Michigan. The Michigan state motto is, “Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circum spice,” which means “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” That is exactly what we found on our most recent travel excursion. Our family is fond of the all-American road trip. We load the car with luggage, pack a cooler full of icy cold drinks, and bin full of somewhat healthy snacks, (let’s be honest, they’re not that healthy), and we hit the open road.
While our daily life includes all kinds of travel and side-quests, our 2024 summer vacation itinerary took us through various parts of this beautiful state, through vast forests, to several of the Great Lakes, and into the UP – that’s the Upper Peninsula in case you’re wondering. We had eight days in total, and here are the highlights. If you’re planning a quick trip, or have several days to spend, consider these stops along your route and we’re sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
The Michigan Road Trip Route
Our route took us from Louisville to Hickory Corners, Michigan. From there to Grand Rapids, from Grand Rapids to Muskegon, from Muskegon to Silver Lake to Mackinaw. After Mackinaw we traveled to White Fish Bay to Escanaba. From Escanaba we headed into Wisconsin for a couple of days and then back to Kentucky. Here are the sites, sounds and experiences you might want to consider adding to your own itinerary.
Hickory Corners, Michigan
Where in the world is Hickory Corners, Michigan? Well, from what we saw, it’s a small farming community with corn fields reaching toward the sky. There were two lane back roads, farm side stands, and lovely little communities. And then, in the middle of what seems to be nowhere, is the Gilmore Car Museum.
This amazing car museum sits atop 90 acres of beautiful farmland. It has multiple buildings and a 1940’s original (but restored) diner where you can sit and have lunch. The museum boasts 435 unique vehicles and over 218K square feet of exhibit space. For the entry cost of $20 per person, you should expect to spend a couple of hours at least, and wear comfortable footwear. There is a lot to see, and you won’t want to miss any of it.
The Gilmore Car Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational institution, dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the American Automobile. I’d say they have succeeded. It is worth the drive, and what a beautiful drive it is.
Grand Rapids
The next stop on our journey was Grand Rapids, Michigan. I had two purposes, and two purposes only to visit Grand Rapids and that was to see Jean Stoffer’s Stoffer Home and to have lunch at Olive’s restaurant. Jean Stoffer has taken off in the world of design throughout her career, but when she was picked up by the Magnolia network a couple of years ago, she really came to be a household name.
Her signature design has roots in English cottage, traditional style, and lends a timeless, forever quality to her work. We had the opportunity to visit the storefront and The Bradbury coffee shop. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. I was completely overwhelmed and beside myself as I stepped into the store. It was a dream come true.
Her store is charming and rather small. I was expecting a big name like Stoffer Home design to have a bigger brick and mortar presence, but the size was actually perfect once I stepped through the doors. It was quaint and the staff were welcoming and so kind. The objects and offerings in the store range in price and style so everyone who enters can find a treasure to take back home.
Olive’s Restaurant
After browsing through the store, we headed to Olive’s restaurant for lunch. It’s about a five minute drive from the store, and sits in a lovely area of town that is quite walkable and filled with little shops for browsing.
We heard about Olive’s restaurant when it was featured on an episode of The Established Home (Jean Stoffer’s Magnolia Network show). Jean and her team renovated the entire restaurant and we were so excited to see it. Let me say, it did NOT disappoint. The restaurant is exactly what I expected it to be; well-appointed traditional style, dark moody colors, and a timeless classic interior.
The food was everything we hoped it would be. We ordered the cheeseburger and the chicken sandwich, and let me say, you won’t have room for dessert! We ate every morsel. Sooooo goooood.
If you’re in Grand Rapids, stop in and say hello to the folks at Stoffer Home, and have a bite of lunch at Olive’s. You won’t regret it.
Muskegon, Silver Lake, and Pentwater
Muskegon and Silver Lake are quaint little towns situated on Lake Michigan. The astounding beaches and breathtaking views are something you really shouldn’t miss. If you are lucky enough to be in the area near dusk, try and take in a sunset or two.
One of the attractions we took in in Muskegon was the U.S.S. Silversides Submarine Museum. According to research, Silversides was one of the most successful submarines in the Pacific Theater of World War II, with 23 confirmed sinkings, totalling more than 90,000 long tons (91,444 t) of shipping. She received a Presidential Unit Citation for cumulative action over four patrols, and twelve battle stars. She presently serves as a museum ship in Muskegon, Michigan, and is a National Historic Landmark.
At an entrance fee of less than $20, this is a great way to spend an hour or two – and will be educational as well as entertaining.
Silver Lake sand dunes offer spectacular views and opportunities for adventure, ranging from dune buggy rentals, parasailing, speed boat rentals and jet ski rentals. If you’re in the market for a shopping adventure, or on the look out for some fresh down-home local cookin’, we recommend driving into Pentwater. Pentwater is just a few minutes drive north of Silver lake, and has a quaint but upscale atmosphere you’re sure to love.
Ludington State Park
If you’re inclined to hike, we recommend the hike out to Big Sable Point Lighthouse at Ludington State Park. You can walk to the top for spectacular views of Lake Michigan, and if you’re so inclined, the lighthouse operates year round by volunteers. You can sign up to stay for a two-week stint where you lodge in the lighthouse, and help operate the tours during normal operating hours.
While in the Silver Lake area, especially if you’re traveling with small children, we can’t recommend enough the Country Dairy Farm Store and if possible, take the tour of the dairy farm. You’ll see the cows and calfs, see the milk processed, and get to sample the ice cream. This farm has been owned by the same family for over 100 years and is part of the Historical Society of Michigan.
Just down the road is the Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo. While geared toward much smaller children, it’s a fun place of adventure where the younger travelers can work out some energy. Get there early because parking is limited and the place fills up quickly.
Mackinaw and St. Ignace
While working at AAA about thirty years ago, we always recommended people stay in Mackinaw City. As for lodging, we found that if we stayed just over the bridge in the small town of St. Ignace, rates were cheaper, there were fewer crowds, and we still had access to shuttles and ferries to Mackinac Island.
The Mackinac Bridge is currently the seventh-longest suspension bridge in the world by total suspended length, and the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere. The bridge opened to traffic on November 1, 1957, and is five miles in length, making is longer than the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco.
We were lucky enough to find a hotel with lake shore views right outside our balcony. Situated on the Lake Huron side, we had views of Macinac Island, and the peaceful tranquility of the lake. While we stayed on the second floor and had to walk to the ‘beach’, those staying on the first floor had direct access to the pebble shoreline.
Mackinaw Island has so much to offer. It is truly a unique stop. From Fort Mackinac to the fudge and shops, the horse-drawn carriages to the historical section. It is beautiful in every possible way.
If you happen to make it at the right time, we highly recommend having lunch at the Fort Mackinac Tea Room. We had everything from burgers to pulled pork sandwiches to the giant chopped salad. The view was breathtaking and the weather was perfect as we sat and overlooked the island and the lake. It was spectacular in every way.
White Fish Bay
We left St. Ignace the next morning and traveled north to White Fish Bay. While there were other stops on our route like Sleeping Bear Dunes and Traverse City, we opted to keep traveling into the wilds of the upper peninsula. Both of these locations are well worth your visit, but because we’d already spent time in the dunes and we had visited Traverse City on another trip, we decided to head north.
One of the most famous ship wrecks of the 21st century is monumentalized at White Fish Bay, Wisconsin. That is the wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald. In the off chance you’ve never heard the song, it’s linked here. And while the Edmond Fitzgerald is the wreck people are most familiar with, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at White Fish Point speaks to so many more throughout history.
Tahquamenon Falls
After an afternoon enjoying the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, and stopping at a roadside pull-off for a picnic lunch at the shore of Lake Superior (which is stunningly clear) we traveled about 40 miles east to Tahquamenon Falls State Park (rhymes with phenomenon). There are boardwalk paths to both the lower and the upper falls for amazing views. While the pathway to the upper falls requires a lot more effort and approximately 181 stairs, if you’re able, it’s a short walk you should definitely take.
As the adventure part of the road trip was coming to a close, we had one more, lesser-know and lesser eventful stop to make. We got back into the car and headed to Escanaba, Michigan.
Escanaba, Michigan
As far as attractions or restaurants, sites to see and historical places to visit, I must say Escanaba had very little to offer. That isn’t a slight to the town. It was pleasant and quaint in it’s own way – but truthfully, it was just a wayside stop for the night before we headed to the last leg of the journey.
The one thing we were hopeful of seeing was the Peninsula Point Light Station. An historical light station in its own right, this light station is unmanned, and from what we could tell, unkept. We did climb the three stories of spiral stairs to reach the top which offered great views again of Lake Michigan.
The real hope, however slim it was, was to see the Monarch butterflies in migration. It is said the monarch butterflies can be seen as early as late July, which is the timeframe we were there, through the autumn. And while we didn’t see large numbers of butterflies, we did catch glimpses of three different monarchs. They were graceful and stunning and even if we only saw a few, I’m glad we saw what we did.
Gentlemen, start your engines
The next and last couple of days of vacation were spent in Plymouth, Wisconsin where we spent two days at IMSA Road America race. It was exciting and adventurous and something you should experience at least once in your lifetime if you’re able.
From pit lanes to car corrals, you can literally see it all. And that doesn’t even cover the actual race that’s going on! It is so exciting to be there and if you’re a car guy or a racing fan, this one is definitely something for your bucket list.
I cannot take credit for most of the following photos; most of action shots were taken by my son.
After two days of racing fun, we loaded the car and started the six-hour drive south back to Louisville.
So, what is UP, Michigan?
To be honest, when we decided our 2023 summer vacation was going to be. to Michigan, I wasn’t that excited. As I began my research for the trip, I didn’t find a lot that interested me. But as we got further into the trip, and I saw first-hand how much this beautiful state has to offer – and there was SO MUCH MORE we didn’t see – I’m truly glad we went.
The upper peninsula is vast, and if you’re there at the right time, you can see herds of moose, elk, or an occasional pack of wolves. Everything from the Great Lakes to the wilderness, cities, townships, and islands, Michigan is a joy to experience.
