UP Roadtrip – July 2025

June 28 – July 9, 2025

We spent 11 days road-tripping around Lake Michigan, checking off new states, MLB parks, quirky roadside stops, and national parks along the way. Our loop from Detroit through the UP, Wisconsin, and back to Michigan covered 1,880 miles and a whole lot of cherries!

Link to Trip Photos

Link to our Route

Day 1 & 2 – Detroit, Michigan

Michigan is my 44th state!

Greektown – Hopped off the plane and headed to Greektown. The area is under major construction, but we popped in Astoria Pastry Shop for Dubai chocolate strawberries. Free parking at the Greektown Casino, walking distance from the stadium.
The Belt – A narrow alley transformed into a public art space – worth a quick detour for photos and street art fans.
Mom’s Spaghetti – Eminem’s food joint right by the stadium. It’s a small, order-at-the-window setup with a small indoor space and “The Trailer” gift shop upstairs – fast, quirky, and very on-brand.
Detroit Tigers Baseball – Comerica Park – Checked off another MLB stadium on Peter’s list. We had great seats, but they were in full sun – HOT – so we roamed the stadium to find better shade and different views. Bonus: a local flooring guy spotted my Anderson Tuftex shirt and came over to chat about Shaw. Small world moment.
The Inn on Ferry Street – Night 1 Stay – Boutique hotel made up of historic Victorian homes in Midtown, right on the edge of Wayne State’s campus and the art museum. Quiet and full of charm.
Third Man Records – Jack White’s record pressing plant and shop. We’ve been to the Nashville location – same cool vibe and a great stop for music lovers.
8 Mile – On the way to dinner, we drove past the historic road that splits Detroit’s economic lines – north side is more affluent suburbs, south side is lower-income neighborhoods. Visibly stark contrast and a notable piece of Detroit’s layout.
Vinsetta Garage – Dinner – A funky spot in a renovated mechanic shop with great atmosphere. Curtis Callaway recommended it, and it didn’t disappoint – Margarita pizza and Greek salad were both hits. Quick Trader Joe’s run after for snacks and sunscreen, then a cruise past the Motown Museum (closed by then) before heading back to the inn.
Detroit Institute of Arts – Huge, maze-like museum with a global collection. Spent 3+ hours getting lost in the galleries. Highlights included Diego Rivera’s industrial murals and two well-known Van Gogh paintings. Took a break at the sunny European-style cafe inside – great place to recharge.
Belle Isle – An island park in the Detroit River with city views and a peek at Canada across the water. There’s a fee to enter by car, but we accidentally ended up in the wrong lane with pass holders and didn’t have to pay – whoops! Quick stop to snap some photos of the Ambassador Bridge once we got off the island.
Eastern Market – Big, local market with vendors, art, and food. Picked up a Motor City t-shirt and had one of the best gyros I’ve had in a while at Mitsos – plus fried feta and baklava. Topped it off with a beer at Eastern Market Brewing.
Sonder Gabriel Richard Apartments – Night 2 Stay – Downtown Airbnb-style stay run by Marriott. No parking included, but we lucked into a street spot just big enough for our rental car.
Campus Martius Park, Guardian Building, Spirit of Detroit, and The Fist – Downtown sights all within walking distance. Strolled through the park, took photos of the art deco Guardian Building lobby, the Spirit of Detroit statue, and “The Fist” before calling it a night.

Day 3 – Detroit to Traverse City, Michigan

Long driving day across “the mitten”! We left Detroit before 7AM (when Sunday night free parking ends) and didn’t get to our Traverse City hotel until 5:30PM. Spent most of the day in the car with lots of breaks for cool sights.

Frankenmuth, MI – Bavarian village with shops and restaurants. We were there before anything opened, so we parked and walked across the wooden bridge to check out the peacocks. Cute little stop to stretch the legs. ~1.5 hours from Detroit.
Saginaw, MI – 30 minutes up the road. Birthplace of Stevie Wonder. We grabbed coffee at Red Eye Coffee + Tea, snapped photos of the colorful Shine Bright Silo Murals, and made a quick stop at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Garden – he’s the artist behind The Spirit of Detroit. A nice mix of art and caffeine.
Sleeping Bear Dunes (Empire, MI) – Cut across the mitten to Empire (~2.75 hrs) to hit the park visitor center and sneak in one last use of our annual National Park Pass before it expires in July. We drove the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive – winding forest roads, Lake Michigan views, and a solid detour before reaching Traverse City.
Moomers Homemade Ice Cream (Traverse City, MI) – Family-owned creamery that’s often ranked among the best in the country. Their signature flavor is Cherry Moobilee (cherry + brownie swirl), but I had both cherry flavors. Cherry Traffic Jam is only made during Cherry Festival week. Worth the hype.
Chateau Grand Traverse Winery (Old Mission Peninsula, MI) – An iconic Michigan winery, best known for its Rieslings (my favorite). I did a tasting series (or two), and we shared a cheese plate overlooking the vineyard. This part of Lake Michigan has great grape-growing conditions, and the drive up the peninsula reminded us of coastal Maine.
National Cherry Festival (Traverse City, MI) – Held annually in early July to celebrate local cherry production. After resting at the hotel, we took the BATA shuttle into town to check out the festival. We had a giant cup of cherries and cherry pie – à la mode, of course. Wandered around the cute downtown area before catching the shuttle back.
avid hotel Traverse City – Night 3 Stay – Used a free night certificate for this newer IHG hotel. Simple setup, comfy beds, no complaints!

UP Roadtrip: Day 4 – Traverse City to Mackinac Island, Michigan

We drove up US-31 today, cruising through Petoskey on our way to catch the ferry in St. Ignace over to the island!

Petoskey, MI – Stopped in the cute downtown to walk & shop for a couple of hours before heading up toward the edge of Petoskey State Park. We parked at the Tannery Creek Trailhead and used an unofficial path off the greenway to cut over to the south part of the park beach. The area’s known for Petoskey stones – fossilized coral rocks found along the shore. We didn’t find any, but there were plenty of cool-looking rocks through!
St. Ignace, MI – Shepler’s Ferry for 2 people plus overnight parking ran us $100. Ferries leave regularly from both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City. The ride took less than 20 minutes.
Mackinac Island, MI – There are no cars on the island – just bikes and horses (and the smells that come with them). Downtown was packed until late evening, and return ferry lines were long. Seemed like a lot of folks were day-trippers. Fun fact: Mackinaw and Mackinac are both pronounced “Mack-in-aw.”
Pink Pony (Mackinac Island, MI) – Very popular bar and restaurant in the heart of downtown. We doubled up on the whitefish- a fish dip appetizer and a fish sandwich. Instead of waiting 1.5 hours for a waterfront table (we were hungry!), we grabbed a high-top near the bar and people-watched as horses and taxis trotted by on the main street.
The Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island, MI) – Famous for its 660-foot front porch (the longest in the world) and its appearance in the movie Somewhere in Time. We explored the historic hotel and had drinks at the Cupola Bar on the top two floors. Lots of colorful Dorothy Draper interiors that reminded us of The Greenbrier from last July 4th.
Murdick’s Fudge (Mackinac Island, MI) – The original island fudge shop, dating back to 1887. Peter grabbed us chocolate fudge to share.
We ended the night at a picnic table by the water playing cards and a great view, then strolled to a few shops to round out the day – including the fudge stop.

UP Roadtrip: Day 5 & 6 – Mackinac Island to Marquette, Michigan

After a final walk through downtown Mackinac Island, we caught the ferry back to St. Ignace to keep our Lake Michigan loop going.

Sault Ste. Marie, ON (Canada) – Crossed the bridge into Canada for Tim Hortons (Peter’s favorite!) and to drive the northernmost point of I-75. Not much going on, but fun to say we did it. The line to get back into the U.S. was slow – plan for a wait if you’re doing the same.
Soo Locks (Sault Ste. Marie, MI) – We spent about an hour watching ships pass between Lake Huron and Lake Superior from the free observation deck. There’s a small visitor center and museum with exhibits about the locks. A solid stop with cool engineering!
Tahquamenon Falls State Park (Paradise, MI) – Drove about 1.5 hours to the Upper Falls, nicknamed “Root Beer Falls” thanks to the brown color caused by tannins in the water. Nearly 50 feet tall and 200 feet wide – one of the largest volume waterfalls east of the Mississippi.
Helmer House Inn (McMillan, MI) – Cute little Airbnb in the middle of nowhere. We stopped by Hank’s General Store for a wine opener and two plastic cups (shoutout to the kind folks at the store who donated them) so we could enjoy a bottle of Grand Traverse Cherry Riesling by Manistique Lake. Peaceful night and the included breakfast at the inn was amazing.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Munising, MI) – Took the Spray Falls Cruise – 2 hours round-trip with close views of the colorful cliffs and waterfalls along the Lake Superior shoreline. This is a National Park site, so fees apply. It was windy and cold out on the water, so we pulled on extra pants and windbreakers. Afterward, we grabbed a warm Yooper pasty from Miners Pasty Kitchen. A classic UP dish!
Marquette (MI) – Their 4th of July celebration includes a food festival, live music, and fireworks over Lake Superior. We stayed at the Hampton Inn with a view of the iron ore docks – where they launch the fireworks. We walked to the park to hear some Celtic music and then explored the downtown on foot.
The Vierling Restaurant (Marquette, MI) – Dinner was more whitefish! It’s a type of trout and is the local fish up here. We had a smoked whitefish appetizer and grilled whitefish dinner. Local, laid-back, and solid food.

UP Roadtrip: Day 7 & 8 – Marquette, Michigan to Green Bay, Wisconsin + Door County

Wisconsin is my 45th state!

Marquette (MI) – It doesn’t start getting dark up here until after 10:30 PM, so we stayed up late to watch the fireworks over Lake Superior. Unfortunately, there were technical difficulties at the last minute and the show was postponed to the 4th – just after we’d be leaving town. The next morning, we took things slow and enjoyed a relaxed morning at the hotel.
Marquette 4th of July Parade (MI) – We grabbed front-row seats outside Babycakes, one of the local coffee shops downtown, and sipped on caffeine and while we waited. The parade was peak small-town Americana, with everything from bagpipers and roller derby teams to three ladies doing a full-blown Jazercise routine on the back of a moving trailer. It was weird, wonderful, and totally charming.
Lodge Kohler (Green Bay, WI) – From Marquette, it was a straight 3+ hour drive south to Green Bay. We crossed into Wisconsin about an hour before hitting the city and checked into Lodge Kohler, where we’d be staying for two nights. It’s located right next to Lambeau Field, and you can’t get more Green Bay than that.
Door County (WI) – The next morning, we got up early for a full day exploring Door County. This peninsula stretching into Lake Michigan is often called the “Cape Cod of the Midwest,” known for cherry orchards, lake views, and roadside charm. We started at the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market, wandered into The Cherry Hut in Fish Creek, and walked around downtown Ephraim. We started to hit traffic heading into Sister Bay and decided to head back down the quieter side of the peninsula.
Cave Point Park (Sturgeon Bay, WI) – This little park is known for dramatic rock cliffs and the sound of waves crashing into the shoreline. The water was a striking blue-green. There were a few brave (or reckless) folks cliff jumping. A pretty stop!
Son of Skaliwags (Algoma, WI) – This place brands itself as a “five-star dive bar,” and it lived up to the hype. We ordered the crispy shrimp – with a creamy sauce that was outrageously good, and a lobster roll that totally delivered. Best food of the day, hands down. Bonus: we chatted with the owner and found out he grew up in Coastal Georgia – small world!
Kohler Waters Spa (Green Bay, WI) – Back at the hotel, I booked a spa treatment! I went for the Vichy shower hydrotherapy experience, which was amazing – and I say that as a self-declared spa snob. The water circuit setup included a hot tub, cold plunge, steam room, sauna, and a quiet relaxation space. Pricey – but totally worth it for a recharge day mid-road trip.
Taverne in the Sky (Green Bay, WI) – We had planned to head out for dinner, but an evening storm rolled in. Instead, we grabbed burgers at the rooftop bar upstairs – easy and solid, and honestly kind of nice to stay in.

UP Roadtrip: Day 9 & 10 – Green Bay, Wisconsin to Milwaukee, WI & South Haven, MI

We left Green Bay and spent one night in Milwaukee before heading around the southern edge of Lake Michigan. Crossed through Illinois and Indiana, then made our way back into Michigan.

Lambeau Field (Green Bay, WI) – Since we were staying next door, we stopped by for a quick visit. The Pro Shop and atrium are free to explore, and they offer stadium tours if you want to see the inside.
Whistling Straits Golf Course (Sheboygan, WI) – Championship-level links-style course owned by Kohler. We popped in for lunch at the Irish pub in the clubhouse – highly recommend the Irish cheeseburger. Beautiful views, even if you’re not golfing.
Kohler Design Center & Museum (Kohler, WI) – Great stop. Design museum on the lower level and full bathroom/kitchen vignettes upstairs. We also swung by their chocolate shop for some fancy sweets.
Milwaukee (WI) – Stayed at the Kimpton Journeyman in the Third Ward – stylish hotel, great location. Quick stops around town:
- American Science & Surplus – Total treasure trove of oddities and quirky gear.
- Drove by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Burnham Block.
- Grabbed cheese curds at the Public Market, then walked the Riverwalk to the Bronze Fonz.
SafeHouse (Milwaukee, WI) – Spy-themed restaurant. We had to pass a goofy dance test to get in (broadcast to the bar). Got briefly locked in a phone booth before escaping through a secret basement passage. Weird and fun.
Indiana Dunes National Park (Porter, IN) – Stopped to check out the Century of Progress homes from the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. Turquoise water, peaceful views, and even a muskrat sighting.
Notre Dame (South Bend, IN) – Parked and walked to see the stadium and “Touchdown Jesus.” Drove through campus to see the gold dome.
South Haven (MI) – Landed in town for an early dinner at Admiral Jack’s – walleye plate on the water. Strolled around downtown before staying at the Holiday Inn Express for the night.

UP Roadtrip: Day 11 – South Haven, MI to Toledo, Ohio

Ohio is state #46! Our last full day was a long but scenic drive across Michigan to spend one final night in Ohio before flying home. Final mileage count: 1,880 miles around Lake Michigan, through 5 states, starting and ending in Detroit.

Saugatuck (MI) – The cutest little artsy community tucked along the lake. We drove through early in the morning, so most shops weren’t open yet, but we grabbed coffee at Outside Coffee Co.– a fun outdoor cafe and shop setup.
Holland (MI) – Quick cruise through downtown and a stop at the park to see the iconic windmill across the water. We also popped into a local fabric store and the nearby Herman Miller Outlet, great for design nerds.
Grand Rapids (MI) – We passed by La Grande Vitesse, the bright red Alexander Calder sculpture downtown. It’s one of his most famous large-scale works and a major landmark in the city.
Meyer May House (Grand Rapids, MI) – A Frank Lloyd Wright home completed in 1909 and now owned by Steelcase. It’s been beautifully restored to match Wright’s original vision. Tours are free but usually booked up – we lucked into a spot thanks to a few no-shows. A true highlight if you’re into architecture.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (Grand Rapids, MI) – Beautiful grounds with both botanical gardens and an impressive sculpture collection. We grabbed lunch at the café (with a Chihuly sculpture overhead!) and walked over to see the bonsai trees. Short on time, we hopped on the tram tour, which covered a lot of ground and gave us a great overview. Highly recommend if you’re anywhere near Grand Rapids.
Lansing (MI) – Drove through the Michigan State University campus for a peek at the football stadium and, more importantly, a stop at the MSU Dairy Store for some ice cream.
Ann Arbor (MI) – An adorable college town with a fun vibe. We walked through downtown, browsed a few shops, and drove by the University of Michigan stadium before continuing on.
Toledo (OH) – Rolled into town after 8PM and checked in at The Vistula Rose, a charming B&B for our final night. We didn’t have time to explore much, but we managed to repack our bags (always a fun puzzle), get a good night’s rest, and enjoy breakfast with the innkeeper, Patrick, before heading to the Detroit airport.
This 1.5-week road trip around Lake Michigan was packed with scenery, quirky stops, and a whole lot of local flavor. Thanks for coming along for the ride!