Mackinac Island/Traverse City, June or July?

[Anonymous]

We have family we will be visiting in the area and want to do a nuclear family side trip to MI/TC. We went two years ago in August and it was rainy and COLD. We didn’t mind the cold, we expected it, but the rain was relentless and miserable.

We are planning our summer visit and deciding between mid-June and early-July (NOT the Fourth, however.)

If you are familiar with the weather here at either of these times, which would you choose and why? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Those dates are too close together to predict your success. It should get warmer as summer goes on.

If you are not planning to swim, I would be indifferent.

[Anonymous]

MI weather is unpredictable. I love August because the water is at its warmest, but I’ve also experienced many long, miserably cold, rainy summer days in Michigan.

I’d choose July if I had to. But my first choice is August, in spite of your past bad weather!

[Anonymous]

July should be better weather wise but check the dates for the cherry festival. It’ll be crowded and the rates are higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:July should be better weather wise but check the dates for the cherry festival. It’ll be crowded and the rates are higher.

This, although I don't think the rain you experienced in August is typical. The end of August may be a little cooler, but the amount/chance of rain is pretty consistent all summer long. Hitting a rainy patch is similar to here-- It can happen any time because there is no particular "rainy season" in northern Michigan.

Definitely check the Cherry Festival dates, though. The whole town is crammed with tourists during that week.

-- TC native

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those dates are too close together to predict your success. It should get warmer as summer goes on.

If you are not planning to swim, I would be indifferent.

Thanks. We are not planning on swimming, or at least, aren’t planning the trip around it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:July should be better weather wise but check the dates for the cherry festival. It’ll be crowded and the rates are higher.

This, although I don't think the rain you experienced in August is typical. The end of August may be a little cooler, but the amount/chance of rain is pretty consistent all summer long. Hitting a rainy patch is similar to here-- It can happen any time because there is no particular "rainy season" in northern Michigan.

Definitely check the Cherry Festival dates, though. The whole town is crammed with tourists during that week.

-- TC native

Thanks for chiming in! I hadn’t even thought about Cherry Fest! Definitely want to avoid that!

Can I pick your brain? We hope to spend the two nights in TC, the first being the day we drive in, and plan to do the TC stuff that day. What should we do on Day 2?

[Anonymous]

We went in July (4th of July) and felt cold after dc weather. So can just imagine June would feel even cooler. I’d go with the July dates.

[Anonymous]

I'd say July. It will be warmer than June. June can still be jacket weather in Michigan.

Stay at the Grand Hotel if you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:July should be better weather wise but check the dates for the cherry festival. It’ll be crowded and the rates are higher.

This, although I don't think the rain you experienced in August is typical. The end of August may be a little cooler, but the amount/chance of rain is pretty consistent all summer long. Hitting a rainy patch is similar to here-- It can happen any time because there is no particular "rainy season" in northern Michigan.

Definitely check the Cherry Festival dates, though. The whole town is crammed with tourists during that week.

-- TC native

Thanks for chiming in! I hadn’t even thought about Cherry Fest! Definitely want to avoid that!

Can I pick your brain? We hope to spend the two nights in TC, the first being the day we drive in, and plan to do the TC stuff that day. What should we do on Day 2?

It's been a long time since I've spent time there (although these threads always make me so homesick!), so others may have better ideas. My advice would be to go to Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, etc. It's really spectacular and unlike anything else in Michigan.