03-21-2024, 08:49 PM
57 north to Chicago allows you to skirt the southern suburbs and miss the worst of Chicago. Or go a little out of your way and go north through Indianapolis if you want to avoid Illinois. Either way you end up on 94 in SW MI, take that to 196 in Benton Harbor, north to my place in Hudsonville, then east to 131 which will take you all the way up to Mackinaw.
Stay in Mackinaw City (lower peninsula) rather than St Ignace (upper peninsula). Mackinaw City ain't much, but St Ignace is even less. If you're camping, hit Mackinaw Mill Creek campground. About 5 miles east of town, a billionty spots, great views of the bridge. Make reservations if you are going in the summer. Make reservations for EVERYTHING if you are going in the summer. Especially if you want to stay on the island overnight. It's a 15 minute ferry ride, so day tripping is pretty easy.
The island itself is no cars except emergency vehicles. Most people walk or bike, there are also horse drawn taxis. I suspect they won't be fond of your dogs, so you'll end up walking. There's the fort, touristy stuff, and not much else. It's worth a visit, especially if you go during the lilac festival or something, but it won't take you long to see everything.
If I were you, I'd go north across the bridge from there. Stop at the Soo and tour the locks. Go west to Whitefish Bay if you get off on shipwrecks. Then go north into Canuckistan and east to Niagara.
Stay in Mackinaw City (lower peninsula) rather than St Ignace (upper peninsula). Mackinaw City ain't much, but St Ignace is even less. If you're camping, hit Mackinaw Mill Creek campground. About 5 miles east of town, a billionty spots, great views of the bridge. Make reservations if you are going in the summer. Make reservations for EVERYTHING if you are going in the summer. Especially if you want to stay on the island overnight. It's a 15 minute ferry ride, so day tripping is pretty easy.
The island itself is no cars except emergency vehicles. Most people walk or bike, there are also horse drawn taxis. I suspect they won't be fond of your dogs, so you'll end up walking. There's the fort, touristy stuff, and not much else. It's worth a visit, especially if you go during the lilac festival or something, but it won't take you long to see everything.
If I were you, I'd go north across the bridge from there. Stop at the Soo and tour the locks. Go west to Whitefish Bay if you get off on shipwrecks. Then go north into Canuckistan and east to Niagara.