Things to do - Upper Michigan etc.

[daepp]

I have a few days to kill before a graduation in south western MI. I have been told for years to see the U.P., but I know the first week of May is not ideal.

I have never been to Canada, so Windsor or Sault St Marie are on my radar. Any not-to-be-missed attractions there.

I have also heard good things about Traverse City and Grand Rapids. Is there anything to do there in less than 70 degree weather?

And as for the rest of MI and the Motor City, is there much for the die hard Porschephile or gearhead beyond the Ford Museum and Greenfield?

Any info would be appreciated.

[matt f]

Windsor has some great gentlemen's clubs, if you're into that kind of thing.

[Bowling]

UP will still be chilly, many Great Lakes based attractions, ship wrecks, museums, lighthouses, old school live off the land things to see. Very interesting topography. The Mackinac Bridge is very cool. Heck they still may be skiing at Boyne. I don't believe the golfing around Traverse City will be up and going yet, long winter has created some greens problems, even down here. Grand Rapids is a great town, a jewel in MI. Very clean and just a pleasant place to visit. Toronto is several hours away, the National League Hockey Hall of Fame? A UP link
Things To Do in Michigan - Upper Peninsula Regional Attractions

[widgeon13]

There are some good golf courses in the area as well as an Indian casino.

[diverdan]

The Saulte Locks probably won't be too busy due to ice, but near by is Taquananem Falls which should be spectacular with a high volume of flow. It is like the forest that Longfellow extolled. There is a cool lodge that is a micro brewery at the entrance to the Park. Pictured Rocks to the west of there offers spectacular limestone formations on the sea shore. Lodging should be dirt cheap and mom and pop restaurants warm by the wood stoves. Mackinaw Island would be tranquil and worth the boat ride and hiking or bicycling around. Spring flowers should be incredible. The scenery around Big Mac down to Legs Inn in Cross Village is pristine. A meal at Legs is a must. Then you are at the top of the Tunnel of Trees. Drive down to Harbor Springs, through Petoskey. Down to Charlevoix is a beautiful lakeside drive.

Dress for walking in cold and possible rain. If you stay warm and dry it will be an awesome time.

I will do that route as soon as I can get behind the wheel again.

Diverdan

[bell]

Drinking beer in the bed of a pickup is popular. ...

[p911dad]

Spent time in the UP early last June, lovely area, very little population. We spent a night on Mackinac Island and took the boat over from St Ignace. The Island is very much like a New England town, settled long ago. No cars or vehicles, only horses and bikes. I'd say it was the highlight of the trip. We then ran up through Sault St Marie, saw the locks, and took Canada 17 across Ontario, ending up on the 400 into Toronto. The area from Sault St Marie to almost Toronto is very sparsely populated, not much in the way of attractions except the little lake towns, scenery is pretty. The area north of Toronto is a very extensive resort area, quite beautiful lakes, bays, hotels, etc. I am sure we missed a lot of the good stuff.

[daepp]

Wow - great info. Thank you very much. But it just occurred to me - will the US airport renta- car agencies allow you to take a car into Canada?

[tabs]

Originally Posted by bell

Drinking beer in the bed of a pickup is popular. ...

After getting good and drunk...hang out with the Michigan Militia

Frankenmuth is always a nice place for a visit and a meal.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by matt f

Windsor has some great gentlemen's clubs, if you're into that kind of thing.

Agree!

Windsor has nothing to see except a casino and gentlemen s clubs. Detroit has a casino too.

[Eric 951]

If you are near Ishpeming and are a skier, the National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame is in town.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by daepp

Wow - great info. Thank you very much. But it just occurred to me - will the US airport renta- car agencies allow you to take a car into Canada?

Yes.

Not sure it you are into art, but the Detroit Institute of Art is worthwhile. There is a central atrium that was painted by Diego Rivera in the 1930s. Touring the Ford Rouge steel plant is worthwhile. Very cool watching the massive slabs of hot steel being formed.

Factory Tour Hours and Tickets

Going up north would be cool, but its quite a long drive to get to anything. And the weather is still pretty craptacular.

[Bowling]

Originally Posted by diverdan

The Saulte Locks probably won't be too busy due to ice, but near by is Taquananem Falls which should be spectacular with a high volume of flow. It is like the forest that Longfellow extolled. There is a cool lodge that is a micro brewery at the entrance to the Park. Pictured Rocks to the west of there offers spectacular limestone formations on the sea shore. Lodging should be dirt cheap and mom and pop restaurants warm by the wood stoves. Mackinaw Island would be tranquil and worth the boat ride and hiking or bicycling around. Spring flowers should be incredible. The scenery around Big Mac down to Legs Inn in Cross Village is pristine. A meal at Legs is a must. Then you are at the top of the Tunnel of Trees. Drive down to Harbor Springs, through Petoskey. Down to Charlevoix is a beautiful lakeside drive.

Dress for walking in cold and possible rain. If you stay warm and dry it will be an awesome time.

I will do that route as soon as I can get behind the wheel again.

Diverdan

Excellent, will the tress be budding by then? If you are a Hemingway fan.
Hemingway's Michigan - Home

[Crowbob]

Be advised, there may still be snow on the ground north of the bridge and be prepared for allot of driving in the rain. It's over 250 miles from Kalamazoo to Mackinaw Island. An hour further to the Sault. Late spring/summer is prime.

[daepp]

Thanks again - I have made a list of (just about) everything above and I'm plotting it on a map.

While we never know what the future holds, I will have no hard reason to be in that area again - at least not in the foreseeable future.

So I guess the question is, is this worth doing despite the likely weather on 5/6 through 5/8 or 9?

[vash]

i'd use that one Kid rock song as a vacation template.

[HardDrive]

My step mother has a medical MJ card. Perhaps I can help him out with 'funny thing'

i'd use that one Kid rock song as a vacation template.

[Neilk]

Went to Mackinac Island a couple of years ago during the middle of July. The water on the beach is crystal clear and is so inviting after a nice bike ride around the island, UNTIL you put a toe in it and then experience major shrinkage. With all the ice they had this winter, I doubt it will warm up at all. Beautiful area though. Michigan summers are amazing.

[CurtEgerer]

The Sheriff has snowmobile patrol scheduled through the 1st week in June this year up near Grand Marais and Tahquamenon

Good advice from Diver Dan. On the way up, hug the coast. Crystal Lake, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, Leland. The Leelanau Peninsula is loaded with wineries. Then down to Traverse City. If you're a Hagerty fan, they are HQ'd there and usually have stuff on display. They had the Lunar Lander there last summer. Then continue up thru Torch Lake, Charlevoix, Petoskey, Harbor Springs, etc. If you're into beer, stop at Beard's Brewery in downtown Petoskey. Owned by Ben Slocum - rally co-driver extraordinaire of $500 BMW Rally Mexico fame. Also did the Dakar. He's got stories If you're into downhill skiing, stop at Shaggy's in Boyne City. Tiny custom ski maker and they will give you a highly personalized tour. If you're into music, go to Interlochen - sort of a music mecca south of Traverse City.

Also, in St. Ignace (just over "The Bridge") try Timmy Lee's on US2. Doesn't look like much, but some of the best lake fish anywhere!

Closer to SW Mich, go to Founder's Brewery in downtown Grand Rapids for lunch/dinner. Also, the Gilmore Car Museum near Kalamazoo is spectacular and unlike any other car museum I know of.

Weather 1st week of May: it will be somewhere between 25 and snow & 75 and sun.

And keep expectations low on Sault St. Marie (US or Canada sides). There's not much there!

[john70t]

I doubt you'll be making the exhausting trudge to the western side, but the copper mine tours are worth seeing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincy_Mine