together for last 4 months) and I finally had our luncheon to make final decision to cancel our late November Europe Trip. We are now shooting for new dates in late March next year. I won’t travel in high season (although I guess there’s no such thing as a high season right now) so late March is last chance until November again next year.
We still want to do our three week trip to Hawaii. It was originally going to be January 2021, but that won’t happen. We are thinking maybe October 2021. Any opinions? @Himom?
I guess I will just not get together with her for a couple of weeks after she returns.