Checking out Michigan, advice please?

[MZRoamer]

Hey all,

Wife and I were going to be at Bonnaroo music festival this weekend but, its been cancelled... so we're trying to find some things to do and are interested in checking out Michigan. We've looked at Grand Rapids and Traverse City, but wanted a locals take/advice on what to do/not to do. Anything truly special happening as its labor day weekend? Any easy (read, "wife friendly" gravel trails) with good views? We like wine (hence Traverse City), craft beer, hiking/camping (me more than her), and good/local food with vegan/vegetarian options.

Thanks again for the advice, we're trying to make lemonade out of lemons given the huge excitement for Bonnaroo that has just been cancelled.

Apologies if this is off topic/needs to be posted somewhere else. Just let me know.

 

[cheezypoof]

I'm not a TC local but we LOVE it up there - great town and surrounding area with plenty of everything you mention (except offroading trails).

If I had to say one excursion not to miss: Sleeping Bear Dunes. A hike that's not really promoted is Boekeloo on the south end of the park. Drive to the end of Boekeloo Rd and you'll see a parking area, follow the trail past the old cabin (some dude lived there and grew cranberries way back in the day). Maybe 20-30 minutes to the beach through forest & dunes. Bring beach/swim stuff, you'll probably have it to yourselves.

For wine, there was a recent discussion about wineries in the "cruisers spotted in TC" thread, you'll find it towards the end. Don't know much about the local beer scene. Shorts in Bellaire is worth it if you're over that way. I'm sure there are good ones closer.

Hope you make it, if you do let us know what you discovered!

 

[VSPro9]

Hey all,

Wife and I were going to be at Bonnaroo music festival this weekend but, its been cancelled... so we're trying to find some things to do and are interested in checking out Michigan. We've looked at Grand Rapids and Traverse City, but wanted a locals take/advice on what to do/not to do. Anything truly special happening as its labor day weekend? Any easy (read, "wife friendly" gravel trails) with good views? We like wine (hence Traverse City), craft beer, hiking/camping (me more than her), and good/local food with vegan/vegetarian options.

Thanks again for the advice, we're trying to make lemonade out of lemons given the huge excitement for Bonnaroo that has just been cancelled.

Apologies if this is off topic/needs to be posted somewhere else. Just let me know.

im a GR native and theres lots of great breweries and dining here, but not much off roading.
Grand Haven is a cool beach town with a great downtown shopping district and nice beaches and the pier.
Muskegon has a place on the beach called the deck that is an excellent place to eat and often has live music.
Going a little further is my favorite michigan spot, silver lake sand dunes. not much for dining or shopping but there is aboout 500 acres of sand dunes you can drive on.
sleeping bear dunes is beautiful and theres a bunch of little port towns that have cool shopping around there.
run the loop up M22 to northport and then down into Traverse city. (around here youll find some seasonal roads south of TC that are mild but in the woods)
Run over the Mackinac Bridge and catch a ferry to Mackinac Island, the summer capitol of the world and the greatest place on earth imho.

 

[VSPro9]

I'm not a TC local but we LOVE it up there - great town and surrounding area with plenty of everything you mention (except offroading trails).

If I had to say one excursion not to miss: Sleeping Bear Dunes. A hike that's not really promoted is Boekeloo on the south end of the park. Drive to the end of Boekeloo Rd and you'll see a parking area, follow the trail past the old cabin (some dude lived there and grew cranberries way back in the day). Maybe 20-30 minutes to the beach through forest & dunes. Bring beach/swim stuff, you'll probably have it to yourselves.

For wine, there was a recent discussion about wineries in the "cruisers spotted in TC" thread, you'll find it towards the end. Don't know much about the local beer scene. Shorts in Bellaire is worth it if you're over that way. I'm sure there are good ones closer.

Hope you make it, if you do let us know what you discovered!

around TC hop lot in suttons bay is cool and fun for beer.

 

[69LC]

Not too far north of Ludington is Nordhouse Dunes. There are lots of hiking trails and many National forest roads and two tracks.

 

[TCEd]

I'm not a TC local but we LOVE it up there - great town and surrounding area with plenty of everything you mention (except offroading trails).

If I had to say one excursion not to miss: Sleeping Bear Dunes. A hike that's not really promoted is Boekeloo on the south end of the park. Drive to the end of Boekeloo Rd and you'll see a parking area, follow the trail past the old cabin (some dude lived there and grew cranberries way back in the day). Maybe 20-30 minutes to the beach through forest & dunes. Bring beach/swim stuff, you'll probably have it to yourselves.

For wine, there was a recent discussion about wineries in the "cruisers spotted in TC" thread, you'll find it towards the end. Don't know much about the local beer scene. Shorts in Bellaire is worth it if you're over that way. I'm sure there are good ones closer.

Hope you make it, if you do let us know what you discovered!

I've worked on that cabin.

 

[TCEd]

You easily could fill a three day weekend in the greater Traverse City/ Charlevoix/Petoskey/Harbor Springs area and not get bored. There are enough wineries, micro brews and distilleries along with plenty of very good places to eat. Outdoors the trails and beaches are plentiful. Start in Arcadia and work your way north through Sleeping Bear into T.C. Try the VASA network and bring MTB's if you have them. Kayak remote areas of the Manistee or Boardman river. Your problem will be finding places to stay and crowds, tourism is above pre-pandemic levels and reservations are an absolute anywhere to eat or sleep that is popular.

 

[MZRoamer]

Everybody, thanks so much for the recommendations! I'm excited to check out your state but unfortunately life has thrown more curveballs this week even after cancellation of Bonnaroo, so any trip up to the area is on hold for now due to family issues. Will definitely keep TC, nordhouse dunes, and other places on the very short list.

 

[TCEd]

Everybody, thanks so much for the recommendations! I'm excited to check out your state but unfortunately life has thrown more curveballs this week even after cancellation of Bonnaroo, so any trip up to the area is on hold for now due to family issues. Will definitely keep TC, nordhouse dunes, and other places on the very short list.

October can be very nice up here and the crowds are mostly gone. If you ever need info message me. ed