<p>I would like to get away with DS and DD for a few days in the East Central Michigan area. We want to be on the water. Any nice towns we should consider? Things we should do?</p>
<p>Do you want to vacation in the thumb area? Oscoda, Sandusky, Port Huron, or Bad Axe are nice towns in the east central area of Michigan. </p>
<p>The west side of the state has prettier beaches (by a lot) and the upper portion of the lower peninsula is beautiful. Not sure how far you want to travel or what you want to do.</p>
<p>I’m just looking for a little getaway for myself, DS, and DD. I really don’t know much about Michigan. We will be leaving from just outside Detroit. I don’t really want to drive a long distance, but I do want to be on the water. DD is not much for beaches - although I love them. We all like looking/climbing lighthouses, casual strolling looking in shop windows, eating (of course!), hiking, canoeing, and fishing. Definitely do not want to head south toward Sandusky. We would rather see the best Michigan has to offer. </p>
<p>Where in the upper portion of the lower peninsula should we consider? Sounds like the Lake Michigan beaches are nicer than the Lake Huron beaches?</p>
<p>I grew up in Michigan, and we spent every summer at our cottage in the Tawas area (on Lake Huron). These days, we vacation every other summer on Lake Michigan. It would take you about the same amount of time to drive north to the nice Lake Huron towns as to drive west to the Lake Michigan towns. I agree with deb that the Lake Michigan side is much, much nicer. There are clean white sand beaches, dunes, clear water with big waves, lighthouses, charming towns - South Haven, Grand Haven, Saugatuck, Macatawa.</p>
<p>For the best Michigan has to offer, start with the area I recommended and go north along the coast to Mackinac.</p>
<p>Just checked the map. I didn’t realize Michigan had a Sandusky. I was thinking of Sandusky, Ohio, hence the “head south” comment I made in the above post. </p>
<p>Sounds like we will be heading to the west coast of Michigan!</p>
<p>You’ll love it there, colmomto2! And it’s a very easy drive across the state, on excellent roads.</p>
<p>I’d suggest either the Leelanau (sp?) penninsula or the Petoskey area.</p>
<p>I agree that those areas are spectacular, Consolation, but they are at least 8 hours from Detroit. She is looking for something closer.</p>
<p>Both Traverse City at the base of the Leelanau pennisula and Petoskey are only about 4- 4!/2 hours from Detroit. Saugatuck is about 3 and half hours from Detroit. 8 hours would get her all the way to Marquette in the UP.</p>
<p>You are absolutely right, lololu, and I stand corrected. Either my memories of childhood car trips taking forever are inaccurate, or there are better roads now.</p>
<p>South Haven is 3 hours from Detroit, according to mapquest, same driving time as Tawas. SH is much nicer.</p>
<p>A trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area on Lake Michigan and Traverse City and/or Petoskey would be wonderful.</p>
<p>Traverse City, although it’s on the opposite coast. The bay area up there is beautiful. It’s a 4 hour drive from the Detroit area. I make that trip quite frequently. </p>
<p>Also, South Haven is a pretty little town. </p>
<p>I really recommend going to the West coast. It’s not too bad of a drive and a much prettier part of Michigan. </p>
<p>If you’re really ambitious, you could go to Tahquamenon Falls. They are in the UP. They are absolutely beautiful and a great place for a hike and to play in the water (although not this time of the year). I love love love the falls.</p>
<p>As someone who has a cottage on Lake Huron but on the Canadian side, I’ll put in a plug (if you have passports) for a quiet but quaint lake side get away. Grand Bend and Bayfield Ontario are only about 2 hours from the Detroit area (cross the bridge to Canada in Port Huron) and you can walk beach, visit small towns/shops, relax (small crowds) and experience a slightly different culture (Canadian). Grand Bend has undergone a beautiful beach renovation - the beach is beautiful and there is a board walk of sorts to walk. A little more of a younger crowd there. Bayfield is about 15 mins down the road - lots of B and B’s - more the sailboat crowd, darling, darling town/shops to walk and dine in.</p>
<p>Michigan has so many scenic areas!</p>
<p>Two places I hope to revisit soon are
Greenfield Village [A</a> Michigan Family Attraction : The Henry Ford](<a href=“http://www.thehenryford.org/]A”>http://www.thehenryford.org/) and
the Kalamazoo air zoo [Home</a> | Air Zoo of Kalamazoo, Michigan](<a href=“http://www.airzoo.org/]Home”>http://www.airzoo.org/)</p>
<p>I second the recommendation for Henry Ford Museum and, especially, Greenfield Village.</p>
<p>Come to the west coast, it’s much better! (not that I’m biased from living here lol)</p>
<p>My family stayed in Cross Village for four summers, and Tawas Bay area (east coast) for one. Being on Lake Michigan is so much prettier, plus you actually get to see sunsets. I live in southwest MI and many Chicago people come in the summer to visit:
St. Joseph
South Haven
New Buffalo
Harbert/Union Pier area</p>
<p>If you are looking to stay in the actual East Central Mich area, I recommend driving to the Caseville, Port Austin, Port Huron , Grindstone City area. Both the Port Austin and Point Aux Barques Lighthouses are accessible and beautiful. Huron City is a historical estate through which you can walk through a spectacular home preserved/furnished as it was in the 1880s. Grindstone City boasts the biggest ice cream cones as well as relics of the original grindstones from the mills that used to populate the area. there are nice b&b’s in the area</p>
<p>And if you are up for a drive, go to the Mackinac Bridge, cross it to the UP and stay at the Best Western in St Ignace. Walk across the street to Take the ferry to Mackinac Island and have a ball riding horse drawn carriages, seeing cute shops, riding bikes and exploring Fort Mackinac and the Grand Hotel (where the movie “Somewhere in Time” was filmed)</p>
<p>If it were me, I’d do one of the following trips:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Drive to Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Empire area (fabulous scenery, gorgeous beachfront), then take a leisurely drive around the Leelanau Peninsula, along the coast of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay. There are all kind of little towns, beautiful scenery, and lighthouses (if you like lighthouses like I do, there’s a great one at the tip of the peninsula:the Grand Traverse Lighthouse located inside of the Leelanau State Park. You can tour the lighthouse and grounds there.) Also, there are quite a few working wineries in that area that you can tour and taste. You can finish your trip in Traverse City.</p></li>
<li><p>Visit Mackinac Island and if possible, stay at one of the hotels on the island. During the day, the island is overrun with tourists and noise, but it’s amazing in the evenings. There are plenty of paths to hike and explore, and the fort on the island is amazing, especially if you’re a history buff. (Who knew that the War of 1812 started on Mackinac Island?) Plus, there are some spectacular old Victorian homes on the island.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Michgan is a gorgeous state, particularly in the summer. Have a great trip!</p>
<p>I am a big fan of the Thumb. Two and 1/2 hours from Detroit to Port Austin. No inland lakes to speak of, so if you want to be on the water you need to stay on the shoreline.</p>