Travelin2some

Welcome to Michigan , our Great Lakes state.. The U.P. is definitely less populated but very beautiful. But I'm more familiar with the lower. I would suggest must see stops in Frankenmuth ( a German style town built on hospitality to visitors) a quint and unusual village. Most weekends ( year round) they have activities to keep young & old content. A more modern spot just about 30- 40 minutes away ( expressway) is the charm of Bay City. It is located right on the water and it's too boasts activities year around. In Bay City there is a must stop fabric store named Fabric Fair. A wee bit further down the road in Pinconning is quilt shop (quite unique & outstanding selection) named Bittersweet which is housed in an former church. Stopping in these places will not be out of your way, but instead just another leg of your journey into the U.P. To help know when you want to be where, visit the websites of : www.michigan.org ,http://www.frankenmuth.org/ & www.baycity.org . If I can help in any other ways, please PM me. Enjoy your travels......and comeback often

Travelin2some

I agree with all the other posts. One thing to know, is this state was built on tourism, and there are many treasure waiting for all the come , see & enjoy.

nuffsaid

The quilt shop in Paradise, MI (upper peninsula, near Taquamenon Falls) is a wonderful shop--huge, filled with Up-North type fabrics. If you go to the other end of the UP, in Ironwood, there is a great shop there, Fabric Patch. But the UP is 300 miles long. A long but beautiful trip. Pictured Rocks in Munising, along Lake Superior shore, is beautiful, and Marquette is a neat town. There is a lot to see in the UP. In the lower peninsula, Traverse City, Petoskey, and Charlevoix are beautiful towns along the Lake Michigan shoreline. And the Mackinac Bridge is so magnificent, too.
Have fun on your trip! Carolyn

sailsablazin

Michigan is a BEAUTIFUL state....so lush in SPRING with new growth and sunshine, daffodils and tulips blooming away.
SUMMER is filled with warm days and time spent on Lake Michigan or Lake Huron or just one of the zillion small lakes that we have. One can visit many lighthouses along the shoreline (Grand Traverse lighthouse on the tip of the Lelaneau Peninsula is awesome).
Followed by the amazing FALL season with fallen leaves crunching under your feet and your choice of apples, cider, and cider doughnuts at all of the orchards around.
Then there is the crisp cold WINTER with bright white snow squeaking under your boots because the temperature has dropped----better bundle up and get your snow blower tuned up.

I cannot think of a better place to live!!!!!!!!!!!

I am speaking of Western Michigan although the Eastern side of the state is great also...but we found a slower pace here and the snow there did not compare to the lake effect snows we get on the West. Snow comes across the lake and DUMPS on us...so beautiful and lots of shoveling.

I have found many quilt stores but cannot think of one in particular---I somehow manage to spend money at all of them.

As others have mentioned...Mackinaw Island, Mackinaw bridge, Saulte Ste. Marie, Traverse City. We MIchiganders seem to enjoy the Great Lakes a bunch. We are so blessed to live near these great bodies of water.

Have a WONDERFUL time.
Feel free to pm me with questions if you want.

wellphooey

Agree with everything said about MI. Traverse City and surrounding areas can't be beat for sightseeing, things to do, great restaurants (low-key, casual). The Sleeping Bear Dunes were rated by one of the morning tv shows as the most beautiful of sites in the US, or something like that. They are spectacular. There are at least 3 wonderful quilt shops in the TC area: Interquilten in Interlochen (on Facebook), Renee's, and Quilt 'n' Bee. Enjoy!

ube quilting

Mackinac Island. It is by the UP. Google it. Fabulous. You would have to leave the RV behind to go to the island though. No vehicles are allowed there. Beautiful victorian town. The Grand Hotel has the longest veranda in the world.

Have a great time whatever you do!
peace

quiltingshorttimer

[QUOTE=ube quilting;6911598]Mackinac Island. It is by the UP. Google it. Fabulous. You would have to leave the RV behind to go to the island though. No vehicles are allowed there. Beautiful victorian town. The Grand Hotel has the longest veranda in the world.

Have a great time whatever you do!
peace[/QUOTE

Besides the places mentioned, I'd say Sleeping Bear Dunes Park makes for a nice stop and check out the quilt shop in Williamsburg (near Traverse City)--fabric that you don't see everywhere. Love Charlevoix-

SusieQ54

Welcome to the "Mitten" state! A trip down the western side of the state should include a trip to Traverse City. If your husband is into golf they have several great courses--one of which was designed by Jack Nicklaus. Traverse City is also known for some of the best cherries in the USA. The views of the Grand Traverse Bay are great too.

Michigan is known for its wine and we have many great wineries. The best IMHO is in southwest Michigan is St Julian's Winery in Paw Paw. Paw Paw is approximately 25 miles from Kalamazoo, yes there really is a Kalamazoo Michigan. Kalamazoo features a wonderful Air Museum, which contains numerous items related to the history of airplanes and flight. If you like antique and vintage automobiles the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners is a must see.

If your enjoy museums and historic homes, a visit to Historic Charlton Park in Hastings will not disappoint. It's like a mini-Greenfield Village--featuring a museum surrounded by many buildings from the 1800s that guests can tour. The Parks has a church, barber shop, blacksmith shop, general store, hardware store, an Inn, etc.

June is also a great time to sample Michigan Strawberries. If we have a good winter they will be plentiful. We have many u-pick strawberry farms in southwest Michigan and many restaurants feature fresh strawberry shortcake. There are many local strawberry festivals in June, too.

I would also recommend spending a day on the Lake Michigan shore. South Haven is located on Lake Michigan and has a film festival every June. South Haven also has a 1872 lighthouse that is really neat.

I'm kind of partial but our Local Quilt Shop "Quilt-N-Go" just south of Battle Creek is a great place to shop.

Hope this gives you a few ideas and that you have a great time while you are in Michigan!

Cybrarian

I grew up in MI (greetings fellow CMU grads!) and am surprised no one has mentioned Holland, MI on the lower west side. The Tulip festival is (or was) in early May, but it's a great stop to see the Dutch influence in that area. If you're going into Amish country in northern Indiana and you're football fans you have to stop in South Bend to see the most beautiful university campus there is- Notre Dame! Yes, I know U of M and MSU are great- but you can't beat the sun glinting off the Golden Dome and the multi-storied mosaic of Christ. The campus is at it's most breathtaking in the fall, but so beautiful any time of year. Enjoy your travels!

barbarakibler23

Welcome to Michigan....our state has some much to offer. Originating your journey at Henry Ford and Greenfield Village is a great place begin. Since you will be RVing I would suggest to stay at Harbor Town Campgrounds in Monroe. Very nice and clean. We went camping along the coast of Michigan, we stopped at the many lighthouses (we have 247) along the way. You can drive along the coast line all through our state. We drove to Port Huron and up the coast to the tip of the thumb. Down around to Bay City (don't miss Frankenmuth...(definitely a day trip). Then continue up the coast and stop in East Tawas, Oscoda and Harrisville. Heading north up the coast you will reach Cheboygan and the Upper Pennisula. Mackinac Island (another day trip) and Mackinaw City . I have not been in the UP except for St Ignace but I hear there are wonderful Quilt Shops. Sault Ste. Marie I hear is another day trip. Heading back down the West coast you will find wonderful cities like Charlevoix, and Traverse City and so many it's hard to name them all. But don't miss the Dunes north of Empire. Continuing down the sunset side of our state you will find Muskegon, Holland, South Haven and Saugatuck where the beaches are wonderful! Don't forget to visit all the local quilt shops as you travel, we had over 80 shops in the "Row by Row Experience" shop hop. If you are lucky maybe they will start the shop hop in June instead of July.
Then comeback to our great state and check out the middle of our state....plenty to do there too!

Enjoy your trip!
Barb