Lake Michigan, one of the largest lakes in the world, offers beautiful beaches and quaint beach towns along its coastlines. This itinerary provides seven days across the Lake Michigan coastline, highlighting some of the best towns, food, and activities. This makes for a great summer vacation, but can also be a relaxing scenic trip in the fall.
First stop on your roadtrip is Saugatuck. Check in to your hotel and spend some time walking around the downtown shops. Take a ride through the dunes with Saugatuck Dune Rides, and end the day with a great steak dinner.
A charming little inn, walking distance from downtown. Offering clean and very comfortable rooms, and a farm-to-table breakfast, this inn is a great option.
This spa is located right in the center of town. All the local coffee shops and restaurants will be just a few feet away. Rooms are clean and modern, with lots of great amenities.
The owners of this restaurant were originally from Chicago. When they moved to Michigan and were unable to find a steakhouse comparable to the restaurants in Chicago, they decided to open up their own. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu, it's all very good. This place books up pretty far in advance so be sure to get reservations. If unsuccessful in getting a reservation, check with the restaurant when they open for any potential last minute availability.
These tours sell out quickly so it's important to get your tickets in advance. Tickets are sold two weeks in advance.
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Day Two
Spend day two in another town up the road, Grand Haven. With one of the best beaches on Lake Michigan, some great food options and a night time show, this is well worth a day trip.
A completely free event that requires very little planning. Grand Haven puts on a nightly 30 minutes show of water, lights and music at dark, between Memorial Day and Labor Day at the Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium.
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Day Three
On your third day, head up to Traverse City. This will be home base for two nights. Traverse City offers a number of options for shopping and food, but is also located at the perfect jumping off point for other activities in the area. Spend this day exploring the town and beach, or take a wine tour.
Sharing the same latitude as the Bourdeaux region of France, the Traverse City area offers nearly 50 different wineries, with some of the more scenic options located on the Leelanau Peninsula. Explore on your own or take one of the many wine tours offered in the area.
Traverse City is known for their cherries. With over 200 cherry products throughout the store, many of which are available to sample, this is a great spot to explore.
This is a great option for a nice meal on the water.
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Day Four
Spend the day at the most popular state park in Michigan. Pack a lunch and have a beach picnic, after spend the morning enjoying the scenic drives or hikes.Â
With bluffs towering 450 feet above Lake Michigan, exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park is easily an all day event. Head out early for some cooler temperatures and pack a lunch for a beachside picnic.
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Day Five
Check out of your hotel in Traverse City and head up to Petoskey. A midpoint between Traverse City and Mackinac Island, with lots to explore in its own right. Spend the day in the state park in search of petoskey stones or exploring the local shops.Â
Located a little outside of town, this absolutely beautiful hotel is right on the water. With clean and comfortable rooms and countless amenities, this place will be hard to leave.
Enjoy a charcuterie board and glass of wine at this local restaurant
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Day Six
On this day, head to Mackinaw City and take the ferry over to Mackinac Island. Enjoy two nights on the island, taking full advantage of the quieter mornings and evenings.Â
Tucked into the center of the island, this hotel is a great place to relax. Take the horse-drawn carriage to your hotel and enjoy the quieter side of the island. Also in walking distance of Woods restaurant.
Rent a bike from any of the bike shops around town and take a bike ride around the island. With no cars and beautiful views, this is one of the most relaxing activities to do.
This restaurant offers great food and lakeside views. Try the whitefish dip!
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Day Seven
Start your day with a hike up to Arch Rock. Enjoy a great breakfast at Seabiscuit, walk along the largest front porch in the world at the Grand Hotel, and take a carriage tour around the island.
With 207 steps up to the top, you'll want to take your time getting to the top. But the views are well worth it. Hiking trails are also in the area for some extra exploring.
Hello, I'm Emily - hit hard by the Wanderlust bug, I devote all that I can to experiencing new adventures. In between trips, I spend my time researching and cultivating the perfect itineraries in order to optimize my vacation time. I want everyone to have the best trip possible so please feel free to check out my itineraries for inspiration and guidance. Happy traveling!
