We've rented a Winnebago Access 31J (class C) from June 27 to July 7, and plan to tour the U.P. of Michigan, starting and ending at our home near Minneapolis, Minnesota. It will be yours truly, the missus, and our three kids ages 3-8. Here's the tentative itinerary:
June 27-29: J.W. Wells State Park, Cedar River, MI
6/29 to 7/03: Straits State Park, St. Ignace, MI
7/03-04: Munising Tourist Park, Munising, MI
7/04-06: Porcupine Mountains State Park, MI
7/06-07: Appeldoorn's Sunset Bay Resort, Lake Mille Lacs, MN
The longest day driving will be day 1, from Minneapolis to Cedar River, Michigan. That's about 350 miles. Most of the days (half of them, actually) we stay put. Our other driving days are generally less than 200 miles each, except that 2nd to last day which is 279.
We're staying four nights at Straits State Park because we have family from lower Michigan (trolls -- they live under the bridge!) coming to meet us. We'll take day trips to the Soo Locks, Mackinac Island, Tahquamenon Falls, etc. We also plan on taking a Pictured Rocks Lakeshore cruise when we're in Munising.
Any comments or suggestions? If you have experience (good or bad) with any of those parks, please let me know. Also, if you have suggestions for activities at/near any of them, or of better places to stay than those we've tentatively selected, please let me know.
If you have bikes take them with you to Mackinac Island. This way you can tour the island on your own, There are bike rental available on the island, but they are rather pricey. The ferry ride will cost more though when you bring along your bikes. I do not remember the $$ amount, but you could search the web for prices. We haven't done the UP thing in 5 plus years now, so things surely have changed. The locks are interesting and very educational for all ages.
Have fun
If you do not have reservations already, make sure you check the availability right away and make reservations. Michigan parks fill up really quick, especially during the time frame that you have described.
luck would have it wrote: If you do not have reservations already, make sure you check the availability right away and make reservations. Michigan parks fill up really quick, especially during the time frame that you have described.
Yeah, I knew that. I made the reservations this morning. There was a lot of availability, still.
I've found it's not as challenging finding state park availability in the U.P during the summer as it is in the lower parks, but still check on those asap. If you don't have reservations yet, I would suggest Wilderness State Park near Mackinac City rather than the straits. We have stayed at both and find the Straits have smaller, narrow sites. Wilderness is more out of the way, but that's what we like about camping. You'll really enjoy the Porcuppines. I would suggest as much time as possible there as there is much to see. At the falls, be sure to rent a row boat to the little island to see the lower falls - a man in the parking lot there told us that and we had the best time. The brewery/resteraunt at the upper falls is great and has my favorite gift shop in the U.P. At the Soo Locks, take the boat ride through the locks. It is worth it.
Have fun!
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We've lived in Minnesota or Western Wisconsin for 45 years, but our family is from Michigan. We have made the trip a number of times. Looks like you have a good plan set up. We love JW Wells, if you can try get sites number 2,3, or 4. When we had a motor home we would pull straight in and we would be facings right out into Lake Michigan. If not try and get a site on the lake side.
Jim & Jane
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Sounds like a great trip! A couple of years ago we took the kids on a similar vacation- headed north along the east coast of Lake Michigan, across the UP, then back south through Wisconsin. Did not stay at any of the state parks/campgrounds you mentioned- we stayed in state parks except while in Traverse City and Munising.
ksd wrote: 'll take day trips to the Soo Locks, Mackinac Island, Tahquamenon Falls, etc. We also plan on taking a Pictured Rocks Lakeshore cruise when we're in Munising.
These are all things we did, as well. The Soo Locks cruise and the biking around Mackinac have already been mentioned by others.
I might also suggest, if you have an interest, a short drive north of Tahquamenon Falls to Whitefish Bay to see the Shipwreck Museum. We did enjoy that. A drive through Seney National Wildlife Refuge may be of merit to see some of the resident flora and fauna. We also stayed at Fort Wilkins State Park and toured a copper mine between Copper Harbor and Houghton/Hancock. I'm not sure your itinerary will allow a side trip north that far, though.
Some final suggestions: be on the lookout for some fantastic sunsets, keep your insect repellant handy at all times, and have an extra pastie for me!
Good luck and have a great time!
* This post was
edited 05/26/08 03:16pm by kmayfield *
All good advice so far. While on Mackinac Island, consider renting a horse & carriage for part of the day (an hour or two will probably suffice for the 3-year-old.) Another possibility is to get a ride on one of their trolleys, which go around part of the island. Great place for a family day trip!
We have stayed at JW Wells and Porcupine Mts, and have driven thru Straits SP. All nice parks, though don't expect Porcupine Mts to be wooded - that CG is mostly in the open, and right along Lake Superior. Quite a view! JW Wells reminds us more of a city park - trees but no undergrowth between sites. The sites along the lakeside might be a bit small - find out how long your MH is. Straits is quite shady, as I recall. Some sites might be small; we didn't pay too much attention then as we had a PUP.
MI charges an admission fee in addition to camping fee; your best bet with all these SP stays is to buy an annual sticker. You may have to affix it to the (rented) RV's windshield, but can get it off with a razor blade when you are ready to turn in the rental.
Traveler II wrote: We've lived in Minnesota or Western Wisconsin for 45 years, but our family is from Michigan. We have made the trip a number of times. Looks like you have a good plan set up. We love JW Wells, if you can try get sites number 2,3, or 4. When we had a motor home we would pull straight in and we would be facings right out into Lake Michigan. If not try and get a site on the lake side.
I'm in luck! We have site number 3 reserved. Cool!
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