Michigan Road Trip

Michigan Outdoors - Hidden Places

Author: Steve Gillman

In Michigan, being outdoors can mean relaxing on a sandy beach or getting lost in the wilderness. One of the hidden places described below will let you do both. Here are three places that you haven't seen in magazine articles and guide books.

Michigan Outdoors - Rivers

You can float the Manistee River from Baxter Bridge (the next crossing down from Hwy 131) north of Cadillac, all day without seeing a house or a road. The majority of the route is in the Manistee National Forest, where you can camp without permits. The Manistee isn't a river full of exciting rapids (at least not on this stretch). It is a river for relaxing.

A few years back, we used to park where Road 17 crosses the river, and hike upstream with a small day pack loaded with snacks, water, a saw, hatchet, and rope. By early afternoon we would build a raft of dead trees cut to length. We spent the following hours floating back to the car. We called it Tom Sawyer Day, and on six of these trips I have never passed another canoe or boat on the river.

Michigan Outdoors - Beaches

Probably you have heard of or been to the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore (and the dunes), and the other sandy spots along the east side of Lake Michigan. They are beautiful, and I highly recommend them, but what if you want a beach to yourself? Head north, to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

From Highway 2, a couple miles east of Rapid River, turn south on County road 513. Follow it until it splits, and take the road to Wilsey Bay. Where the road first comes to the water, it is a public access point. Leave your car here and walk a mile to the end of the road, and then along the rocky beach past the last house (stay below the high-water mark and it is legal to walk past private property).

Just past the house you enter the Hiawatha National Forest for the next seven miles of beach. The last time I camped out there, I never saw a person in two days. One morning I followed fresh black bear tracks along the sandy beach, and later explored the ruins of an old cabin. There are no roads into this area, and ATV's are not permitted. If you want forested wilderness, just walk away from the beach - and watch for wild blueberries in the forest clearings if it is August or September.

Michigan Outdoors - Really Hidden

You'll want a topographical map for this one. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, north of Ishpeming, there is some wild and rough country. Driving out of Ishpeming, you'll wind through rocky lakes and woods. An hour north, on a sandy road, you'll come to a river with two-hundred foot high cliffs on the other side. I promised friends not to get more specific than this, so you'll have to work a bit to find it.

Continue a bit further, until the road gets too rough or the puddles too deep. Park the car and find a log to cross the small river on, then head uphill (you may need your hands to go up the wooded hillside). Beyond and on top of those cliffs and hills there are two lakes, just a thirty minute walk away, surrounded by a rocky wilderness, and with no trail going to them. My brother had a trout on the line in ten seconds the first time I took him there. Good luck!

About the author:
Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos, gear recommendations and a free book can be found at http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

Considering a Motorhome?

Types of Motorhomes

Author: Peter Lenkefi

Article:Though there may be several designs and flavors of motorhomes, they are technically classified as type A, type B, type C or bus conversions. All the types are motorized homes but each has different features and capacity to suit different purposes and budgets. A motorhome can measure 21 to 45 feet. The type A is the largest of all and comes loaded with facilities and high end equipment for long trips and can be used as permanent abode by any person. It is built on special chassis and may cost $57,000 to $1.4 m.

It has a gallery, living area, sleeping quarters, permanent sanitary facilities. There is power, back up batteries, water holding tanks and an onboard generator.

The class A is highly spacious and that allows it to have extra comforts like a refrigerator, washer-dryer, large-screen TV, computerized leveling system, satellite navigation system, satellite dish, slide-out room extension and large storage bays.

One major disadvantage of the class a type is that it is not maneuverable due to its length and bulkiness. Again, it is too low and therefore unsuitable for rugged environments. The type B is like a converted van and can be said to be the smallest in the range of self contained motorhomes. It is basically a truck which had been modified to have sleeping, living and dining rooms. The price range for this class is between $42,000 to $73,000 and measures 16 to 34 feet.

The class B is easy to drive and therefore maneuverable. If you need to do a lot of turning and visiting small communities on the trip, this is the ideal one as it can driven around any corner and also manage sharp turns. It is suitable for short stay camping and smaller groups of say 3.

The limitation is that you have less space, and a low ceiling which means you cannot transport objects that stand tall. You also have a small gas tank which will require refueling a lot.

Type C is a small motorhome mounted on the chassis of a van. It also offers a living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Though they can offer all the comforts of class A motorhome, they look crammed. The type C cannot have full size beds but come with bunker types. They are easy to maneuver and can manage sharp turns or narrow roads.

It cost about $48,000 to $139,000 and measure 20 to 35 feet.

The bus conversions are full size buses converted to a motorhome. This type is most suitable for large group camping. Their large size enables them to have luxury sofas and most of the bulky comforts of a home. They cost between $100,000 to $1m and measure 35 to 45 feet.

The choice of a motorhome will depend on so many factors including budget, your needs assessment and whether or not you need maneuverability or not.

About the author:For more information about types of motorhomes please visithttp://www.motor-home-tips.com/

East Coast Road Trip

Choosing The East Coast To Go On Vacation

Author: Harald Anderson

Are you planning to go on vacations? Have you ever considered taking a road trip to the east coast of the United States? If you haven't, you should, because this part of America offers a great variety of activities that you and your family can join to have a very good time. You should decide what to do depending on how much time you have. You can choose to drive all the way along the entirecoast or, if you do not have much time, you should pick a particular area you are interest to visit and explore it in detail. Of course, always study what the different areas have to offer in food, entertainment and accommodation before starting to drive. If you plan your vacation properly, for sure you will spend a great time traveling along the Atlantic shoreline.

If you plan to begin your vacation in the south, bear in mind that Florida can and will maintain you occupied for more than a few days. This is because Florida has a long coastline and many interesting activities to do. You and your family can have a good time visiting the various amusement parks, and enjoying the beach climate that is one of the best. Then you have to keep going and for sure you will not skip Savannah, Georgia, the state's oldest city, where you can go to the historical Savannah River and to several historical colonial sites. It is a city you should not avoid because its colorful old houses and its southern charm are unforgettable.

Then you should turn to Charleston, South Carolina, a city you cannot avoid. It s a city very similar to Savannah in its architecture but it also has its own interesting things, such as the Folly Beach and some of the region's best seafood restaurants. After Charleston, the trip can continue to the city Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on the outer banks of the state. This city offers you a variety of activities, included museums recording the Wright Brothers' first flight, where you can place yourself in the path where they made history.

Are you interested in politics? If this is your case, you should stop in Washington, D.C. Because there you can visit the famous White House, the Supreme Court and the U.S. Capitol building, apart from the great number of museums of which the most important are the Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian. Another place you cannot avoid visiting is the National Gallery, especially if you are interested in art. Here you will find famous paintings from not only American but also foreign artists.

All the way up to the city of New York you will be appreciating the beautiful American rural landscape. For example you will drive past the nice state of Delaware where you will be delighted by seeing the wonderful farmland and the old farmhouses in that great rural landscape. Remember to take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel when you drive along Chesapeake Bay. It is an unforgettable twenty-six mile toll highway stretching across the superb waterway. And if you are feeling tired, there is a picturesque restaurant and rest area with a dock halfway through the twenty-six miles where you can feel as if you are floating in the heart of the ocean surrounded by countless miles of water.

As soon as you enter New Jersey, you will soon start feeling the effects of the looming New York City destination. A lot of hotels and slightly shady establishments will start appearing in your way, as you get closer to New York. And if you go even further you will see one of the greatest sights in the globe: the Manhattan skyline. Getting nearer the city you will start appreciating the surrealism of the buildings as if they were planted in the ocean and were growing skywards like a tree would do. If you make your own vacation plan do not forget including New York City at night because of its glowing magnificence.

If you do not have enough time, plan your vacation carefully so as to include at least a few days to go around the city. Some may think that it is rather overwhelming, nut it is a city you have to visit if you are near it. It is a very big city where you can find anything you are looking for. You can find a great variety of food, clothing, activity or music, what makes it the ultimate educational, cultural, and shopping experience. What can be better then finishing your vacation in one of the more beautiful cities in the world: New York?

About the author: Vacation information on http://www.apnavacation.com with the all time expert Sintilia Miecevole is waiting for you. You'll have resources at your fingertips from accommodations, hotels, tickets and insurance to resorts, vacation deals, cruises and more. Vacation with http://www.apnavacation.com and start planning your vacation today.

Motorcycle Road Trip in Florida

Motorcycles are meant for road trips, especially with the high price of gasoline these days. We have a cool road trip in North Florida to share with you today.

Motorcycle Road Trips In North Florida: Jax Beach To Fernandina

Author: Michael Talbert

With bike week just around the corner, bikers from all over the
country are pulling their motorcycles out of winter storage and
cleaning up their leathers in anticipation of a motorcycle rally
like no other. While Daytona is definitely the place to be the
week of March 5th, Florida offers some great stretches of road
through pristine landscapes to some great biker destinations.

About an hour and a half north of Daytona on A1A lies the
bustling beach community of Jacksonville Beach, which is where
we will meet for the start of our road trip- because, well,
that's where I'm from! On any given day you'll find bikes and
bikers parked and hanging out at the Jax Beach Pier parking lot.
Just across the street is the famed biker bar Mango's, a great
place for bikers to meet, have some good home cooking and shoot
some pool. Summer weekends will generally find some heavy metal
band performing outside on the covered deck. So put on your best
leather motorcycle jacket and come on out to Mango's to start
our first north Florida road trip.

Our first day trip will start from Jax Beach and head north on
A1A to Fernandina Beach, a quaint little island town with its
own unique attitude. If you follow A1A north, after bearing left
at Mayport Naval Station, you will be cruising through the
marshlands at the mouth of the St. Johns River and come to a
dead end at the ferry in Mayport Village. A traditional fishing
village, this is where most of north Florida gets their seafood.
Shrimp boats, party boats, and deep sea charters line the docks,
and you can even take a gambling cruise from here. If you're
hungry, there's an old wooden shack sitting on the water that
serves some of the best seafood available. Singletons is not
much to look at, but it's been there forever and people drive
for miles to sit on the water enjoying the freshest of Florida
seafood, while watching the pelicans scrounge for theirs.

Taking the ferry across the river, you'll once again pick up A1A
heading north. To your right you'll soon see a huge barren
sandbar that was formed by the northern jetties at the mouth of
the St. Johns. On the eastern edge are the jetties, the Atlantic
Ocean, and a beach that is packed with babes of all shapes and
sizes. The western side has a lagoon and the Fort George River
inlet. A very wide beach at low tide, vehicles have been
swallowed up and swept away by the Atlantic because of people
parking just a little too close to the water, and taking a walk
in the dunes. A great place for jet skiing, swimming, fishing
and surfing, Huguenot Park also has a campground with primitive
and RV camp sites and showers.

For the next several miles, you will be cruising through some of
the most pristine and unspoiled wetlands in Florida. Island
hopping through little and big Talbot Islands and the Timacuan
Preserve, this coastal area is one of the few in Florida
untouched by development, and will theoretically remain that
way. Flora and Fauna abound, and nature lovers flock to the area
in kayaks and flatboats to navigate the waterways in search of
trout and redfish.

Heading across the Nassau Sound Bridge to Florida's northern
most barrier island, the developments once again start to pop
up. World renowned resort Amelia Island Plantation has vast
acreages of condos, single family houses, an Inn rivaled by
none, and a huge convention center that draws business from all
over the world. A community within itself, the Plantation
strives, and has done a good job, of preserving the natural
habitat.

Not to be outdone, the Ritz Carlton is just a few miles north
and is also a magnet for the well to do, with a golf course and
all the pampering the Ritz is known for!

Almost there, we take A1A into downtown Fernandina Beach. An old
fishing village like Mayport, Fernandina is much larger and has
many unique and historical buildings. The waterfront is speckled
with shrimp boats and deep sea charters, and Brent's is the
restaurant on the docks. Fernandina Beach also hosts an annual
shrimp festival on the first weekend in May.

Ending our motorcycle excursion from Jacksonville Beach (about
an hour non stop), our last stop is a very popular watering hole
for bikers and locals alike. The Palace Saloon has been there
since 1878, and although it burned in 1999, it has been restored
to its original 18th century wooden décor. More of a bar than a
restaurant, this is where you get to know the locals, many of
which are in the hospitality industry and definitely know how to
party hardy! With live bands, dancing, flirting and drinking,
the Palace Saloon is the place to party in Fernandina Beach!

In my next road trip article we'll head south on A1A to our
nations oldest city. Founded by Ponce de Leon in 1513 and home
of the fountain of youth, this place is just a tiny little
drinking town with a fishing problem!

About the author:
Michael Talbert lives, works, and plays in Jacksonville Beach and is
the owner/operator of Biker Leather Ltd.