Trip Report
for
Blueberry Picking / Mackinac Island, MI (8/09-13/2009)
Location: West and North West Michigan
Date: August 9th – August 13th
Would we go again?: Absolutely! But probably not the same trip.
Weather Forecast: Chance of rain Sunday and Monday, beautiful the rest of the trip
…Research Info…
https://www.mackinawcity.com/packages-52/
http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/southern-usa-travel/michigan-tour-mi-2009
http://www.randmcnally.com/rmc/onroad/orBOTRDetail.jsp?key=Michigan:+A+Shore+Thing&year=2002&cmty=0
…Schedule…
Sunday August 9
- Leave Wheaton, IL
- DeGrandchamp Farms (76241 14th Ave, MI, 49090)
- Mac Woods Dune Rides
- Stay in the Holiday Inn Express, Ludington MI (1-800-HOLIDAY)
Monday August 10
- Go sailing with the Traverse Tall Ship Co. (11:40-2:00pm)
- Mon Night Stay in the Clarion Hotel Beachfront in Mackinaw City
Tuesday August 11
- Tour Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park
- Tour Colonial Michilimackinac
- Tue Night Stay in the Clarion Hotel Beachfront in Mackinaw City
Wednesday August 12
- Carriage Tour of Mackinac Island
- Tour Fort Mackinac
- Lunch, Fort Mackinac Tea Room
- Head south to Traverse City, MI stay in Days Inn
Thursday August 13
- DeGrandchamp Farms (76241 14th Ave, MI, 49090)
- Head home
…Narrative…
Sunday morning we got up and loaded and headed east towards Michigan out of the Western Suburbs of Chicago. The target was Redamak’s for lunch, just over the Ohio/Indiana border. We arrived on time and got seated quickly and were eating our burgers in short order. The burgers taste exactly like you remember your dad making them on the grill. They are not great, but they taste like home. I’ve had a better burger but it was perfectly good eating.
We headed north again making our way to DeGrandchamp Farms. It makes for a good stop to get out and stretch the legs and grab some fresh fruit. Sunday afternoon at the farm was hopping mad crazy. Parking lot was full and they were doing a brisk business at the farm market. I did see a few cars over in the U-Pick area. Melissa picked up a bag of peaches and the girls tried a sample of the blueberry topping on some ice cream. I also noticed they were selling “Heather” plants for $7.50. Next time we come this direction I’ll be looking to buy a couple for the garden. Nobody in Chicago sells them and many of the master gardeners I’ve talked to claim they don’t do well in the area, though my research says otherwise.
While my mother was checking out the map she noticed we would be traveling through the town of Holland and I started telling her about the city. I had spent a couple days there for business. She wanted to stop and see some wooden shoes so I found a shop on the side of the road and we stopped it for a few minutes. They specialize in wooden shoes, tulips and buffalo. Interesting combination.
After the quick stop it was more driving north to Mac Woods Dune rides. I could see a storm forming over the lake and I was concerned we’d be rained out. But it all worked out and the rain started coming just as we stepped off the dune buggy after the ride. The dunes are awesome and everyone agreed they are another reason to buy a Jeep Wrangler. Whoo hoo! One more step closer to my goal of owning a Jeep Wrangler again.
We ended up staying in Ludington, MI
The next morning (Monday) we got up and heading north to Traverse City, MI. We needed to be at the Traverse Tall Ship Co by 11:30am for a 2 hour cruise. I was concerned about the weather again this morning but it looked like things might slide south of the Traverse City bay. The folks at Traverse Tall Ship Co were awesome and we had a great time on the boat. 
We grabbed a couple sandwiches from a local deli and eat them on board. We did have a pop up storm about an hour into the ride but the girls thought it was great fun. Anytime you are in Traverse City, I would highly recommend a trip with them.
We headed north again towards Mackinaw City, MI for the night. We stayed at the Clarion Hotel Beachfront…unfortunately. It was clean, barely…but I would have paid the extra money to stay somewhere else. The breakfast was horrible according to the family (I don’t eat breakfast), everything microwaved including the eggs.
Tuesday morning we stayed in Mackinaw City and toured Colonial Michilimackinac (Mi-kil-mac-inaw) and the Mill Creek Discovery Park. Colonial Michilmackinac is similar to Jamestown or the Plimoth plantation. They do an excellent job of depicting the life and times of the colony. The kids had a good time doing a bit of learning and watching them shoot the cannon and muskets.
Wednesday morning we headed out to Mackinaw Island on one of the ferries. It was a perfect day and the carriage tour driver commented how odd the weather was and how special it was today several times during the tour. We had purchased the triple pack while at Colonial Michilimackinac that also got us into the Mackinaw Island fort. We had lunch at the tea room and also visited the butterfly exhibit down near main street. The island was definitely worth seeing, but not something I would do every year. Maybe every 5 or 6 years, but I would try and stay on the island if possible. The Metivier Inn B&B looked like a good choice. In the later afternoon we decided to head back to Traverse City, MI to get a head start on the trip home.
Thursday we started our trek back to Chicago in ernest, but stopped to see the Ludington North Pierhead. It’s one of the most famous (at least by photography) light houses on the eastern coast of lake Michigan. It would be spectacular to photograph during a heavy storm. The Snyder’s Shore Inn would be a fairly well protected spot if you can get a 2nd floor room facing the lake.
Afterward we continued on to do the u-pick blueberry thing at DeGrandchamp Farms. The main reason we came. A bazillion berries later (15lbs actually) and we were heading to Chicago.
Great fun was had by all. Next year we plan to just do a 1 or 2 night trip and do the blueberry picking.