If youre going now, check out some of the many craft breweries along the way Greenbush (Sawyer, MI), New Holland (Holland, MI), Founders (Grand Rapids, MI), Right Brain, Workshop, & North Peak (Traverse City, MI), Shorts (Bellaire, MI), 3 Floyds (Munster, IN) and tour the not-so-small Miller brewery in Milwaukee! Now I know what youre thinkingand the answer is yes, hitting triple digit speeds in a hailstorm is super stupid. The Lake Michigan Circle Tour (LMCT) enters Illinois at Winthrop Harbor in northeastern Lake County and continues south through Zion, Waukegan, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Winnetka and Evanston. It is just before the Shell station up on a hill. Most will budget a 4day long weekend to allow plenty of time to explore and stop at the almost endless stream of small towns and scenic over looks. Also, since theres a lot to do here, I think it warrants more time and thus a separate visit. I hope you found it helpful for planning your own road trip. You can get around best without a car, and parking is really expensive. There are no cars allowed on the island, due in part to an 1898 ban on horseless carriages that has remained unchanged. Its proximity to Canada, heavily forested hills, and lack of decent cell service make it feel like youre at the ends of the earth. Eight miles. Must-visit stops along the Lake Michigan Circle Tour I am also going to suggest a side trip to Beaver Island, Michigan which is the largest inhabited island in Lake Michigan, with a year round population. And dont miss one of the famous fish boils, a Door County specialty! The route through the U.P. Lake Michigan Circle Tour - No Reservations - Gregg Eldred As for photos . We went up to Sault Ste. I went Mossy Oak, like a real local. They say the UP is no place for weenies. Which stops would you cut out while traveling with kids? Evolution Of A Two-Stroke Beast, Pucker Up: Unexpected Changes In Road Surface, Track Day At COTA, Circuit Of The Americas. In St Ignace, the Lake Michigan Circle Tourcontinues westerly along US-2 for more than 140 miles through Manistique and Gladstone to Escanaba. After passing through Traverse City, you will continue north along the Traverse Bay and on toCharlevoix. Id say that the majority of this itinerary is actually super kid-friendly, especially if you go at your own pace and leave some extra room to stop between cities. You wont be disappointed. It follows M-26 to Houghton and then follows US 41 north to Copper Harbor. Motorcycle Cruiser may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Then, its on to Marinette, Wisconsins northernmost point on the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. Mackinac Island was founded in 1780 and occasionally, it seems like time has stopped completely. Ludington State Park. Traveling between Ludington Mi and Manitowoc Wi., the S.S. Badger can handle up to 620 passengers and well over 150 vehicles. At Manitowoc, the circle tour leaves I-43 at Exit 149 and continues into downtown via US-151. The envisioned "Tri-Modal Corridor" would . Another memorable motorcycle tour in fall is the Great Divide National Scenic Byway that takes travelers through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin. The black Gore pants were a welcomed new addition picked up just a month before. Youll find the Lake Michigan Circle Tour route below. Taken mid-trip, these two are out of sync but make a perfect starting point. Today the lights are automated and guide fishing boats and other pleasure craft to safety. Hello. State of Indiana Historical Marker: You wont be needing your passport for this single-nation circle tour. Two ramps on U.S. 31 in Berrien County to close | WWMT Wisconsin Highways: Other Routes: Lake Michigan Circle Tour I currently live in Chicago, where Ive been for several years. ichuge it is not a good idea to post your e-mail address. Lake Michigan Circle Route - Ride with GPS We knew it too. Catch the sunset at the Grand Haven State Park Lighthouse, then head over to the Musical Fountain in town (it plays nightly at dusk). Two ramps on US 31 in Berrien County are permanently closing on Friday.The Michigan Department of Transportation is closing the two loop ramps at exit 5, that's Take your time as you make the journey along the coast and around the Door County peninsula. Thats all we covered before having to pull over under an overpass and toss on our rain gear. Upgrade now. On day 6 of our Lake Michigan circle itinerary, youll cross into our fourth and final state Wisconsin. As a lifelong Mighigander, I have a few must see places that I visit whenever I vacation on the Lake Michigan shoreline: The shoreline of the Upper Peninsula is a glorious piece of . Bikers like the drive as it offers many places to turn off for a rest, find a biker friendly place to eat, or take a bit of shelter during a storm. For more descriptions of our favorite motorcycle rides and destinations, visit the Rides and Destinations section of MotorcycleCruiser.com. A Tale of Two Lakes: Riding the Great Lakes Circle Tour Lake Michigan Circle Tour by motorcycle from Chicago this We With its rich blue waters, white sand beaches and nothing but water on the horizon, its easy to see why this town is called the Caribbean of the North. One more trip to Walmart brought about a tough decision: Real Tree or Mossy Oak. To save some money, take the ferry back over to the mainland and stay in Mackinaw City or St. Ignace for the night. Treat Yourself To The 9 Best Scenic Drives In Michigan - OnlyInYourState South of downtown is the excellent Hearthstone restaurant, from which you can easily get back to US-31. Manistee is also considered the gateway to one of the most prized stretches of road in all of the Midwest; M-22 of Northern Michigan. The city is well known for itscraft breweries. A Motorcycling Human Idiot Might Write Your Next Riding War Story, Wreck to Reckoning: Coping With Rider Fear. Well known locally as the home of the historic Ramsdall Theater and beautiful 2-mile river walk stretch. Along the way, youll drive through the Tunnel of Trees, one of the most scenic routes that feels like youre getting swallowed by all the nature around you. Note: Hotels on Mackinac Island are notoriously expensive. 4) The Omelette Shoppe in Traverse City Because Nick is a fellow to follow if its adventure you want, and one to avoid at all costs if its not. A 45-minute drive from Inspiration Point will bring you the main attraction of the day, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The current Apache Trail links Apache Junction at the edge of the Greater Phoenix . There are a few stairs to reach the top, so make sure to wear some comfortable shoes! It makes you look funny, and even though literally no oneNO ONEcares what you look like when youre hurtling down a remote highway at a mile-a-minute in pissing rain, its still funny. End your week-long trip right where you started the Windy City, one of the greatest big cities in the world! The eastern coast of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin boasts about the same number, including a wonderful cluster in Door County. Your email address will not be published. Spend a day or a week exploring this lakeside road. Wed run the final stretch of pitch black highway at an average speed of 90 plus, tipping the ton whenever the wind died down long enough. With 142 miles to go before the designated lunch spot, we posed for a few last second photos and Adventure Dad and Cool Guy set off. Yeah it feels just as silly now as it did then. For getting to Tortilla Flat from Yuma, follow W 19 th St and S 4 th Ave to the US- 95N/W 16 th St. Be aware that last minute hotel (and campground / State Park) reservations in tourist areas (along the water) are often hard to come by on weekends and during holiday weeks (which would be this week and next week). The Lake Michigan Circle Tour enters Michigan from Indiana on US-12 south of New Buffalo and proceeds northerly through New Buffalo to I-94. When you get to Mackinaw City, youll need to take the ferry over to Mackinac Island (pronounced like Mack-i-naw). Pere Marquette beach there is indeed beautiful. The link above is from a Google search. Route: Buckle up for your nearly five-hour ride to what many call The North Coast (tacking on an hour for Eastern Standard Time), following I-90 E all the way. Fun fact: the Indiana Dunes just became a National Park in February of 2019, making it the third-newest park after White Sands (December 2019) and New River Gorge (December 2020)! Chicago Summer Activities: The 21 Best Things to Eat, See, and Do, Winter in Chicago: The Best Things to Eat, See, and Do. If you have some time, make a quick detour to Grand Rapids there, you can check out the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, appreciate art at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, and have a drink at one of the many breweries. A Late Season Lake Michigan Circle Tour | Motorcycle Cruiser Indiana Dunes National Park. Any recommendations for best roads / sights along way? In northern metropolitan Milwaukee, the LMCT joins I-43/STH-32/STH-57 heading northerly into Ozaukee Co. At Grafton, the tour departs I-43 to remain on STH-32 and continues through Port Washington. The State of Michigan has signed each of the circle tours for the Great Lakes the state touches: the Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior Circle Tours. Ohio Bike Week The Shores of Lake Erie Get Riders Going Early! The trip includes; chase vehicle support, hotel accommodations and of course fantastic riding with a fun group. Next up is Wisconsins oldest settlement, Green Bay. It was windy as all get out. Let me just say, Lake Michigan is absolutely beautiful and the beaches and clear water made for some great swimming! Their historical significance, as well as their various shapes and colors, makes a lighthouse run a fascinating destination. If you can, allocate a few days to picturesque Door County, WI. Chicago. The road gently curves along the Lake Superior shore line with water on your right, and towering virgin timber covered hills on your left. For many, the Circle Tour is an opportunity to seek out an unrivaled collection of historical LIGHTHOUSES. I loved this info and grew up 50 miles north of Chicago in Zion. Evolution Of A Two-Stroke Beast, Pucker Up: Unexpected Changes In Road Surface, Track Day At COTA, Circuit Of The Americas. Use our Scenic Drive Finder and Road Trip Planner to easily create custom road trips. Indiana is but a blip on the Circle Tour, passing through industrial Gary (birthplace of Michael Jackson), then onto Dunes Highway near the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. So what'd we do? 4 Days 1,000 Miles and All the Blueberries you can eat! From breakfast at the Grand Traverse Pie Company to Asian-inspired food at Alliance Restaurant, theres no shortage of great places to grab a bite. Petoskeys downtown overlooks Lake Michigan and offers terrific shopping. http://www.historyillinois.org/HistoricalMarkers.aspx Continue the tour by heading north out of LUDINGTON along US-31 and into the Victorian Port of Manistee. I love the city, but its probably not the best place to visit on this driving tour. Our original post about the Lake Michigan Circle Tour is one of the first long distance motorcycle trips we covered back in 2014. http://www.motorcycleroads.com/75/721/Michigan/Michigans-Central-Lake-Michigan-Scenic-Tour.html. Now he was head to toe in size way-too-big camo. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The Wisconsin leg of the tour starts at the Illinois border and moves north on Wisconsin Highway 32 alongside picturesque Lake Michigan. Built in 1874, this lighthouse is a great place to take in the grandeur of Lake Michigan and the surrounding sand dunes. The first is to complete it all at once. Look to ride my motorcycle around Lake Michigan this week, leaving (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Diabolic Technologic: Do Rider Aids Actually Help? But its also super fun. Many lighthouse keepers inhabited these structures, or lived nearby and walked the dangerous catwalks out to the light. We just chose to ignore it. Nothing is off-limits on the circle tour. It also shows most of the Lake Michigan Lighthouses on the route. I went for a walk to shake off the spill and see if in fact there was a grave yard. At Scottville, the circle tour turns northerly again to follow US-31 toward Manistee, although a locally-designated Lake Michigan Circle TourLoop Route formerly continued east on US-10 into downtown, then northerly via Old US-31 back to US-31 and the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake thats entirely inside the United States! Northern Lake Michigan Circle Tour - Motorcycle Rides While there is no wrong answer, few will argue that the September-October season is the most inspiring time to make the trip; providing a glimpse of the changing colors of Fall and the promise of almost perfect riding weather. At Exit 23, the route exits I-94 and continues northerly into downtown St Joseph via BL I-94. Tour the area waterfalls before crossing into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. There are two ways to tackle this 900-mile, 14.5-hour drive. Thanks! The Upper Peninsula let us out alive only because I asked nicely. Southwest of Sturgeon Bay, the tour continues southwesterly via STH-57 into Green Bay. We were wet. The first is to complete it all at once. You can pay any unpaid tolls after the fact on the. Spend the morning here either relaxing by the beach or doing something a bit more active. Please enable JavaScript or upgrade your browser. Explore 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan featuring a unique ecosystem with native birds and plants. You can fly there from Charlevoix airport (15mins) or take the ferry from Charlevoix (2 and 1/2 hours) leave your car in Charlevoix you can rent a car (advance reservation suggested or rent a bike). From St. Josephs North Pier Light in southwestern Michigan all the way up to McGulpin Point Lighthouse at the Straits of Mackinac.the western coast of Michigan is home to about 35 lighthouses. Between Mackinaw City and St Ignace, the Lake Michigan Circle Touris jointed by the Lake Huron Circle Tour. Lake Michigan Circle Tour - Great Lakes Circle Tour Why not drive around Lake Michigan? Stop in Petoskeys downtown, which overlooks Lake Michigan and offers terrific shopping, then continue on to Mackinaw City. (NOTE: The Lake Michigan Circle TourLoop route through Scottville was removed/decommissioned some time in late 2004 or early 2005 and no longer exists.). Nick approached with caution and a shit-eating grin. Most Lake Michigan lighthouses were built in the 1800s when ship traffic was at its heaviestespecially during the lumbering era. My near neon orange coat has long been a standby. Specifically, since the last week of August, 2016. Your email address will not be published. Afterwards, stop by the nearby town of Michigan City, IN for lunch at Shoreline Brewery. Just a topple. Lake Michigan is the largest freshwater lake in the U.S., and the sixth largest in the world. Our Lake Michigan Circle Tour ride took five days instead of four. The route continues northerly via I-43 from Sheboygan to Manitowoc. There are several opinions as to the best time of the year to take the Circle Tour, as well as which direction to travel; thru Michigan first and back around through Wisconsin or clockwise heading along the lakes west coast first. Motorcycle Touring Around Lake Michigan | Motorcycle Cruiser Although not quite as scenic as Michigans side of the lake, youll be sure to soak in some beautiful views along the way regardless. I agree with StrangTripper - three nights doesn't leave much time to check things out. Get West Michigan Travel News, Events and Specials delivered to your inbox. So we did as anyone in need of last minute supplies and something to take their mind off the impending doom does: go to Walmart. Plan now at www.WindyCityMotorcycleTours.com or call Tim Farrell at (630)834-6571 for full details. This guide will help you map the perfect itinerary with suggested food, lodging, hikes, waterfalls, cruises, lighthouses, and more outdoor activities. In Sister Bay, the Lake Michigan Circle Tourturns back southwesterly via STH-42 through Egg Harbor to Sturgeon Bay once again. Next we arrive in Door County, the Cape Cod of the Midwest, for a classic Wisconsin fish . From Chicago, drive 45 minutes over the state line to the Indiana Dunes. The route continues south on US-41 through Menominee and enters Wisconsin at Marinette. Next up is Milwaukee. The route continues northerly from Scottville and through Manistee on US-31. Simply leave your camper or RV on the mainland and head over for the day or even overnight. Today, youll do some sightseeing and finish off strong with some hearty Chicagoan food. After your morning pick-me-up, continue driving north until you reach Inspiration Point. Upper Peninsula Travel Itineraries - Circle Michigan This site uses cookies to provide you with the best onsite experience. The Lake Michigan Circle is one of the quintessential, must-do American road trips. Town . There are two ways to tackle this 900-mile, 14.5-hour drive. It was named the Apache Trail after the Native American Indians who originally used this trail to migrate through the Superstition Mountains for over 1,000 years. The Dunes Highway continues on to Michigan City (which is actually in Indiana), then into the Great Lakes State. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Chicago in particular is a really family-friendly city. Apache Trail Scenic Drive - Tripadvisor (Side note: It was right about here when I realized by bike in fact came equipped with heated gripsa feature that would have been REALLY nice to know of just 20 hours earlier.). While the Lake Michigan Circle Tourremains on I-196/US-31 at Saugatuck/Douglas, a locally-designated Lake Michigan Circle TourHarbor Tour loop route is signed concurrently with A-2/Blue Star Hwy between Exits 36 and 41. It felt nice, for 5 minutes. That sounds like an awesome trip! Today, youll leave the Lower Peninsula and cross over the Mackinac Bridge to Michigans Upper Peninsula. The short stretch of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour through Illinois travels along Route 137 and then joins Lakeshore Drive (US-41) right at the Lake Michigan coastline through the suburbs of Chicago. At Escanaba, the circle tour continues southwesterly via M-35 along the Green Bay shoreline to Menominee. Im just trying to research easy places to stay for a night or two on the trip. Begin with a tour of Lambeau Field and the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Continue up to the Tip of the Mitt to Mackinaw City. Follow US 2 west through Manistique, Gladstone, and Escanaba, South of Escanaba, you will follow M-35 to Menominee where US-41 carries you into Wisconsin. Biking is a popular way to get around the island, as are horse-drawn carriages. When planning a trip to the Mackinaw Bridge/ Soo Locks area of the eastern UP, this is a must. And rainy. CIRCLE MICHIGAN; P.O. Michigans Upper Peninsula (aka the U.P.). 4 h 45 m. 304 mi. This itinerary assumes that youre starting in Chicago, but you can start from any part of the circle! For more beaches, historical museums and boating fun, stop at the next city over, Manitowoc. Have fun on the road! Head south down I-43 Sheboygan and into Milwaukee. I certainly wouldnt call myself one, nor Nick, but man, I sure left US 2 with my tail between my legs. Diabolic Technologic: Do Rider Aids Actually Help? Your email address will not be published. A few more fun, winding roads too. Please wait, the navigation is being prepared. Just Announced: Comedian Lewis Black at the Kalamazoo State Theatre, Legendary award-winning comedian Lewis Black makes his triumphant return to the Kalamazoo State Theatre on Friday, November 10, 2023, as part of hisOff The Railstour. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. doing this ride in 3 days/nites is a bit ambitious.not to mention, if you do manage to do it, you won't have any time to see anything.. sleeping bear dunes in nw MI is definitely worth a few hours. you might wanna look into taking the ferry across the big lake from wisc to michigan since you've already covered MI up to grand haven.. usually, i recommend the ss badger ferry, but for what you wanna do, i think the lake express ferry might be a better fit be advised, the L-E ferry is about 150 bucks, one way for 1 bike and 1 rider.badger is about 100 bucks for the same. either way, IMO, it's worth it, especially since it will cut out the nightmare that is chicago traffic and its crazy cagers. it makes even more sense if you live north TRUST ME.
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