Summer Family Vacation Ideas Around Michigan

Grief
Written By Holli Johnson Karrer
South Haven exploring with my kids

South Haven exploring with my kids

 

The best way to make memories with your family is to go on vacation. All that road trip togetherness will ooze some fantastic adventures! As a child, I remember stepping in horse manure on Mackinaw Island and visiting the fudge shops, thinking about how similar they were. Another time, while riding rollercoasters at Cedar Point, my mom threw up—everywhere. And quite accidentally, I remember spraying my grandparent’s new camper with bug spray to avoid mosquitos, ruining the shiny finish.

These “sticky memories” are the classic family stories we talk about at family gatherings. No one cares about the things that went right, but the memories that stick with us involve a trip's odd, funny parts like changing a tire on the side of the road, filming a goat that suddenly pees, or climbing rock formations while terrified of snakes sunning themselves. And for the record, I’m still terrified of snakes.

With three girls of my own, I want my kids to experience some fun vacations, too! They are growing up fast, so we are strategic about planning where we’d like to go. We call Southwest Michigan home, and we have some amazing vacation spots nearby that won’t break the bank. If I omitted a special place, it’s not because it’s not extraordinary; it’s probably just that I haven’t traveled there yet.

Not all families enjoy the same type of vacation, so I’ve broken my favorite destinations into categories:

  • Quaint Towns

  • Nature Trips

  • Great Lakes Beaches

  • Inland Lakes

  • Educational Adventures

  • Recreational Adventures

  • Big Cities

Quaint Towns

Quaint Towns are the first category on my favorite road trip list. Families with kids of all ages and budgets can appreciate Michigan cities like Mackinac Island and Traverse City.

Mackinaw Island

If you haven’t been to Mackinac Island, it’s a bucket list spot. It’s Michigan’s unique gem. The town is a step back in time with horses, fudge shops, military forts, and more. With kids, two days is plenty on the island, and remember to:

  • Go on a horse carriage tour. The guides are funny and they give a historic overview of the island. Include the fort stop and watch the cannon demonstration, but it’s very loud!

  • Rent bikes and ride around the island (it’s about 8 miles around and flat). You can rent a Burley for small kids, but only the bravest survive. Or, find out who actually pedals by renting a tandem bike. [I have some Mackinac Island pics we could use]

  • Visit a fudge shop

  • See the island on horseback (this was a must for all my girls)

If you’d like to splurge, stay at the magnificent Grand Hotel because they now have a pool! Or, for the rest of us, stay at a place on the mainland and ride a ferry boat to the island. There are campgrounds and hotels of all varieties nearby.

Traverse City

Traverse City is another favorite quaint town in Michigan. Wine tours and microbreweries are perfect for adults, but kids can also have fun on the beach or in town. The Cherry Festival is very popular, as well as cherry-flavored everything. There’s so much to do in this town, but here are a few of my recommendations:

If you’d like to splurge, go on a boat tour. Or, for the rest of us, rent kayaks or paddleboards on the bay. Traverse City is within driving distance of Sleeping Bear Dunes and other beachside parks and activities, so it’s a great neutral location.

Frankenmuth

Frankenmuth is another quaint town that I haven’t been to yet. It’s called “Little Bavaria,” and friends have highly recommended it! From Christmas all year round at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland to cheese tasting and indoor waterparks, there’s something fun for everyone. I should go there.

Nature Trips

My brother and Dad always loved vacations exploring God’s creations, and Michigan doesn’t disappoint. They both passed away, but you can follow my book publishing story about all of that here. [link] My extended family stayed at Crystal Mountain Resort and visited Sleeping Bear Dunes on our last family trip with my dad. He couldn’t climb the big dune but cheered us on from the parking lot.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sleeping Bear Dunes is an iconic spot on Lake Michigan. It is a destination that will only take a day to see, with a scenic drive and a hot and sandy climb up the main Dune Climb by the parking lot. Don’t be fooled, however. When you reach the top of the dune, Lake Michigan looks so close, but is still a two-mile hike away! (I’ve never hiked that part—too hot) Little kids will love running up the big dune and back down. Teens will complain, but that’s how memories are made! 

Consider combining a Sleeping Bear Dunes trip with the following:

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has a lot to offer, but I recommend seeing it all by renting an RV! Yes, seriously! There aren’t many restaurants and big towns, and cell service is sketchy sometimes, but it’s worth the trip! You’ll want to make the rounds to see Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks, but if you’d like to see mountains in Michigan, then take the time to travel to the “Porkies,” or the Porcupine Mountains!

My brother kayaked around Pictured Rocks and loved it. Here’s a selfie he took from his kayak on his last trip there. Follow my book journey to learn more about Matt here.

Nature trips are inspiring and rewarding, but my family likes to mix a few other stops along the way to keep life interesting, so consider the following:

  • Rent an RV and plan to stop at Mackinac Island, Tahquamenon Falls, and then Pictured Rocks on the same trip.

  • The Porcupine Mountains are far from where I live, so we rented an RV to hit that spot, camped there for a few days, hiked to waterfalls, and even toured a copper mine! We now have big copper rock souvenirs I don't know what to do with.

  • If you have young kids, consider waiting a few more years until they can walk up and down hundreds of steps in Tahquamenon Falls and hike in the Michigan mountains. However, Pictured Rocks is more “touristy” and can accommodate all ages.

Great Lakes Beaches

Beaches are my happy place, and Michigan offers fresh water and beautiful sand beaches along the western coastline! For day trips, consider Warren Dunes for some great dune climbs, trails, and huge beaches. They also have a campground for a cost-conscious beach vacation!

For a week-long vacation, I highly recommend renting a beach house and enjoying a Michigan beach town like South Haven, Holland, Saugatuck, or St Joseph. Rentals are available right on the water for those who’d like to splurge and/or combine with other families, or I’ve rented houses within walking distance for a more economical price. Bring your sand wagon for the beach chairs and your little one’s canopy, and enjoy! Search for a rental house that offers some beach amenities for free. Here’s what I love in these beach towns:

  • South Haven has a huge Kids’ Corner playground perfect for a rest from the sun. It’s being refurbished in 2023, so look for something amazing to play on soon.

  • South Haven has a super fun pirate ship ride! Think about touring the coastline on the Friends Good Will, an 1810 replica ship. My kids convinced the workers to set off the canon. It was amazing!

  • Eat in South Haven at Taste for a date night and visit the Olive Cart shop.

  • In Holland, visit any Captain Sundae for ice cream

  • If you’re available in early May, run, don’t walk, to the Tulip Time Festival in Holland

  • Try the New Holland Brewery 

  • Saugatuck has great restaurants like The Southerner and Salt of the Earth (nearby in Fennville), and Oval Beach, though on a hill, is the place to be.

  • Silver Beach in St. Joe is kid-friendly, with swing sets and a water pop fountain. Top your time off with a dinner at the popular Silver Beach Pizza.

  • Speaking of Silver Beach, head north two hours to Silver Lake. You MUST go on a Mac Woods Dune Ride. You’ll have the time of your life. Watch out for that termite bridge!

  • If you’re closer to Lake Huron, consider camping at Harrisville State Park and enjoy a sandy beach on the eastern side of Michigan. A few cabins are available for rent, but they book up fast. We loved these cabins when our kids were small and screamy in the middle of the night.

Inland Lakes

Michigan has beautiful beaches but also incredible lakes to explore. Consider renting an inland lake house on one of our 11,000 gorgeous lakes for a week! A few of my favorite lakes include Gull Lake and Torch Lake, but search for lake rentals, and you’ll have some fantastic options to choose from.

Gull Lake

For Gull Lake, you can vacation lakeside with your family by joining a family camp at Gull Lake Ministries. There’s also golfing at Gull Lake View, and incredible food at The Kitchen House, South Kitchen, and Chicken House (Note: Chicken House is a hut with outside seating only). For a splurge, consider renting this house on the island.

Torch Lake

Torch Lake is further north, enormous, and crystal clear. You could use this location as a home base and visit neighboring towns like Traverse City or head to Sleeping Bear Dunes. The sky is the limit!

When looking for a lake house rental, consider:

  • Is a boat included? Do you want a boat included?

  • What about kayaks, paddle boards, or other water sports?

  • How many life jackets are available?

Educational Adventures

Don’t say the word “Educational” around your kids or they will hate every minute. Instead, spin these road trips as adventures! Mix these in with other options I’ve listed, or go on a day trip. My favorites nearby me include the Creation Museum, Greenfield Village/Henry Ford Museum, and the Alligator Sanctuary.

Creation Museum

The Creation Museum is in Petersburg, KY, and offers visitors a tour of a life-size Noah’s ark. Younger kids will have to read a lot in the museum, but the Ark Encounter is for all ages. The Ark Encounter is about 45 minutes away from the museum. It’s also close to my sister, but I digress.

Greenfield Village

Greenfield Village, located in Dearborn, Michigan, is part of the Henry Ford Museum conglomerate. Our family spent an entire day touring historic homes, and we had a great time! You can ride in a Model T or opt to take a train ride. The steam engine train will leave you covered with some black bits of who knows what, but it was fun anyway. I would recommend visiting the Henry Ford Museum on a separate day. The village and museum are too large to explore on the same day.

Alligator Sanctuary

I haven’t been to the Alligator Sanctuary, but I’ve heard so many fun things about this little place that I had to put it in here. It’s exactly like it sounds, and friends tell me it’s worth the drive. Maybe stop for ice cream on the way back.

Recreational Adventures

If you’re like my family, we love to mix nature and beaches with rollercoasters and waterslides. This area has a lot to offer, so here are my recommendations:

Kings Island

Kings Island, located in Cincinnati, OH, has rollercoasters for little and big kids. It also has a separate water park. Consider buying the drink package so you can refill throughout the day. This park is next to Great Wolf Lodge, so if you’d like to splurge, consider staying at Great Wolf and visit Kings Island one day. 

Cedar Point

Cedar Point, in Sandusky, OH, is the place I grew up going to. It has all the nostalgia of the past with brand new rides too. It’s also where my mom threw up, so there’s that.

Michigan’s Adventure

Michigan has a small amusement park called Michigan’s Adventure. It’s a perfect spot to visit on the way to or from other places I’ve talked about.

Kalahari

Kalahari water park and resort is for serious water bugs only. It has an enormous outside water park (perfect for teens) and also an inside water park similar to Great Wolf Lodge. We felt like we had two parks to choose from.

Big City Trips

We live about two hours from Chicago and Detroit, so visiting a big city is far enough away that it feels like a vacation without driving very long. This is a win/win situation for kids and parents of all ages.

If you’d like to splurge, I’d suggest a Great Lakes cruise! These Viking Expedition Cruises look interesting and are new to the area. I’ve been on a Viking River Cruise in Europe and loved every minute, so try it out and let me know what it’s like!

Chicago

If you’re visiting Chicago, remember:

Detroit

In Detroit, I suggest:

Traveling in and around Michigan is the perfect choice for families. I hope your road trip adventures create fun and hilarious memories that will last a lifetime! And, if you’d like a professional landscape photo to remember your trip, check out my friend’s incredible photography of the area at Renditions by Jen Selwa.

Holli Johnson Karrer
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