Island Vacations in Michigan

Now that it is getting warmer, I started thinking about all of the different Michigan places that you can go and visit in the warmer weather.  I love to travel to faraway destinations, but with kids, sometimes destinations that you can get away to with a car seem so much easier.  Depending on where you live, these may just be a day trip or a great place for a large event like a wedding venue!

Belle Isle, Detroit

This little gem is located in the Detroit River.  There is an aquarium, botanical garden, play area, golf and putting area, and much more to explore. 

image from wikipedia

Windmill Island, Holland

This is a great place to visit during the tulip season to see everything in bloom. They have a historic working windmill, carousel and other dutch cultural attractions. 
 

image from the Holland website

Power Island, Traverse City

This is a nature preserve that you can camp, picnic and hike on. 

North Manitou, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

This Island is a large nature preserve that was once part of the logging trade.  There are 200 miles of shoreline to explore on foot.

photo by Kerry Kelly

Mackinac Island
Macinac is a resort island that has lots of things for tourists to do.  There are no cars on the island, but lots of horses and bikes to explore the historic areas like Fort Holmes as well as a vast nature preserve.  Since there are many tourists that come here, there is also restaurants, shopping and hotels to stay in.  We used to go there as kids and enjoyed biking around the island and eating lots of fudge.  

image from flickr

Apple Island, Orchard Lake, MI
Apple Island is a small city owned island practically in my backyard.  It is said to be the burial ground of Chief Pontiac.  It is an educational nature center and tours must be arranged by the City of West Bloomfield.