Archive for the ‘Michigan Vacation’ Category

Finding An Exciting Water Park Hotel In Michigan

So it’s time to plan the next fun family vacation. What types of recreational activities would everyone enjoy, and where are the travel locations that fit into your household budget?

If you want to take the kids to an indoor water park hotel, Michigan has the most out of any other state. For some reason, Michigan has become a hotspot for indoor water parks and is home to seven such hotels, with plans for another two. The majority are close to the border and very family-focused.

For a listing of the most popular hotels in Michigan that include indoor water parks, keep reading.

Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, MI

Great Wolf Lodge is a chain of hotels with locations throughout the United States and Canada. They offer seriously massive indoor water parks along with family-focused suites. For example, you can reseRVe a room that has a separate area with bunk beds for the kids along with a full-size bed for mom and dad.

Great Wolf’s biggest drawback, though, is the price. For a family of four, you should expect to pay close to $300 a night for a family suite. You’ll also be paying for meals on top of this, so budget accordingly. And, if you plan to travel to a Great Wolf Lodge over a holiday weekend or during the summer holidays, then book early and expect a crowd.

The Gold Rush Water Park

About five miles from Lake Michigan and in close proximity to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, the Double JJ Ranch and Resort offers an indoor water park hotel, Michigan wilderness and lots of outdoor activities for the kids.

You’ll pay less than what you would at other water park hotels and resorts in the area, but the rooms are definitely smaller and somewhat outdated. You’ll typically pay around $150 for a room.

The Boyne Mountain Resort and the Avalanche Bay Water Park

The Boyne Mountain Resort is unique in that it combines a ski resort with an incredible water park and on-site spa. So, dad can spend the day skiing, mom can hit the spa and the older kids can enjoy a day at the water park. In the summer, you’ll also find hiking and biking trails along with a public golf course with reasonable green fees.

At Boyne Mountain, there are two accommodation options. These include the budget rooms at Boyne Mountain (starting at $75) and also higher-end rooms in the Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa. These rooms are directly connected to the water park for easy access.

If you’re looking for an indoor water park hotel, Michigan clearly has numerous options that can appeal to any family at almost any budget. From high-end to budget-friendly, these three hotels represent the best of each.

Organizing For Preferred Group Vacation Spots In Michigan

Are you looking for creative family vacation ideas this year? A fun trip that all ages will enjoy? Perhaps you’re interested in an enjoyable vacation time at a lesser-known destination that requires travel.

If so, keep reading for a list of some of the best family-friendly destinations in the state of Michigan.

The Air Zoo

For your next family vacation in Michigan – or even if you’ve never yet visited – let your kids explore a replica of the international Space Station, learn about the Wright brothers’ first flight, climb aboard a flight simulator and enjoy many educational and fun rides about the maRVel of flying.

The Air Zoo is sponsored in part by the Smithsonian and is designed to be both a museum relating to flight and also a family entertainment center that focuses on education as well. It’s located in Portage, Michigan and open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Tickets can be expensive though. Expect to pay $19.50 for an adult admission ticket and about $15.50 for a child’s admission. Kids under the age of five can enter for free. If you’re on a budget, then try purchasing your tickets at least three days in advance from the Air Zoo website. You’ll save 10% off the ticket price, which can be a significant savings for large families.

Ford Museum

The Henry Ford Museum isn’t all about Henry Ford. Rather, it’s about the American experience and a long history of ingenuity and commerce. The target audience is children and young adults, but there are numerous activities and resources for adults too. The curators focus on interactive and fun exhibits that capture kids’ imagination and make learning fun.

The museum is open every day of the year, excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Expect to pay $14 for an adult admission, $13 for a senior’s admission, $10 for a youth entrance and nothing for children under the age of 5. For more information, you can visit their website at thehenryford.org.

Indoor Water Park hotels

Michigan has the most indoor water parks of any other states in the country. From the infamous Gold Rush to the Great Wolf Lodges, Michigan is packed with hotels that feature massive indoor water playgrounds that are open during all four seasons.

Expect to pay more than you would at a standard hotel, but enjoy the benefits of relaxing by the pool while your kids are entertained with water sports and fun.

Corn Mazes

Michigan state is known for its fall corn mazes. If you’re taking a Michigan family vacation this autumn, be sure to stop at some of the country’s largest corn mazes. In Williamston, you can find a 20-acre corn maze (visit bestmaze.com for details). So, visit Michigan this autumn and get lost in the fun.

Michigan Family Vacation – Apples, Wine And Lighthouses

It’s not often that you head out on a vacation planning to hit up the local farms, but in Michigan you might just want to. Michigan is one of the top apple-producing states in the U.S., and is known for being home to hundreds of farmers markets and cider mills. Just about any region in Michigan will have a farm or mill for you and the family to stop in for a bit. Enjoy fresh apple cider and tours of working farms to find out where these fruits come from before they hit your local grocery store. Of course, because there is much more to do than visit apple farms, your Michigan family vacation will be jam-packed with fun for everyone.

Michigan Coast Dotted with Over a Hundred Lighthouses

Michigan Light HouseMichigan is the only state in the United States to be bordered by four great lakes. Because of this, its coast is dotted with over a hundred lighthouses, all with unique features and some with very interesting back stories. Though many of the lighthouses are still in use, others have been abandoned and others still are in the process of renovation. Though you may not be able to tour all of them, the few that do offer tours or that have museums are usually worth stopping to see. Even if you just stop for a few photos, lighthouses make fantastic pictures, especially when you can tell admirers that you took them yourself.

Stop at Any One of Fifty Wineries and Vineyards

To continue with some of the agricultural gifts that the state of Michigan has to offer, be sure to make a few stops at any one of its nearly fifty wineries and vineyards during your vacation. Some offer tours of the entire process from haRVesting the grapes to the final product, while others are simply tasting rooms showcasing some of the magnificent wines that Michigan has to offer. Even if you are traveling with children, it’s still a great place to stop. They may find it very interesting to see the acres upon acres of perfectly lined-up vines and to see machinery that assists in the process.

Several Amusement and Water Parks to Choose From

After you’ve dragged your precious little angels through apple farms, countless lighthouses and a handful of wineries, it may be time to do something special for them. Michigan has several amusement parks and water parks to choose from, depending upon where you are. Of course the water parks will only be operational during the warm summer months, but if you’re in Michigan during this time, have at it. There is the A-Maze-N Mirrors in Mackinaw City in which you will find yourself mystified and maybe a little lost in a – that’s right, maze made of mirrors. In Ossineke, stop by the Dinosaur Gardens to see a reproduction of nearly thirty prehistoric birds and dinosaurs. Even play a little miniature golf while you’re there.

Cedric Agravante is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vacation-Fun.com. He provides more resources on topics such as Michigan family vacation, Bahamas fishing vacation and Hawaiian vacation packages that you can research on his website even while lounging in your living room.