Please recommend a lake vacation spot in Michigan?

[Anonymous]

We rented lake houses as a kid, but I have no idea where to start looking. Has anyone had a good lake vacation experience in Michigan? Looking to rent there next summer with kids. Want lake front or close access. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I go to my family's cottage on the banks of Lake michigan every summer. Don't know of specific rentals, but I'd suggest looking at the St Joe area. It's a pretty town with a nice public beach (Silver Beach) and a fantastic kids museum for rainy days.

[Anonymous]

Oh, fun! I grew up in Michigan, and our family had cottages on a couple of different inland lakes and then later we lived on Grand Traverse Bay (of Lake Michigan) in Traverse City. I love hearing the water gently lap on shore while I sleep.

Torch Lake is one of the most beautiful inland lakes, and it's surrounded by lake homes/cottages. It's a really deep lake and the water is crystal clear. My sister's in-laws have a lake house near Alden and go there all the time.

I also love the Leelanau Peninsula-- it's the pinky finger of the Michigan mitten. Sutton's Bay, Northport, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Leland, Glen Arbor.

Michigan is a beautiful, beautiful state, especially once you get north of the industrial/farming areas.

Oh, I'm homesick now. If I had the money, I'd love to buy a house on the Leelanau Peninsula and spend my summers there. I will spend the rest of the day fantasizing. . .

[Anonymous]

13:18 again.

Also look at Traverse City and the surrounding areas. It's a great vacation spot in the summer. There is a lot of tourism and so lots of great things to do with a family on vacation. Go in July during the cherry season. There is the National Cherry festival for a week in July-- big parade with about a hundred marching bands that come from all over the country and lots of events for kids. It's really crowded then, though, and prices are probably at a premium.

Michael Moore has also started an annual indie film festival in Traverse City-- not sure when it takes place, though. (Pretty funny, considering the area is politically solidly (moderate) Republican, or it was when I was growing up, maybe less so now.) So the area is probably pretty crowded then, also.

Traverse City is a decent sized city and Northwest Airlines flies into it, FYI, so a good jumping-off point for anywhere in the NW corner of the state.

[Anonymous]

We just got back from a week in Lake Leelanau, in the little finger of Michigan. I agree with the PP's that the Leelanau Peninsula is wonderful - even magical. Take a look at Fountain Point Resort. It's an old-fashioned family resort with cottages, kids, lakefront beach, etc.

[Anonymous]

We just got back from a week at my in-laws' cottage on Mullet Lake. Absoultely beautiful. I second the PP recommendation for Torch Lake. There are cabins for rent near the beach in Wilderness State Park on Lake Michigan near Mackinaw City. Mackinac Island makes a great day trip, take the ferry, bike around the island, eat lots of fudge! Can fly into Pellston airport on NW.