a griffin Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 My wife and I are planning on flying up to Michigan this summer for a marque anniversary at Hickory Corners. As this is my first time in this part of the country, I would like some suggestions on dos/donts and must sees. When I mentioned the plan to my wife, she immediately said she wanted to go to Detroit for the Piquette museum. I'm lucky in that she has the same interests as me. Here's my questions.... Should we fly into Detroit and use that as a start/stop point for this trip, or would you recommend another area to start off from? Kalamazoo or Lansing? Maybe Fort Wayne? Any points of interest you would definitely recommend? Anything to definitely stay away from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 depends on your interests, but just to throw some stuff out there: Detroit airport is by far the largest for choices. Grand Rapids, Flint, Lansing sometimes have deals. In the summer, the lakeshores would be popular visits. I think the Lake Michigan shore is nicer than Lake Huron. Sleeping Bear Dunes is worth a trip. Detroit Institute of the Arts. Motown Records. Meadowbrook. The Gilmore might be combined with the Studebaker Museum in South Bend, IN or the ACD Museum in Auburn, IN. The Upper Peninsula is a lot farther away than you probably think - I think it's outside the scope. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Sthals Auto Museum needs to be addd to your list. Fairlane is fun. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Obviously Henry Ford and Greenfield village. Save them for rain days 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCHansen1 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Oldsmobile museum in Lansing too... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 (edited) Beyond the Gilmore, If you have the time, drive to Mackinac City via Traverse City and Petoskey, and drive the "Tunnel of Trees along the Lake Michigan shoreline - and take the boat to Mackinac Island for a nice day trip. Drive the "Big Mac" Mackinac Bridge and go to the UP and Sault Ste. Marie, a longer drive, but worth it in my opinion. If heading south toward Ft Wayne, then visit the Auburn, Indiana museums Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum National Automotive & Truck Museum Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum Edited February 17, 2022 by Marty Roth (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt G Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 57 minutes ago, edinmass said: Sthals Auto Museum needs to be add to your list. Absolutely, Stahls is excellent. , Packard Proving Grounds can be interesting and inside one building is an outstanding collection of original Packard motor car data plates removed from parts cars etc. they list the type of Packard and also the dealer who sold it new and the date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 58 minutes ago, Marty Roth said: Beyond the Gilmore, If you have the time, drive to Mackinac City via Traverse City and Petoskey, and drive the "Tunnel of Trees along the Lake Michigan shoreline - and take the boat to Mackinac Island for a nice day trip. Drive the "Big Mac" Mackinac Bridge and go to the UP and Sault Ste. Marie, a longer drive, but worth it in my opinion. If heading south toward Ft Wayne, then visit the Auburn, Indiana museums Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum National Automotive & Truck Museum Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum Traverse City is a mixed bag - the traffic clogs badly in the summer. The Tunnel of Trees on 24, Leland, the Lelenaw peninsula(winery stop?), the dunes, Charlevoix (the troll houses), Petoskey, then Mackinaw City/Fort Michilimackinac. How much of Northern Michigan you do depends on the time you have. This is the west coast on Lake Michigan instead of the thumb on Lake Huron. Basically follow rte 31 north 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 (edited) Do you have a date that you plan on coming to Mich? There are a lot of car related activities to see. Besides the museums and places mentioned above, there is the Motor Muster at Greenfield Village in June The Sloan Summer Fair in Flint Woodward Dream Cruise in August Back to the Bricks in Flint in August Eyes on Design show at the Edsel & Elanor Ford mansion in Grosse Point A number of events every month at The Gilmore besides the museum. Look at their website. And a lot more Edited February 17, 2022 by Larry Schramm (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCHansen1 Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 To add to Larry's good suggestions, the Concours d'Elegance of America is also in September this year at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 The Concours is a great meet - not sure how the new venue will go. Maybe a contrarian view, but Woodward is quantity, not quality. Rods and used Corvettes. Strongly agree with visiting the Gilmore when they are hosting an event. Double the fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 (edited) If you are here in Sept, I would definitely go to the Old Car Festival at Greenfield Village. It is the best antique car show. It is limited to vehicles 1932 and older. There is usually more than 700 entrants to the event. It is the only time that private vehicles are allowed to drive around the village. Saturday is the best day to come, but it is a great weekend. It is the first weekend after Labor Day. Edited February 18, 2022 by Larry Schramm (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a griffin Posted February 18, 2022 Author Share Posted February 18, 2022 2 hours ago, Larry Schramm said: Do you have a date that you plan on coming to Mich? There are a lot of car related activities to see. Besides the museums and places mentioned above, there is the Motor Muster at Greenfield Village in June The Sloan Summer Fair in Flint Woodward Dream Cruise in August Back to the Bricks in Flint in August Eyes on Design show at the Edsel & Elanor Ford mansion in Grosse Point A number of events every month at The Gilmore besides the museum. Look at their website. And a lot more Looks like August 6-13, 2022 will be when I'm in town. Lincoln's 100 year anniversary meet will be at the Gilmore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 1 minute ago, a griffin said: Looks like August 6-13, 2022 will be when I'm in town. Lincoln's 100 year anniversary meet will be at the Gilmore Stay the extra week for this event. The Woodward Dream Cruise. http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com Also Back to the Bricks in Flint. https://backtothebricks.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 Been a long time since I’ve been in Detroit but we use to go to a place called “Jim’s Garage” great bar not so good for cars. The top of the Fountain Hotel (not post it I’ve of name) near the big expo center had great jazz bands on Friday nights in the summer. All the previously mentioned museums are well worth seeing. As far as flights Detroit will offer you the most options, Chicago O’Hara is good and you can see the downtown lake/park area. The Art Institute and Field Museum are right at Grant park. A river architecture tour is really neat takes of at the Chicago river & Michigan Ave right downtown. Time is a factor for any of these advertisers but if it is the only time you are hitting the Midwest try to do as much as possible. Have fun. dave s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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