NBBPH Loc: Indiana

Have traveled and stayed along Michigan's western shore many times over the years and have found countless photographic opportunities - more than one can handle. Brad and Todd Reed of Ludington, MI have made a career out of photographing between Big Sable and Little Sable Lighthouses. Charge up your batteries and have fun. And remember to swim in Lake Michigan as often as you can, I love that lake.

hotzchw Loc: Rochester Hills, MI

Hello! Michigan has so much to offer - enjoy!!

If you plan to visit any of the State Parks on the West Coast of Michigan, and I highly recommend you do so, you need to get a Recreational Passport. It's an annual pass to visit the State Parks - I think its $11 for the year. If you pay at each park it will cost $7-$10 each time. I'm pretty sure you can get them at the State Parks -check on-line to be sure.

I recommend Warren Dunes near the Indiana border - HUGE sand dunes, lots of beachfront and a wide variety of activities.
Grand Haven is my favorite summer visit - You should try Snug Harbor for lunch or dinner and sit on the deck. Then Pronto Pup for dessert!! (next door)
I was in Ludington this past weekend - The Ludington State Park is a must-see. The Sky-line trail is great and pretty short so not a time-waster. I stayed for the Sunset, Ludington has a nice Lighthouse and breakwall.. but it didn't materialize like I hoped.
M-22 is a VERY popular drive in the fall - but is great in the summer too without the crowds. Look on-line for places of interest along M-22, you will find a lot, and enjoy some of the out of the way places. That area is known for it's Cherry butter and Cherry sausage.... Delicious.
Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Pearce Stocking drive are worth the trip all by themselves..... Don't miss it.
If you have a chance - take M-2 from St. Ignace (via M-41) to Marquette then head East to Pictured Rocks - Much more scenic than I-75 to M-28 over to Pictured Rocks through Seney - check out the map - I'm sure M-2 is much longer but worth it.
I spend a lot of time on the West side of MI -from the Detroit area - about a 3 hour drive one-way but so worth it.
Have a great time!!

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

And Sleeping Bear Dunes is a separate pass, since it's part of the National Parks System.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

If you go to the UP...Upper Peninsula.... and hit "T" falls, it is real close to Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore. Of course you have to have a "Pastie" while in the UP. I prefer catsup on mine but others prefer gravy and of course with rutabagas in it . Once you have been to the UP, you are out of troll country. The lower part of Michigan is troll country because it's below the bridge. Mackinaw Bridge that is. It as been a long time since I was in the UP. I miss the Pasties and the Sauna in the winter.

russjc001 Loc: South Carolina

I don't see "T" Falls listed on any near the park. I do want to catch the "Pasties" (although not required!) so better directions/ name? 😊

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

"T" falls is short for Tahquamenon Falls. As for the Pasties, Most local and or Mom and Pop restaurants in the UP will have them on the menu. The UP is where Henry Ford got the Wood to make the "Woodies" station wagon.

gerdog

Make sure to pronounce "pasties" with a short "a" sound, such as in "nasty," not the long "a" used in words like "hasty." It grates on the ears of Yoopers when it gets mispronounced. (Yoopers are folk who live in the UP of Michigan).

cmcaroffino Loc: Sebring, FL

West of St. Ignace on US2, great pastie place, been there 40 years or more, always a must stop when I am in the area. Then I drive to the overlook of the Mac Bridge and the straits and enjoy my pastie at the picnic tables there.

gerdog

A very beautiful spot!

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

Just don't like we did one trip where we decided to just follow the western shoreline from about South Haven on up, no map allowed. We ended up bypassing Traverse Bay and found ourselves at 8:30 at night at the entrance to Leelanau Peninsula State Park, that spike of land that sticks up from the western corner of the lower peninsula.

If I were doing your trip I'd make this your "Pictured Rocks" trip and portion out your travel with a stop at South Haven for the lighthouse, then up to Traverse City, where you'll have to go east to the Mackinac Bridge to get up to the UP. You can decide how much time you spend in Mackinaw City. It's fun to take the ferry across to Mackinac Island, where no cars are allowed.
Then across the bridge, with a stop on the other side for the views. Up to Sault Ste. Marie for a half day to see the locks with the iron ore ships going through or over to Paradise to see Tahquamenon Falls, then west to the Pictured Rocks.
There is one stop along the way that I love to stop at midway through the UP, Palm Books State Park near Manistique, where Kitchi Iti Kipi Springs are with a free boat that goes across the springs, a large natural clear blue springs.
Enjoy! Lots of places to get away from the hustle and bustle.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Thanks for the update. Big Sable LH entails a 2 mile hike.

mitxpic

I am supprised that no-one has mentioned Holland ( Michiigan, not the Netherlands.) Holland has Ottawa State Park, Big Red lighthouse, De Swaan windmill, the only authentic dutch windmill that escaped the Netherlands ( in 1963 it was disassembled and carefully rebuilt on Windmill Island just outside the beautiful downtown area), and ,in May, Tulip Time. I lived there 24 years ( moved to Texas in 2014) and except for winter it was a wonderful place to live and visit. This is my first post. I could post a few pics if someone explains how to do it.

mitxpic

I am surprised that no-one has mentioned Holland ( Michiigan, not the Netherlands.) Holland has Ottawa State Park, Big Red lighthouse, De Swaan windmill, the only authentic dutch windmill that escaped the Netherlands ( in 1963 it was disassembled and carefully rebuilt on Windmill Island just outside the beautiful downtown area), and ,in May, Tulip Time. I lived there 24 years ( moved to Texas in 2014) and except for winter it was a wonderful place to live and visit. This is my first post. I could post a few pics if someone explains how to do it.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

It's a cool town too...great breweries. but it may be too far south based on where they are coming from.