6 Quick Michigan Getaways

Craving a vacation? You don’t have to take a lot of time off work, book a flight, drive to the airport, go through security, get on the airplane, get off the airplane, book a rental car, then drive to your hotel.

How much easier it would be to get off work on Friday afternoon, throw some clothes in a bag, and arrive at your vacation destination after a short drive.

The following Michigan cities are the ideal location for a quick Michigan getaway- all of them are within a two hour’s drive of your Ann Arbor home or downtown Ann Arbor condominium.

1. Grand Rapids, Michigan

This big city with a small-town welcome features a new art museum downtown, the FrederickMeijerGardens, the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum and great dining. The fish ladder, located near the presidential museum, is a fun destination to visit while the salmon are jumping. Enjoy opulent accommodations at the Amway Grand Hotel or the recently opened J.W. Marriot Hotel, which features modern architecture, fine dining, and rooms overlooking the city. The BOB offers a variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs and is a short distance from downtown hotels.

2. Holland, Michigan

On the shores of Lake Michigan, Holland is a popular destination during the Tulip Festival. Held in May, the festival features thousands of blooming tulips bloom throughout the town, and a parade attracting local celebrities which always draws a large crowd. Holland is popular even in the wintertime, when heaters built into the sidewalks melt the snow, making it easy to stroll the downtown streets browsing through the many little shops and restaurants. Several nearby state parks are the perfect spot to camp in the summer, and to enjoy the lake year round.

3. St. Joseph, Michigan

A beautiful summer destination, St. Joseph has beautiful white sandy beaches to enjoy, along with plenty of shops to browse. The Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff, ranked one of the top art fairs in the nation, is held in July and features fine art displayed high on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.

4. Cedar Point, Ohio

Cedar Point, which calls itself “America’s RollerCoast,” is a popular amusement park located in SanduskyOhio. The park is situated on the banks of Lake Erie, and vacationers can see the lake from several of the park’s rides, including a roller coast that seems to take riders out over the water. In addition to the main park, visitors can also enjoy “SplashCity,” Cedar Point’s water park. The surrounding area offers plenty of activities, including white beaches, fishing, and a water front amphitheatre with live entertainment in Huron. There are several islands a couple miles from Cedar Point, including KelleysIsland, the largest American island in the Great Lakes, and SouthBassIsland, which offers great fishing.

5. Beaches on Lake Huron, Michigan

The eastern side of the state plays host to a plentitude of beaches, making it a haven for boaters, anglers, and sun bathers. Enjoy watching the sun rise over the horizon while you enjoy a hot cup of coffee from one of the many locally-owned coffee shops in these beach towns.

6. Houghton and Higgins lakes

Located in the center of the Lower Peninsula, HoughtonLake and HigginsLake are the ideal location for vacationers seeking an outdoors vacation. The two lakes are surrounded by state forests, and are the ideal spot for a camping trip. Houghton Lake State Forest Campground is open from mid-April to mid-September, and SouthHigginsLakeState Park is also a popular summer destination. A sandy beach lines the large lakes, and boaters, swimmers, and sand castle architectures all find this area to be the perfect spot to spend an enjoyable afternoon. The state parks are filled with pine trees and nature trails, and offer great locations for hiking and biking. Reservations can be made online at www.mi.gov/dnr.

Whatever you’re craving in a vacation, you’re sure to find the perfect location in Michigan. Enjoy a long weekend away, a spur of the moment get-away, or a leisurely week-long vacation. These Michigan destinations are the ideal location for a quick get away. Instead of spending all your precious holiday time traveling to your destination, spend your time enjoying it…every relaxing, exciting, surprising, sweet, minute of your vacation.

Image courtesy Flickr: lucias_clay