Fun things to do in Michigan??

[Wishing on a star]

One thing you want to do when you come to Michigan is to bring sweatshirts. Even in July!

Yes,
It could be warm...
But, I can tell you that on our trip that I mentioned... It was leading up to July 4th. And, that first night there felt cold when one is from the South!!!

Check the weather...
Could be hot...
But, a cool front from Canada is always possible.

If in doubt, throw a hoodie in.

 

[jodifla]

Some resources for you:


Online version of Metro Parents magazine, which covers Southeast Michigan:

http://www.metroparent.com/

A "Going Places" in Michigan during the summer book

http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=66921&pre=1


I agree that the Henry Ford museum and Greenfield Village are quite unique and not to be missed if you are in the area.

And as an interesting aside, here's Walt Disney himself at Greenfield Village. It was one of the places he gleaned ideas from to create Disneyland.

http://www.thehenryford.org/exhibits/pic/2005/september.asp

 

[SaraJayne]

If you plan on being outside in the evening, jeans would be good, too.

We always pack jeans and sweatshirts for the cottage (in northern WI) even in July and August.

They are always used.

 

[Kitty 34]

Another vote for the Mackinaw City and Island area. We started taking out sons when they were 12, 6 and 4. Over the years, what we do up there, has changed but it's a great place to visit.....if you're a kid, a teenager, young adult or old (like me!! )

 

[freepixie]

I don't know if you want to spend any time in Detroit but I just remembered one time my uncle took us into downtown to the Greek town and ate some good Greek food, then went to Second City Comedy Club - that was a fun time

 

[luvmy3]

If I ever get to Michigan I am going to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park

 

[jksgrammy]

Check out: www.michigan.org

It's Michigan's official travel and tourism site and should provide you with lots of ideas!

 

[locodemickey]

Go to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo on your way to Chicago. Check it out online. They have lots of rides and it's one of the best air museums in the nation. My kids love it there. It is right off I-94 so it is easy for you to get to. SO cool!!

 

[Abbeys_mom]

Emily has given you great advice! I went to college in Midland, which is the next town over from Saginaw, so I am pretty familiar with Michigan. Also, my husband is from MI, and all of my in-laws still live there.

LOL, you must be a Woodie! I went there too, C/O 99!

The only thing I remember of Saginaw is the Pub Crawls, probably not for you on this trip though...

Midland is cool, the Dow Gardens are great. One of the Dow family members (Alden B Dow) was an architect who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright, you can see his influence all over town. The Loons are fun and so cheap.

I love Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum, that is a two day trip IMO. Ann Arbor is fun, have lunch at Zingerman's and go to the Kid's Museum.

Mackinaw is gorgeous and fun. There are a ton of beaches in the area. Traverse City has a Cherry Fest that is fun, not sure when though.

Have fun!

 

[S. C.]

If you go to Birch run stop at Tony's for desert. A huge banana split $8.99, they use a half gallon of ice cream. We had 2 adults and 2 kids to share it. Tony's has huge portions, about a pound of bacon on their sandwiches. I didn't think the food was all that great but it's always fun to watch people's faces when they see the size of the sandwiches. The banana split was good. Tony's was on the Travel channel it is right across the street from the shopping mall.

 

[Geoff_M]

You can easily kill a couple of days at Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford musem if you like "hands on" stuff. I think only the Smithsonian offers more in the way of American history. They also offer a factory tour of Ford's Rouge River assembly plant where you can watch them make F-150 trucks.

Frankenmuth/Birch Run is a great idea. Bronner's (unless you hate Christmas) is a must, as is the Zhender's chicken.

The Mackinaw area is full of stuff even if you don't go to the island. Shopping, fudge, and Ft. Michilimackinac will give you a taste of the place.

If you want to venture a couple of hours over "The Bridge", you can go to Sault Ste. Marie and tour The Soo Locks (one of the most heavily guarded US facilities in WWII), visit the Great Lakes freighter turned shipping museum The Valley Camp, and get a good steak with a "unique" environment at The Antlers.

 

[fall08CP]

Leave....

You said what I was thinking

I had the displeasure of living in Michigan for 4 years on the West side. It's pretty for about 4 months of the year.. the 4 months that I was out of state

But people from Michigan, especially the east side, are very defensive about the state. I've been to Holland/Zeeland/St Joseph (favorite-possibly on your way to chicago?), Saugatuck, New Buffalo, GRapids. The state beaches are pretty decent, but nothing to write home about. Many things were closed on Sundays. Haven't been to Saginaw specifically though.

Good luck

 

[Styx Fan]

Another great part of going to Mackinac is just how different I would imagine it is from Texas. I don't think anyone has explained this part, and I apologize if you already know this....I have no idea what Texans know about northern MI!

Mackinaw City is at the tip-top of the lower peninsula, on the shores of where Lake Michigan joins Lake Huron at the Straits of Mackinac. The Mackinac Bridge connects the upper and lower peninsulas with it's 5 mile suspension span. On the upper side is the city of St. Ignace. Both cities are pretty small and more hotels than anything else. There is a lovely park right on the shore almost under the bridge on the lower side. Nothing fancy, but beautiful views. My family likes to just walk the shore and enjoy the lakes. There is also an old fort by the bridge. Great guided tours and really gives you an appreciation of the area and it's history.

My family has lived in MI our whole lives, but it had been a while since I had been to the area until last summer. The ride to get there takes you through an entirely different MI than the Detroit area. Nature and it's wonder. The straits area tends to be much cooler than most of the lower state. Wonderful breezes off those huge lakes. Heck, some smaller shops don't even have A/C! We were there in August and needed jackets in the daytime!

If you don't get up there, I would definitely take a drive over to the Lake Huron shore lower down state as was previously suggested. The Great Lakes are so different than most any other lakes. Just the sheer size is amazing. And depending on the weather they can be calm as a pond or as rough as an ocean.

I agree also that a trip to The Henry Ford is a must do. That is the current name given to the whole complex that is Henry Ford Museum and Green Field Village. It is a very unique place. From there you can also do an auto plant tour that is interesting for any automotive fan.

If you have a passport, consider crossing over to Canada at either Port Huron or Detroit. Kids do not need one, I would bring a birth certificate though. If you have traveled out of the states a lot it wouldn't be too exciting, but if you don't it's fun. There is a nice park along the Detroit river across from Detroit in Windsor Canada. You can take a car tunnel under the Detroit River to get over, or take a bridge. I'm not familiar with there being tons to do in Windsor, besides some restaurants and casinos, but it's a pretty view of the Detroit skyline and it's fun to watch the boats on the river.

Hope this long winded post helps!

 

[GDUL]

If you go across the Mackinac Bridge into St. Ignace, you can climb Castle Rock:

http://www.stignace.com/index.php?catid=3&member_id=1089

 

[MIGrandma]

You said what I was thinking

I had the displeasure of living in Michigan for 4 years on the West side. It's pretty for about 4 months of the year.. the 4 months that I was out of state

But people from Michigan, especially the east side, are very defensive about the state. I've been to Holland/Zeeland/St Joseph (favorite-possibly on your way to chicago?), Saugatuck, New Buffalo, GRapids. The state beaches are pretty decent, but nothing to write home about. Many things were closed on Sundays. Haven't been to Saginaw specifically though.

Good luck

Aw, how sad. If you've only been to the west side, you haven't seen much of the beauty of Michigan then. Yes, I've lived in Michigan my whole life and while winters can be a bit (or more than a bit some years) brutal, spring, summer and fall are all absolutely beautiful, especially the further north you go. DH and I have done a lot of traveling and have visited quite a few states, and I think Michigan is so unique. The Great Lakes are like small oceans. The two separate peninsulas, connected by the mighty Big Mac. The upper peninsula is breathtaking, with all the many, many waterfalls and lighthouses, and the slower pace of living. The Soo Locks, Whitefish Point, Tahquamennon Falls, the many islands you have to travel by boat to get to, and on and on and on. A very, very unique state and lots to see and do.

 

[Geoff_M]

But people from Michigan, especially the east side, are very defensive about the state. I've been to Holland/Zeeland/St Joseph (favorite-possibly on your way to chicago?), Saugatuck, New Buffalo, GRapids. The state beaches are pretty decent, but nothing to write home about.

Quite frankly, if that was the extent of your exposure to Michigan, then I understand why you were only "whelmed." I'm a transplant to Michigan, so I don't have a native bias. I really enjoy the state and have enjoyed raising a family here. Other tastes may differ, but I think judging the whole state based on the southwest part of the State is like judging it on Metro Detroit alone. There's a reason why tourism is such a large "industry" in the state.

 

[ols386]

Mackinaw Island, boring? I disagree. Birch Run outlet shopping? Now that is boring! You can shop in outlets just about anywhere. Mackinaw Island is definitely a unique experience, and as a kid I loved it and of course still do. There is so much to see and do, and definitely cross the Big Mac bridge. You can't do that "just anywhere" either. The ferry ride from Mackinaw City to the island is something the kids would enjoy, and riding rented bikes around the island, and taking one of the horse/carriage tours too. There is a butterfly house that is fun to go in, and of course buying fudge. On certain days you can tour the governor's mansion. And there's the fort to go in too. There's a nice fort in Mackinaw City as well, and all the souvenir shops. If I'd never been to Michigan, the Mackinaw area is one I would definitely want to see while I was there.

The famous restaurants in Frankenmuth, that serve the wonderful broasted chicken, are Zhender's and the Bavarian Inn. I prefer the Bavarian Inn over Zhender's. My Mom and I had lunch there for her birthday last month and we enjoyed the accordian player who went around the room, and the servers in their German outfits. They have a lot of nice shops in the lower level too.

I agree. MacKinac Island has a lot to offer, and I've never gone there and felt like I was bored. And I couldn't care less about Birch Run.

To each his own, I guess.

 

[ols386]

You said what I was thinking

I had the displeasure of living in Michigan for 4 years on the West side. It's pretty for about 4 months of the year.. the 4 months that I was out of state

But people from Michigan, especially the east side, are very defensive about the state. I've been to Holland/Zeeland/St Joseph (favorite-possibly on your way to chicago?), Saugatuck, New Buffalo, GRapids. The state beaches are pretty decent, but nothing to write home about. Many things were closed on Sundays. Haven't been to Saginaw specifically though.

Good luck

Quite frankly, if that was the extent of your exposure to Michigan, then I understand why you were only "whelmed." I'm a transplant to Michigan, so I don't have a native bias. I really enjoy the state and have enjoyed raising a family here. Other tastes may differ, but I think judging the whole state based on the southwest part of the State is like judging it on Metro Detroit alone. There's a reason why tourism is such a large "industry" in the state.

I've lived in Michigan for almost 17 years now, and I absolutely love being near the Great Lakes. I think they're beautiful.

I like that the western shoreline of Michigan is really different than the eastern shore. Western is more sandy, and eastern is more rocky. I love them both.

Oh, I also wanted to say, Greenfield Village is a very nice place to visit as well.

 

[Tinkh]

My mom's side of the family lives all around the Royal Oak, Berkley area. Another vote for Greenfield Village! We love it there. You can do the Henry Ford Museum too while you are there. My son loved the train at Greenfield Village and you also can go on rides on Model-Ts around the village square area. You can also take buggy rides and see old houses with demonstrations of how people lived in the past.

 

[Geoff_M]

I've lived in Michigan for almost 17 years now, and I absolutely love being near the Great Lakes. I think they're beautiful.

I like that the western shoreline of Michigan is really different than the eastern shore. Western is more sandy, and eastern is more rocky. I love them both.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't "knocking" our part of the state. I have fond memories of when we rented a place next to the beach in Pentwater a few summers ago... But I think there are a whole lot more breathtaking places in the "upper" Lower Peninsula and definitely in the UP. My wife has become smitten with the Keweenaw in general and Copper Harbor in particular and I'm not too far behind her.