Lynn, we drive by Lake St Clair a couple of times a year on our way to (shhhhh) Marine City and points east. I’ll wave”hello” for you next time we go!

There’s A town on the west shoreline, Franconia? Something else? There used to be an artist there, with a shop...I think there was a Christmas store too...the one time we were going through and took a western route we wanted to go to the artist’s studio and shop but when we pulled in it was closed. This was, oh, 25 years ago, may not even still be there.

Lars, you might have to coordinate a Michigan Meetup, I know there are a few GWers there. I’ll wave from across Lake Michigan.

Yes, absolutely bug spray, like Localeater stressed, too (LOL)! I've been feeling homesick and envious this week, as most of my Michigan family is vacationing in the Port Crescent area of The Thumb (another Michigan hand thing, Lars). I miss my beautiful Great Lakes so much in the Summertime . . . but NOT the traffic congestion on the interstates up and back!.

Lars you will be in a great spot to explore the west coast area heading north. The mid and north western coastal towns are my favorite areas. My dad now lives in the U.P on a river where the summer black flies are half the size of a human head and you can’t see but a foot in front of yourself as the mosquitos are that thick lol. I do love the Tahquamenon Falls state park though, been going there since I was a little girl.

Have fun!

I'll be here most of July and beginning of Aug. I live 10 miles from the OH/IN border. You can't hardly enter MI without driving almost right by my house! Door is always open for a CF pal! Plus don't you have a local relative?

Michigan is the only other place we seriously considered moving to and party of my heart will always be there. We'll be in Ludington for a family reunion in early Aug then stopping to see old friends in South Haven. Gosh I miss that lake!

But spray? Smokey campfire works just as well :-D

Thanks for posting the geography lesson by hand! My parents had a summer cabin in the Upper Peninsula (on Crooked Lake in Hiawatha National Forest, not far from Escanaba) - the area was beautiful, wild, and barely populated.

I lived with XH in the Upper Peninsula for three years, in Houghton, while he was in grad school, and never saw the "hand map". I was a fifth-grade teacher at the time, and The Hand would have been fun for teaching local geography!

Avon's Skin-So-Soft body lotion was recommended at the time as a bug repellent. It certainly smells like it!

DLM-2000 I am about 30 minutes from Lake MI and because it is so high this year, beaches are smaller - all beaches are skinnier strips than normal and some are flat out closed. Ludington has a bigger beach so they probably aren't as in such tough shape.

Bluebell until 4 years ago we lived 4 blocks from Lake MI on the IL directly across from St Jo. I've still get all the local news and have been watching what's happening with the lake. We don't have those deep, protective beaches on the IL side (for the most part we are the erosion side of the lake and MI is the deposit side) and have friends with homes on the lake who are losing great sections of their bluffs. It's truly frightening. Army Corp has been called in for private homeowners and public property but it's a 2 year process to determine if there is even a way to shore up what's there. Meantime..... We'll only be in Luddington for a day. It's South Haven I worry about and a friend there has been sending pics.

One learns to use the Michigan "hand map" when one moves away, trying to explain MI to outsiders, particularly Europeans. Proud that you can usually find my state from outer space, just look for the greatest fresh water system on earth!

Hey Lars you may want to learn the language before visiting lol. Scroll down to the comment section for more information. People tend to speak fast and with shortened words and or sentences.

https://owlcation.com/humanities/Michigan-Accent

One of my favorite sights is the first peek of Grand Traverse Bay approaching from the east via Rt 72 on a gorgeous summer day.

I know, DLM, we are in South Haven quite a bit. People there seem to be very worried. My brother lives in St. Joe, but fortunately is not on the lake. I haven’t been to the beach there yet this summer to see how things are faring.

Just came upon this and now I am homesick! :) Been gone from "home" for 15 years,

and I still can spot a fellow Michigander. I am from South Central MI (right in the life

line at the bottom of the palm....a little over 22 miles SE of Kalamazoo (on the "Hand" map

above.) LOL Battle Creek, Michigan!!! And, if you ever watched a kid's show, or

ate a breakfast cereal for breakfast...you know what we are famous for. ;)

All the ideas above are terrific..especially anything on Lake Michigan, and of course,

Mackinaw Island....fun to take the ferry. Enjoy.....don't know when you are going,

but maybe you will be in time for Traverse City Cherries, or all the fruit orchards

on the West Side of the State. Or, if you are going during BB...you could watch Michigan State beat the U of Michigan! (I probably just started a feud with that one).

Battle Creek, Michigan! Breakfast Cereal Capitol of the World. Home of Kellogg’s!!!!

Another Michigan girl here! We are on our last day of vacation right now in Tennessee, and I am eager to get home. Michigan is special!

We lived in Wisconsin for a short period and were appalled that the locals there used the hand for geography too! Lol

Hi Michigan people!!!! Great to see you.

Michigan native here, also. I miss the summers, lakes, lightning bugs, and bonfires. Fortunately, most of my family still lives there so I go back to visit every summer. I don't miss the winters, potholes, or mosquitoes! Traverse City, Mackinac Island, and Grand Haven are a few of my fav places. You might want to check out Frankenmuth. It's a cute little village with a German theme. Bronner's Christmas Store is there and open pretty much every day of the year.

I've never heard of Cornwell's Turkey Farm, but it sounds yummy!

Another great place to visit is Spicer Apple Orchard in Fenton. Open year round. They have THE best apple cider and donuts of any apple orchard around! They also have fresh berries (tart cherries, raspberries, and strawberries) during the season. And a winery to boot!

I am in Cathedral City right now and have to type on my phone. I will write more when we get home. Thanks for starting this!

Frankenmuth! I love that place! We were just there again last Summer. It was DD’s first time and she was enchanted with it.

Deer joins beach goers at Saugatuck Michigan.

https://youtu.be/WyFGgP3nCJY

He has a name “Jimmy” and he is now a local celebrity.

Not far from where you are going Lars lol. See Jimmy!

https://youtu.be/KCHYsTGarPk

We raised our boys near Kalamazoo and lived there almost 30 years. I'm still part owner of a cottage on Gull Lake and will be going back this summer. Love it except for the humidity..

As a 2nd grade teacher, use of the hand to explain geography was very common.

I don't think anyone has mentioned Sleeping Bear Dunes or the wineries and small towns of the Leelanou Peninsula with their small towns. There's great local fish and yummy pies, but I can't

remember the name of the place. Sorry.

Sleeping Bear Dunes are beautiful. I’m not sure if there are various access points, but last time we went it was a very hot day and as we walked to Lake Michigan, we kept thinking that the lake was just over the next hill. But it was MANY hills to go! Bring water! The view is worth it..... You can also climb down to to water, but it’s quite steep.

:) if you're going to the beach today...be sure to wear your shoes...I bet that beautiful

sand is so hot it will burn your feet!! Have family at Pentwater this week...other things

got in the way and I didn't meet them. Sigh! My most fun place from my youth.

Another Michigan native here. My sister's house is on a hill overlooking Sleeping Bear Dunes, Crystal Lake, and Lake Michigan. It's pretty magical. We enjoy the Leelanau Peninsula and driving along the north coast of the lower peninsula. The Sault Ste. Marie Locks were always fun. If you go to the upper peninsula, the Tahquamenon Falls are lovely. Feeling homesick.