Travel Tips

Road Trip Chicago to Chicago via circumnavigation of Lake Michigan

Overnight stops: Chicago, IL.; Noblesville, IN.; Dayton, OH.; Sandusky S., OH.; Jackson, MI.; Battle Creek, MI.; Holland, MI.; Ludington, MI.; Manistee, MI.; Acme, MI.; Mackinaw, MI.; Sault St Marie, MI.; Munising, MI.; Marinette WI.; Saukville, WI. ; Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL. to Dayton, OH.

day --miles driven -- Depart-Destination ---Notes-o/nite accom. dining. Hilite in bold type -- H/way # eg.66 italic.
Day 1 -- 200 miles -- Chicago-NoblesvilleIN via Remington ate Taco Bell - yuk

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Day 2 -- 105 miles -- Noblesville-DaytonOH via Richmond, IN. Listened to radio for warnings and looked out the window to by-pass storms in the area. Hotel - Courtyard Marriott. Dined Jays. Seafood Excellent

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Day 3 -- local. esoteric activities Dayton. Dined Don Pablo Mexican good

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Day 4 -- local. esoteric activities Dayton. Dined “Olives” expensive

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Day 5 -- local. Dayton. Days Inn near base AirForce Museum, Imax, R&D Hanger etc Biggest Display in the World. Dined Bob Evans Restaurant - not bad for chain.( Had checked into Days Inn to return to Air Force Museum the next day).

Day 6 -- 168 miles -- Dayton, OH -SanduskyS, OH.. after visiting Modern Flight Hanger & doing simulator ride etc (4.5 hours) at AFBase drove via Piqua,Sidney,Findlay, Milan o/nite at Super 8 SanduskyS ate at Homestead Inn , Milan ate Lake Erie Walleye

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Day7 -- 140miles -- Sandusky S - Jackson MI via Cedar Point, Bay Bridge to Marblehead, Port Clinton. Stop at Cabelas, Dundee Outdoor Store. Fantastic stuff for boys & girls.... program 4 hours at least to check it out!! o/nite at Super 8 dined at Gilberts Fine Dining –v. disappointing.

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Day 8 -- 42miles -- Jackson, MI - Battle Creek, MI

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Day 9 -- local Battle Creek. Kellogs Museum

day -- miles driven -- Depart-Destination ---Notes-o/nite accom. dining. Hilite in bold type --- H/way # eg.66 italic.
Day 10 -- 95 miles -- Battle Creek to Holland, MI via lake shore at Saugatuck & outlet shops.Super 8. dined at Svedens Buffet. Sort of ok. Beach to watch sun set.

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Day 11 -- 70 miles -- Holland - Ludington, MI via Grand Haven, Muskegon USS Silversides WWII submarine open for inspection guided tour Top Notch. Lunch Montague. 0/nite Greiners Motel –fair. Dined Ponderosa Steakhouse. Sunset from lighthouse on beach.

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Day 12 -- 25 miles -- Ludington - Manistee , MI - late departure (rain). Lighthouse brewery Manistee for lunch. Super 8 for night. Back to Lighthouse Brewery to dine. Great atmosphere.

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Day 13 100miles Manistee - Acme, MI , nearTraverse City. via Manistee Beach Lighthouse, Bear Lake (coffee), Old Mission lighthouse on peninsula north of T.City & back to Acme.

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Day 14 -- 110miles-- Acme, MI - Mackinaw, MI via Charlevois, Petrosky, Cross Volage (lunch Legs Inn). O/nite Anchor Inn, Mackinaw City. Live show. Supper at The Depot.

Day 15 -- 60 miles-- Mackinaw - Sault St Marie, MI. Drove to Ferry Crossing for boat trip to Mackinaw Island (Grand Hotel, Fort displays) to St Marie pm boat trip through Soo Locks. Quick trip to Canada .drab. O/nite Crestview Motel. Dine at Ang-gios Italian ..good.

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Day 16 -- 143 miles -- Sault St Marie - Munising, MI via Hiawatha Forest,White Fish Bay, Paradise, State Park - Taquamenun Lower& Upper Falls (hired rowing boat) then west on 28 to Super8 Munising. Late drive to Pictured Rocks (incase of rain next day). Dined at Sydney’s Rest featuring Australian memorabilia. Owner unconnected with Oz. We were first ever Aussie patrons.Food good.

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Day 17 -- 160 miles -- Munising - Marinette WI. 2.5 hour Pictured Rock Cruise.37 miles. Returned 1300 drove to Sydneys for Fair Dinkum Burger. Escalante, Menominee, Marinette Super 8 Dined at Brewing Co. Ate perch – good.

day -- miles driven -- Depart-Destination ---Notes-o/nite accom. dining. Hilite in bold type --- H/way # eg.66 italic.
Day 18 -- 200 miles -- Marinette - Saukville WI south on 41, Green Bay, 57 to Sturgeon Bay, D’or peninsula, Algoma, Saukville Super 8. late pm drive to coast around Port Washington. Smith Bros brewery for dinner- good.

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Day 19 -- 105 miles -- Saukville - ChicagoIL via Milwauke, Racine, 32 to Lake Drive to Kenosha. Lunch marina at Winthrop Harbour. Along coast then 43 through Deerfield, Glenview, Niles to Super 8 O’Hare South – have stopped there couple of times - Handy to airport and off-airport hire car company drop places. Airport Shuttle makes access to down-town Chicago easy - shuttle to O’Hare & take a train.

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Day 20 -- local Chicago. Train to town – Navy Pier for lunch and afternoon boat tour of city. Back to Motel ate in… take-out pizza from Tony’s Pizzeria ( we don’t eat take out pizza at home but the three times we have been to Chicago we have had Tony’s delivered. Are we getting set in our ways?)

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Day 21 -- returned hire car to depot & Shuttle to O’Hare and home on the big silver bird.

1800 miles approx
15 days +/- in easy stages
To see: Lots of water views of four of the Great Lakes.
Stacks of Lighthouses. Start your lighthouse photographic collection on this trip.
State Forests: Manistee. Marquette. Mackinaw. Hiawatha. Lake Superior. Escanaba River.
State Parks: Mackinac Island. Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore

Note : If you intend to visit more than two National Parks or Federal Recreational Lands you may wish to purchase an annual or lifetime pass

Better than a Museum: Cabelas, Dundee Fishin' & Huntin' Store
Museums:
National Museum of the United States Air Force Dayton - Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
Great Lakes Naval Memorial & Museum Silversides Submarine.
Harley-Davidson Museum
Just a few places with breweries – beer , food, conviviality
An opportunity to photograph “Hell”

Happy Trails to You