Community Forums

ToddGaddy · 03-07-2014, 07:41 PM

Looking to travel this June to upper Up and Lower Michigan and looking on advice where to stay and see. Traveling from Florida to Milwaukee, then up north into the up and then mackinaw, sleeping bear dunes.
Questions: how is the travel from Wisconsin to UP? nice views on the lake?, nice roads? looks pretty barrin.
Visiting mackinaw island for a few days, better to stay up, st ingles, or down in mackinaw City.
Any recommendations to stay and see, we have about three weeks.
Thank you

STEVE-JUNELL · 03-07-2014, 07:50 PM

A must see in the up is taquaman falls the upper and lower falls are very nice just north of newberry. Mi has some of the nicest rv parks there is silver creek in mears river ridge in stanwood sunny brook in south haven duck creek in Muskegon and hidden ridge in Hopkins all very nice places

Gary0358 · 03-07-2014, 08:00 PM

We go to Mackinac Island frequently, prefer Straits State Park in St. Ignace. You can get sites with a great view of the bridge. If you really want to experience the island, spend a night at one of the hotels or b&b's in the island. It's really great out there after the "Fudgies" leave (those that come to the island for the day, buy fudge and leave)

BA-in-Mich · 03-24-2014, 09:28 AM

One of the places you will want to see is Kitchitikipi - Big Spring, Upper Peninsula Attractions Manistique Michigan
This is along route 2. Rt 2 is a great drive. In many areas you will see Lake Michigan. About 8 miles West of St Ignace you will be able to pull off of Rt 2 and walk down to the beach. We have spent many days there with our kids. ( we have a cabin in the UP ) Sault St. Marie is another good spot to see Soo Locks Boat Tours in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan U. P. Boat Tours The Tequanimum Falls is a must.https://www.google.com/search?q=tequ...ih=763&dpr=0.9 There are mining towns to see up in the Keweenaw Peninsula. There is a lot of things to see but also a lot of driving.

chuckinthebus · 03-24-2014, 09:36 AM

We spent a week here last year.
Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping in Mackinaw City, Michigan
Great place and right on the lower end of the lake.

twogypsies · 03-24-2014, 01:10 PM

Coming into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from Wisconsin your first stop should be at a visitor center and get the waterfall map. Then park and explore some of these very pretty falls most of which are on the far western side of the U.P.. The roads are very good, even the state and national forest roads. You won't have constant views of either Lake Superior or Lake Michigan as you drive because it is forested land but there are plenty of spots that you will find expansive views and nice beaches.

We like Fort Wilkins State Park and the whole Keweenaw Peninsula. For touring Pictured Rocks on a boat tour, stay in Munising. There a nice national forest campground right on Lake Superior and also some county parks nearby. Fayette State Park on Lake Michigan is a nice area. Definitely try to stay at Tahquamenon Falls State Park at the far east and explore Whitefish Point's Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.

For Mackinac Island, Straits State Park is nice at St. Ignace and the crowds are smaller than at Mackinaw City - note two different spellings for Mackinac(w) which is correct. Take your bikes on the ferry or rent bikes and you'll have a fun day. Budget for some fudge, too.

Sleeping Bear Dunes is the favorite area of Michigan for us having volunteered there for 9 seasons. There are two campgrounds in the national lakeshore - Platte River and DH Day. It's extremely popular so reservations are a must. If you can't get one then make Traverse City the center point and you'll find many types of camping spots nearby to explore the whole area - state parks, national and state forest campgrounds and private parks. This is a very busy area for tourists so best if you have reservations. The small towns are unique and fun to poke around.

If you're interested in national forest campgrounds here's a great link:

Campground Directory and National Forest Campgrounds

There are also nice state forest campgrounds in Michigan. Lots of possibilities all around for camping. Have a great trip!

BA-in-Mich · 03-26-2014, 04:30 PM

Here's another park near Tawas Mi. Lake Huron side.
Tawas Point State Park Detail

Bfmorgan · 03-26-2014, 06:12 PM

I prefer staying in St. Ignace to Mackinaw City. YMMV. Most of the campgrounds have shuttle to the ferries. When coming across the UP from Wisconsin, make sure you have a full load of fuel. There are some long stretches without fuel stops. We always stop at Aune Osborn Campground in Sault Ste. Marie. It is just east of the Soo Locks and you can watch the freighters on the St. Mary's River as they arrive and leave the locks.

Tom3205 · 03-27-2014, 08:36 AM

OK about Wisconsin part of the trip. Going around the bottom of Lake Michigan, you will have toll roads. Lots of tolls. Heavy traffic. No good campgrounds nearby...Once north of Chicago, things get better. Until Milwaukee. Once North of there, it is really nice. State park on the Lake, private campgrounds, in the "woods", not crowded. Tour the submarine in Manitowac. Peshtigo fire museum. Have a great time.

**NLOVNIT** · 03-27-2014, 08:44 AM

For Sleeping Bear Dunes area, I'd recommend Indigo Bluffs & stay on the Class A side. Many of the sites are uniquely placed so you aren't side-by-side like at other A resorts. You can even rent the improved sites when the owner isn't on it. See my pics of the A side or the more shaded other side. It's been a few years since we were there & I know they've expanded their facilites (which at that time were rather nice) since.

Lori-

Bad Bolt · 03-27-2014, 11:49 PM

May want to hit the Wisconsin Dells on the way up.

I don't know if the Houghton/Hancock MI area has any campgrounds. I'd be surprised if they don't. That and the Copper Harbor area and all of the Lake Superior shore line are some really beautiful places to visit.

I used to snowmobile up there during the winter and it's just epic beautiful...cold....but really beautiful.

George Schweikle · 03-28-2014, 06:20 AM

Some others to consider:

The Door Penninsula, near Green Bay, Wisconsin. Dine at the White Gull Inn. Door County Visitor Bureau | Door County Wisconsin

Frankenmuth, Michigan. Bavarian themed town. Kinda touristy, but worth a stop for a great German meal. Frankenmuth, Michigan

Gilmore car museum. Near Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lots of great cars in several different buildings. Gilmore Car Museum - Welcome

And, if you continue south in Michigan, The Ford museum, Greenfield Village, and more. The Henry Ford - The place where you discover your potential through America’s History

Gary1965 · 03-30-2014, 07:44 PM

We live in Milwaukee, it is a breeze of a drive north to the UP. You could also begin your UP trip at Porcupine Mountains, then drive east to Tequanimum Falls, then go to Straits State Park in St. Ignace. For a Mackinaw Island visit, I agree with the others that the Straits is our favorite. Northern MI lower Peninsula has no shortage of choices from State Parks to high end resorts like Hearthside Grove in Petosky or Bay Harbor Motorcoach, in Bay Harbor, and Traverse Bay RV resort in Traverse City. If you have extra time, definitely go to Door County in WI on your way north. Enjoy !