Vacation time, places to visit?

Found out that we're going on vacation next week. OK. Driving from Maryland to the UP of Michigan.

Any interesting suggestions on places to stop along the way that are especially family and 8 year old kid interesting?

Spend two days at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

Well worth the money and right on the way.

Mackinac Island and the bridge are a must see.... the bridge is now the 2nd longest suspension bridge in the world

the kid will like the jet-boat ride to the island and all the fudge

JmfnB wrote: Spend two days at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Well worth the money and right on the way.

We spent two days there, and could have used a third. Try priceline for a room. Three years ago Dearborn was quiet enough that we got a suite in the Hyatt near by for $85 a night.

I just got a room at the Hotel St Regis on Expedia for $60.00 on saturday.

http://www.hotelstregisdetroit.com/

Grtechguy wrote: Mackinac Island and the bridge are a must see.... the bridge is now the 2nd longest suspension bridge in the world the kid will like the jet-boat ride to the island and all the fudge

my wife and two kids and I are going here this next coming week.

Though I live in Ohio, I spent a lot of time in Northern Michigan on vacation.
I guess I will start at the top (The UP)

The Tahquamenon Falls:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahquamenon_Falls
Beautiful and secluded

The Soo Locks in Sault St. Marie
http://www.saultstemarie.com/
Watch the lake freighters pass by.

Fort Michilimackinac on the mainland at the foot of the Mac Bridge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Michilimackinac
http://mackinacparks.com/
Working reenactment fort on the water.

Not to be confused with Fort Mackinac which is on the Island.

Mac Island:
Cool and unique but pricey. Expensive to get lodging there but you can see the most of it in one day and get a cheaper hotel on the mainland.

South and West of Mackinac:
The cities of Petoskey, Chalevoix and Boyne City. This area is the birthplace (and retirement place) of my grandparents. It is often referred to as the gold cost of Michigan because if its beauty and the fact that all the people with money gravitate to the area. Cool shops for the ladies and some cool beaches. I love the city of Charlevoix (pronounced: Shar-la-voy). I can tell you the best place to see a sunset.
Park at Mt. McSauba ski hill and walk the trail out to the water. All soft sand and the sun drop right into the water on this west coast. It is even legal to build a fire and bring a bottle of wine. Since the kids will be present I will not further elaborate on what else can be done on this secluded beach.
(tip: bring a flashlight. After the sun goes down it is really dark getting back to the car!)

Map link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=McSauba+and+Pleasant+Street+North+Pointe+Charlevoix,+MI+49720&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=45.336943,-85.222492&spn=0.443087,0.883026&t=h&z=10

Sailboat cruise out of Charlevoix if that is your thing.
Check out the crew. The hot 25yr old Blonde (Amanda) owns and runs the whole operation. Her father set her up with the boat and business and he does the same thing in the Caribbean. At the age of 18 she was the youngest-ever certified commercial captain in the entire Great Lakes!
http://www.sunshinecharters.com/crew_ss.cfm

Boyne City: At the other end of Lake Charlevoix down from the City of Charlevoix. Hike up Alvalance Mountain (hill) to see the awesome view that often allows you to see most of the 14 mile long lake.
http://gov.boynecity.com/government.phtml?catid=241&SID

Maybe see more at http://www.michigan.org/

PS: The Henry Ford Museum is cool as well. I just want ed to feature the outdoor activities. There are two Michigans
1. Detroit Metro
2. Everything else and once you are out of Metro Detroit and up north a bit, everything is beautiful.

Detroit - not so beautiful.

As you pass through Ohio...
Cedar Point Amusement Park. Truly the greatest single park for roller coasters in the WORLD, if that is your thing.
(tip: Tuesday is the slowest day of the week.)
http://www.cedarpoint.com/

Neil Armstrong Museum http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/nw01/index.shtml

Ohio Caverns http://www.ohiocaverns.com/

My house.................

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

In reply to foxtrapper:

Roughly where in the UP?

Sault Ste Marie. Dafter/Brimley area more precisely.

In reply to foxtrapper:

OK, was looking for how much of the UP constituted "along the way". Not too sure about what else's out that way that hasn't already been mentioned though.