I have a friend with a summer home on the island and usually go there once or twice a year. The Grand Hotel and Mission Resort are pricey, but there are a lot of smaller hotels that have reasonable rates. I would recommend staying on the Island if for no other reason but to hear the sound of bicycle chains and horse shoes at bar time. (No cars allowed.) There is a paved road around the perimeter of the Island which makes for a pleasant bike ride. Through the center there are quite a few challenging unimproved trails for mountain bike riding. The fort and surrounding area have alot of historical buildings to tour. The local visitors bureau puts out a nice brochure on all the attractions. We try to time our visits to coincide with the Staights Car Show, Woodward Dream Cruise (4-5 hours south in Detroit), antique boat show, semi show, etc. I'll try to track my friend down and come up with a few suggestions for you. If you are coming from Minnesota, you might want to spend a day in Munising, Michigan and check out Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Park, take the 2 hour boat tour of the rocks at sunset. On the way back you might consider driving a few hours south and taking the SS Badger Car Ferry from Ludington, Michigan across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
|