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Post by leslie132 on Jul 9, 2024 1:22:43 GMT
So Im looking for some help. My husband is not willing to go to the beach this year. We were in Florida for Disney and now he wants to do something different.
I heard/saw videos of Torch Lake. It looks amazing. However, is it still amazing if you don’t have a boat? We are late with trying to plan this trip, but we just want to take a few days, have family fun and make memories.
If you know Michigan….what would you do if you had 4 days to explore? Thanks in advance!!
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Post by sideways on Jul 9, 2024 1:49:25 GMT
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Leland, wineries on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas.
This is all in the same general area and could easily keep you busy for four days.
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
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Post by CeeScraps on Jul 9, 2024 11:34:43 GMT
Torch Lake!! It's so pretty!
You wouldn't be far from Traverse City or Mackinac Island. Both could be day trips for you.
I don't golf, but Shanty Creek golf course is close too. There are small towns scattered throughout the area.
I spent summer's as a kid on Higgins Lake. My grandparents had a cottage there. A beautiful lake too! From there we went to all of the above places.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by blue tulip on Jul 9, 2024 11:43:08 GMT
i live in west michigan. my understanding of torch lake is that you do need a boat to really enjoy it, there's not much beach access? i second what sideways posted, that area is beautiful. also mackinac island is a nice trip as well if you can spare a night away or a long day trip!
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Post by jeremysgirl on Jul 9, 2024 11:45:30 GMT
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Leland, wineries on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. This is one of my favorite places to camp, we will be there in September. Beautiful in September. It is my birthday this weekend and Jeremy has planned a weekend trip to Ludington. Ludington is very low-key. We go there to sit on the beach, watch the boats, and relax. We get there a couple of weekends every summer. Port Austin is a nice area on Lake Huron. We camped there last summer. Where are you coming from Leslie? |
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Post by leslie132 on Jul 9, 2024 12:47:06 GMT
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Leland, wineries on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. This is one of my favorite places to camp, we will be there in September. Beautiful in September. It is my birthday this weekend and Jeremy has planned a weekend trip to Ludington. Ludington is very low-key. We go there to sit on the beach, watch the boats, and relax. We get there a couple of weekends every summer. Port Austin is a nice area on Lake Huron. We camped there last summer. Where are you coming from Leslie? We will be coming from Pennsylvania. I like all of the ideas and will research. I guess a question is can I get a hotel or Airbnb and stay in one location and just drive to these different areas. Is it all close enough to have a home to come back to? Or do I need to Reserve a hotel in each area. Jeremysgirl it sounds like you go camping. Is that what Sleeping Bear Dunes is about? From looking at it on Google. It seemed to have a lot of camping references and a few places to stay, but I’m wondering what is the best option. My family wouldn’t mind being in a campground. Do you know if they have cabins? Or is this a bring your own camper location. Thank you everyone. I guess I know several places that I can research today. |
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Post by kristi521 on Jul 9, 2024 12:51:06 GMT
This is one of my favorite places to camp, we will be there in September. Beautiful in September. It is my birthday this weekend and Jeremy has planned a weekend trip to Ludington. Ludington is very low-key. We go there to sit on the beach, watch the boats, and relax. We get there a couple of weekends every summer. Port Austin is a nice area on Lake Huron. We camped there last summer. Where are you coming from Leslie? We will be coming from Pennsylvania. I like all of the ideas and will research. I guess a question is can I get a hotel or Airbnb and stay in one location and just drive to these different areas. Is it all close enough to have a home to come back to? Or do I need to Reserve a hotel in each area. Jeremysgirl it sounds like you go camping. Is that what Sleeping Bear Dunes is about? From looking at it on Google. It seemed to have a lot of camping references and a few places to stay, but I’m wondering what is the best option. My family wouldn’t mind being in a campground. Do you know if they have cabins? Or is this a bring your own camper location. Thank you everyone. I guess I know several places that I can research today. These areas are all in the same general vicinity: Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Leland, wineries on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. Port Austin is drivable from those areas, but a longer drive, I am thinking 3ish hours. Michigan is a beautiful state, especially the northern and west side of the state. SE MI is fine, but it is more typical to other areas in the country, IMO. Enjoy your time here! |
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Post by leslie132 on Jul 9, 2024 12:52:12 GMT
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Leland, wineries on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. This is all in the same general area and could easily keep you busy for four days. if these are all in the same general area and I can choose one of those locations for our hotel/Airbnb……… which area would you pick? We would love a small town vibe by the lake. We like quaint little cities where we can walk around to shops and eat ice cream. We also like having different food or brewery options to enjoy. |
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Post by leslie132 on Jul 9, 2024 12:55:39 GMT
i live in west michigan. my understanding of torch lake is that you do need a boat to really enjoy it, there's not much beach access? i second what sideways posted, that area is beautiful. also mackinac island is a nice trip as well if you can spare a night away or a long day trip! I have a friend who was there a few weeks ago. She is who said that it was a blast because they had a boat. My kids love the beach….. so I’m just trying to get them a space where they can have some sand and water. I have seen videos of Mackinac Island and it looks like something we may research. I think that would be a very special place. It’s just not something you see every day! |
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Post by leslie132 on Jul 9, 2024 12:57:07 GMT
Torch Lake!! It's so pretty! You wouldn't be far from Traverse City or Mackinac Island. Both could be day trips for you. I don't golf, but Shanty Creek golf course is close too. There are small towns scattered throughout the area. I spent summer's as a kid on Higgins Lake. My grandparents had a cottage there. A beautiful lake too! From there we went to all of the above places. My husband and older son loved golf so that would be something nice for them. I’m going to look at Higgins Lake and see what I find. Thank you for all the information. |
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Post by jeremysgirl on Jul 9, 2024 13:01:18 GMT
This is one of my favorite places to camp, we will be there in September. Beautiful in September. It is my birthday this weekend and Jeremy has planned a weekend trip to Ludington. Ludington is very low-key. We go there to sit on the beach, watch the boats, and relax. We get there a couple of weekends every summer. Port Austin is a nice area on Lake Huron. We camped there last summer. Where are you coming from Leslie? We will be coming from Pennsylvania. I like all of the ideas and will research. I guess a question is can I get a hotel or Airbnb and stay in one location and just drive to these different areas. Is it all close enough to have a home to come back to? Or do I need to Reserve a hotel in each area. Jeremysgirl it sounds like you go camping. Is that what Sleeping Bear Dunes is about? From looking at it on Google. It seemed to have a lot of camping references and a few places to stay, but I’m wondering what is the best option. My family wouldn’t mind being in a campground. Do you know if they have cabins? Or is this a bring your own camper location. Thank you everyone. I guess I know several places that I can research today. I have stayed in the state park there. But they don't have water hook ups. I prefer to stay at a private campground in Empire. Indigo Bluffs if anyone wants to know. You would need a camper or tent to stay in either park. If Traverse City area is your destination and you like smaller town feel, the wine country along the Leelanau Peninsula is great. Lots of small shops along the wineries. Glen Arbor is also a nice place to stay. It's just a really nice area to visit. Lots to do within driving distance. |
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Post by littlemama on Jul 9, 2024 13:22:51 GMT
Michigan has beaches 😁
The west side of the state has Lake Michigan and a lot of quiet beachy towns. (Be aware that Lake MI also has riptides on the MI side).
The east side of the state has Lake Huron. Port Austin is a cute little town.
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Post by kristi521 on Jul 9, 2024 13:26:10 GMT
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Leland, wineries on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. This is all in the same general area and could easily keep you busy for four days. if these are all in the same general area and I can choose one of those locations for our hotel/Airbnb……… which area would you pick? We would love a small town vibe by the lake. We like quaint little cities where we can walk around to shops and eat ice cream. We also like having different food or brewery options to enjoy. I would choose Traverse City. There is definitely a small town feel. There are very cute little shops and restaurants throughout. |
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by anniebeth24 on Jul 9, 2024 15:03:19 GMT
Within an hour's drive of Traverse City is also Crystal Lake/Frankfort area or Platte Lake. These would give you the opportunity to stay on an inland lake and be very close to Lake Michigan beaches. You can rent canoes/tubes and go from Platte Lake to Lake Michigan on the Platte River.
Don't miss Sleeping Bear Dunes - if you're in good physical shape and it's not too hot, pack a picnic lunch (and water!) in a backpack and do the big dune trek to the Lake. There's lots of other trail options there, too.
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Post by sideways on Jul 9, 2024 15:25:41 GMT
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Leland, wineries on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. This is all in the same general area and could easily keep you busy for four days. if these are all in the same general area and I can choose one of those locations for our hotel/Airbnb……… which area would you pick? We would love a small town vibe by the lake. We like quaint little cities where we can walk around to shops and eat ice cream. We also like having different food or brewery options to enjoy. Traverse City is definitely a quaint city. Lots of great food and there are definitely breweries. We stayed in a condo complex called the Capri a couple of times. You can find it through AirBnB. I’ve seen prices go back and forth for them so I can’t really speak to the affordability of them right now. They’re in a great location and walking distance to downtown TC. But there is no shortage of quaint little towns to walk around in that area. Make sure you don’t miss Fishtown in Leland and if you can talk your husband into beach time, Van’s Beach in Leland is nice. |
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Post by stormsts on Jul 9, 2024 16:05:50 GMT
I agree with what others have said about the west side of the state. Lots to do. There are some nice beach areas along Lake Michigan.
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Deleted
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Nov 27, 2024 2:41:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2024 16:58:12 GMT
When are you thinking of doing this? If it's this summer, you might have trouble finding a place to stay, at least if you are looking for a rental house/apt. Not impossible, necessarily, but very difficult IME.
I also recommend Traverse City and surrounding areas. It's absolutely gorgeous.
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Deleted
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Nov 27, 2024 2:41:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2024 16:59:02 GMT
if these are all in the same general area and I can choose one of those locations for our hotel/Airbnb……… which area would you pick? We would love a small town vibe by the lake. We like quaint little cities where we can walk around to shops and eat ice cream. We also like having different food or brewery options to enjoy. Traverse City is definitely a quaint city. Lots of great food and there are definitely breweries. We stayed in a condo complex called the Capri a couple of times. You can find it through AirBnB. I’ve seen prices go back and forth for them so I can’t really speak to the affordability of them right now. They’re in a great location and walking distance to downtown TC. But there is no shortage of quaint little towns to walk around in that area. Make sure you don’t miss Fishtown in Leland and if you can talk your husband into beach time, Van’s Beach in Leland is nice. We've also stayed in that building a couple of times.  |
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Post by quietgirl on Jul 10, 2024 3:10:29 GMT
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Leland, wineries on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. This is one of my favorite places to camp, we will be there in September. Beautiful in September. It is my birthday this weekend and Jeremy has planned a weekend trip to Ludington. Ludington is very low-key. We go there to sit on the beach, watch the boats, and relax. We get there a couple of weekends every summer. Port Austin is a nice area on Lake Huron. We camped there last summer. Where are you coming from Leslie? Happy birthday! Sounds like heavenly weekend plans. Enjoy |
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Post by littlemama on Jul 10, 2024 13:10:02 GMT
There is also Michigan's Adventure - part is an amusement park and part is a water park. It is one price for both -$45 for a one day ticket.
It used to be owned by Cedar Fair (owners of Cedar Point) but looking at their website now, it appears to be owned by Six Flags, who seems to have merged with Cedar Fair.
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