Help! Need Help Planning A Week-Long Trip To Michigan!

[Peppermint Patty]

Twenty year old daughter...
One year old Grandson will be in tow!

We are looking to spend a week in Michigan [[July 1-July 6). Considered Mackinac Island but there does not seem to be anything to do there during that week [[would love to partake in the fudge shops though....yum!). Budget is $1500 so please don't go overboard with the cost suggestions!

I want to be around water and to have access to a city or nice small town with conveniences [[if necessary).

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Novine]

How are you traveling? Where are you starting? There are lots of options but it helps to know your travel route.

[Peppermint Patty]

Traveling via car

Starting piont is Central Ohio [[would love to keep it between 6-8 hours max for travel)

[gnome]

Starting in Columbus the round trip to Mackinaw is roughly a 1000 miles, factor a random 26 mpg and you'll spend about $150 on gas at $4.00 a gallon. Since side trips and whatnot will add another bunch of miles, round up the gas budget to $200

that leaves you with $1300 for the week.

I'll figure there will be 3 adults and a baby, so that works out to $185 a day for lodging and food.

That is going to be tough unless you are into camping.

If you are there is a wonderful campgrounds called Wilderness State Park. It is just west of the Bridge by a dozen miles and it is located directly on the water.

A one yr old is a tough camping partner as midnight crying jags will keep your neighbors awake and not in dear them to you in the morning. Especially if they've been around the campfire howling at the moon and keeping you awake.

They do have camping cabins at the campgrounds, but those book early. You can find them at Michigan.org

With your limited funds, I fear you might be a budget hawk your entire trip and not truly enjoy yourself. You might want to consider the islands in Lake Erie. Kelly Island certainly has a resort feel to it as does Pele Island [[is that canada?) but there are other islands in Lake Erie and it would save you a couple of hundred in gas money.

Of course, you're always welcome to come to Detroit, we can sell you an entire house for $1,500 and you could use it as a little northern getaway whenever you want.

[Peppermint Patty]

Detroit is out of the question. Not taking my Grandson there. No disrespect intended.

[tvaspen]

Detroit is out of the question. Not taking my Grandson there. No disrespect intended.

May have not been intended, but disrespect still the same.

[MidTownMs]

Detroit is out of the question. Not taking my Grandson there. No disrespect intended.

What exactly does your one year old grandson know about Detroit?

[poobert]

Detroit is out of the question. Not taking my Grandson there. No disrespect intended.

I am just trying to do something besides staying in Ohio. I have done so much here in Ohio. Looking for something different.

Detroit scares me because of the crime and abandonment. I would love to see the Riverfront and GM headquarters but my nerves are shot and I want to be safe. I have seen the Pure Michigan ads and want to check out the state's offerings. I get tired of the Michigan-Ohio pettyness. I may consider stopping by Detroit but the residents must make their city less threatening.

Sorry for any disrespect. I appreciate all suggestions.

You want to be safe. If you had done an iota of research before asking everyone here on this DETROIT message board to do it for you, you would have quickly learned that downtown Detroit is as safe as any other American downtown.

I've been to New Orleans, Miami, and Chicago - three "dangerous" cities. They were also three of the most worthwhile cities I have ever been to [[God, especially New Orleans, which is easily the most dangerous). Would you skip those too, because of fear? Here is a little parenting advice: why don't you teach your little tykster to enjoy the world at a young age rather than be afraid of it?

I am a resident of this city. I have a well-kept home complete with a flower garden. The neighbors come over for barbeques. I like classical music and herbal tea. Not sure what I must do to be less-threatening to you. Quite unsure how to make you believe me that I have no desire to murder your family.

I certainly don't hang out in shady places, and like ever other city in the world, neither do most tourists.

Frankly, I don't care. Detroit is "out the question" and it seems you are so tightly clutching your prejudices that I won't bother rattling off all the incredible, mindblowing sites in this city [[which also could have been found with very little research). You're visiting the state and avoiding its largest city. Whatever floats your boat, pal. Bugger off. Offense intended.

I just feel lucky now to have had badass, nazi-fighting, Detroit-loving grandparents who weren't afraid of anything, as far as I can surmise. I guess this country made it to the moon and then just stopped trying. NO OFFENSE, OF COURSE.

[Wheels]

Detroit is out of the question. Not taking my Grandson there. No disrespect intended.

Why is this even on the Detroit board?

And yes disrespect is taken!

[black gold man]

I was just saying there should be inter city camping and squatters
weekend bed and breakfast in our fine town.
COME TO DETROIT

[Pam]

I was just saying there should be inter city camping and squatters
weekend bed and breakfast in our fine town.
COME TO DETROIT

People with homes/rooms for rent:

http://www.airbnb.com/detroit

[rb336]

I would suggest a first couple of days at greenfield village/henry ford museum, then a trek out I-94 to the beach anywhere from holland to new buffalo

[Peppermint Patty]

rb336

Sounds good!

[Peppermint Patty]

Gnome,

I will look up the Lake Erie islands. Thanks#

[Detroitnerd]

Yeah, whatever you do, don't take your grandson to Detroit.

Just post on the message board for Detroit asking for help.

[Kathleen]

Have you checked out the Pure Michigan travel and tourism website?
http://www.michigan.org/

Michigan, including Detroit, has so much to offer!!! You are bound to find something to enjoy!

I suggest that you consider Michigan's thumb....Port Huron has beautiful views of the water, a couple really nice museums; further up M-25 you can stop at Lakeport State Park for the day and then keep going through a number of small towns such as Lexington and Port Sanilac and Harbor Beach, all with history and quaint small town atmosphere. Nice B&Bs in the area too. At the tip of the thumb, enjoy Port Austin and then down to Caseville and Pointe aux Barques. Then head inland over to Saginaw...the Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum is at the University there...and downtown is a lovely historical museum. Back down I-75, enjoy a day in Frankenmuth, an old German village with lots of shops and restaurants. Shop at the outlets at nearby Birch Run. Then back down to I-75. Before hitting the Ohio border, consider a visit to Ann Arbor...there's a museum of natural history at the U of M, plus a Hands On children's museum, and lots of wonderful restaurants on Main St.

So much to see and do!! Enjoy your time in Michigan!!

[gnome]

For Ohio Island info:

http://www.lake-erie.com/

http://www.kelleysisland.com/

http://www.putinbay.com/

However, that's Ohio and I'd hate to encourage you to spend any time with our hated neighbors to the south. They are a rough bunch down there and are prone to all sorts of unseemly behavior, but if watching the pennies is important ...

[Detroitnerd]

Sometimes the Ohio-Michigan stuff is a little too much for me. I remember going down to a bar in Ohio and recognizing the maize word "Michigan" on a blue field. Below it, somebody had written "SUCKS." Sigh ...

For people such as that, I recommend a trip to Michigan's enticing Middle Finger region.

[401don]

What exactly did your daughter do to deserve this punishment?

[mwilbert]

The Detroit thing is silly, and cuts out some good destinations, but if you don't want to drive too far the thumb suggestion above probably makes sense. Besides the German thing, Frankenmuth has fudge. You could swing by Greenfield Village [[I refuse to call it "The Henry Ford") on your way in or out, which I always enjoy.

If you provide some notion of what sorts of things you like, somebody might have some additional ideas. The great thing about a one-year-old is you don't have to worry about what they like, so this could be your daughter's last chance to do stuff without considering children's tolerances for a number of years.

[Peppermint Patty]

I am just trying to do something besides staying in Ohio. I have done so much here in Ohio. Looking for something different.

Detroit scares me because of the crime and abandonment. I would love to see the Riverfront and GM headquarters but my nerves are shot and I want to be safe. I have seen the Pure Michigan ads and want to check out the state's offerings. I get tired of the Michigan-Ohio pettyness. I may consider stopping by Detroit but the residents must make their city less threatening.

Sorry for any disrespect. I appreciate all suggestions.

[antongast]

I may consider stopping by Detroit but the residents must make their city less threatening.

We'll get right on it. Your wish is our command.

[tvaspen]

I am just trying to do something besides staying in Ohio. I have done so much here in Ohio. Looking for something different.

Detroit scares me because of the crime and abandonment. I would love to see the Riverfront and GM headquarters but my nerves are shot and I want to be safe. I have seen the Pure Michigan ads and want to check out the state's offerings. I get tired of the Michigan-Ohio pettyness. I may consider stopping by Detroit but the residents must make their city less threatening.

Sorry for any disrespect. I appreciate all suggestions.

I've got a suggestion, why don't you just stay in nice, safe Ohio, wouldn't want to fray your nerves.

[BRAZZMAN]

I've got a suggestion, why don't you just stay in nice, safe Ohio, wouldn't want to fray your nerves.

Way to go tvaspen! You're trying to be understanding and helpfull - right?
My suggestion is to head east to Port Huron and then take M25 up the coastline in the Thumb area of Michigan. You'll be in and out of access to the water. Plenty of small towns and villages, antique shops [[for your daughter), marinas and beaches on the way to Bay City. Fishing also if you're into it. Once in a while if you check your map, you can cut inland to a town that sounds interesting if only by it's name and then back to M25. Plenty of inexpensive restaurants and motels and beautiful farm land. Not very touristy once you get above Port Huron - Lexington. You can still check out the Ren Cen and GM Hdqts and the water front and then head out to Port Huron - freeway access is right there. South from Bay City on I75 make a stop at Frankenmuth for chicken and Bonner's Christmas Store. Google all these places you see on your map for things I haven't mentioned. Have a good trip and take plenty of photographs and post them on this forum for us.

[tvaspen]

[QUOTE=BRAZZMAN;323738]Way to go tvaspen! You're trying to be understanding and helpfull - right?
Absolutely!I wouldn't want the poor lady to get the vapors...