Michigan in the Summertime

On Golden Pond, although not set in Michigan, always conjures up visions of renting a cabin on a lake and enjoying a week of peace and quiet. Listening to the loons, canoeing or kayaking during dawn and sitting around a fire at night. Although plans could change, mention of a cruise instead have come up, I would like to do just this type of vacation with my son in 2008.

As usual, I have done the research and found a couple of interesting places. Rent for a week can run from $425 - $1500. You can rent one cabin, isolated, or you can rent at a "resort" where there are several cabins, boat rental, and other people. Most of the rentals require you to bring bedding but almost everything else is provided. Again, http://www.vrbo.com/ is a great start but I have found a few others through the Michigan website, http://www.michigan.org/.

So, based on a few personal criteria, Ludington, Michigan is my first choice.

One of Michigan's featured Beachtowns, Ludington and Mason County are home to breathtaking natural beauty that includes two historic lighthouses, miles of pristine Lake Michigan beaches and
rolling sand dunes, the Pere Marquette National Scenic River, the popular Ludington State Park, the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness, Manistee National Forest area, the largest charter fishing fleet on the great lakes, and the Lake Michigan carferry service which carries 620 passengers and 180 vehicles between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

The car ferry is my main reason for choosing this location but after checking
into it, there are several reasons to stay here, as you can see from the insert
from the website above. There is a lake separate from Lake Michigan where there are several resorts and cabins for rent. The town itself is one of the premier Beachtowns of Michigan. You can do some charter fishing on Lake Michigan, hiking in the Ludington Stae Park, or take that ferry over to Wisconsin and Door County.

Although I have not made a personal decision on a place to stay, here are a few I found.

By the Lake at Parkview Cottages and rentals, http://www.parkviewcottages.com/. Offering cottages, apartments and houses in the town. You do have to contact them for pricing, but these are really nice. The Parkview Cottages were built in 1937 and have been meticulously maintained through the years. They offer knotty pine interiors and field stone fireplaces.

Another place is Outland's Long Lake Resort in Walhalla. This is east of Ludington and located on Long Lake. They offer 2 - 3 bedroom cottages that run from $595 - $900 weekly. http://www.outlandslonglakeresort.com/

A couple of websites for Ludington are:

http://www.visitludington.com/

http://www.ludingtoncvb.com/

So my plan is to rent a cabin for a week, fish, canoe, sight see, antique shop, and possible horse back ride, but basically just get away from it all and relax. After a week in Michigan, we will board the SS Badger for a trip across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin, then drive up to Door County for more shopping and eating.

The ferry trip across Lake Michigan takes approximately 4 hours, you leave Ludington at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and arrive in Manitowoc at 12:00 noon Central Standard Time. My plan is to unload the car, and drive up to Door County which is 86 miles to the north. I think we will stay in Fish Creek which has the entrance to the Peninsula State Park and other sites to see. I have found a privately owned cottage that has a minimum 3 night stay before June 23rd and since we are heading that direction right after school is out, that should work good. Located right on the water and is beautifully maintained.

Shopping, biking, and eating are just a few of the activities we plan on enjoying up there. In fact, this cottage is so nice, we might just drive to Ludington, take the Ferry across, and stay up there for a week. Weekly rates are $955, Saturday to Saturday.

Things to do in Fish Creek include winery tours, Door County's Trolley tour, explore lighthouses, bike around the parks, or do some tours. They offer some kayak tours as well as cruises on Green Bay. I am sure that I can fill a week with wonderful stuff to do and wonderful food to eat. Want to try one of those famous Door County fish boils for sure.

The Door County fish boils started as an economical way to feed the large hungry groups of lumberjacks and fisherman in the area, but has now become an integral part of the wonder of Door County. The ingredients consist of mild, delicate whitefish, potatoes, and onions. During boiling, and at just the right moment, kerosene is thrown on the flames, the kettles boil over and the fish oil that has collected on the surface is carried off into the flames. A metal pole is then used to remove the basket of fish, potatoes and onions, served with butter. MMM, my mouth is watering already.

Another fun thing to do is a Sundae Drive. That's right, SUNDAE drive. And we all know what a Sundae is. Check out the website, http://www.doorcounty.com/do/ideas/sundae-drive.aspx and it will show you a drive through the back roads of Wisconsin, stopping for an occasional treat of ice cream. They list a whole itinerary which lasts approximately 1/2 a day.

There are 5 wineries and 1 brewery listed on the website above and that would be a great day trip around the peninsula, stopping for lunch and a little shopping.

I have convinced myself that this is indeed the trip that I should make next summer. And for my son's enjoyment, we can always do a water park or two, if we can find one.

One of my friends wants to go to Europe next September, so I think I will start on my next blog with some ideas for that. Until then, see ya.