Michigan. :)

Grits8812 · March 2012

At work someone suggested that I check into going to Michigan for our honeymoon. She said it was cheap for her and her family of 5 to stay for a week, and they weren't bored! Being easy to please and just wanting to get out of town for a little bit, I thought I would look into it.

If you are in Michigan or have been there, what are the best locations? I can't decide what area to research. We will just be going with the flow of whatever goes on.

Suggestions welcome!

aloisk57 · March 2012

Traverse City is probably one of the most beautiful places in the world. There is a ton to do, and it's right on the water. You could also check out places like Frankenmuth, Mackinac Island, and Grand Haven.

acaponi87 · March 2012

Traverse City and Mackinac are 2 great options. Frankenmuth is pretty family oriented, I might stay away from there. Petosky, Grand Rapids and Holland are all good other options.

Over on Lake Huron you can try Port Huron or Lexington.

I hear the UP is wonderful but I've never been there myself.

If you are feeling adventurous, Detroit really is not as bad as people make it out to be. Sure it has it's rough spots but it's also a gorgeous city with a lot to do.

Many of the places on the lakes have hotels but renting a cottage or condo is also a great, cheap option. Basically MI is beautiful. So much coastline and none of the nasty saltwater

Grits8812 · March 2012

Thanks! From what I found on the internet Mackinac is a cool place. I'll have to look up the ohters and see what sounds like fun!

mbody · March 2012

I'm in Chicago and we get commercials all the time advertising Michigan travel.

www.michigan.org

Sue-n-Kevin · March 2012

I roughly calculated your wedding date to the end of July. That's a very busy season here in Michigan for tourism.

The only really big airport is Metro airport in Romulus, near Detroit. You didn't say if you were considering driving or flying, but from the airport it would be a 4 hr drive north to the area in the "mitten" to catch a ferry to Mackinac Island. There are no cars allowed on Mackinac Island so you have to leave your car in the parking lot while you are there.

Traverse City is lovely, but tere are always events planned there so you'd want to check the tourism calendar. I just checked and the Traverse City Film Festival (put on by director Michael Moore who lives near there) runs from 7/31 to 8/5/12, and it's a big event. Most of the hotels there may be pretty booked. Mario Batalli, the chef, also lives in Traverse City and has at least one, I think more, restaurants.
If you drive, or rent a car, Petoskey is a lovely little town, Stafford's Hotel is wonderful. You can walk everywhere.

If you want to avoid the crowds around Traverse City, I can highly recommend the Saugatuck area. It's on Lake Michigan, about 3-4 hrs from the airport (but closer for you if you drive from the St Louis area). I lived in Massachusetts for 6 years, and Saugatuck reminds me of New England a LOT. Lots of artsy stores, great beaches, and a lot of fun.

I planned our HM last year by using www.tripadvisor.com. Check on there for reviews by real people of hotels and restaurants. Also sign up for weekly emails from www.travelzoo.com. They send emails of their "top 20 bargains".

If you guys like amusement parks (not that I'm trying to send you elsewhere, LOL, we LOVE visitors), Cedar Point in Sandusky OH is on the lake, has beaches, hotels, and the most roller coasters of any amusement park in the US. It's only about an hour or two south of Detroit.

I also recommend checking http://www.midwestliving.com/travel/ . It's the online site of Midwest Living magazine (which they also probably sell in Missouri). There's a lot of info on each state there. You can search by state, by what interests you, etc.

Here's their section on Michigan:

http://www.midwestliving.com/travel/destination/michigan/

Good luck. Hope you've been given enough info. We love tourists here

Wiscisbliss · March 2012

Traverse City (beware of Cherry Festival time - very crowded)

Sleeping Bear Dunes NP

Mackinac Island (just do a day trip - staying on the island is outrageous!)

In the UP we love Picture Rocks National Lakeshore. Tahquamenon Falls (sp?) is nice too.

Kristin789 · March 2012

Mackinac Island!
And while staying the the grand hotel featured in the movie "Somewhere in Time" is truly expensive, there are other hotels on the island that ARE affordable, etc.

gundy21 · March 2012

Stay away from Mackinac Island around July 21-28. There is a HUGE sailboat race (Chicago-Mac) and you will not be able to get a room in the area. The island is pretty much taken over by the crews of the 350 or so boats that have raced up there from Chicago. I sail, and I can tell you, the sailors are a bunch of fun, but not quite what you want for your honeymoon!

southofnormal · March 2012

If you are going to Mackinac Island, I would highly recommend staying in St. ignace rather than Mackinaw City which is much more commercial and family friendly. Things are just a bit quieter in St. Ignace. The colonial House Inn in St. Ignace is nice. The Mackinac Grill has good food. Clyde's Drive-in is a must-do. Oh!!!!!! And Java Joe's. Great food and Joe is full of travel tips. He'll give you a map and suggest places to go. On Lake Superior, Whitefish Point is beautiful as is Grand Marais and Pictured Rocks. Marquette is a nice little College Town.. I LOVE the Upper Peninsula. We go there's several times every year. The beaches along the Lake Michigan shoreline are amazing! Youcn't go wrong with a honeymoon in Michigan!!!

southofnormal · March 2012

http://hunts-upguide.com/ I would recommend this site for some excellent info.

StephLove12 · March 2012

I'm a little late to the game, but I can't help to comment on this.

If you like scenery, go to the UP. Honestly, I've lived in Michigan my entire life, and I never truly appreciated the state until we took a vacation up north.

If you can, drive. The roads in northern Michigan are the most scenic I've ever seen. Start at Mackinaw City. Do a day trip to Mackinac Island (as lovely as the island is, a day is PLENTY to see the whole thing). The next day, go across the bridge to the UP, stop at the Soo Locks, Tahquamenon Falls, Kitch-iti-Kipi, Whitefish Point. Spend a day or two stopping at those spots. Then head all the north. Copper Harbor is our northern most point in Michigan. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. Lake Superior is a gorgeous lake, so clear. July would be an ideal month to go swimming in Lake Superior. Anything before July, it will still be COLD.

If gazing at scenery isn't your thing... hit up our west coast. July 27-Aug 5 is Grand Haven's Coast Guard festival. SO MUCH FUN. And such a cute little lake town.

Michigan. :)

Re: Michigan. :)

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