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doctorima
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 Sun, Feb 05 2023, 9:35 am
I've been to both. Both are great trips, but it depends on the age of your kids and what they like to do and what kind of trip you're looking for and how long you're going for. The UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan is really nice and off the beaten track, but it's more spread out.
After flying in to Detroit, you drive a few hours to the ferry to Mackinac Island - try to stay the night there if at all possible! From there you can continue exploring the peninsula. Painted Rocks boat tour is a must, and Tahqaumenon Falls both upper and lower are nice, especially if you do the boat rental. Soo Locks boat ride is fun as well. Another stunning spot is called Kitch-iti-kipi - funny name, but google it and make sure to go! But all these places can be 1-3 hours apart, so there's more driving involved.
For Wyoming, you can fly into Jackson, where you're right outside Grand Teton NP, and Yellowstone is a little under 2 hours away. Cody is a cute town, but it's quite a drive. Wyoming also has a Chabad in Jackson if you're there for Shabbos, or want to order food for pick-up, whereas in Michigan you'll need to stock up on everything in Detroit.
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amother
Narcissus
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Sun, Feb 05 2023, 9:50 am
| doctorima wrote: | I've been to both. Both are great trips, but it depends on the age of your kids and what they like to do and what kind of trip you're looking for and how long you're going for. The UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan is really nice and off the beaten track, but it's more spread out.
After flying in to Detroit, you drive a few hours to the ferry to Mackinac Island - try to stay the night there if at all possible! From there you can continue exploring the peninsula. Painted Rocks boat tour is a must, and Tahqaumenon Falls both upper and lower are nice, especially if you do the boat rental. Soo Locks boat ride is fun as well. Another stunning spot is called Kitch-iti-kipi - funny name, but google it and make sure to go! But all these places can be 1-3 hours apart, so there's more driving involved.
For Wyoming, you can fly into Jackson, where you're right outside Grand Teton NP, and Yellowstone is a little under 2 hours away. Cody is a cute town, but it's quite a drive. Wyoming also has a Chabad in Jackson if you're there for Shabbos, or want to order food for pick-up, whereas in Michigan you'll need to stock up on everything in Detroit. |
Is upper michigan good for little kids? Which was prettier from the two options?
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ruchelbuckle
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Sun, Feb 05 2023, 10:18 am
| Quote: | | Which was prettier from the two options? |
It's not a matter of prettier. The landscape is going to be very different in the two places. They are both very beautiful, I'm sure. The topograpy of Wyoming and surronding areas is very different to what we see on the east coast. I don't think the natural features and landscape of Michigan (even the Upper Peninsula) are that different from places in or near the tri state area.
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amother
OP
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Sun, Feb 05 2023, 10:56 am
| doctorima wrote: | I've been to both. Both are great trips, but it depends on the age of your kids and what they like to do and what kind of trip you're looking for and how long you're going for. The UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan is really nice and off the beaten track, but it's more spread out.
After flying in to Detroit, you drive a few hours to the ferry to Mackinac Island - try to stay the night there if at all possible! From there you can continue exploring the peninsula. Painted Rocks boat tour is a must, and Tahqaumenon Falls both upper and lower are nice, especially if you do the boat rental. Soo Locks boat ride is fun as well. Another stunning spot is called Kitch-iti-kipi - funny name, but google it and make sure to go! But all these places can be 1-3 hours apart, so there's more driving involved.
For Wyoming, you can fly into Jackson, where you're right outside Grand Teton NP, and Yellowstone is a little under 2 hours away. Cody is a cute town, but it's quite a drive. Wyoming also has a Chabad in Jackson if you're there for Shabbos, or want to order food for pick-up, whereas in Michigan you'll need to stock up on everything in Detroit. |
Thank you for this ! Which would you recommend more for stroller friendly? And which is less humid ? Thanks ! 😊
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Zahava94
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Mon, Feb 06 2023, 9:34 am
The topography and scenery in Michigan isn't that different from New England or upstate New York. There's lots of hardwood forest, with a mix of deciduous trees and conifers, and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, some hills, waterfalls, and elevation change. As others of have said, the main attractions in upper Michigan, outdoors-wise, are Mackinac Island (accessible by ferry), Pictured Rocks (cliffs and waterfalls along the Lake Superior coast), and Tahqaumenon Falls. Another nice spot in the UP is Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains, on the western end of the UP. Some additional attractions on the mainland of Michigan are Sleeping Bear Dunes (fun sand dunes along the lakeshore), Holland (lots of windmills and cute shops) and the lighthouses at St. Joseph. The summer temperatures in northern Michigan are relatively cool (highs in the upper 70's to low 80's), though there is plenty of humidity and fog. Detroit is main transportation hub in Michigan. If you want to spend most of your time in the UP, you can also fly into Milwaukee, which is slightly closer. Either way, the flights are relatively affordable and both cities have kosher food and shul options.
Wyoming is completely different from anything in the midwest or east coast. It is has a semi-arid climate (low humidity), relatively cool weather (though there can be heat waves in the summer) and very mountainous terrain in the western half of the state, with mainly pine forests. As others have said, the main attractions are Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, which are both beautiful and incredibly different from anything in the eastern half of the US. One thing to note is that both national parks get very, very crowded in the summer months. Hotels get booked up very quickly. There are long lines to get into the parks. They may feel more like amusement parks than a chance to get out in nature. That being said, Wyoming has so many beautiful and open areas to enjoy nature, even without spending much time in the national parks. The Bighorn Mountains and Wind River Range both are beautiful, open natural areas that give the same feel as the national parks without the crowds. Aside from that, flying into Jackson is expensive and there are limited amenities in the area, kosher-wise. The chabad there can certainly help, but you won't have the same options that Michigan would afford. Flying into Bozeman, MT might be a more practical choice.
Ultimately, I'd say - Michigan would provide a more family-friendly, cost-effective vacation, whereas Wyoming would give you a bigger thrill.
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doctorima
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Mon, Feb 06 2023, 10:16 am
| amother OP wrote: | | Thank you for this ! Which would you recommend more for stroller friendly? And which is less humid ? Thanks ! 😊 |
The national parks of Wyoming are likely to be more stroller friendly than the more rugged UP of Michigan, which is less built up and more on your own as far as infrastructure. Zahava gave a great rundown of the weather differences, plus a lot more!
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doctorima
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Mon, Feb 06 2023, 11:11 am
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If it's family-friendly activities you want, Jackson WY has become touristy in that regard. You can find horseback riding, a rodeo, whitewater rafting, wildlife tours, fishing, ATV tours, and more. That's not the main reason most people go to the area, but you can definitely combine it with the national parks to break them up. Some of the activities may have a minimum age though, so you'd need to check on that if coming with a baby.
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