Looks like we are going to Michigan this summer to visit family in Ypsilanti. They are older and don't get out as much. We still want to go to the great Lakes and go do some fun activities while we are up there. Shooting for July or August to get out of the Texas oven. I know there are a few Michigan folks here and I'm hoping you people have some good activities or specific places to go or stay.
Right there in Ypsi is the most excellent Hudson museum. I think, technically, its still a Hudson dealership.
I heard that Henry Ford set up a little museum museum of his own. Plan at least a whole day though. It's really amazing.
Cruise Woodward Avenue from I-696 to Pontiac, around the loop and back on a Friday or Saturday night.
Do you have kids? There is the Ann Arbor hands on museum for the kiddies.
How long are you going to be here? What kind of eats do you like?
In reply to DrBoost:
We will be up there for 2-3 weeks.
We aren't picky about food as long as it's good. I'm not counting on my usual faves: bbq and Mexican while we are up there. I have heard that the pizza and Arabic food are good.
Any specific recommendations for hotels or resorts in the northern part of the state?
You could come visit me in the U.P. Cottage on Lake Michigan. We swim a lot. Magnum Opus rally is about half an hour away.
I don't actually know anything to do around Ypsi, sorry.
There's an AWESOME authentic Middle Eastern restaurant in Dearborn. It's called Al-Shallal. The people are very nice, the food is amazing, and the price is very good. As far as the northern part of the state, I've stayed in the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, and some cabins in St. Ignace (just the other side of "the bridge" in the U.P.). If you're going to the U.P. and want to stay in St. Ignace, let me know and I'll give you the name of the cabins, and a nice B&B that overlooks the water and Makinac Island.
Wow, 2-3 weeks? My goodness, there's a lot to do.....
Bring your passports and you can take a day trip to Canada. Windsor, Ontario isn't all that special but still, your in another country.
Ann Arbor has Zingerman's deli, University of Michigan, and nice bicycle trails.
Head east to Detroit, go to Mexican town if you want, but don't expect Texas Mexican food like home, should be some festival going on in Hart Plaza, Detroit Institute of Arts is a must, check for auto events here dcsc Detroit Grand Prix is end of May, a bit out of your timing, but you can still go to Belle Isle late morning or early afternoon is best.
Detroit is actually on a river, if you want to see a great lake best to stop at the national park near Porter IN on the way to Ypsi.
In reply to Ojala:
Your going to need to stock up on moth balls, denatured alcohol and take a couple pounds of asparagus with you. This keeps the wild michigander, bloodsucking, subterranean, flying dragon beetles away from you.
Also the people are weird, they are pale and glare at you with haunting dead eyes. It's okay to glance, but whatever you do, do not stare ( this angers them ).
Another thing, plan on that odor staying with you for a while, if you are of the hairy sort, consider shaving prior to departure, that smell really sticks to the hair. Most dandruff shampoos only make the smell worse. I have yet to find a better way to get it off of you other than never getting it on you in the first place.
Have a safe trip 
Oh didn't catch your post about going north, yes everyone has posted some good ideas. Longish drive to the UP but fun.
Detroit drew lots of cultures for work in the auto industry.
Polish used to be big food wise.
Greek
Former Yugoslavian
Lots of Russians
Arabic food everywhere
Korean food by Hyundai HQ just northwest of Ypsi
Some local food spots for general food are: Chicken Shack, Tim Horton's, Olga's Kitchen, white castles are around, Coney Islands,
Best pizza is at Buddys. They have a few locations around town, one is 15 minutes from the Henry Ford Museum. You might catch a race at Waterford Hills if the schedule syncs up. Third weekend of August is Woodward Dream cruise. The whole week leading up to it is good car watching. Back to the bricks is that weekend in Flint. It's less crazy up there.
In reply to Nick_Comstock:
Ha!
Actually my wife is from Detroit. But, the last time we took a vacation up there her family sat around and talked while drinking coffee and popping Tim bits from my father in laws Tim Hortons for days on end.
I said no mas. So this time I want to see some car stuff and spend time outside in the forest, the water, and etc.
If you want to go up north, go all the way.
All the way to Copper Harbor. Along the way between Eagle River and Eagle Harbor is a small place call the "Jam Pot" run by local monks. Great food there- jams, breads, cookies. Gotta go up Brockway Mountain. (this is the most northern part of the UP, BTW)
This is a LONG way from Ypsi- it takes me 10 hours to get just south of Houghton, where my family still has a house.
Getting up there, you will cross the Mackinac Bridge- which is an icon of this state. While there, go to Mackinac Island- yes, it's touristy, but not as much as one may think. The only reason you may not like it- no cars.
Traverse City- one of Michigan's wine countries. Good roads to tool around. Some great roads that run along Lake Michigan's coast. Or drive up Lake Huron's coast.
With the time you have in our state, visiting Michigan.org would be time well spent.
We have many breweries too if that is of interest.
In reply to Advan046:
Forget White Castle, hit up Motz's Hamburgers on Fort St, or at least go to Telway.
If you are going to be around on August 15, that's the day of the Woodward Dream Cruise, and Adrian is talking about having a GRM get-together at his house that day.
Sleeping Bear Dunes near Traverse City was once called "The most beautiful place in America", so that's worth a look.
The German village of Frankenmuth north of Flint is a pretty popular tourist attraction. Make sure you have the fried chicken.
The Lake Michigan coast has some beautiful spots, particularly the stretch from St. Joseph to Muskegon. Grand Haven has some kind of Coast Guard festival every summer, if that interests you.
For racing, there's the Indycar race on Belle Isle, but you'll probably miss that. NASCAR stops at MIS in June and August. Or you can watch the amateurs at Waterford Hills, Grattan, or Gingerman.
There's a pretty well-known air museum in Kalamazoo called the "Air Zoo".
If sports is your thing, Comerica Park is a beautiful ballpark to catch the Tigers.
There is also the vintage race weekend at Waterford Hills, which is always a good time. Looks like July 24-27 this year.This
Hit the world's biggest Christmas store, Bronner's in Frankenmuth. Have a nice dinner at one of the German themed restaurants in town while you're there.
If you're into drinks, there's a lot of great bars in detroit. Hopcat and Jolly Pumpkin are about a block from each other and both are great spots for a beer. Cliff Bells is a great spot for a cocktail and some live music if that's your thing. If you Can get a bicycle check out Slow Roll on Monday night. It's a slow 2 hr bike ride through Detroit with thousands of other people. A great time.
Ann Arbor is a great place to eat and catch a show, at the Ark for indie/folk and the Powers Centre for theatre, and Hill auditorium for one of the best live music venues in the world.
Henry Ford museum is a can't miss. Check out some Falafel joint while you're in Dearborn, or Miller's Bar if you want a great burger.
Up north, you've got the Sleeping Bear dunes on the west side of the lower peninsula, and Macinac Island near the bridge. Further north you should check out the pictured rocks, tahquamenon falls. You probably don't have time for the porcupine mountains or Isle Royal.
Spangler covered the two I was going to recommend: Air Zoo and a Tiger's game. (Tigers are pretty good this year and Comerica is a great park). The Gilmore Car Museum is also a decent half day destination. If you have some extra change in your pocket, a chartered fishing trip on Lake Michigan is a pretty good way to spend the day.
mazdeuce wrote: Here is the ultimate Michigan road trip map.
Wow, that really is the Ultimate Michigan road-trip, map.
Of those places listed, I am especially fond of Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix and I will add in Boyne City.
My grandparents were born in that immediate area then retired back to there. They have since passed, but I get back there every couple years.
Staying in Ypsi:
For day trips, agreed, the Henry Ford Museum and Village must be added. You will be 30 minutes (or less) from there.
http://www.thehenryford.org/museum/index.aspx
This is not a museum of Ford things. This is an museum of Americana. Most similar to The Smithsonian but privately funded by Ford.
The Village (Greenfield Village) is an exact creation of the Mid 1800's complete with actors portraying the towns people. All transportation in the Village is done via genuine Ford Model A's, bikes or horses.
It will take an entire day to get through the place. Maybe even one day for the Museum and another for the Village.
Ypsi is right next to Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor is all about The University of Michigan. It is a beautiful campus and I recommend a little walk around it. If you like architecture, here is a cool tidbit. The UofM Law Library is on the National Register of Historic Building with a staunch preservation society. They needed a larger library but the rules of Preservation would not allow them to change the appearance on the building. As such, next to the Historic building is a huge glass windows, angled, pyramid-ish stucture coming out of the green lawn (or snow covered.)
The first floor:
The back:
All that glass serves as the sky light for the 3 story, underground building that they put next to it/under it is as the expansion. Working within the rules of no exterior changes to the building.
While on campus, get a Blimpy Burger. Be sure to review their website for how to order.
In 2006, GQ Magazine named the 20 best burgers in the nation and #19 is in Ypsi.
The Side Track Bar and Grill which just happens to be directly across the street (directly across the street) from the Hudson Dealership and Museum referenced earlier.
Number 8 on the GQ list is Miller's Bar in Dearborn, MI (referenced above) and near The Henry Ford Museum.
This place needs a website on how-to-order but they don't seem to have one. No carry out orders (none.) They only sell Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, fries and onion rings. They may have crocks of baked beans if they are not sold out and if they are slow, you may be able to get them to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Skip the fries or onion rings (they are nothing special) and get two burgers!
Oh yeah, cash only, no bank cards.
Last thing. If you are into roller coasters, Ypsi is two hours away from Cedar Point , in Sandusky, Ohio (my home town.) This place is the mecca of roller coasters with 17. Expect that you will be at the park for about 10-12 hours (like 10-am to 10pm) but only being two hours away, you could just day-trip in and not have to spend for their lodging (expensive.) The whole place sits on a peninsular surrounded by Lake Erie (so there is another Great Lake to see.) The places gets crowded...Tuesdays are known to be the slowest day.
There's an SCCA Majors race at Michigan International Speedway August 21-23. That's only half an hour or so from Ypsi.
Make sure you see Ypsilanti's water tower on Michigan Ave. It's a rather interesting shape.
Milan Dragway is about 20 minutes from Ypsi.
http://www.milandragway.com/
Almost everything I might have said has been said.
Except for one thing. I don't know if it's worth mentioning, but every Thursday during the summer, Ypsilanti's "Depot Town" has cruise night. It's nothing compared to the Woodward Dream Cruise, but it's way more accessible. Plus, I think the Hudson museum is free on those evenings.
Canoe the Huron River, upstream from Ypsilanti it is very nice. About 25 miles west-northwest of Ypsi is Delhi park, you can rent canoes there or nearby.
Lake St Clair is an interesting body of water. On the north end of the lake is Harsens Island. Small boats are available for rent at several places on the island. There are many channels and shallow bays to explore in the area.
Farther north the Au Sable River and Manistee rivers are good for a nice days float, weekends can be crowded and rowdy, weekdays are peaceful.
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