Tell me about Northern Michigan, and the places to see, best time to go, etc.

My very best friend moved to the Traverse City area of Michigan at the beginning of April. She's already clamoring for me to come back and visit her.

So, what time of year should I go?

AND, what sights must I see, and things should I do when I'm there?

but the traffic will be light, not many tourists until June. If you go in the summer months, the place is loud, traffic can be bad and the lake can be warm, cold or anything in between. If you go in the Fall, fewer tourists until hunting season. Easy to get around, easy to get a table or a hotel room and the Fall color tours can be lovely, or not. In winter, you'll enjoy skiing, snowmobiling or rain. hard to tell.

But you know what? The lake is always beautiful, no matter what time of year you come. Beware the peers and shore ice in winter. Don't walk on either.

There is nothing predictable about Michigan and its weather.

But i miss this gal tremendously already, so who knows... it may be sooner than that.

I've seen the pics of Sleeping Bear Dunes, and that looks pretty spectacular.

Thanks for the advice!

But if you miss the girl, you better go sooner than later.

But if you miss the girl, you better go sooner than later.

She even offered to buy my plane ticket back there. Wish I could.

It is really beautiful up there,it actually reminds me of parts of northern california or new england believe it or not. I would definitely go to sleeping bear dunes and the various towns around there. I am in southern michigan now and I think that you should either go in late May or late September for the right weather.

rooms are greatly reduced, the weather can be great or... not. It could be in the 70's and crisp sunshine or drizzly damp and 45. I was there last September and we were swimming in Traverse Bay. Lake Michigan itself is really too cold to swim anytime, but great beaches to wander.

The Leelanau Peninsula makes for a great day trip. A canoe trip down the Platte or Crystal River is nice. Then on to Sleeping Bear, there is an Old Coast Guard Lifesaving station, or climb the dunes and tumble back down. Word of warning, don't climb down the dune to Lake Michigan on the Interpretive Drive, it will literally take half a day to climb back up. It is exhausting.

Be sure to visit the Village Of Leland, eat at The Bluebird, get some ice Cream at the general store across the street, then wander around the shops of Fishtown. There is an scenic old Lighthouse on the tip of the Peninsula. There are good wineries to be found.

Traverse City itself has a nice downtown. Nice shops and plenty of places to eat. The Boardman River runs right through the downtown and there is access to the waterfront marinas and beaches. A bikepath also ends here, it's about seven miles or so long and gets prettier the further east you go.

A trip up north from Traverse along the bay and lake to the Straits area is scenic. Nice towns like Charlevoix, Petoskey and Harbor Springs. North of Harbor springs to Mackinac is a sight to see in the autumn. The road(State rt.119) almost seems to form a tunnel through hardwood forest with dazzling fall foliage. Continue up to Wilderness State Park, then over to Mackinac City.

Mackinac City is nothing special, but take the ferry over to Mackinac Island. (best time again in the fall and not on a weekend) It's somewhat touristy, but no cars, you walk, ride a bike or horse, or ride in a carriage. The film Somwhere in Time, with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was filmed there, it really does retain a turn of the century charm.

if you are that close, you MUST drive over the Mighty Mac!

Yours was a great post, I agree with your recommendations with the addition of the bridge.

The foliage is gorgeous and the weather is perfect. If you're a hockey fan, the Detroit Red Wings train in Traverse City. Don't miss the Old Mission Peninsula and try to get to Mackinac Island; it's on the other side of the state but Michigan narrows the farther north you go so it doesn't take long to get there.

Hi,
I took a little culinary tour of Michigan and found it beautiful. Only spent a day or two in Traverse City, They have some wineries that are kind of fun, and I believe there is an old Coast Guard museum in an old Coast Gaurd outpost that is kind of fun if you like that sort of thing. If you get up to Charlevoix you MUST go to Jewlerettes, not sure of the spelling. Tiny little place, I had a Rueben soup of all things, that was absolutely out of this world. Their French toast is awesome too, the stuff is like 3 inches thick. I sure hope that place is still in business. Traverse City itelf had a Traverse City Pie Company or something like that that has pot pies that rocked my world.

Peace,
hibbing

Traverse City has a cherry festival every summer, around mind-July
and Mackinac (not far from TC) has a lilac festival in mid June. They also have a couple of civil war era forts that are very nice. Mackinac island is amazing, they dont allow any motorized vehicles. You get around by horse or bicycle.

And eventually you stop thinking of neat aspects about the place. If you like commotion come during the Chery Festival which is the first week in July (although they are tweaking the times this year so it may not be that exactly). There is usually lots of things to do and see then that are not normally around here. The first week in August there is our film festival where you get to see a lot of great movies that don't normally come to the big theater chains. And its thrown by Michael Moore basically, so I think its cool because of that.

I like August up here as its very warm, the weather is beautiful and the tourists are winding down. I also enjoy walking the old state hospital grounds, as that place was mammoth with such an interesting history that I find myself almost sucked in to it. It is being renovated now, as all things do eventually, which I don't like overall, I prefer the creepiness of it, but in the renovated area there is a restaurant that si absolutely amazing, Stella's. It is VERY expensive, but very worth it. Especially for the atmosphere; it almost feels like you are in a dungeon from the architecture of the old building.

If you like ice cream you have to go to Moomers, at least according to Mrs. Giant Robot. Personally I'm not much of an ice cream eater but she says its the best around. There are many good wineries in the area and I recommend any of them if that is your thing.

Anything else you want to know or if you would like to meet a fellow Duer face to face let me know.

:hi:

It's God's country up there. Be sure to visit Pictured Rocks, Tequamenon Falls, and the Soo Locks.

We really enjoyed it up there when we visited.

we would drive over from Wisconsin every year just to compete in the band competition. What a weekend!

please message me and we can exchange e-mail addresses.

that are really pretty, go up to Copper Harbor. It's up along the coast of the UP, right on Lake Michigan. Beautiful in the Fall.