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.

Great Lakes Road Trips: Michigan Kismet Moments. Following the tug of the steering wheel to places we normally wouldn’t have time or patience to go.

Accessible only by air or water, park your vehicle, grab your bags and hop a boat or plane to one of Michigan’s most beloved summer vacation destinations: Mackinac Island. Whatever your budget or your overall mission, Mackinac Island holds a special place in people’s hearts, season after season.

Feeling more like a trip to a chalet in Switzerland, Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls, Michigan has been a popular winter and summer vacation destination in upper, lower Michigan for 60 years. With a full-service spa, championship golf course, ski area, and indoor waterpark, a trip to Boyne Mountain will have you asking, “What are you up for?”

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!

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.

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.

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 …

We’re only mid-way through our quest to drive all Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies — in one trip. 10 drives, 10 states, 10,000 miles. Here’s our best of the best so far.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Beloved by generations of families, the Black Hills has iconic scenery and wildlife. From the buffalo and rolling plains to Mount Rushmore, there’s something for everyone – especially families.

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.

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.