Michigan's Upper Penninsula ???

[sawdust_128]

Any suggestions for campgrounds up here? How about POG approved eaterias?

C and I are doing are best not to go home. Please help us and make suggestions as to where we can practice and refine our meandering techniques in the UP.

[Loc]

Dust,

We spent a week in Northern Michigan in late June. We actually stayed in Petoskey which is south of the Mackinaw Bridge and therefore not really in the UP. We stayed at Heartside Grove RV Resort. Hearthside is one of the nicest RV resorts we have every stayed in (even considering the Palm Springs, CA resorts). It is an owners' park that has rental sites as well. I highly recommend Hearthside Grove. It is owned by the family that built and owns the Petoskey KOA. Millennium just held there summer rally at Hearthside. There is also a new Signature Resorts that is about 15 miles to the west of Petoskey. It is not as conveniently located, but should be very nice. A little further west in Acme (close to Traverse City) is Traverse City RV Resort which is also a top notch owners resort with rental spaces. There is also a new RV resort that is supposed to be open now in Empire called Indigo Bluffs.

Hearthside is a 30 minute drive to Mackinaw City (the ferry to Mackinac Island). It is about an hour and 45 minute drive to Sault Ste Marie. We have stayed in Mackinaw City before and while it is convenient, we will stay at Hearthside next time. Tony Condor (Aggies09) was just in Northern Michigan and he may also have some input.

[MangoMike]

Ed,

With the LocNess recommendation we too stayed at Hearthside on our way to OSH09.

Great place with a terrific pool.

I would try to stay in the new section if possible, but both are good.

Visit Petoskey, but also visit Bay Harbor about 10 miles down the road, great little sailing town with lots of cool shops that the girls just loved. Have a great lunch at Turkey's Dinette and sit outside.

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[GDeen]

Jenny and I lived in Traverse City (just west of Acme) for 3 years in the early 80's. Gorgeous country. Lots of golf, fishing, boating in the summer and it looks like they have really geared up for top notch camping.

Make sure and visit Torch Lake which is inland a few miles up in the vicinity of Elk Rapids. Nat Geo Mag rated it one of the 10 most beautiful spots in the country a few years back.

Also make a trip out on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City. Great beach on the far north end and Bowers Harbor marina and restaurants on the west side of the Peninsula. Hard to believe Lake Michigan can be so clear and blue.

Old Mission Peninsula from OnThe Snow.com

[lloyd&pamela]

In July of last year we toured from Mackinac Island all across souther Lake Superior. The following links will take you to the posts. Do not miss Pictured Rocks. The boat tour is one of the best we have ever taken. The fourth post below has a map of our route. There are several restaurants listed. Our favorite was the Indonesian, just get there at 5pm. There is only one seating.

http://prevost.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/mackinac-island-mi/

http://prevost.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/mackinac-island-homes/

http://prevost.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/in-the-land-of-the-great-turtle/

http://prevost.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/lake-superiors-south-shore-summary/

http://prevost.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/nature-you-paint-a-pretty-picture/

http://prevost.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/copper-harbor-mi/

http://prevost.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/best-little-town-in-the-midwest-the-apostle-islands/

[sawdust_128]

Lloyd & Pam, Wow! That's a plan and a half. Your map for the pictured rocks and that souther shore route helped me fill in what I had started. Thanks for saving me a lot of time.

One thing. I came across this in your blog:

"Even the chocolate covered “cookies” we bought at a local candy store were actually chocolate dipped ritz crackers. Who puts ritz crackers in chocolate? That’s just wrong."


Er ah we do! We actually spread peanut butter (smooth or crunchy) between two ritz and dip the whole thing in chocolate. MMMMMMMM good cracker!! Maybe it's just a southern thang!

[sawdust_128]

Gordon thanks. Looked up Torch Lake I believe that's a must see.

[sawdust_128]

Loc & Mike thanks. We will be crossing at Mackinac Island area and starting our trip south towards home from there. A.ll those locations are touchable for us.

From there, I hope to drop into Indiana/Ohio and then east to Gettysburg. I will use that as a location to step off through western Maryland into Virginia and continue south through the Shenedoah into the Blue Ridge. Once there, a turn east and we are back to Raleigh.

Hopefully, our arrival back will be close to the time we depart for OKC.

[rfoster]

Sawflakes:

After that sizzling post on the Liberty bling guys, you will be ejected to Canada for years.

It was very entertaining to read and a lot of fact in it.

[Jamie Bradford]

Sawdust

Debbie & I just got back from there today. Hearthside Grove is wonderful.

On the UP Driftwood Shores in Manistique is a good place - pull thru & lake view.

Baraga & Marquette host the Ojibwa Casinos which are fairly good places to stay- cheap & good security.

South of Petroskey , Bay Harbor , Signature opened a new place offering free 2 night stays-- look on the web.

Have fun........................

Jamie

[sawdust_128]

Thanks Jamie:

Good Info.