Thursday Thirteen 4th Edition

This week I guess everyone is to tell about 13 vacation places they have been. I thought since we travel around the state we live in a lot I would do mine on Michigan.

1. Michigan's Adventure Amusement Park & Wild Water Adventure

We go here every year. The kid's just love it, even the older ones. We like it because it's cheap! I love cheap!


Two parks for the price of one! Michigan's Adventure Amusement Park and Wild Water Adventure Waterpark offer guests thrills and chills for all ages. A 1,500-foot-long rapid river ride that will carry riders through a rocky canyon filled with geysers and a waterfall. Riders will be challenged from beginning to end as nine-passenger rafts brave churning rapids, while navigating the twists and turns of a river canyon. Coasters, a classic 1950’s-style diner complete with a jukebox, vintage seating, and neon fixtures. Michigan's largest amusement park and waterpark offer over 60 rides and attractions, including Thunderhawk, Michigan's first inverted steel coaster and Shivering Timbers, our world class roller coaster that has consistently ranked as one of the top three wood roller coasters in the world. Three wave pools are located in the waterpark with a variety of wave sizes and frequencies. Kids of all ages can meet the Peanuts characters in Michigan’s only Snoopy Boutique. Most recent additions include Funnel of Fear, RipCord, Go-Karts, Dodg’em Cars, Be-Bop Blvd, Swan Boats and HydroBlaster. Food concessions, miniature golf and gift shops round out a whole day. Michigan's Adventure Amusement Park & Wild Water Adventure

2. Silver Lake Sand Dunes is another one of our favorites. We love the water and at the sand dunes it's nothing but sand and water the perfect combination.

Home of the famous Silver Lake Sand Dunes. If you are looking for peace and tranquility or the thrill and excitement of soaring through the air as you travel the hills and valleys of the famous Silver Lake Sand Dunes, this is the place for you. Silver Lake Sand Dunes is the only place in Michigan where you can drive your own vehicle on the Dunes. Enjoy jet skiing and water skiing, or for the less adventuresome there is canoeing or relaxing on a pontoon boat. If you don't own a watercraft, we have one for you to rent. Lake Michigan offers the ultimate sandy beaches for relaxing, or venture out to catch the big one on a charter fishing cruise. Bring your bikes and ride along our 22-mile trail passing through rural forested lands and by scenic overlooks.


3. Traverse City, a couple of year's ago they opened a Great Wolf Lodge here in Traverse City. It's a great place to stay with a family. They have a indoor water park. What more could a kid ask for.

Also for the winter Traverse City offers some of the best skiing in the state.

Skiing Being a year-round recreational location, the Traverse City area has plenty of winter season activities for the whole family. In this photo, taken at the Mt. Holiday Ski Area, kids enjoy the downhill conditions while looking out over Grand Traverse Bay.

4. As a kid my parent's would send me to camp in the summer and at camp we would take a trip to Mackinac Island. I loved it. Now I take my kid's and they really enjoy it. To get to the island you have to take a boat ride, what kid doesn't want to go on a fast boat? You can rent bike's and they have a nice road (No cars on the island) you can bike all the way around the island.


Mackinac Island is the truly "all natural" theme park of America. Limited to transportation of horse and buggy, bicycle or foot, surrounded by water, it has escaped the vast changes of time. When you step off the Island Ferry Dock, you will be in a living Victorian village. Explore the historic Fort Mackinac, enjoy the hustle and bustle of the downtown, try the different varieties of homemade fudge or relax at the Grand Hotel, famous for the movie "Somewhere in Time." Once you've visited our beautiful Island, you will find that it is your island, too.

The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island is the perfect place to stay on the island. The movie Somewhere in Time was filmed here. It's a older movie starring Christopher Reeves.

5. Houghton Lake

Houghton Lake Canoeing, kayaking, fishing, golfing, jet skiing, swimming, hiking, reading a good book while sitting out by the lake, soaking up the warm sunshine, birding...the list is too long to continue. Houghton Lake is Michigan's largest inland lake and Higgins Lake is the 6th most beautiful lake in the World. Houghton Lake offers some of the best outdoor activities in Michigan!

6. Old Mission Point Lighthouse. If we are up north we always stop for a walk in the water at Mission Point. In front of the lighthouse we can walk out in the water on smooth rocks way out. It's a lot of fun and once again the kid's love it.

Built in 1870, this light is now maintained as a pary by the State of Michigan and serves as living quarters for township employees. It is half way between the North Pole and the Equator exactly on the 45th parallel. It was decommissioned in 1933.

7. Millcreek. In 4th grade at our elementary school the kid's study Michigan and at the end of the year they go on a field trip of Michigan. One of their stops is Millcreek. I have gone on this trip 3 times now and the Mill is very nice.

Millcreek Provided Lumber Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park was the Straits of Mackinac's first industrial complex, this site provided lumber for the settlement of Mackinac Island in the 1790s. Today, we demonstrate both hand-saw techniques and the power of a water-driven sawmill embedded in scenic Mill Creek.

8. Tahquamenon Falls, be ready to do stair's, lots of stair's! The falls are beautiful and a must see. When we were up there our little guy was maybe 2 and I ended up carrying him up and down the stairs. I was so tired after that (or just very out of shape).

Tahquamenon Falls, Paradise
If you enjoy quiet walks along moss covered paths, the thunder of falling water, scudding across blue lakes with winds puffing the sails, the curl of smoke from a lakeside campfire, or a scenic landscape, there is a place for you in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

9. Soo Locks, you can take a boat tour on or is it in the locks. This is very good for kid's they learn how they all work and you get up close to the freighters.

Aerial View of the Soo Locks
Ocean-going freighters still pass through the historic Soo Locks, the world's longest locks at Sault Ste. Marie. Abandoned mine shaft houses rise against the landscape. Costumed interpreters at historical sites act out scenes from yesteryear.


10. Mackinac Bridge, the bridge connects lower and upper Michigan. It's a beautiful bridge.

Mackinac Bridge
Head north across the Mackinac Bridge to St. Ignace or through the Wisconsin border gateways. If you're above the Great Lakes and Superior, head south across the International Bridge at Sault Ste. Marie and there we are! Michigan's Upper Peninsula is a huge area with plenty of space for visitors.


11. If you love to snowmobile the place to go is the Upper Penincsula of Michigan. They sure get a lot of snow and have wonderful trails.

UP Great Snowmobiling
The UP boasts about its winter snow. There are hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails, excellent cross-country ski areas, and some of the longest downhill ski runs in the Midwest. The U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame and Museum is located in the city of Ishpeming.

12. There are really so many places to visit in Michigan. Picture Rock is one of the most beautiful.

Pictured Rocks
We boast of Michigan's largest lakes, the longest bridge, largest islands, wilderness area, swamp and state park. You can rappel 200-foot-high sandstone cliffs, and return in winter to rappel our frozen waterfalls. Of Michigan's 152 major waterfalls, all but two are waiting for you in the UP.

13. This is another place the kid's go to on field trips. It really is very interesting and it's so nice to walk in the village on a nice summers day. I love watching the glass blowers!

Take a step back in time while exploring the nation's history at The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Explore national treasures and learn about authentic American people, places and things that have revolutionized how we live today. The Henry Ford package features deluxe downtown Detroit hotel accommodations, admission for two people to two Detroit attractions (Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, or Ford Rouge Factory Tour), and breakfast for two. Valid Fridays and Saturdays. Blackout dates may apply. Other restrictions may apply. Rates are per room, per night, and based on availability. Rates from $179-$239. Call (800) 228-9290. Promotional Code: EB6.

If you would like more information on Michigan please go to Michigan.org

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