Lake Michigan: Cruise the Midwest
July 28, 2010 – 1:14 pm | No Comment

Lake Michigan is part of what makes the Great Lakes great. In the water, on the water, or near the water, cruising the Midwest is Big Fun any way you float your boat.

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Feed Me

No fast food or chicken strips. Fun, kid-centered food that the whole family will love.

Geocaching

The best new geocaching events and destinations for your next road trip.

Rockies or Bust 2010

We drive all Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies — in one mega trip!

Tech & Gadgets

Technical Stuff, Toys, Gadgets, GPS Info & more.

Trip Planning

A good road trip takes some planning, here’s the help you need.

Day Tripping, Trip Planning »

Great Lakes Road Trip: Kismet on the Open Road
July 27, 2010 – 5:02 pm | No Comment

Kismet: Fate; a predetermined or unavoidable destiny. To me, kismet is free will on the open road. Following the tug of the steering wheel as the off-center alignment brings you where you normally wouldn’t have time or patience to go. We just spent 16 days and 1921.9 miles on a Great Lakes Road Trip exploring eastern Wisconsin and northern, lower Michigan. Some of our trip was planned, some wasn’t. Here are our kismet moments, in no particular rank or order:

Cheese Cave at Field to Fork

Cheese Cave at Field to Fork Restaurant

If you ever visit downtown Sheboygan, Wisconsin, first look for Norman Rockwell and then try and park downwind from Field to Fork bakery and grocery on 8th Street. Let your nose guide you in to a lovely place that both supports the local economy and encourages global sustainability. A pleasant surprise and our newest favorite place to eat, Field to Fork was friendly, worldly, and kid-friendly. Here the boys are pretending to defend the “cheese cave” against the bad guys. Inspired by a dance club in Italy, imagine tropical fish as seen through a glass floor with the tide rolling in. A Wisconsin girl at heart, try fried queso blanco if you want a little cheese inspiration with your morning coffee.

Goodale's Bakery

Eating the Messiest Donut at Goodale's Bakery

Goodale’s Bakery just off of the main drag in Grayling, Michigan is not the most likely of tourist destinations. Desperate for coffee and adult conversation, we stumbled into the bakery somewhat by accident. A favorite venue for local residents for miles around, Goodale’s Bakery is now on or “must visit” list for next summer (and the summer after, and so on). Here is a photo of Owen post messiest donut in the entire display case. We stocked up on fresh-baked breads and cookies to freeze at the cabin and keep within snacking distance. Not operating at a particularly big city tempo, we chatted and “watched” people as we waited for our order.

Tunnel of Trees

Tunnel of Trees: Scenic Highway 119

If you have (1) a motorcycle or (2) a favorite music CD, please bring either (or both) to the Tunnel of Trees Scenic Highway 119 between Harbor Springs and Good Hart, Michigan. Without a care in the world, we snaked along the bluffs of Lake Michigan, into and out of fields, forest, passing dream homes along the way. Motorcyclists and convertable owners looked content on a summer day fit for open windows and napping kids.

Rocks near Petoskey, Michigan

Rocks near Petoskey, Michigan

We stopped at the Thorne Swift Nature Preserve at the Lower Shore Drive turn off. A short (perfect distance) hike to the rocky shores of Lake Michigan, we skipped stones, scampered on the big rocks, and tormented the resident biologist with incessant questions. Making a mental note to avoid the drive with trailer in pull or teenage driver, Tunnel of Trees was worth the wanderlust.

Discovery Center in Gaylord

Discovery Center in Gaylord

Unprepared to encounter such a kid-friendly find in Gaylord, Michigan, the Gaylord Discovery Center is a gem of a find.  Inexpensive by big city standards, we purchased a non-expiring 10 visit punch pass for $40. Planning to return next summer, we can’t wait to bring our cousins to the giant indoor sand pit,human gerbil maze, PVC water tubes, craft table, and age-appropriate play areas (including miniature drum sets the boys still talk about). Open for tired parents, birthday parties, and the weary traveler looking to tire kids without chicken nuggets, plug the Gaylord Discovery Center into your GPS and put kismet on autopilot!

Expert Guides: iPhone and Print Format

If you’re looking for even more suggestions on your next trip to Michigan, meet my new friend and fellow iPhone app author, Matt Forster. Author of the print guide book, Backroads & Byways of Michigan, Matt knows more about the Petoskey State than any other person I know. Here’s more about both projects:

Grand Traverse: Up North iPhone App

Grand Traverse: Up North iPhone App

Looking to explore Michigan’s Grand Traverse region? This new travel app covers it all. Up North! Grand Traverse will guide you to the best places to take the kids swimming or hiking or fishing; where to sleep, bed & breakfasts, quiet lakeside inns, excellent campgrounds; where to eat and how much you’ll spend; the best farm markets, specialty foods, and great local snacks. For less than you would spend on a local map, this travel app has close to 200 entries and 500 photos and never goes out of date (upgrades are free)!

Backroads & Biways of Michigan

Backroads & Byways of Michigan

As a Michigan native, Matt has camped, hiked, canoed, biked, swum, antiqued, art galleried, toured, or simply explored nearly every corner of the state. In Backroads & Byways of Michigan, he offers 12 routes to discover the best the state has to offer. From the exploring the secret urban adventures of Detroit, to the mining history of the UP’s Keweenaw Peninsula, and everywhere in between, there is something new to discover with every turn of the page. Telling the story of each region, chapters also offer suggestions for lodging and dining and places you must visit.

Popularity: 3% [?]

West Yellowstone Here We Come — Day 5 Rockies or Bust 2010
July 24, 2010 – 6:19 am | One Comment
West Yellowstone Here We Come — Day 5 Rockies or Bust 2010

We leave Jackson Hole and head to West Yellowstone on day 5 of our Rockies or Bust 2010 mega road trip. Seeing a bear is a huge highlight!

Everything Must Go: Getting Thrifty on the Road
July 19, 2010 – 6:14 am | 2 Comments
Everything Must Go: Getting Thrifty on the Road

Visiting garage and thrift sales on a road trip is a fun way to save money, find hidden treasures, and keep kids looking for signs. From geocaching trinkets to clothing and toys, your next vacation souvenir may be off on an adventure of its own.

4th of July in Jackson Hole, Wyoming — Day 4 Rockies or Bust 2010
July 17, 2010 – 10:12 am | No Comment
4th of July in Jackson Hole, Wyoming — Day 4 Rockies or Bust 2010

What’s not to like about the 4th of July? Fireworks and watermelon, parades and picnics. This year the Rockies or Bust tour stopped to celebrate Independence Day in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Daytona 500 Experience: Guest Post Itinerary by Gerard Walen
July 16, 2010 – 5:35 am | One Comment
Daytona 500 Experience: Guest Post Itinerary by Gerard Walen

I strap myself in, wait for the “Start your engines” announcement. The lights tick down. Green! I hit the accelerator and roar onto the track in my first Daytona 500 race. Zooming around the famed …

Road Trip Recycling: Expert Guest Post from CarHelp.com
July 15, 2010 – 6:47 am | One Comment
Road Trip Recycling: Expert Guest Post from CarHelp.com

These days, most of us are pretty savvy about recycling at home. And, many retailers make it easy as well, so our every day lives are getting greener. But what about the road trip or even those everyday trips in the car? It’s not always the easiest thing to do.

Traveling with Pets: Tips from CarHelp.com
July 13, 2010 – 5:25 am | 2 Comments
Traveling with Pets: Tips from CarHelp.com

We didn’t bring our dog on this Rockies or Bust excursion. 47 days in the car is too much for most humans, let alone a dog. But, many families take their pets on shorter trips, so we asked our sponsor, CarHelp.com, for some tips on traveling safely with pets.

Bingo! Road Trip Friendly iPhone Apps
July 8, 2010 – 8:13 pm | 2 Comments
Bingo! Road Trip Friendly iPhone Apps

Created to entertain even the most “bored” kid, Road Trips for Families suggest five road-trip friendly iPhone apps for your next family vacation. Be gone, “Are we there yet?” Behold the iPhone!

The Road to Yellowstone — Day 3 Rockies or Bust 2010
July 8, 2010 – 5:39 am | One Comment
The Road to Yellowstone — Day 3 Rockies or Bust 2010

Leaving Cody behind, we drive along roughly the same route to Yellowstone that Bill Cody used when he took visitors to the park. Obviously, things are a bit different now. The Pahaska Tepee was a two-day journey back in the day and today it’s less than an hour. A visit to the park that took weeks can now be done in a day of driving.

Buffalo Bill Still Rides — Cody, Wyoming — Day 2 Rockies or Bust 2010
July 7, 2010 – 6:58 am | 2 Comments
Buffalo Bill Still Rides — Cody, Wyoming — Day 2 Rockies or Bust 2010

Cody, Wyoming is known as the “Rodeo Capital of the World” for good reason. It’s named for Bill Cody, otherwise known as Buffalo Bill. Explore the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, his Irma Hotel and other relics of the Old West.

Cowboy Up! Welcome to Wyoming — Rockies or Bust 2010 Day 1
July 4, 2010 – 10:28 am | 4 Comments
Cowboy Up! Welcome to Wyoming — Rockies or Bust 2010 Day 1

Today we’re traveling on the Circle the Continental Divide Driving Tour. This drive highlights the best of Wyoming — including national parks, museums, rodeos, pioneer trails, Native American tribes, jaw-dropping scenery, and colorful wildlife.

Monkey Business in Rockford, Illinois
July 3, 2010 – 7:46 am | No Comment
Monkey Business in Rockford, Illinois

Southern neighbor of Beloit, Wisconsin, Rockford, Illinois is about an hour and a half drive from Chicago, Milwaukee, or Madison. Home of the adorable sock monkey, Road Trips for Families ventured to Illinois for a weekend vacation. In the spirit of monkey business, here are some kid-friendly places to “hang out” the next time you are Rockford with kids.

Family Dining in Rockford, Illinois
June 27, 2010 – 7:19 pm | One Comment
Family Dining in Rockford, Illinois

Family dining options are plentiful in Rockford, Illinois. Family-owned, local favorites range from “hidden gems” to “reservations required”. With many restaurants conveniently located near the interstate corridor, this Feed Me review is an appetizer to get you started.

Still on VaCachen
June 25, 2010 – 2:00 pm | One Comment
Still on VaCachen

The latest trend in family vacations is geocaching on the road. Road Trips for Families is Still on VaCation and playing in the nation’s largest high-tech treasure hunt.

Ask the Expert: Yellowstone Adventure Itinerary
June 21, 2010 – 6:54 am | 2 Comments
Ask the Expert: Yellowstone Adventure Itinerary

Yellowstone National Park is the oldest national park. For those quick with logic, that means that Yellowstone is our first national park. The park is huge, and a map doesn’t truly convey how much geography is really encompassed. Housed in three states (Wyoming, Idaho and Montana), first-time visitors to Yellowstone often attempt to “see the whole park” in a few days. That’s a sure recipe for disaster.

Top 100 Family Campgrounds 2010
June 14, 2010 – 7:20 pm | One Comment
Top 100 Family Campgrounds 2010

Our friends at ReserveAmerica have just released their list of the Top 100 Family Campgrounds for 2010. Looking at the list and comparing to those we’ve crossed off our personal “To Do” list, it’s apparent …

Going on VaCachen
June 11, 2010 – 6:15 am | No Comment
Going on VaCachen

The latest trend in family vacations is geocaching on the road. Go on VaCachen with Road Trips for Families in the nation’s largest high-tech treasure hunt.

Friday News Roundup, June 11, 2010
June 11, 2010 – 5:50 am | No Comment
Friday News Roundup, June 11, 2010

There’s more road trip news than we can fit into our regular features. The Friday News Roundup gives families the stories we think are the most important every week, all in one place. Your family road trip just got a little bit easier, week-by-week.

Family-Friendly iPhone Travel Apps for Vacation Planning
June 8, 2010 – 7:05 pm | 3 Comments
Family-Friendly iPhone Travel Apps for Vacation Planning

A new trend in family vacation planning is iPhone travel apps, or virtual travel guide books. Authored by area gurus, travel apps offer an in-depth look at a particular region or vacation destination. Apps are more content rich and interactive than traditional guide books, and bring the itinerary planning right along in the car with you.

Got Milk to Go?
June 7, 2010 – 6:27 am | No Comment
Got Milk to Go?

Even on family vacation, kids and their families can still enjoy the taste and health benefits of drinking milk and dining together while on the road. The National “got milk?®” Milk Mustache Mobile Tour is crossing the country from March to September, helping families make healthier choices and incorporate milk into their daily meals.

Friday News Roundup, June 4, 2010
June 4, 2010 – 6:15 am | No Comment
Friday News Roundup, June 4, 2010

There’s more road trip news than we can fit into our regular features. The Friday News Roundup gives families the stories we think are the most important every week, all in one place. Your family road trip just got a little bit easier, week-by-week.