circum-Lake Michigan trip itinerary

Friday, 9/2

Leave Chicago at 2:00pm. Drive 6 hours to camp at the J. W. Wells State Park of Michigan, 49887, 1 mile south of Cedar River, 25 miles north of Menominee. Dinner on the road; setting up tents after dark (which is no prooblem).

This leg of the trip:
http://maps.google.com/maps?spn=4.109100,7.629456&saddr=60608&daddr=cedar+river,+mi+49887&hl=en

The campsite:
http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/ParksandTrailsInfo.aspx?id=432

http://www.savvycamper.com/exp-04.html
N7670 Highway M-35
Cedar River MI 49887
Phone Number: (906) 863-9747
30 miles south of Escanaba, or 25 miles north of Menominee on M-35:
1 mile South of County Rd. G-12 and Cedar River http://maps.google.com/maps?q=n7670+highway+M-35,+cedar+river,+michigan+49887&ll=45.385431,-87.429199&spn=.130341,.214937&num=1&start=0&hl=en

Reserved sites #2 and #101 for Friday night.

Menominee is a "Historic Waterfront District." We may try to have dinner there. Just have to hit the road early, hopefully before 2pm.

Saturday, 9/3

Leave campsite by 8am, absolutely! Drive 3 hours to Munising, Michigan 49862, the west end of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Enjoy the lakeshore. Leave the lakeshore by 4:30pm and drive 3.5 hours to Mackinaw City, Michigan 49701. Actually we'll drive to Saint Ignace, Michigan 49781; but Google refuses to do the map.

This leg of the trip:

http://maps.google.com/maps?spn=.965721,1.766464&saddr=cedar+river,+mi+49887&daddr=munising,+49862&hl=en
http://maps.google.com/maps?spn=.984173,1.907364&saddr=munising,+mi+49862&daddr=mackinaw+city,+mi+49701&hl=en

The lakeshore:
http://www.epinions.com/park-Parks-All-MI-Pictured_Rocks_National_Lakeshore/display_~reviews
http://www.nps.gov/piro/
http://www.picturedrocks.com/index1.html
http://community.webshots.com/album/45478653BZFKAR

We probably want to boat to view the colored cliffs from the water, which is the best way to see this so-called world famous thing. There're narrated cruise, guide tours, etc. We'll see if there're affordable, self-operated, boating opportunities.

The highway 2 from Naubinway to St Ignace is an AAA-designated scenic drive. (AAA is not a battery size here.) There are, I believe, vista points along this stretch of coastal road.

Saturday night we'll either camp or motel in the St Ignace - Mackinaw City area. I'll bring along camping and lodging materials.

Sunday, 9/4

It can be a good idea to get up early and see sun-rise on Lake Huron. We take the 8:20 or 8:30 ferry to the Mackinac Island, walk the island (which is in Lake Huron), get back ashore to our cars before noon and cross the Mackinac Bridge, the greatest engineering accomplishment of Michigan. Then we take the AAA-designated scenic coastal drive, highway 31, to Traverse City, 49684, where we have lunch or more likely a post-lunch break. Go to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 49630, after noon. Go camping in the Interlochen State Park, Interlochen, MI 49643 (Michigan's first state park).

This leg of the trip:
http://maps.google.com/maps?spn=.496991,.953682&saddr=mackinaw+city,+49701&daddr=charlevoix,+michigan&hl=en
http://maps.google.com/maps?spn=1.003219,1.907364&saddr=charlevoix,+mi&daddr=traverse+city,+49684&hl=en
http://maps.google.com/maps?spn=.251830,.476841&saddr=traverse+city,+49684&daddr=empire,+49630&hl=en
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.736268,-86.119698&spn=.243271,.469013&saddr=empire,+mi+49630&daddr=Frankfort,+MI+49635&hl=en
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.644720,-86.011963&spn=.243656,.469013&saddr=Frankfort,+MI+49635&daddr=Interlochen,+MI+49643&hl=en

Mackinac Island is a motor vehicle-free (for over a century now) island of a 8.3 miles perimeter with a 500-600-people Victorian community (I don't know what that means). http://www.mackinac.com/index.html

The Mackinac Island ferry service:
http://www.mackinawferry.com/
$18.00 round trip each adult. Takes 16-18 minutes.

The Mackinac Bridge: http://www.mackinacbridge.org/

Traverse City has many water sports and things. We may look around quickly. This is a possible place for a long-weekend ski trip next spring.

Sleeping Bear:
http://www.epinions.com/park-Parks-All-MI-Sleeping_Bear_Dunes_National_Lakeshore/display_~reviews
http://www.nps.gov/slbe/

Interlochen State Park:
http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/ParksandTrailsInfo.aspx?id=460
http://www.epinions.com/park-Parks-All-MI-Interlochen_State_Park/display_~reviews
M-137
Interlochen MI 49643
Phone Number: (231) 276-9511
15 miles SW of Traverse City on M-137. Take US 31 W. of Traverse City for 7 miles to Interlochen, then go S. on M-137 for 2 miles.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=49637&ll=44.620044,-85.767174&spn=0.066047,.107469&hl=en

Reserved sites #300, #302, #303 for Sunday night. (#303 cancelled.)

Monday, 9/5

After a quick appreciation of the park we have slept in and exchanging contact, garbage, and promising each other digital photos, we take on the 7-hour drive home.

This leg of the trip:
http://maps.google.com/maps?spn=3.998602,7.504211&saddr=Interlochen,+MI+49643&daddr=Chicago,+il&hl=en

As you see on the map, after passing Grand Rapids we get closer to the lake so we'll have opportunities to take breaks on the lake.

Backup shops on the road:

Wal-Mart near Green Bay, WI
Wal-Mart map
Wal-Mart Green Bay map detail
Wal-Mart details

Wal-Mart near St Ignace, MI
Wal-Mart map
Wal-Mart details

Wal-Mart near Traverse City and Cadillac, MI
Wal-Mart map
Wal-Mart Traverse City map detail
Wal-Mart Cadillac map detail
Wal-Mart details

Driving times:

Chicago -- Green Bay:               208 mi,   3 : 45
Green Bay -- Marinette:                       1 : 07
Marinette -- Rapid River:                     1 : 30
Rapid River -- Munising:             55 mi,   1 : 35
Munising -- Mackinaw City:          123 mi,   3 : 21
Mackinaw City -- Traverse City:     105 mi,   2 : 50  (along coast)
Traverse City -- Empire:             25 mi,   0 : 37
Empire -- Frankfort:                 27 mi,   0 : 46
Frankfort -- Interlochen:            25 mi,   0 : 38
Interlochen -- Chicago:             330 mi,   6 : 15