MICHIGAN TRAVEL TIPS
FROM
THE HOLOGLOBE PRESS
(The 17th Edition)by
Victor Edward Swanson,
Publisherwww.hologlobepress.com
RULES OF USE
The reports and stories contained on this Web page have been put together with information taken from "The Victor Swanson Fabulous Files of Places to See in Michigan and Wisconsin" and with information obtained from operators and staffers of tourist attractions and from press releases, Web sites, and other sources. The reports and stories are provided as a public service by Victor Swanson and The Hologlobe Press. Almost all persons and entities, such as staffers of radio stations, may freely use the materials; neither AAA Michigan nor any employee of AAA Michigan may use, distribute, download, transmit, copy, or duplicate any of the material presented on this page in any way or through any means.
- - - Travel Thoughts for Everyone - - -
Since the mid-1990s, I have regularly gone to and used what exists inside the Mardigian Library at the University of Michigan, Dearborn, and since then I have come to recognize the faces of regular patrons. Every once in a while, I might exchange a word or two with one of the regulars, and a conversation might begin by the regular, who is usually a student at the university, asking me what I am working on, maybe wondering if I am working on a term paper for a class. Recently, I went in to the library, began to set up my portable computer at a desk (of sorts), and noticed a regular was sitting on the other side of the divider for the desk. We nodded "hellos." Then the regular left, and I continued to set up my portable computer, which is an old computer. The regular returned a few minutes later and stopped next to me, and the regular, who was an Asian gal, said something like: "Cute. You have a cute computer." That line about my having a cute computer got us talking about a number of subjects, and one thing I learned was she was from Vietnam. Later, through a couple other occasions, we passed along more information, such as she was married, lived in Dearborn with her husband and son, who was only about four years of age, and has not really seen much of Michigan over the last few years--since arriving in Michigan.
I did learn she has been to at least two places in the Detroit area since arriving in Michigan. She once went to Greenfield Village (in Dearborn), which is part of the tourist attraction identified by the umbrella title "The Henry Ford: America's Greatest History Attraction" or only "The Henry Ford" (a name that began to be used in 2003 and replaced the "Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village" umbrella title). She went to the Detroit Historical Museum (which is in the "Cultural Center" area of Detroit, where Wayne State University is).
Of course, while we were talking about places to see in Michigan, I knew I would have to soon put together an edition of Michigan Travel Tips that could give her a lot of ideas about places to see with her family, and this edition of Michigan Travel Tips happens to be that edition.
Since the gal comes from Vietnam, it seems very likely to me she has had absolutely no exposure to Dutch culture. As most people who have lived in Michigan for their entire lives should know, Holland is one of the most-popular tourist cities in Michigan. Holland is along Lake Michigan--in the southwestern region of the Lower Peninsula. Through this edition of Michigan Travel Tips, I have to recommend she and her family see Holland sometime, since Holland (Michigan) is about as much like real "Dutch" country as she might be able to come across in her lifetime. Some of the places to see at Holland are the DeKlomp Wooden Shoe Factory, Dutch Village Theme Park, the Holland Museum, Veldheer Tulip Gardens, and Windmill Island. Although the Tulip Time Festival is done for this year--taking place in May, as it does every year--Holland is a place that people can visit throughout the year, and October would be a good time to see Holland, because October is part of the fall "color-tour season," which is that time of the year when the leaves become colorful.
While she and her family are near Lake Michigan, they should go to one of the many beaches or parks. Along the water of Lake Michigan, her son could look for those tiny rocks that look like Indian beads; I remember doing that when I was young--particularly in the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor area. Some of the beaches or parks along Lake Michigan between St. Joseph and about Muskegon are Van Buren State Park (which is a little south of South Haven and in Van Buren County), Saugatuck Dunes State Park (which is a little north of Saugatuck and in Allegan County), P.J. Hoffmaster State Park (which is near Muskegon and in Ottawa County), and Muskegon State Park (which is near Muskegon and in Muskegon County).
It does seem very likely to me she and her family have not been outside of the Detroit area during a "color season," and because of that, I pass along the name of one area where people are very likely to take self-guide automobile color-season tours in the state, and that area is the Newberry area, which is in the Upper Peninsula. By the way, since she and her family live in the Detroit area and only seem to have time on weekends to travel and see things, I do not suggest she and her family go first to the western Upper Peninsula. The Newberry Tourism Association has a Web page that gives information about a few routes that could be followed on color tours, and one of the tours is called the "Newberry Wilderness Tour to Crisp's Point Lighthouse," which goes through the Lake Superior State Forest. (On maps, you will find "Crisp Point Lighthouse" and "Crisp Point.") Here, I report that the best time to do color touring in the Newberry area is around the last half of September, since the leaves are usually off the trees and blowing in the wind by the end of the first week of October.
Note: Www.visitnewberrymi.org/fallcolor/trips/html is the Web page associated with the Newberry Tourism Associaton.
Remember: Color season takes place during the last half or so of September in the Upper Peninsula, takes place in late September and the first half of October in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula, and takes place in the last three weeks or so of October in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula.
There are a number of places in Michigan that she and her husband could take their son to see things and have fun. In Detroit, there is the Detroit Puppet Theater, which is at 25 East Grand River (in the downtown area), and, generally speaking, the place presents various types of puppet shows for children from September to May. There are several places around the state that are informally defined as "children's museums," and one is the Great Lakes Children's Museum, which is at Traverse City, and while at Traverse City, they could see the Dennos Museum Center and the Grand Traverse Art Center & Gallery, and those are places that can be seen throughout the year (most days of the year). Although the boy is only about four years of age, he should still find delight in seeing the cowboys and cowgirls at Stagecoach Stop USA (or Stagecoach Stop USA -- Western Resort and Family Fun Park) of the Irish Hills area, which is only about one hour and a half in driving time from Detroit, and that place is open for the season through the end of October, though really only on weekends in September and October.
You should expect I have told her that tourism is very important to the economy of Michigan, but I did not note that some people who visit the state stay at "bed-and-breakfast" establishments, and there are many around the state, one of which I only learned about recently from Special Reporter Joan Scheel, and the place is Teaspoon Antiques Bed & Breakfast. The place is at Mio, and it has two rooms from which travelers can choose, the "Amish Fireplace Room" and the "Victorian Honeymoon Room." I note that a brochure for the place states: "...Flowers, champagne, and candies by the hot tub are all readily available..." and "...Candlelight four course breakfast served in the Grand Room (italic) add the finishing touches to what could only be considered the ultimate romantic escape." Teaspoon Antiques Bed & Breakfast is at 615 West Kneeland Road at Mio, and the telephone number for the place is 1-989-826-3889, and the Web site for the place is www.teaspoonbb.com. (Incidentally, as a rule, bed-and-breakfast places are places where you sleep for the night and receive breakfast in the morning, prepared by the proprietors.)
Since Windsor, Ontario, is across the Detroit River from Detroit, I suggest she should consider taking the family to the Windsor area. My stating information about places to see in Windsor does not really fit the theme of Michigan Travel Tips, of course, but it makes sense to me to persuade her to see things in the Windsor area through this edition of Michigan Travel Tips, as it makes sense to persuade people who come for the Super Bowl game in February (at Detroit) to see things in the Windsor area while they are at Detroit. Certainly, she should think about seeing the Art Gallery of Windsor (which is open most days of the year), Dieppe Gardens (which is along the Detroit River), Odette Sculpture Park (which is open all year and has sculptures of 31 internationally known artists), the Ojibway Park & Nature Reserve, the Serbian Heritage Museum (which is usually open on weekdays), Windsor's Community Museum (which is open most days of the year), and the Windsor Wood Carving Museum (which is open most days of the year and has about 150 carvings), and Windsor has a place called Hyper Space, which is a playland for children who are between one year of age and twelve years of age.
Yes, I did pass along the address for the Web site of The Hologlobe Press so that she can see the past editions of Michigan Travel Tips, which have information that, as a rule, is viable today, and I urge you to see the past editions, too.
So, through this edition of Michigan Travel Tips, I have covered at least the Amish, the Dutch, Canadians, cowboys and cowgirls, and puppets--a real mix of culture.
Incidentally, the portable computer that I have is about ten-years old. It is a "Satellite T1960CS." I got it from one of my brothers one day; he was thinking of giving it away, and I suggested I roll a pair of dice to determine what to pay him for it (each dot representing some amount). From now on, every so often, I guess, I will think of it as "cute"--maybe.
Your travel tips in Michigan are:
The Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit, Wayne County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Detroit Puppet Theater, Detroit, Wayne County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Great Lakes Children's Museum, Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Wayne County, the Lower Peninsula.
Muskegon State Park, near Muskegon, Muskegon County, the Lower Peninsula.
P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, near Muskegon, Ottawa County, the Lower Peninsula.
Saugatuck Dunes State Park, near Saugatuck, Allegan County, the Lower Peninsula.
Stagecoach Stop USA, the Irish Hills, Lenawee County, the Lower Peninsula.
Teaspoon Antiques Bed & Breakfast, Mio, Oscoda County, the Lower Peninsula.
Van Buren State Park, near South Haven, Van Buren County, the Lower Peninsula.
Your travel tip to a city focuses on Holland (Allegan County and Ottawa County of the Lower Peninsula), which has:
The DeKlomp Wooden Shoe Factory.
Dutch Village Theme Park.
The Holland Museum.
Veldheer Tulip Gardens.
Windmill Island.
Your special travel tips are:
The Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Dieppe Gardens, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Hyper Space, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Odette Sculpture Park, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
The Ojibway Park & Nature Reserve, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
The Serbian Heritage Museum, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Windsor's Community Museum, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
The Windsor Wood Carving Museum, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
- - - Public Service Copy for Broadcasters (four pieces) - - -
Number One:
Each year, the best time to see color in the trees of the Newberry
area of the Upper Peninsula is in the second half of September and
the first week of October, and sometime during that period is the
"peak time." The peak time is coming soon, and the Newberry Tourism
Association has several suggestions about color-tour routes that can
be followed in the Newberry area. One tour is the "Newberry
Wilderness Tour to Crisp Point Lighthouse," and the tour involves
taking roads in the Lake Superior State Forest. Yet another tour is
called the "Grand Marais--Seney National Wildlife Refuge Tour."
By the way, besides following color-tour routes, a person could see
Oswald's Bear Ranch, which is open through the end of September.
For more information about some color-tour routes in the Newberry
area, contact the Newberry Tourism Association. And enjoy your
safe traveling in Michigan.
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Number Two:
Along the Great Lakes shoreline of Michigan, there are many
places right at the water where people regularly like to walk. For
instance, people like to walk the public beaches at such state parks
as Saugatuck Dunes State Park and Holland State Park. Of course,
at some places, people are unable to walk right along the water and
touch the water, and one good example is where there are cliffs, such
as at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore of the Upper Peninsula.
Because of a ruling of the Michigan Supreme Court on July 29, people
are allowed to walk along the water of all the Great Lakes shoreline
of Michigan. However, where there is private property along the
water, people are only allowed to walk between the water and the
"ordinary high-water mark." When you walk along the shoreline of
the Great Lakes, keep out of the private-property areas. And,
remember, don't litter, and keep the shores of the Great
Lakes--great.
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Number Three:
You may have come across that situation in which a little child
seems to enjoy playing with the box more than the gift. Sooner or
later, a child has to have more than a box to play with. Around the
state of Michigan are various places that are informally thought of
as "children's museums," and one such museum is the Great Lakes
Children's Museum at Traverse City. It's a hands-on-type museum,
and it's designed for young children. Grand Rapids has the Grand
Rapids Children's Museum." For now, there is no "children's museum"
at Gaylord, but people are working to building a "children's museum"
there, and the proposed name is the "Northern Michigan Children's
Museum," and one proposed exhibit is "Homes Around the World,"
which will have homes set up like homes in five foreign countries.
Remember: When you make trips around the state, keep those
"children's museums" in mind.
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Number Four:
Okay! The publisher of The Hologlobe Press wants you to do a
little imaging here. Pretend you are standing at the state historical
marker at Stearns Park in Mason County--the marker for the
"Armistice Day Storm." See yourself, there. See yourself wondering
where to go next. It comes to you--Not far away is the Big Sable
Point Lighthouse. If you've already been there today, you could go
to the White Pine Village, which is open through October. The
Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is near Ludington, and you could
spend a few hours looking around there. The place has a few hiking
trails, such as the Nordhouse Dunes Trail, which is near the Lake
Michigan Recreation Area. And two places at Mears give sand-dune
rides. Now, from among all the places you know, you have to make
a choice. See that next place to go to in your mind. Now, all you
have to do is go. Clean that windshield, and enjoy your safe traveling
in Michigan!
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- - - Contact Information - - -
The Hologlobe Press
Postal Box 5455
Dearborn, Michigan 48128-0455
The United States of Americacopyright c. 2005
File date: 10 August 2005
To see the next edition of Michigan Travel Tips,
click on: Travel #18
To see the previous edition,
click on: Travel #16
To see the catalog page for Michigan Travel Tips,
click on: Travel
To go to the main page of The Hologlobe Press,
click on: www.hologlobepress.com
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