UP Michigan family trip, INPUT?

[Ironwood]

OK, we always joke in our house how the FF is THE place to find information, any information. Since we seem to have a plethora of Michigan folks thought this might be a good place to ask.

Sooooo, we are planning to take my truck/trailer to Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City area. Do some tent camping and such. No real plans to go up to the UP. We figure that for another time. WE DID GO TO THE UP!!!!!! Updated read down......

Any input.? Also, should I throw on my enduro bike (motorcycle)?. How about a canoe? or our "sit on top" semi white water kayak (read not sea kayak) to play around? I am curious on boat regulations in Michigan. Do small craft need permits, licenses, or anything? We're gonna go for a week, 11-19'ish of August. Kids are 4-5-10. We love nature and anything like that, so need to share the best local shopping mall or anything :D


Thanks Ironwood   

[John Mc]

There are some decent wineries in the southern part of the state... Kalamazoo area.  A number of them have tasting rooms.

There is also some good canoeing in various rivers in the state, but it's been so long, I don't remember the names of the rivers.

There are a couple of places where you can find Petosky stones not far from Sleeping Bear, if I recall (Petosky, MI ?).  Interesting looking... I polished a couple of them up when I was in High School to bring out the detail.  I don't know if it's legal to collect them anymore or not, but it's something the kids might find interesting.

[MHineman]

  I'm not from Michigan, but I remember driving through the Traverse City area about July 1 a few years ago.  We saw a few people out on Lake Michigan in kayaks.  It was a sunny, warm day, but they all had on wetsuits and there were pretty good waves coming in.  I'm guessing the rivers might be a little warmer and better with young kids.

[Ironwood]

Thanks guys, keep it coming.

Ironwood

[Shotgun]

Traverse City -  Destination for MI and nationally. Lots(!) to do (several days worth)
Bay is plenty warm enough to swim
Old Mission Peninsula
15 plus wineries and tasting rooms
Lots of kayaking, bays and rivers
Trout fishing
Charter fishing (many locations)
Casinos (2 huge locations)
Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore (Several Days worth)
Glen Arbor
Elk Rapids
Alden
Leeland
Frankfort
Use the web or tourist information locations
You could spend weeks in this area...

We live here.  You can't beat it.  Bring money or plastic. Thanks.     :D

Norm   aka Shotgun

[cinnabar]

We were there last summer at sweet cherry time.  Just missed the big events , but there was plenty of cherries around for the pick....er eating.  Lots of other fruits peaches, berries, see what is in season.  Sleeping bear was fun too. On the west coast to Ohio, we passed through more like a day trip.  Would like to go back. 

[Axe Handle Hound]

I second the vote for fruit.  Michigan peaches are delicious and should be in season. 

If you head west a bit there's a pretty amazing beach in Muskegon as well. 

[Ron Scott]

At Sleeping Bear, you have the Platte River for canoeing or kayaking, the Platte River Campground, and D.H. Day Campground, all in the National Park. The Dune's Climb is very popular. There are many hiking trails and a lot of scenic lakeshore and swimming beach. A mountain bike would be preferred over an enduro bike in that area.  Motorized trail bike trails are ourtside the Park down on the Manistee National Forest.

Watercraft only need a permit if they are motororized as do off road vehicles and trail bikes.

[Ironwood]

Thanks folks, the item about the boat is a BIG help. I am lining up some flat water kayaks, not sea kayaks, but fine for river and bay use . They are my buddies. Yes, mountain bikes are a must as well.....er.... and one off road tricycle (little dude can really RIP on it, ballon tires and all :D). I will probably take my enduro just for kicks. We recently did a 4 dayer in one of the most remote areas of Pa. and I hit 400 miles of exclusively dirt State Forest roads, usually only gone from 11am-3pm whilest the kids were at the waterfront. AWESOME fun, and it is a good backup if something goes wrong, need parts etc,....

Ironwood 

[WmFritz]

Try this link for the water
http://www.fishweb.com/recreation/paddle/rivers/nwl.html

[WmFritz]

Here are maps for your dirt bike for cross country and ORV trails. All you need is a Michigan ORV Permit that can be bought anywhere that sells fishing licenses.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10365_16839_50516---,00.html

[thecfarm]

WmFritz,welcome to the forum. What's your interest in wood? Have a sawmill,woodlot? Thanks for helping Ironwood.

[Ironwood]

Ok, thanks for those links. We will definitely be using them.  :P

Now the wifey has included the Painted Rocks area as well.............COOL stuff.

Ironwood

[WmFritz]

 I can't help with any Mall advice, but Traverse is a great area.

    Thanks for the welcome. I built myself  manual band mill from a Linn Lumber kit last winter. Around the same time I found the FF and have been glued to this site ever since. The knowledge and help you folks provide has amazed me.  I don't feel worthy of a membership, but was tired of seeing my handle as "Guest".
   
I made the mill to make paneling for a small cabin I built on 20 wooded acres in Northern Michigan. After finding your site and what you guys are doing, I'm trying to convince the Wife that what I "really need" is one these hydraulic mills and and a bigger tractor and a vacuum kiln and  a ripsaw and... well you know.

    Anyway, a few months ago I didn't know a Basswood from a Boxelder and I'm having a ball....  Thanks to all of You.

Bill
     Oh and Ironwood, I'm not familiar with Painted Rocks but, if you meant Pictured Rocks, it's a couple hours past The Bridge. Another beautiful area. Enjoy your trip :-)

[Ironwood]

Sorry, YUP Pictured Rocks.

Ironwood

[Dodgy Loner]

Ironwood, I just got back from the U.P., and I kept calling them the Painted Rocks as well. It was the highlight of our vacation, aside from the Pig Roast . There is an incredible loop hike that follows the cliffs for a long way between Chapel Beach and Mosquito Beach. I highly recommend it. It was long - about 10 miles - so definitely pack a lunch and plenty of water. I will try to post pictures later. I was wishing we had kayaks the whole time we were at Pictured Rocks.

[Ron Scott]

It's a great place for sea kayaking. Take a trip out to Grand Island while you're there. There are also several shipwrecks in the area if you are into SCUBA diving.

[BBTom]

If you want to do Pictured Rocks and the trails, check out little Beaver lake campground,  try coordinates 46.558396, -86.362883 on google maps.  With just a little bit of paddling through little beaver and big beaver lakes and finding the right creek you can get out to Lake Superior with your kayak. might have to pull it over a couple logs.  However do not go far on Superior, the weather changes fast and you can get some big waves on Superior.  I took a canoe down to Mosquito Falls trail and had a heck of a time getting back when the breeze picked up.  The best camping trip I have had the pleasure to be part of. 

[Ironwood]

Thanks, all great info. I hear you on BIG water. I dont even like being out on some of the bigger lakes in Canada and they are dwarfed by this MONSTER. Wreck of the Edmunfitz is one of my favorites, and hope to get to Whitefish Bay and the Shipwreck Museum. .....

Also, I am thinking about possibly throwing together a HEAVY brush guard for deer etc......does that make sense? I just put a $600 tranny cooler out front and then if you add the turbo intercooler and the radiator,.....if I hit something could be 2-3K out of pocket. Any thoughts on prevalence of deer (etc..) on roads especially after dark? I'd like to have a "Model 260",...Two deer 60 mph, KEEP driving.  ;D bBuilt a couple of those, just havent had time to get one together for this truck. YET.........

Got the kayaks in the truck now, and taking a expedition canoe as well. We are going to paddle as much as we can on some of the small ponds/lakes/bays. No BIG BIG open water for this guy esp. given the childrens ages and air/water temps. I dont wanna buy another sea kayak paddle so I hacked two cheap alum/black canoe paddles in half and going to drill them so they can connect, and be either canoe OR sea kayak paddles. I need a "double ender" to paddle the canoe with my 4-5 year olds :. I will be n the middle



Ironwood

[WmFritz]

Ironwood,
     I should've thought of this sooner but, if  you do make your way to the UP from Traverse City, the Tunnel Of Trees would be a great side trip. M-119 running out of Harbor Springs to Cross Village is about 30 miles of scenic road that is paved right up close to the the tree trunks.


http://www.google.com/search?q=tunnel+of+trees+michigan&hl=en&client=ms-android-google&tbo=u&biw=1280&bih=800&site=webhp&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=trYlUO aqK-Pd0QGk_4DQCw&ved=0CGEQsAQ


And at Cross Village there's a neat restaraunt that would be worthwhile to stop for a  break, even if it were for a pop. It was built by Polish immigrant about a hundred years  ago and hired local Indians to help.
    The best thing about it is, he spent years searching for unique pieces of driftwood and other odd looking wood objects in the forest. The entire restaraunt is decorated floor to ceiling with his finds. The chairs, the Bar and  stools are all things he hauled in.
    How the guy could  find a twisted up stump and see a piece of furniture in it amazes me.

    Anyway, if you have a some spare time to slow down and see a bit of Michigan thats a little off the beaten path,  I hope you and your family can check it out.  Enjoy

[Ironwood]

Well, were in Macinac area (UP) along route 2. One kido is sleeping in truck whilest wifey and others are on beach.........WOW. What a place. Personally, you can't get me to an East coast beach, not for me. Oregon, and Hawaii have spoiled me...bit this is AWESOME. just told wifey I will come here anytime.  Forest is behind me and freshwater beach in front. Perfect. We will be coming here again soon, and our trip to Pictured rocks is just starting. I did spend all night before we left fabricating a "380" brushguard for the truck (got 1 1/2 hours sleep). 380 is three deer 80 mph, keep driving. Used
1 1/2 Hugh carbon steel and braced it back thru the core support.  I think my pet peeve is a lot of mass produced ones will just hold the dent IN when you hit something. So I tend to ensure the opposite.

More to come.......

Ironwood.

[beenthere]

Enjoy the trip. Hope you just see a deer.  ;D ;D

[Ironwood]

Thanks, Ironwood

[pasbuild]

You don't have to worry about hitting deer on the east end

[Ironwood]

Well, my first love is my wife, and CLOSELY behind is the UP........we are back home now. I am already planning next summers trip to points west of Munising, and revisiting possibly several beaches and Whitefish Point. I have travelled a good bit over the years, but not to the UP. Boy as I missing out. This and northern Minnesota/Wisconsin are the only continental areas I have not visited. I can see my trips evolving over the years, perhaps when the boys are older, some backcountry canoe/portage camping in the Big Island Lakes area. Just so much to do..... Here is my rig, and new brush guard, not a deer was spotted. :D We did camp in State Forest and National Forest campgrounds (pit toilets) but we REALLY liked NOT being with the RV crowd (not our style), and we did hit a few State Park Camps for showers/etc.... but we found Ross Lake State Forest campground (3 miles down a dirt road) and we were able to put our kayaks and canoe in for paddleing and night paddles for star gazing. Also spent a night in Indian Lake (west) nearly the only people in the camp (nice). GREAT stuff. Also, REALLY liked Iriquois Point light house and beach right down the road from Monical Lake (National Forest Campground with pit toilets). Very quiet place given all the other busy places around. We did stay at Straits State Parks Campground, when we first arrived at the Macinaw Bridge. Also, we did stay at Tahquamenon Falls State Park (RV crowd) very crowded, and so close we got to hear ALL about the latest People Magazine one rainy morning whilest they bailed out their tent (next to ours), silly. We Loved the PIT TOILET camps, sorts out the crowd REAL quick :D. The water quality was INCREDIBLE, I was used to Lake Erie. Also, LOVED the rocks along the shore, I want to make some jewelry out of some of them. Did the shipwreck boat cruise, Pictured Rocks boat tour, all the beaches/lighthouses in the area, Whitefish Museum, Tequaninan, Soo Locks boat tour, Also Palm State Forest springs, the beach on Route 2 down south (on Lake Michigan). 


Ironwood