Texas to Michigan and then some

[SteveH]

We are leaving in few days on a trip of sight seeing and escaping the Texas heat, and the proposed area at this time the Great Lakes area by way of Jackson Center to take the tour. Continuing up thru Michigan, across the Mackinaw bridge, I think it is, then West across Wisconsin around Lake Superior, and into Minnesota.

We have a couple of kayaking spots we want to stop off and see on the way North, but other than the map that indicates scenic drives, we know nothing. All help appreciated and all advice will be considered.

Thanks in advance.

[toastie]

Torch Lake was rated by National Geographic magazine of one of the three most beautiful lakes in the world, need to rent a pontoon to go to the sand bar. Barnes Park is just North of Torch Lake and on Grand Traverse Bay, great place to camp.

Barnes Park Campground

Petoskey Michigan Area | Harbor Springs | Boyne | Hotels, Vacations, Travel - Petoskey Area CVB

Visit Charlevoix, Michigan | Charlevoix the Beautiful! | Great Lakes Tourism

Sleeping Bear Dunes Voted 'Most Beautiful Place in America'

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/best_pl...6#.UbzhEzDD_IU

[bwoodtx]

Steve,

Try PM'ing "dkrug" who attendeed our spring rally. I believe they live around Detroit and they might have some good info for you.

[amazingwoody]

Good choices from Toastie. After Petoskey, head over to Harbor Springs and take the scenic path to the bridge, RT 119 I believe? Nice funky place to eat in Cross Village. As long as you are so close do the old fort on the south side of the bridge and of course, do Macinac Island. You'll have to park your rig someplace and take a ferry over. If you have bikes bring them otherwise you can rent them on the island. Macinac (I know I am mispelling but can't get out of this note to spell check without losing all that I wrote) is a must. I live in the UP and find it very beautiful. Pictured Rocks in Munising is a great stop over. Nice camping there. Marquette is a nice city to visit as well. White fish at the Veirling brew pub is the best. This is if you are going along the southern shore of Lake Superior. If doing the northern shore of Lake Michigan you'll do a different set of towns. Pretty as well but not as rugged as Superior.

[Prickly Pear]

If you are into Auto Shows , there is a great one at ST. Ignance.MI near the end of June. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point is also a fascinating stop.

Enjoy the trip, you have endless excellent choices around the lakes.

Jim

[SteveH]

Thanks for your inputs. They are greatly appreciated and will be noted.

Any more?

[Jwestman]

Steve, We live on the west side of MI in Grand Rapids so I'm a little partial. For a beautiful drive, take U.S. 31 along Lake Michigan all the way north. Some very nice state parks along the way, but a warning, they are tight and crowded during the summer. Once you leave Mackinac head north to Sault St. Marie. We parked at a private campground on the river near the Sault locks. It is quite amazing to watch the big carriers navigate through the locks... a lot like taking your airstream through a narrow construction zone <smile>. Munising city park on the south shore of Lake Superior is very nice. If you do end up going up the East side of the state, we like Tawas State Park. If we can be of any help, drop us a note. We love it here (for 7 months of the year at least)!

[loudruff]

Originally Posted by Prickly Pear

If you are into Auto Shows , there is a great one at ST. Ignance.MI near the end of June. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point is also a fascinating stop.

Enjoy the trip, you have endless excellent choices around the lakes.

Jim

St. Ignace...and there is a beautiful little state park right there near the water and the end of the bridge.

[toastie]

North of Grand Rapids is a great place to camp, rated in the top 100 in the country. Just a few miles from River Ridge is a great 5 star golf course.

River Ridge RV Resort | In Stanwood, Michigan

Welcome to Tullymore Golf Resort

toastie

[Schools Out]

I agree...31 north is a beautiful drive. Once you get north of Ludington, the little towns of Bear Lake & Arcadia have nice parks right in town. This might actually be M22... Arcadia has a great one on the shore of Lake MI that's nice to stop for a break or a picnic lunch (no camping) Also an amazing scenic stop overlooking Lake MI near Arcadia. If you can climb the 100 (?) steps, you'll be able to see for miles...Bear Lake has a town park with campsites on Bear Lk. If I remember correctly, they were inexpensive, $10 a night...but only about 20 or 30 of them. A little farther north & you'll be at Sleeping Bear Dunes NLS...lots of sites there. If you drive all the way north on Leelanau Penn. there is a rustic SP at the tip. I could go on...but, the best resource i've found is the State of MI web site...Pure Michigan.org. There is a travel/camping section with links to non SP campgrounds, as well.
Here's a view from the viewing deck at the top.

[goshawks00]

Steve , being a Michigan lifer we've been all over the state, so believe me you won't begin to see what Michigan is all about in a few days. How about doing a search here under rallys and look up "Exploring under the Bridge rally". There were many good places to see listed there esp. in the UP ( our favorite place). Good luck and happy camping in our great state.
Barry & Karen