We go "up north" to Elk Rapids and Torch Lake often during the summer and early Fall. It is a family favorite. Elk Rapids is a small town that transforms itself into a wonderful little tourist community in the summer and fall. You can walk down the main street and visit unique art gallaries, like Mullaly's. Really interesting pieces, and Barb is the owner. Across the street is the Harbor Cafe, which is always great for breakfast. It's sometimes a bit slow and/or crowded, so go just out of the main downtown to FishBonz  restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner (near the Village market). The best place for a casual and fun-filled dinner is  Pearl's, which is a canjun restaurant with a variety of offerings and a great atmosphere. Back in downtown Elk Rapids are clothing stores, antiques, and a nice coffee cafe with Internet connection.  A new restaurant in town is the Siren Hall.  It's a little upscale, but the food is very good.   A walk down to the marina is always enjoyable after a filling meal. Also, don't miss going to the library up on the hill to sit and look over some books. There's also an old movie theater in town with first-run features. The biggest attraction is probably the park and beach area of the town. All kinds of things to do--right on the banks of Traverse Bay. A walk about the town would not be complete without taking a look at the large older, and fully renovated homes overlooking the water and park area. Several are B & Bs. Drive a little north of Elk Rapids and you'll be along the west bank of Torch Lake. Torch is one of Michigan's most beautiful inland lakes, big, deep, and clean. There are several public launch sites around Torch Lake, we usually use the one on the west side about 13 miles north of Elk Rapids. The far south end of the lake is the "sandbar" area. In the summer on weekends, this area is packed with boats of every type and everyone is playing in the water that is only 1 foot to 3 feet in depth. If you're on Torch Lake and hungry, go over to the east side of the lake about halfway up, and there's the Dockside Restaurant--another favorite spot to eat and watch boats/people. There's tons to do in and around Elk Rapids and Torch Lake. My family loves it up there.

Gorgeous! After living in Michigan for many years and never seeing the Upper Peninsula, I had to go and enjoy it in the fall. The trees were beautiful and the UP is a relaxed and wonderous place to visit. We stayed in Paradise right on Lake Superior and enjoyed Tahquamenon Falls, Pictured Rocks, Munising and their local waterfalls, Grand Marais, Whitefish Point and driving around Lake Superior. We really enjoyed our visit the weekend of October 3-5, 2008. Don't wait to go!!! Get up there and enjoy =)

Where do you vacation to meet the needs of a 16-year-old, 13-year-old and 19-month-old? And do it without breaking the bank? (Who can afford five airline tickets these days?) Why Lake Charlevoix, of course. There is a age gap between our kids, as we're a blended family. We love spending time together, but it can be a challenge to keep everyone occupied. We spent a wonderful week in a condo in East Jordan, right on the shore of Lake Charlevoix. The beach, water and of course skipping rocks, provided of entertainment and relaxation for all of us.

It was mid-October and my wife's birthday. So our friends (Beth & Roger) and I treated ourselves to a wonderful weekend on Mackinac Island--and a stay at the fabulous Grand Hotel. My wife had been to the island before, but never stayed at The Grand.  Certainly, we worried about what the weather would be like, but it turned out to be a terrific Fall weekend on the island--temperatures in the high 50's and no rain. We got to the Shepler Ferry docks in Mackinaw City about 11 am on Friday and bought our tickets for the 11:30 am ferry to the island. Of course, we used Shepler's valet parking, which is well-worth the slight extra charge (note: the Welcome Center in Mackinaw gave me a $3 off coupon, which helped, too). The 15-17 minute ferry ride across the straits was smooth and fast (and no we didn't venture up on the top open deck--though some younger riders did). On the island, the Grand picked up our luggage and we decided to sign up for the 1-1/2-hr Mackinac Island Carriage Tour of the island--it was a great ride around the island and our carriage driver was very knowledgeable about all of the sights that we came across. Don't miss taking a carriage tour, it's well-worth the $24 cost. After the tour, we strolled up the hill to The Grand Hotel to check in. The Grand is definitely an inspiring site as you approach. Check in went smoothly and we were in rooms 196E and 198E, each with little balconies overlooking the Jewel golf course and the wide street leading up to the Grand. As is the Grand's tradition, dinner and breakfast is included in every room rate. Everyone dresses for dinner and this weekend was extra special because it was Big Band weekend. After our wonderful dinner, we went to the ballroom to listen to the band and watch some of the "professional" ballroom dancers. None of the "Dancing with the Stars" performers had anything on some of the couples at the Grand--which was a little intimidating to my wife and I (we promised ourselves to take lessons in the coming year). Oh well, I could go on and on about the Island and the Grand, I'll just summarize by saying that the ladies went shopping (big discounts at end of season) and the guys played 9 holes of golf on the beautiful Jewel golf course. Absolutely, a terrific Fall getaway weekend -- except that both MSU and UM lost their football games that Saturday--which we watched on big plasma screens at the Grand's Gatehouse restaurant. WOW...I impressed my wife with this weekend gift--I impressed Beth & Roger with the whole idea--and I got to see beautiful scenery, eat delicious meals, take great Fall photos--and play golf on top of everything. My only regret...I didn't sign up for the next weekend, which was the Grand's "Somewhere in Time" weekend and my fantasy date, Jane Seymore, was scheduled to make an appearance :>}

My husband & I never tire of visiting Hartwick Pines State Park in Michigan. We enjoy birdwatching and our most favorite experience recently was hand feeding the chickadees from the visitor center's outdoor deck. The staff was kind enough to give us some sunflower seeds to lure them in. I can't describe what a wonderful experience it was to have that precious little bird land so lightly in your hand to take a seed. On a cold day, you can sit in the visitor center and just watch the birds come to the many feeders they have set up outside their large row of windows. We have seen Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Evening Groesbeaks just to name a few. The paved trails they have in the park are great for walking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing.

Living in Rochester Hills, Michigan our family has always loved traveling to the great city of Detroit! Traveling to Detroit is so exciting because every time we visit Detroit there is more improvement in the city. I wished I lived there! We tell all of our friends and family to see the difference in Detroit. It is truly a city reborn.

Staying at Crooked Lake is so nice. 6 Cabins are on Crooked lake , Sandy beach, great fishing lake , Playground for the kids, relaxing, peaceful,and friendly. We have our family reunion there .It's perfect , take all 6 cabins and the whole family gets to spend time with each other.  It's location is in Clare County.  It's just a short drive ,they have , snowmobile trails across the road, boats, bait shop, snowmobile rentals, their cabins are completely furnished . I just have to bring my clothes ,food . It makes a vacation very affordable . They have something for everyone.

To end a busy Halloween Weekend, I took my seven year old son, Darryl, along with my friends and their kids ziplining at the Howell Nature Center. I saw a family on TV ziplining in Hawaii, and I wondered if ziplining was offered here in Michigan. The Howell Nature Center allows the public to go ziplining on select weekends in the Summer and Fall. It turned out to be a great adventure for everyone and a whole bunch of fun. The kids loved it and as a adult, I can say I have not had that much fun in a long time. The experience of flying through the trees is like not nothing else I can describe. The Howell Nature Center's zip line is 500 feet long and goes over a pond. Each ride is only $5. You have a make a reservation for your party in advance. I think this is definitely one of the lessor known Michigan gems.