I’m heading up to Michigan with the wife for the Seahawks game. Before the game, we have two nights (Tues/Wed) booked on Mackinac island (bejeesus, the prices!). It leaves us part of Thursday, Friday and Saturday in northern Michigan. The last time we were there, we saw sleeping bear dunes - totally awesome.
Any recommendations for a couple days? A winery/cycling tour would be awesome, but open for anything. Is it worth going up to the UP (wrong way!)? Are there any other can’t miss places near Traverse City? Are there any hidden gems along Lake Mich(west) or Lake Huron (east)? If you know the area, what would you do with 2-3 days? Maybe not so touristy/expensive? Any advice welcome!
TC? Boone’s for steaks or Apache Trout Grill for fish. Moomers for ice cream, plus you can pet the cows. Mission Penninsula wine tour- Chateau Chantal is my fave but there are 10-12 there. Further afield in that area, Fishtown in Leland, Northport is a good more hippie vibe community. Cant gonwrongbw Suttilons Bay or just downtown TC.
UP? Munising and Marquette is a good day+, can catch either Tahquemenon Falls and/or Painted Rocks.
Thats all semi- touristy stuff, but its good. If you want slower pace more rural, its everywhere.
Do take the winery tour through Leelanau peninsula. Also stop by “Fishtown” (Leland), Cedar (for Pleva’s Cherry Brats.) and Traverse City for nightlife.
Thanks for all the help guys. After Mackinac Island, we’re heading over to Sutton’s Bay for a couple of nights. We have a cycling winery tour scheduled. Going to try to head over to Fishtown or Cedar too. Then meeting up with friends in Saranac before heading to the big D for the Seattle game. Really looking forward to this, who else is going?!?!
That’s on tap for today. The weather is cooperating!
Mackinac Isl. was great. Now in Sutton’s Bay. Working our way down for the big game, cannot wait!
Update: couldn’t have asked for a better day for the wine tour. The tart cherry at Blackstar farms was our fave. And they put us on two Bianchi’s, what more can you ask for?
You could go check out Tahquemenon Falls in the UP. It’s about 45 mins above the Bridge. Very cool place to see. I am from the UP but live in Northern MI
If you have not already booked a hotel in Macinaw City, try looking up St. Ignace. St. Ignace is the city directly on the other side of the bridge in the UP and its very nice there. Its not so much a tourist trap like Macinaw City is, and you can still catch the shuttle ferries to Macinac Island.
The Falls are a great place to visit. Soo Locks are interesting if you like that sort of stuff. You can ride a boat through them. I have always wanted to go to the Keewenaw penninsula, the northern tip. Havent been there before.
Farm Club and Hop Lot are great breweries that are more toward Suttons Bay.
In Traverse City, there’s Slabtown Burgers, which is almost right across the street from Loco Boys brewery.
The Coin Slot is a great arcade bar. Lots of pinball and arcade games, plus skeeball and a pool table. Pizza place in the back. Outside dining area. Great beer selection, but also a full bar.
I live in TC, so if you have any questions, DM me.
Munising is not expensive and you can rent a pontoon from Seaberg Pontoon Rentals for a really good price to experience Pictured Rocks from the water. There’s nothing like it. You can see the Bermuda shipwreck in Murray Bay, shoot around Grand Island for a nice, warm swim (believe it or not) in Trout Bay, then move across the channel to sop at Miners and Mosquito beaches before hitting the Spray Falls waterfall.
Pictured Rocks Pontoon day is usually my favorite day of the year. There are few things I look forward to more.
next time for sure.
this is a great week to be up here. still warm enough, and the crowds have thinned, so I’m told.
got a little plastered on the wine tour today. cycling back was an adventure.
looks like Pleva’s may have been a Covid casualty.
we had a cherry-infused chicken dish the last time we were in Mackinac, but the restaurant has since taken it off the menu. my wife was bummed - she still talks about that dish. now the cherry brats seem to have gone by the wayside, too – seems that the cherry recipes didn’t catch on here.
Be sure to hit “Fishtown”, Leland is on the west coast of wine country.