Anyone Vacationed reasonably in the UP of Michigan?

[jgates]

Would like to spend a few days in Mackinaw City, St. Ste Marie, and go to places like Houghton, Copper Harbor, L'Anse.

Looking for advice on hotels - especially in Mackinaw City & SSM- seems like the 2 Days Inns in MC look nice and have good rates (look around first week in October).

Also - must do ideas.

Any help would be appreciated. Would like a really nice trip on a low budget, LOL.

 

[hinodis]

I would really recommend skipping Mackinaw City and going to Mackinac Island. They have great specials that time of year. You can get a room for $99.00 a night. Try the lakeview or the harbor view inn. We go to the Island for 2-3 weeks every summer. We stay at Mission Point resort. they will have special prices as well. We absolutely love it there, It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is so awsome without cars! It is waaaaaay better then staying in Mackinaw City. I have stayed in the city a few times as well. Go to the island. If you want to know anything else, just ask, We have been there 13 times and are leaving next week for a 2 week stay on the Island. It's our summer home.

 

[1prince1princess]

Go to the Chamber of Commerce website for a nice map of hotels in Mackinaw City. We were there last year at this time and the Comfort Suites and the Econo Lodge had free access to a small indoor water park.

 

[NookOfTheNorth]

I would not stay at that Econo Lodge...if it's the one with the little cabins in front of the hotel. That was the most disgusting hotel I ever stayed in, and we have been in some doozies while on the road.

We requested a non-smoking room, got there and the room they assigned was not ready, but we could see it. The ashtrays were literally overflowing with butts. The next room we were given was right by the dumpster which was also overflowing with stinky trash; I wanted to just leave but we had just driven 3 hours with the two kids. They do have a newer section of the hotel, and I imagine that is where the hotel pics were taken. Now, this was 2 years ago, so maybe it's better.

But, both my husband and I have said that we will stay on Mackinac Island ourselves if we ever go back.

 

[dck12ga]

From a former Yooper... There are a lot of beautiful places in the UP! Just to name few, Isle Royale, Porcupine Mt (Lake of the Clouds), Fayette State Park. I looked up a website called absolute Michigan and search tourist and UP and it will give you county by county places to go. Oct. would be a nice time to go, with the color changing of the trees. If you have any other questions... just ask. Have fun in the UP. We are going back home next weekend to camp and kayak.

 

[jgates]

Thank you guys - any suggestions are appreciated. I haven't been to MC in about 9 years (???) I believe. My only concern with staying on the island is if husband gets the itch to go off for a drive - then we have to head back to MC again. But I do want to spend some time on the island.

Would like to go on the Agawa Canyon train ride also but I'll have to think about the cost of that one.

 

[Fire14]

You guys are making me homesick. I wanna go vist UP again

 

[disneymamato2]

I live in Wi so I have been to the Up lots of times. I second Porcupine Mt. Another place I would love to go back to is Picture Rock. I went on the Agawa Canyon train ride and it was awesome. I can't wait to take my kids there when they get older.

 

[Bsetter]

How about staying in Manistique!!! (My home-town) Just 90 miles west of Mackinaw - on the shore of Lake Michigan - beautiful!!! See the
Big Springs - cheap - and Fayette (a ghost town from the pig iron making time on the Garden *****ula) both only cost is a State Parks pass!!! And
you can't beat Rogers Park - free - just a few miles west of Manistique on Hwy 2 - the best swimming beaches of Lake Michigan - a little cool at times -
but clear and fun in the waves!!! A great location to further explore Munising, with Pictures Rocks and Lake Superior.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Hey Jenny! My advice would be to not stay on the island and skip Mackinaw city. I WOULD, though, stay at one of the hotels on the north side of Mackinac Bridge, in St. Ignace. I've never liked Mackinaw City and always thought of it as too touristy kitchy. A day on Mackinac Island is a MUST DO! If you stay on the St. Ignace side, you'll still have ferry service, but you'll be closer to the casino! Saying that, please know I've stayed on both sides tons of times for both vacation reasons and for hockey tournaments.

On the west side, Ontanagon/porcupine mountain area is beautiful. We also enjoyed going up to Copper Harbor. Do the Lake Superior circle tour and just stay on our side and you'll have great places to stop and see the beauty of the area. Our cabin is in Paradise, due north of the Big Mac. That area is home to Taquamenom Falls and we're just a mile from the Great Lakes Shipwreck museum and light house. Even going all the way to the SOO is pretty cool if you want to see the locks.

Debbie

 

[#1hockeymom]

How about staying in Manistique!!! (My home-town) Just 90 miles west of Mackinaw - on the shore of Lake Michigan - beautiful!!! See the
Big Springs - cheap - and Fayette (a ghost town from the pig iron making time on the Garden *****ula) both only cost is a State Parks pass!!! And
you can't beat Rogers Park - free - just a few miles west of Manistique on Hwy 2 - the best swimming beaches of Lake Michigan - a little cool at times -
but clear and fun in the waves!!! A great location to further explore Munising, with Pictures Rocks and Lake Superior.

I forgot all about Fayette! We loved it there. Take the carriage tour. You'll learn SOOOO much from your guide! The springs are awesome, too. When you go east from there towards St. Ignace you'll pass tons of dunes perfect for sun bathing and running through on Lake Michigan.

 

[dck12ga]

Hey Bsetter, I will give Manistique a wave when we pass through it on Wednesday to Gladstone (my hometown). What about (spelling?) Kitchatakipi??

 

[jgates]

Thank you - you guys are great as always.

Hi Debbie!

 

[EvanMaddieMouse]

We did the whole UP tour last year, and we stayed at a place in Paradise, Michigan called Curley's Paradise Motel. It sounds a little cheesy, but it was actually quite nice. We had a lake-side room (it is right on Lake Superior) and it was close to Tahquamenon Falls. It's also relatively near the Whitefish Point Shipwreck Museum, which was very, very interesting.

We stayed in Calumet and spent the day in Copper Harbor. If you can google mine sites, you may be able to find the name of the mines that you can actually ride down into---if I find them, I'll edit and add the links later. That was one thing we didn't get to do, since MaddieMouse was 2 and we felt she might get too scared. Next time, though!

There is so much to see in the UP, it is just so beautiful, and serene, and green! that no matter what you decide, you're sure to have a beautiful, picturesque time.

And don't forget to have your Lake Superior whitefish, and your pasties, with your mackinaw fudge for dessert. Mmmmmmm. Whatever you do, the most expensive thing will probably be the gas you put in your tank!


Here's a quick edit with links:

One all about the UP, with what looks like a TON of info: http://www.exploringthenorth.com/mich/mich.html

and this is the mine tour:
http://www.quincymine.com/

 

[lisajl]

http://www.saultstemarie.com/lodging-2/21/21/

Check out this place if you want to stay in Sault Ste Marie. It has been years since we have stayed there but it was so nice.
My DH was a bit nervous about it but it was very clean.

We are headed up to Mackinac Island in August and staying there again.
It has been years since we stayed on the island. The Murray hotel is nice if you go there. We are staying at http://www.mainstreetinnandsuites.com/

Have a great time..we can't wait to get back up there!
Lisa