Michigan vs. Wisconsin - discuss amongst yourselves

[alison]

I feel like Mike Myers on SNL. But really, which is better for B&Bs and weekends away from the hustle and bustle of Chicago.

Dh and I are thinking about driving to either Michigan or Wisconsin next weekend to check out the trees.

Is it too early? Any tips for an easy getaway from Chicago? (4-5 hour-driving distance). B&B suggestions?

[Auspicious]

My husband is determined that we're going to House on the Rock sometime this fall. It'll be interesting to see if it's anything like I remember it from my childhood.

[SuzySunshine]

The trees are actually already starting to change, in northern MN & WI they're probably 75% or more done. Both the Minnesota and WI DNR have websites which will tell you what stage the trees are in.

The Racine area in northern WI is supposed to be really pretty, I've never been there but DH's aunt and uncle used to live there right off the lake.

There are a lot of great B&B's in WI as well - have fun!

[alison]

On michigan.org they have a fall color update, yes. There's a thin blue line along Lake Michigan which means the trees won't be ready until mid-October. Since we were thinking about taking next weekend (not quite mid-Oct) to get out of the city and to somewhere along the lake, I was curious how far along the trees actually are.

I was thinking we could leave Friday after work, sleep somewhere between Chicago and the northern peninsula in Wisconsin. It might be too far to drive in one day. I have to admit, I didn't know until I looked on a map, that Michigan is split up in 2 Then on Day 2 we'd drive a couple more hours to the peninsula and Menomenemineee or however the thing is spelled and if possible drive up a little further north. Day 3 we'd just drive back to Chicago.

The reason we have to split up the driving is that I'm deathly afraid of the drivers on the highways here.

[alison]

What's the House on the Rock?
Alcatraz...?

[Vishenka69]

My uncle lives near Lake Geneva in WI and it's really pretty there and only 1.5-2 hours from Chicago.

http://www.lanierbb.com is a great website for finding a B&B.

[reciprocity]

one of the best meals I've had was in Northern Michigan at this place called Tapawingo. There are great B&Bs around if you want to make a weekend of it. It might be slightly too far to drive for one meal unless you really, really want to eat there (my then-girlfriend very much did).

We stayed at one of the nearby B&Bs I can't recall which. If this is at all interesting to you, let me know and I'll dig through old emails to find out where it was.

[Auspicious]

House on the Rock is just this house a guy built and crammed with his weird collections of stuff. Kind of bizarre and probably not what you had in mind.

http://www.thehouseontherock.com/html/attraction.htm

I like the Lake Geneva idea. My brother and his wife went on a mini-honeymoon for a few days there before going on their big honeymoon a few months later.

[alison]

Thank you for your leads.
I may get back to you about Tapawingo - I looked at the website - it might be too far for the weekend, but I'll ask dh what distance is feasible. We're always up for good food.

We've been to Lake Geneva. It was very nice!

How about Door County (Wisconsin)?

[Momo]

Mackinac island in MI as well as Traverse city MI offer a ton of things to do, see,& experience. I for one would go to Mackinac... check to see if the leaves are peaking.

http://www.mackinac.com/index.html

[mommax3]

Years ago, we stayed at a B&B in WI that is in an old hotel....
http://www.washingtonhouseinn.com

It is in Cedarburg, just north of Milwaukee.....it would be an easy drive from Chicago. We always wanted to go back there at this time of year. They had the BEST breakfast (brought to your room!) that I have ever had.

Check it out!

Sally

Having made the drive from Chicago to mid-Michigan numerous times, I can tell you Michigan is OK if you get on the Red Arrow/Blue Star highway. It runs right along the lake and is a little more rural. You mostly find little hole-in-the-wall B&Bs though. Between Union Pier and South Haven there's some nice stuff.

Hubby took a trip up to Lake Geneva once and raved about Wisonsin, however.

How's that for not useful at all?

[Sheherezade]

I second Mackinac Island. Of course, I've got a horse crazy daughter....so that's a big sell for us. The island has no cars, just bikes and horses. The interior is all forest, but the downtown strip has lots of shops, hotels and restaurants. It's where they filmed that old movie "Somewhere in Time". My mom and stepdad went there last year for a romantic getaway and loved it.


That said.....I know nothing of Wisconsin. Probably not a fair comparison. One place in MI I enjoyed vs. a place I've never been. :lol

I thought this thread was about football.

[alison]

No football, no way.