Planning Midwest getaway with friends from England
Q. We really need your help. Friends of ours from England will be visiting us Sept. 27 through Oct. 7. They are like us and do not like to sit around and just visit. They like to go and see places, walk and enjoy scenery, etc. We are in our 60s and quite healthy.
Last time they were here, we took them to the House on the Rock, then to Fennimore to spend the night and the next day to the Indian Mounds, then the scenic drive to Pikes Peak State Park. Next was Dubuque and Crystal Lake Caves, across to Galena and home.
We plan on spending one day downtown at Navy Pier and Millennium Park, but other than that we are at a loss. Please help us come up with a memorable visit for them. It can be out of state as long as we can drive there. Thanks!
A. Autumn is a lovely time to take a trip that I think your English friends will enjoy: a circle drive around Lake Michigan. Fall colors should be spectacular at that time of year. Let's say you head east on I-94 past Gary and Michigan City and into Michigan, where you'll exit onto U.S. Route 31.
There is much to see in the many resort towns along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, towns such as South Haven, Holland, Muskegon, Ludington and on northward to Traverse City and Petoskey.
Petoskey is a neat resort area known for its Petoskey stones, remains of extinct coral that inhabited the shallow waters 350 million years ago.
If you continue around the northern tip of the lake, you'll cross the big bridge to the Upper Peninsula. Consider leaving your car in Mackinaw City and taking the ferry to Mackinac Island (no cars allowed). The Grand Hotel there is a great place to spend a night. Continuing on through the UP and into Wisconsin, you can visit Green Bay, Door County and head on south to Milwaukee.
Things to see and places to stay and eat are far too numerous to mention, so you'll have to make it a true adventure. Get maps of the two states and make calls to the West Michigan Tourist Association, (800) 442-2084, www.wmta.org, and, for Wisconsin, (800) 432-8747, www.travelwisconsin.com.
If you don't want to drive the entire 1,100 miles around the lake, you can take one of two shortcuts across on car ferries between Muskegon and Milwaukee or from Ludington to Manitowoc.
Another trip you might find interesting is the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village just outside Detroit in Dearborn, Mich. It's worth at least one night's stay.
From there, head north to Frankenmuth, just off I-75 near Saginaw. The little village was settled by Lutherans from Bavaria and is famous for its year-round celebration of Christmas. You'll find good Bavarian food in the restaurants and holiday decorations at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, a store the size of four football fields.
Send your questions at least sixweeks prior to travel to MadelynMerwin in care ofTravel,Daily Herald, P.O.Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006, or e-maildpmerwin@sbcglobal.net.