If you can, allot a few days here. The black Gore pants were a welcomed new addition picked up just a month before. Now I know what youre thinkingand the answer is yes, hitting triple digit speeds in a hailstorm is super stupid. Just 100 more miles to St. Ignace. Jamie Elvidge, Photography by Jamie Elvidge, Top Long-Distance Touring Motorcycles of 2022, Harley-Davidson Teases All-New 2023 CVO Street Glide, Harley-Davidson Screamin Eagle 135 Crate Engine Preview, 2023 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide 121 Revealed, King of the Baggers Indian Challenger Ride Review, Buell Motorcycles Modern FXR-Inspired Super Cruiser, 2023 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special Anniversary Review, 2023 Indian Motorcycle Sport Chief First Look Preview, First Ride: Ducatis Diavel V4 Defies Categorization, Harley-Davidson Freewheeler First Look Preview. And dont miss one of the famous fish boils, a Door County specialty! The general feeling around Chicago was we were too latewe had missed the Midwestern riding season. @Kathy Hello! 6 McR Points. Simply leave your camper or RV on the mainland and head over for the day or even overnight. It felt nice, for 5 minutes. http://www.historyillinois.org/HistoricalMarkers.aspx Please wait, your print is being prepared. Along the way you can visit wineries, experience small-town friendliness and really appreciate the change of seasons. Been looking at lots of sites and see nothing. If someone wants to reply to your post they can do it here or send you a private message through tripadvisor by clicking on your name below your picture. Along with the primary Circle Tour route, several marked Lake Michigan Circle Tour Loops have been posted using white-on-brown signs. And rainy. Dont forget to make a stop at the famousMackinac Island, where no cars are allowed. Spend today exploring all of the beautiful marvels of nature the UP has to offer. Your email address will not be published. After exploring Holland, drive thirty minutes to Grand Haven. https://www.wmta.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Lighthouse-Map-for-Web-2018.pdf. This site uses cookies to provide you with the best onsite experience. Good enough for me, I thought. At any point along the tour, if youd like to stay the night and spend more time at a city or harbor town, there are plenty of lake resorts,campsites,cabinsandhotelsfor your choosing. If I take the shortest, quickest . In any case, put the Circle Tour of Lake Michigan on your list of must do rides and plan to do it on Harley-Davidson. Although not quite as scenic as Michigans side of the lake, youll be sure to soak in some beautiful views along the way regardless. 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! End your week-long trip right where you started the Windy City, one of the greatest big cities in the world! Many are dog and kid-friendly and also serve food. The work impacts commuters on US-12. Lower Michigans fall foliage, warmer temps and coastal sunsets welcomed us with open arms. Many, many more old, wealthy white folks in this corner of the state. I will be driving a camper for a 5 day trip around Lake Michigan, coming from Chicago. There are a few stairs to reach the top, so make sure to wear some comfortable shoes! It still suckedmy foot took the bulk of the 550+ lbsbut at least the damning sand offered a soft landing. Luckily we have Lake Michigan in our backyard. A storm was on the way, and the entire town of Green Bay knew it. Read on for a detailed 7-day Lake Michigan circle road trip itinerary! You wont be needing your passport for this single-nation circle tour. Early in the summer of 2011, my brother, Larry, and I began to plan a weeklong motorcycle loop around Lake Superior. The Upper Peninsula let us out alive only because I asked nicely. Upper Peninsula Travel Itineraries - Circle Michigan At Traverse City, the Lake Michigan Circle Tourreturns to US-31 and continues northerly via US-31 through Elk Rapids, Charlevoix and Petoskey and on toward the Mackinac Bridge. Cant wait to go back and go up into the Upper Peninsula!!! Wisconsin offers the best of Lake Michigans beauty and commercial appeal. Copyright2023 Samantha Brown Media Inc. |Privacy Policy & Terms of Service, This is Your Sign to Plan a Solo Wellness Vacation, 9 Underrated National Parks to Visit in the Summer, 14 Delightful Places for Afternoon Tea Around the World. 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. Apache Trail Scenic Drive - Tripadvisor So, I called up an old pal in Chicago and asked if he was up for a little motorcycle ride. 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. Alternatively, you may use, Baymont by Wyndham Bridgeport/Frankenmuth. When it comes to Great American road trips along the water, Californias Pacific Coast Highway gets all the press. I loved the info. 3) Scalawags Seafood in Traverse City and Mackinaw City The Lake Michigan Circle Tourenters Michigan from Indiana on US-12 south of New Buffalo and proceeds northerly through New Buffalo to I-94. You pass by famous landmarks such as Navy Pier, Soldier Field, Lincoln Park Zoo and Calumet Park. As the cityscape gets smaller on your rearview mirror, more outdoor fun awaits. Lake Michigan Circle Tour by motorcycle from Chicago this We 8 years ago Save Hello. The route leaves US-12 and continues northerly on I-94 from Exit 4 toward St Joseph. The Sherwood Point lighthouse is one of 10 beacons in Door County. The trip spans 4 different Midwestern states and dozens of different cities. It is one of the best Motorcycle Rides in North America. Thanks for any help. In between it follows U.S. Highway 2 (US 2) to Wakefield, M-28 to Bergland and M-64 to Ontonagon. Summer and fall are both wonderful times to take this trip since many of the activities are outdoors. The M-185 Bicycle Route is 8.2 miles (13 km) long and takes about an hour to complete. They recognized each states scenic appeal and the impact of the shoreline and its connection with the many State Parks, breath-taking overlooks and historic Lighthouses along the way. Had I known the conditions that lay ahead, perhaps I'd have heeded the not-so-subtle warnings. As the name implies, the route is a circle and weaves through four states Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and, of course, Wisconsin. Dotting the shoreline on both sides of the lake, each preserved to showcase their unique charm and architectural significance. Ludington State Park. Harbor Spring Michigan is a must-do. More than 1,000 miles long, the Lake Michigan Circle Tour would take about 14 hours without stops to complete. Its a trip you will appreciate for a long time, especially if you are lucky enough to ride during the Fall and catch the change of seasons and the Fall colors. Although its only a 15-minute drive across the Straits of Mackinac, the Upper Peninsula feels like a different world from the colonial vibe of Mackinac Island. About Lewis Black: Today, Lewis Read More , Memorial Day is just around the corner, and what better way to kick off the summer than by exploring the beautiful state of Michigan? Mesa-Globe-Punkin Center Loop. I went Mossy Oak, like a real local. Start your journey in Manistee and travel through Benzie and Leelanau Counties before winding up in Traverse City. If youre lucky enough to drive through on a Friday, hit up one of the citys many fish frys. MatthewC65. We weret likely to hit the storm for an hour or so, so we tossed the newly acquired gear in our dry bag packs and put rubber to road. Continue on to Marinette, WI. Here we felt the Midwestern niceness the region is known for. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Favorites include Nick nearly being pancaked by a two-ton truck in nowheresville, Wisconsin, more than a few squirrelly attempts at riding no-hands and no-feet like a starfish, and of course the time I accidentally played chicken with a Mack truck while passing another in a hail storm. Nearby youll find the town of Beverly Shores, where you may view the five historic Century of Progress Homes from the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair. https://www.wmta.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Lighthouse-Map-for-Web-2018.pdf, https://www.wmta.org/lake-michigan-lighthouse-map-circle-tour/lighthouse-driving-itinerary/, https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS15267, http://www.historyillinois.org/HistoricalMarkers.aspx. State of Indiana Historical Marker: Chicago in particular is a really family-friendly city. Nick laughed at the idea of camping this far into fall. Indiana Dunes National Park. Can also advise re: U.P. Youre in wine country now sampling some locally-produced bottles is a must today! M-22 is a 116-mile stretch of road that winds through the scenic countryside of Manistee, Benzie and Leelanlau counties. By the time we returned to Chicago via a Lake Michigan ferry (we opted to skip Indiana, cus duh), the tally of how many times we each cheated death was well beyond double digits. You can print off your own map by downloading it or send a request and they will mail one to you. More than 1,000 miles long, the Lake Michigan Circle Tour would take about 14 hours without stops to complete. 4) The Omelette Shoppe in Traverse City Wisconsin Highways: Other Routes: Lake Michigan Circle Tour I hope you found it helpful for planning your own road trip. Lake Michigan Circle Tour (Maps, Photos And More) ~ TRO Next up is Wisconsins oldest settlement, Green Bay. It's a nice way to bring attention back to the matter at hand, like a sip of coffee in the midst of a boring meeting. Back Off My Bike The origin of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour dates back to 1988 and a combined marketing effort led by governors from both Michigan and Indiana. On the east side of Holland, the route continues northerly following US-31 through Grand Haven and toward Norton Shores. Sorta. US Highway 2 runs between the Hiawatha National Forest and the Sault Ste. (The mainline LMCT remains on M-22 between Empire and Glen Arbor.). Back on US-31, the circle tour continues northerly toward Ludington, leaving US-31 twice: once to follow the route of BUS US-31 through the downtowns of Whitehall and Montague in northern Muskegon Co; and again to follow the route of BUS US-31 through downtown Pentwater in Oceana Co. At the end of the US-31 freeway near Ludington, the Lake Michigan Circle Tourturns east following US-10/US-31 toward Scottville. Between Mackinaw City and St Ignace, the Lake Michigan Circle Touris jointed by the Lake Huron Circle Tour. There are plenty of delicious dinner spots here Rustic Roots, Mamas Thai Cafe, and Righteous Cuisineare some good options. From soaking up the summer sun to hitting the trails after a fresh snowfall, Wisconsin has no shortage of activities for every season. West Michigan provides a paper map of the circle tour. While your bike isn't a boat, you can still capture some great photos. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Looking for some incredible yet underrated parks to visit this summer? Home ofLambeau Fieldand thePackers Hall of Fame, also tour theOneida National MuseumandNational Railroad Museumwhile youre there. These loop routes are detailed below the mainline route below: Thanks to Chris Bessert and the Michigan Highways site for the route. My husband and I took a weeks vacation to drive around Lake Michigan a number of years ago stopping and staying in many of the lakeside towns along the way. We want to spend a couple days in Chicago to kick it off. The first is to complete it all at once. 77 is a spectacular drive for nature lovers. I want to stay as close to the shore as possible most of the time. Once there, head to US-93 N in Yavapai County from AZ-71 N, which merges onto US-93 N. End your journey at AZ-97 N. We were wet. Afterwards, stop by the nearby town of Michigan City, IN for lunch at Shoreline Brewery. As a Chicago area motorcycle rider we are always looking for new routes & tours that will give us the most bang for the buckor as we like to say; the most smiles for the miles. Most Lake Michigan lighthouses were built in the 1800s when ship traffic was at its heaviestespecially during the lumbering era. In downtown Manitowoc, the route continues northerly via US-10 to STH-42. You wont find any chain hotels, either every accommodation option is unique and family-owned. The road gently curves along the Lake Superior shore line with water on your right, and towering virgin timber covered hills on your left. Well known locally as the home of the historic Ramsdall Theater and beautiful 2-mile river walk stretch. 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. Great Lakes Circle Tour - Wikipedia But I say the middle coast is incredibly underrated.

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