While on a driving tour along the Au Sable River, Hannah Agran, Midwest Living assistant travel editor and Michigan Travel Ideas contributor, spends the night at the North Branch Outing Club near Grayling and tries her hand at fly fishing.

My husband Juan and I are somewhere north of Grayling, our cell signal fading, the sky darkening. If my printed directions fail us, who we will ask for help? Before I can answer, we see a rambling old place with a welcoming porch and warm glow from the windows. Judy Fuller pushes open the screen door to meet us.

The North Branch Outing Club once welcomed Henry Ford, Ernest Hemingway and Thomas Edison. Like us, they came to pull trout from the cold, clear stream that flows south past the inn to the Au Sable River. The Fullers bought and restored the lodge in 1997, creating a rustic retreat that breathes history and old-fashioned hospitality. (Yellowed photos of gents in waders hang in the stairwell; jars of pretzels and penny candy line the kitchen counter.) Judy sends us to bed with gingersnaps, and the gurgle of the North Branch sings us to sleep.

The next morning, we tug waders over our sneakers while Todd Fuller, Judy’s son and our guide, drags a flat-bottomed wood boat to the stream. He paddles; we soak in the beauty. Yellow iris bloom on postage-stamp islands. Birds twitter. A blue heron rises from the reeds. We wade into the stream, and Todd shows us how to loop the rod through the air, flick our wrists to mend the line, and watch where the current carries the fly.

Something nibbles, Todd shouts, I stumble backward in my oversize waders, and Juan’s laughter rings out over the water. I feel like a fool, but the trout is beautiful, speckled blue, green and orange in the palm of my hand. He doesn’t flop wildly, but seems strangely at peace with his predicament. Maybe he knows that if he waits just a minute—long enough for me to marvel—I’ll put him right back where he came from, in the cold, clear north branch of the Au Sable River.

Did Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, men who made their livings harnessing nature’s power, feel the same awe at such a tiny creature? Todd sure does. Squinting in the sun as he takes in the scene, he says, “I’ve seen a fish on a fly a billion times, but I still love every one of them.”

Hannah is the assistant travel editor at Midwest Living magazine and loves exploring the Sunrise Side of Michigan.

Thanks to Jennifer Rees for sharing the story of her U.P adventure!

Every year, my husband rides his bike from Cedar Springs to Mackinaw City. Every year my sister, kids, and I take a trip ‘Up North’ to pick him up. This year, the group my husband rides with decided that 285 miles just wasn’t quite enough. They got to Mackinaw and kept right on going.  In fact, they went all the way to Grand Marais.

Meanwhile, we had an adventure of our own.

We headed up to Leland, where the first order of business was a stop at Carlson’s for A.P.’s favorite food – smoked fish. When we asked him how it was, he couldn’t even stop eating long enough to use words. 

We hung out on the waterfront for a while then strolled around town. After a fun afternoon, we headed to Petoskey for the night, where my husband was.  In the morning we went to the Oden fish hatchery.  We couldn’t believe there was no charge! There was, however, a gift shop. The kids came away with patches, a book about animal ‘scat and tracks’, and “I’m A Michigan Kid Passports” which, really, should be issued to every child born in our state.

There hatchery has walking trails, an interpretive museum in an old box car, and an underground stream viewing area. The highlight was the trout feeding. For a dime, we got a handful of Trout Chow and I don’t mean to bruise any fish egos but it’s time for these guys to be finding their own dinner. They were fat. Still, my kids scrounged up about $2.00 in dimes and contributed to the Trout Obesity problem.

Back in the car, we headed up to the Soo.  I have to say that although I completely appreciate having a bridge to the Upper Peninsula; I hate actually driving across it. But, the U.P. is worth the white knuckles. We headed straight for the Locks and hopped on a boat tour. It was fun to watch the kids try and grasp where the water went, where it came from, and how it all came worked.

The next morning we headed to Munising for the Pictured Rocks boat tour. It was stunning. And windy, but mostly stunning.

From there we drove back to Grand Marais, where we met up with my husband and his biker buddies. We’d all had an incredible journey were happy to be reunited in such a special place. We ate dinner with friends, then went to Lake Superior Brewing Company for a beer. We went to the beach and watched the sun set over Lake Superior. The next morning, we checked out the Gitchee Gumee Agate and History Museum, and headed to Taqhamenon Falls.

We ate lunch at the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery where, naturally, we had pasties.

We cannot wait to get back and re-visit these places, and also to discover new ones. We’re proud to be raising Michigan Kids, and thankful that a vacation like this is so close to home.

Jennifer Rees is a stay at home mom of two young children in Grand Rapids.  Jennifer writes at  TheBigBinder.com, a blog about raising kids in Grand Rapids who are active, involved, and culturally aware.

Thank you to Jess Venlet for reminding us of how important it is sometimes to slow down and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.   

Last summer I traveled to Northern Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Lakeshore for the first time ever. I was making the trip with my boyfriend, and my excitement dwindled as we drove. We took the scenic way. Gas was running low. We were behind schedule by an hour. My boyfriend was singing every song on the radio. And just as it felt like we would never get there, just as I almost threw myself from the car (from the singing!)—I caught a glimpse of my sulky reflection in the rearview mirror. 

Was I actually complaining that we took the scenic way? Did we even have a schedule? It’s not like the dunes were going to blow away. 

Our “schedule” consisted of arriving at the dune climb area of the lakeshore, and completing the walk to Lake Michigan. Though we were “late” we did get there eventually. We paid ten dollars for a park pass, parked, and stepped out of the car a bit surprised. Looming in front of us was the first climb. The people on top looked small. It’s over a mile to reach the water. But no big deal, right? We are young. We are athletic. Let’s do this! 

Dune after dune…after dune…after dune I eagerly anticipated Lake Michigan. Each time we climbed up I expected to see the lake just yards away. But at the top of each dune, the only thing in close distance was sand. Way up in the distance, Lake Michigan glistened with the familiar dark blue I had seen many times before at Pere Marquette Beach in Muskegon. 

The view from the top

I tried my best not to complain, but my excitement was again dwindling. And is he humming? Is he going to sing more? Why am I still slugging through sand to reach such a familiar lake? But each time I looked back, I decided that I had come too far to quit. The sun was shining; the air was warm and breezy. It is a beautiful day. 

Forty-five minutes of walking later, my jaw dropped. Chilling waves of intense calm washed over me, erupting my skin into tingles. I do not consider myself religious, but that first glimpse of the waters surrounding the Manitou islands was unbelievably spiritual. 

Turquoise water. Glimmering rocks, not wet with water, but shining pinkish from a natural glitter deep within them. For a moment I could imagine nature untouched by human development. 

The lighthouse on South Manitou Island

Sitting, dune grass swaying behind him, my boyfriend leaned back to relax. I waded into the turquoise, letting it lap up at my knees and shorts. Gazing towards South Manitou Island—a thin, sleepy haze blanketing it—the island seemed the epitome of patience. 

On the walk back, I didn’t think about the schedule. Dune after dune after dune spoke to me as we climbed. This time I listened. They said, “slow down,” as my feet slipped backward in warm sand. They firmly said, “shut up!” to negative, busy thoughts. They softly murmured, “isn’t this magic?”

“Yeah,” I replied, “I think this is.”

Jess is a recent graduate of Aquinas College, an aspiring writer, a runner, and a beach bum. She grew up in Conklin, MI, and now lives and works in Grand Rapids. You can share your comments and thoughts with her on Twitter (@JessVenlet), or by leaving a comment below.

As Michigan Travel Ideas editors and writers hit the roads of the Great Lakes state in search of their own “Michigan Moments,” Terri Ketcham, Michigan Travel Ideas Associate Art Director, shares hers from a trip she took to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The breathtaking view from overlook Number 9 at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

At the end of a long day of scouting in and around Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, my group (which includes Joan, our project manager and Jason, our photographer and Talia, his assistant) finds ourselves at overlook Number 9 at sunset. Most visitors have left for the day and it’s really quiet. As we admire the scenery, I think about the signage we passed that piqued my interest:  

 Warning: Steep Bluff: 450 foot drop to Lake Michigan. Return climb is extremely exhausting. Do not run. Do not throw rocks.

I lean over to Talia and whisper that I am considering trying the climb. “You can do it,” she says, “Jason did it once.” That’s all I need to hear.

I quietly leave the group and slowly make my way down the dune. About halfway I get a little scared, it’s getting dark and I am alone! I sit to think.

“OK Terri, you can do this. Look at all of those tracks, you certainly are not the first here! Lots of people accomplish this everyday… Maybe I should go back up? I am only halfway and all I can see is sky and sand. What if I can’t make it? What if they have to call in a rescue mission? I would never, ever hear the end of that one back at the office!”

After 10 minutes I decide to continue even though I fear it will take me hours to return to the top. And then, I hear something scurrying around me.

A view of the shoreline at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the South Manitou Lighthouse. Photo by Jason Lindsey.

“Oh no. What is that?”

I look up and begin to make out little heads popping out from everywhere as kids begin to rain down all around me. Scampering, laughing, giggling! What has taken me what seems like an eternity, they are accomplishing in mere minutes!

We all meet at the waters edge and I learn the kids are from a church youth group in Hudson, Michigan. They quickly inform me it does not “count” unless you dip your hand in the water. “Well, OK then,” as I splash the water. But then I look up the dune and my stomach drops. I should have gone back when I had the chance.

I have the good fortune to overhear one of the youth leaders coaching a boy on how to get up the dune—climb like a crab. Go about 10 big strides and then stop and rest.

We make our way up the sand dune and are welcomed by a small cheering crowd. I did it! No rescue mission for me!

I’m thinking I should have a T-shirt made…

Terri Ketcham is the Associate Art Director for Michigan Travel Ideas magazine. She is responsible for the photography, design and production prep work needed to get the pages off to press.

John Grochowski, Michigan Travel Ideas contributing writer, shares insider tips from his latest trip to the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

I’ve been writing about casino games for 14 years, and I wanted to see if Soaring Eagle met my personal criteria as a place to play:

• Do blackjack rules and video poker pay tables give the skilled player a shot to win?
• Are there games that give me a good run for my money? Is the player rewards system easy to use?
• Do the rewards offset some of the house’s mathematical edge?

My journey through those questions started at the player rewards booth, where in addition to the $20 in premium play I received at check in, a club representative added another $10 for joining the club.

Looking for the best deal to use my premium play, I found an old friend: 9-6 Jacks or Better video poker, with the “9-6” meaning full houses pay 9-for-1 and flushes 6-for-1. It returns 99.5 percent with expert play, and it worked for me. Once I’d made the required $60 worth of wagers to use the premium play, I had $60 in credits that I could cash out —my premium play was now real money.

Insider Tips

• Blackjack players have three choices: hand-shuffled six-deck games, six-deck games with a continuous shuffling machine and single-deck games. The single-deck game pays only 6-5 on blackjacks instead of the usual 3-2. With fewer hands per hour, the hand-shuffled game is the best bet for most players. 
• In addition to the main casino, Soaring Eagle has a Slot Palace with more electronic games. A free shuttle takes players between facilities. One of the resort’s best games, a version of Deuces Wild video poker which returns 99.7 percent with expert play, is in the Slot Palace. 
• Premium play—free play that comes with some room packages—can be taken either in downloadable slot credits or in special table chips. Slot play is a more efficient use of it and you’ll get the most value at the best video poker games. 
• The biggest crowds are weekend nights, and minimum bets may go up during peak times. However, a blackjack dealer told me $5 tables are always available.  

Trip Planner

• Soaring Eagle Resort and Casino offers room packages such as Gas & Gamble, with a $50 gas card, plus premium play included with your room rate.
• For those visitors who want to immerse themselves in the culture, the Ziibiwing Center, a Native American museum, is next door.
• I dined at Siniikaung Steakhouse (which means “House of Stone”) and enjoyed a perfectly done, medium-rare ribeye and tasty asparagus-bacon soup.

John Grochowski is the author of half a dozen books on casino games, including the “Casino Answer Book” series, writes a weekly column and is known to Chicago radio listeners from his “Beat the Odds” tips that air on WBBM-AM, News Radio 780.

Katie and her husband under Arch Rock on Mackinac Island

For our 1st Anniversary, we decided to go back to Mackinac and maybe hit some wineries and lighthouses while we were at it. We moved to the east coast last winter and so it took us a good 12 hours to get up to Traverse City. After a good night’s sleep, we drove up the Old Mission Peninsula and found the Old Mission Point Lighthouse. It’s apparently one of those that you can apply to be a lighthouse keeper for and our delightful hosts were doing just that! We climbed the tower, got some great photos then started off to the wineries. We hit four delightful vineyards before we finally stopped at Chateau Chantal, a sprawling mansion of a chateau perched on a hillside with jaw-dropping views. My husband later surprised me with a romantic nights stay at their wonderful B&B.

The next day we drove up M-119, aka ‘Tunnel of Trees’ and saw not only the tunnel of trees forming above us, but the forest floor carpeted white with glowing trillium. We stopped to gape at the houses on the bluffs in the ever charming Harbor Springs and continued north to Mackinaw City where we found stellar views of the Straits of Mackinac at McGulpin Point Lighthouse.

Whitefish Point Light Station

The following day we went to Mackinac Island and traveled the 8 mile stretch around it’s perimeter on M-185 – me on my bicycle, and my husband running. Even though it was a snowy, chilly day, the magic of the Island got to us. It’s incredible when you get out of ‘downtown’ and find the secluded parts of the Island that seem to call to you. We spent a few days on the Island, hiking, petting horses, celebrating our anniversary and reminiscing.

Crisp Point Lighthouse

When we got off the Island, we started across the Mighty Mac bridge to the U.P. and went north to Sault Ste. Marie. We were lucky enough to get there just in time to see two freighters go through the Soo Locks. Afterwards, we drove through the quaint town of Paradise to Whitefish Point where we met up with the Whitefish Point Lighthouse. We soaked in the views of the ‘Graveyard of the Great Lakes’ and then went to the Upper Falls of Tahquamenon Falls.  After hiking around and getting refreshingly misted by the updraft of the falls, we went to what turned out to be my favorite lighthouse…Crisp Point.  This was the most fun lighthouse to find, through gravel and dirt roads winding through the U.P. When we finally got there it was so beautiful, secretive and secluded. Certainly as they advertise, Michigan’s Best Kept Secret.

We had such a great road trip to Michigan, now I can only hope to come back again soon and start another adventure!

To read a more detailed account of Katie’s journey, visit her blog, Monday Travels.

Katie Dennis grew up in northern Wisconsin vacationing for years with her family into the U.P. of Michigan. She’s now living on the east coast with her husband and starting up a wedding planning business with a bit of blogging on the side. Share your thoughts and feedback with Katie by leaving a comment below.

Special thanks to Kendall Newberry for finding this piece he wrote in 2006 and sharing it with us.

What does a three day weekend and a rental car equal?  ROAD TRIP!  As my girlfriend and I prepared to celebrate our birthdays (mine was a few weeks earlier), we had a map of Michigan between us and our adventurous spirits awakened.  My girlfriend, Melodee, is a native California girl, so any where we decided to go would be virgin territory.  Being a native Michigander, I was more than happy to show her the beauty of our great state.

As we pondered our many routes and final destinations, we decided to check out the Mackinac Bridge via route 23. The last time I saw this part of the state, I was knee high to a grasshopper, so I didn’t remember much – in a way it was all new to me too. So with a full tank of gas, we ventured down the highway. Passing the many cottages and year around lake homes, we both envied the people that called these places home.

A picnic along the lakeshore was on the agenda so we stopped at a Walmart in East Tawas along the way which had a spectacular view of Lake Huron right out its front door.  We paused to enjoy the wonder of it all, thinking of how many local residents take for granted seeing this every day.  Back on the road, we enjoyed the warm sun splashing in the car – since this was still early spring, it felt great to have a nice day. I have to admit it was a great drive as we slowly counted down the miles to the Bridge, taking advantage of the roadside parks to enjoy the goodies we bought earlier. The emerald green waters mimicked the pine trees along the road as we wound up and down the hills and
curves anticipating the view around each corner (breath taking was an understatement).  I had my camera along and didn’t hesitate to turn around for photo ops.  Some pics we laughed at saying only in Michigan, like a bike with an old fashion push mower for handle bars and front wheel.

At last, we saw the bridge in sight and beheld its beauty.  The green waters and blue bridge was a sight for sore eyes since I hadn’t seen the bridge in over 17 years.  Granted, this was the off season for up there, but we had to hunt down a fudge and souvenir shop.  And there it was, welcoming us with colorful signs and the smell welcomed us at the door. And after catching a beautiful sunset (spectacular as usual) we gassed up the rental car for the trip home. On our way home we both reflected on our adventures which led me to write this story for us and others to enjoy for years to come. So the next time you have a weekend not knowing what to do, consider a road trip to the Mackinac Bridge, you won’t regret it.

Have you taken a special Pure Michigan Road Trip?  Send us your story and pictures, and we’ll publish it right here on our blog.

Thank you to JT Royster of Brighton for providing this guest blog post and stunning images of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Natures Painting

Located on a northern tip of land in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, bordering Lake Superior, and near the tiny town of Munising is my favorite place in Michigan…the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This park with unique and spectacular scenery is easily the most beautiful of anywhere along the Great Lakes shorelines.

To reach the area, you have to cross over the Mackinac Bridge, which joins the two peninsulas of Michigan, and drive about 80 miles west and 20 miles north.  The park is 42 miles of shoreline, and 73,236 acres of land with waterfalls, sand dunes, beaches, forests, and cliffs.

Waterfall

The park is named for the multicolored sandstone cliffs that tower up to 200 feet over Lake Superior. There are 12 miles of beautifully colored rocks along the shoreline. For thousands and thousands of years the lake waters have sculpted these cliffs into a spectacular vision. There are caves, arches, and cliffs in a range of hues that you would not expect in a rock! Light aqua, seafoam green, beige, dark brown to black, and they change again to orange, red and yellow. The color of the water changes as well, with the sun it is turquoise, under the clouds it becomes grey, when it is calm it looks light blue or when rough it looks navy. There is nothing better than kayaking as fast and far as you can to get around that next bend and see what’s around it.

Sandstone Cliffs

Beaching the kayak and hiking inland just a few hundred yards you find a forest of beech, hemlock, white pine and maple trees. There are trails to waterfalls, wetlands, picnic areas, campgrounds, and scenic views. Animals in the area include bears, deer, wolves, and moose.  A variety of birds such as eagles, ospreys, owls, and hawks can be seen soaring above the cliffs.

I believe that beauty can be felt.  I could feel my five senses come alive here. I heard the sound of the waves against the rocks and the little lapping sounds as they came into the sandy beach. I heard the wind rushing by my ears as I paddled to the next rock and rustling the leaves of the maple trees. I heard the birds chirping in the trees and the red squirrels chattering as they played. I heard raindrops on the tent and on the lake. I touched the water, the rocks, the dirt, and the roots of a tree as they reached deeper and farther for the soil that was being washed away by the waves. I smelled the fresh water, clean air, pine trees, and wet leaves. I tasted raindrops, lake water as it sprayed my face, and a breakfast cooked outdoors. And I could see! See the waves, the rocks, and the beach… the beauty of it all. The gorgeous views that were created by Mother Nature for me, just at that moment were so beautiful. I will go again! I will go to find the same water, the same rocks and the same views, but changed. Changed by the hand of Mother Nature for me to feel the beauty, once again.

JT’s hometown is Brighton MI. He is a musician and student currently residing in Chicago, attending Columbia College. You can find JT kayaking the waters of Michigan any chance he gets, and you can hear his music on his MySpace page.

As motor heads shift into gear for Detroit’s North American International Auto Show (January 11–24), Dan Wiese, an automotive writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, recalls a recent car lover’s dream tour of southeast Michigan he made for Michigan Travel Ideas. On a whirlwind two-day trip, he and his wife visit a working auto plant, the nation’s premier auto museum, an automotive hall of fame and America’s last still-operating Hudson dealership.

Day One

We start our driving tour at the Dearborn complex collectively known as The Henry Ford. This sprawling attraction encompasses the historic Rouge Plant, which has given birth to legends such as the Mustang and Thunderbird. Today, the plant produces the Ford F-150. Also on-site: the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village (now closed for the winter season) and Benson Ford Research Center.

Ford Rouge Factory

• Ford Rouge Factory Tour: We begin our morning at the Rouge, disappointed to learn the plant does not operate on Fridays. Still, the tour was available, and we eagerly took it. Although partially assembled trucks, silent parts pallets and immobile assembly robots were frozen in suspended animation, we enjoy our stroll along the observation platform, looking down on what any other weekday would have been a bustling assembly floor.

• From there it was on to Henry Ford Museum, with displays on America’s civil rights. Historic home furnishings and a massive locomotive draw my wife’s attention. I am drawn to the car collection. The museum houses such rolling stock as an extremely rare—only six were made—1931 Bugatti Royale, Charles Lindbergh’s personal 1939 travel trailer (pulled in the display by a 1939 Mercury sedan) and President Kennedy‘s ill-fated 1961 Lincoln presidential limousine. I could have spent significantly more quality time with that 1950 Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe parked in front of the faux drive-in movie screen.

Day Two

• We begin at Dearborn’s Automotive Hall of Fame. It’s adjacent to The Henry Ford, but the Hall is not affiliated with the Ford complex. It is, however, deeply affiliated with the men and women who created and nurtured the automobile industry.

The Hall displays only six cars—among them a 1912 Flanders on permanent display, a 1956 Thunderbird and an immaculately preserved 1964 Plymouth Valiant convertible, the latter two on loan. The building is loaded with fascinating and interactive displays that describe everything from the 1914 start of construction on the Lincoln Highway, America’s first coast-to-coast road, to the invention of cruise control. It also includes a 1953 creation of Ralph R. Teetor, a then 63-year-old engineer who was blind!

• From there, we drive to Auburn Hills (35 miles north of Dearborn). The Walter P. Chrysler Museum is a three-story showcase of great Chrysler cars. Amid the eye-popping collection is the car that started the company, the 1924 Chrysler Six; the original study in regular-production aerodynamics, the 1934 Chrysler Airflow; and a 1957 Plymouth Fury, known to Stephen King fans in its 1958 iteration as “Christine.”

Interactive displays describe Chrysler innovations from the sublime (the 1951 New Yorker’s and Newport’s power steering) to the ridiculous (the 1941 DeSoto‘s “handy cigarette steering-wheel dispenser”).

Miller Motors Hudson

• Back in the car, we drive to Ypsilanti (45 miles southwest of Auburn Hills) home of the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum/Miller Motors Hudson. Still holding court at this landmark is 70-year-old Jack Miller, the museum curator.

Miller boasts an encyclopedic knowledge of Hudson and of Ypsilanti’s automotive history. He began working here, in his family’s Hudson dealership, when he was 14. “I did everything,” he says. “Still do.”

The modest and, yet, most compelling of all our stops, is this still-working Hudson dealership. “To keep that up, we still buy and sell at least one Hudson a year,” Miller says.

This place is the real deal, down to the smell of oil and the 1933 Essex Terraplane Six that virtually fills the unchanged storefront showroom. The whole scene is untouched by time. I feel as if I should kick that Terraplane‘s tires and make an offer. I did, that is, until I was pulled back into the 21st century by this rare classic’s windshield placard: “Don‘t touch me, I‘m not that kind of car.”

Our two-day trip was that kind of experience—something of a sacred pilgrimage for those of us who really love cars. Not only did it engender pride in America’s automotive past, it provided hope for its future.

Trip Planner

Automotive Hall of Fame, Dearborn
313/240-4000
Hours: 9 a.m. ­– 5 p.m. (closed Monday and Tuesday, November through April and some holidays)
Admission: Adults: $8, Seniors (62 and over): $6, Students (13-18): $6, Youth (5-12): $4

Henry Ford Museum (part of The Henry Ford), Dearborn
313/982-6001
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Admission: Adults: $15, Seniors (62 and over): $14, Youth (5-12): $11, Kids (4 and under): free

Ford Rouge Factory (part of The Henry Ford), Dearborn
313/982-6001
Tours: 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Saturday (last tour leaves at 3 p.m.)
Admission: Adults: $15, Seniors (62 and over): $14, Youth (3-12): $11, Kids (2 and under): free

Walter P. Chrysler Museum, Auburn Hills
888/456-1924
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Noon – 5 p.m. Sunday
Admission: $8, Seniors (62 and over): $7, Juniors (6-12): $4

Ypsilanti’s Automotive Heritage Museum and Miller Motors Hudson, Ypsilanti
734/482-5200
Hours: 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, Noon – 5 p.m. Sunday
Admission: Adults: $4, Children 13 and under: free with adult

Dan Wiese is an automotive contributor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a stint that has lasted some 15 years. Although he loves all things automotive, his passion is four-wheeling, as his battered old Jeep testifies. Dan’s other passion is pounding a piano in “more than one saloon over the years.” His philosophy: “If you don’t leave blood on the keys, you’re not really playing.”

Earlier this week, Pure Michigan’s own Maria Wygnal and George Zimmermann got a sneak peek inside the 2010 North American International Auto Show. They joined thousands of journalists from around the world as they gathered in Detroit for a first look at concepts and production models, as well as the latest automotive industry announcements. While George has visited the show many times, this was Maria’s first auto show experience.

The show floor is bright, the displays are amazing, the cars are shiny and clean (colors are fantastic!), the interiors sparkle, and you can’t help but notice the workers who are constantly dusting and wiping the vehicles. There’s definitely some glitz and glamour, but the focus of this year’s show is centered on green technology and hybrid vehicles. Electric battery technology is all the buzz, and there’s no shortage of new ideas on display.

This was my first time attending the auto show in Detroit. When it comes to specifics about different models and new features, all I can say is thank goodness the displays are staffed with friendly people who are happy to answer your questions. It was fun to learn about the different vehicles, talk to people about the show and what other plans they had while visiting Detroit, and take photos (lots of photos!).

Here are some quick tips about this year’s show:

1. If this will be your first visit to the auto show, or you’re not familiar with downtown Detroit, take a few moments before your trip to check out the different parking options available near Cobo Center. It took me a couple wrong turns before I found the parking lot I was looking for.
2. I recommend spending some time at the Ford display for two reasons. First, in case you haven’t heard, Ford won the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. Also, the exhibit includes my favorite car of the entire show, a Pure Michigan blue Mustang!!
3. Check out the Volkswagen display – It’s so white it’s almost blinding, honestly. Plus there is a cool hands-on exhibit behind the cars that lets you interact with a tabletop display screen.
4. Stop by the CT&T United display for a look at some very tiny (and very cute) electric cars.
5. Don’t miss the MEDC EcoXperience, located in the lower level of Cobo Center. It’s your opportunity to experience electric vehicles on a 1/4 mile indoor test track. Get a close-up look at a variety of green vehicles and find out for yourself what it’s like to ride inside! You can also browse the alternative energy showcase located nearby.

There are a lot of other things to do in Detroit while you’re here for the show. There are some amazing restaurants that you should make time to check out, many just a short walk or People Mover ride away. If you’re looking for great Mexican food, check out Xochimilco in Mexicantown, just minutes away. Detroit’s Greektown is home to more great restaurants than we can name, like Pegasus and Niki’s Pizza, which was ranked in GQ magazine’s 25 Best Pizzas in America. If you’re looking for something more high-end, visit Seldom Blues in the Renaissance Center, the Wolfgang Puck Grille, or Iridescence. Detroit also has some great bars and pubs, like the Detroit Beer Company, just across the street from Comerica Park.

Detroit is also home to three casinos, where you can try your luck at the slots, blackjack or craps tables.  If you feel like taking a gamble, you have your choice of the MGM Grand Casino, the Motor City Casino, or the Greektown Casino.

Detroit’s museum district is also just a short drive down Woodward.  If you are bringing the kids (or still a kid at heart), check out the Detroit Science Center, which has several hands-on exhibits, an Imax theater, and a planetarium.  The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is right next door and is the world’s largest institution dedicated to the African American experience.  The Detroit Institute of Arts – the 5^th largest fine arts museum in the world – is just a short walk from there.  The Detroit Historical museum is also nearby.  This museum is dedicated preserving the history of southeastern Michigan, and includes the favorite and newly renovated Streets of Old Detroit, recreating Detroit street scenes from the 1840’s, 1870’s and early 1900’s.

My visit to the auto show was a great experience. If you have the opportunity, check it out for yourself and let us know what you think!

• Where: Cobo Center, Detroit
• When: Public show starts Saturday, Jan. 16, and ends Sunday, Jan. 24
• Price: Adult admission is $12; seniors (65 and older) and ages 7-12 are $6; kids six years and under are free with a parent or guardian; any day pass, group tickets are $8 with a purchase of 25 tickets or more. For more information, go to www.naias.com or call 248.643.0250.

Here are some the pictures George and I took while we toured the show – check out all of these amazing cars! George also had the chance to ride in the Tango – one of the electric cars located in the MEDC EcoXperience (located in Michigan Hall). He got some great video during his ride that you can see. The EcoXperience is not to be missed – it gives you a chance to ride in some the most innovative electric vehicles out there. Learn more about the EcoXperience, and what the MEDC is doing with green technology on the Upper Hand Blog.

Maria Wygnal is a travel marketing specialist with Travel Michigan/Michigan Economic Development Corp. She grew up in the greater Lansing area and currently resides in East Lansing. Her interests include travel, social media, graphic design and photography.