Family friendly fun!

Looking for some family fun? Visit Thunder Falls family water park in Mackinaw City … with 12 water slides, wave pool and lazy river … and a special children's area with interactive water fun (www.thunderfallswaterpark.com).

The Huckleberry Railroad began in 1857 as part of the Flint Pierre Marquette Railroad Company. Climb aboard one of the historic coaches, for a nostalgic 45-minute train ride along the shores of Mott Lake through the scenic Genesee Recreation Area in Flint.
Photo credit: Travel Michigan

History comes alive at the Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad in Flint, where you can visit a living village from the 1800s. Costumed artisans, historic structures, even a steam-powered train and paddle wheel riverboat … special weekend events add to the fun in the summer, but look for fun Halloween and Christmas themed events, too (www.geneseecountyparks.org).

Looking for something different? Bring the family to Dixie Motor Speedway for Michigan's premier 4/10-mile, high-banked asphalt oval. Stock-car races are held every Friday night during the summer. Or, up in Bridgeport, visit the Junction Valley Railroad, the world's largest one-quarter size railroad train ride, featuring bridges, trestles, tunnels and roundhouse (www.jvrailroad.com).

For the adventuresome

Gaylord has beautiful parks in the downtown and surrounding area. For mountain bikers, look for Aspen Park, featuring 100 acres of woods, and paved and unpaved trails.

The world famous AuSable and Manistee Rivers near Grayling have no rocks or rapids, just a slow current and crystal clear water. Canoe or kayak through the beautiful forests on rivers designed for beginners, couples or families.

Golfing opportunities are plentiful in the area, with a variety of courses for every skill level. Like to watch the pros? Michigan’s only PGA Tour event, the Buick Open, is held in this region. Visit Grand Blanc’s Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in early August to join the excitement. Call 800-878-OPEN for a schedule of events.

The new Saginaw Valley Rail Trail is a 10-mile long linear county park for hiking, bicycling, walking, jogging and horseback riding in the summer, and open for cross-country skiers in the winter months.

For outdoor lovers and history buffs

At the very top of Michigan’s lower peninsula is one of the best places to visit in Michigan if you’re a history buff. In Mackinaw City, you can explore Colonial Michilimackinac, a reconstructed French fur-trading village and military outpost, featuring re-enactments from the British occupation in the 1770s. You’ll also want to see the Old Mackinac Lighthouse and Historic Mill Creek, a reconstructed, fully operational 18th century water-powered sawmill, nestled in a 625-acre wooded setting with nature trails and forest management displays (www.mackinacparks.com).

For an up-close view of Northern Michigan wildlife, head to Gaylord and stop at the elk-viewing area at the end of Grandview Boulevard (just east across South Otsego Avenue from Wisconsin Street).

The rich environment of the Saginaw Bay is at the crossroads of the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways and is a favorite destination for large flocks of migrating birds and waterfowl. More than 200 species of song birds, shore birds and waterfowl can be found in the Tobico Marsh, accessed through the Bay City State Recreation Area, making it a nationally recognized birding hot spot. Another good birding spot is the River’s End Wetland Nature Trail where you’re likely to see Great Egrets, Bald Eagles and Spotted Sandpipers.

For the outdoor enthusiast, this region is filled with opportunities for fishing and hunting. The AuSable River near Grayling is one of the finest trout fisheries in the nation. Trophy brown trout, brook trout, and steelhead are caught in exceptional numbers each year. Plentiful state land in this area, combined with various types of terrain yield trophy-sized bucks, snowshoe hares, turkey and waterfowl.

The Midwest’s only free ranging elk herd lives within the Pigeon River Forest in Gaylord. Visit the elk-viewing area at the end of Grandview Boulevard and you just might see one up close.
Photo credit: Charles Cook

Shop ’til you drop

The Midwest’s largest outlet center is located right here in Northeast Michigan, in the Saginaw Valley. Visit the Prime Outlets in Birch Run for first-class shopping from 180 stores featuring apparel, shoes, gifts and home furnishings, including newly opened factory stores Coach and Pottery Barn (www.primeoutlets.com).

Frankenmuth’s downtown offers a variety of unique shops and attractions, including Rau’s Country Store, featuring your favorite dime store candies (www.frankenmuth.org). And for Christmas themed shopping, there’s no better place than the world’s largest Christmas store, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. Over 50,000 trimmings, gifts and collectibles can be found in this Frankenmuth attraction (www.bronners.com).

Shoppers will also take pleasure in combing the downtown district in Gaylord, filled with distinctive shops and unique merchandise.

Festival fun

The Au Sable River Festival in Grayling runs for 10 days in July. Fun-filled events include music in the park, a car show, arts and crafts, children’s day, canoe races, food and a 10k run.

Enjoy a rib cook-off along the Saginaw River in Bay City at the Pig Gig Ribfest. Held each August, the event features live national entertainment, children’s activities and family fun that will delight young and old alike. Rib competition, celebrity cook-off, lumberjack show, watercraft races and sand sculptures are some of the activities.

The Frankenmuth Oktoberfest is held each September and incorporates the sights, sounds, taste, and rousing “Gemutlichkeit” of the old country. (There’s no direct English translation for “Gemutlichkeit,” but refers to the warm feeling one receives from pleasant surroundings). Prepare yourself for non-stop music and dancing, amusement rides for the kids, delicious food, and of course, authentic German beer.