Michigan's Thumb

[Super Amputee Cat]

I am planning an extended weekend camping trip with the kids to Port Crescent State Park near Port Austin. It seems like a nice park but I am having trouble finding nearby attractions that are still open this late in the year.

I have never been in the Michigan Thume area before. To those of you who are familiar with the area, I would love to know some good places for a day visit.

It can be anywhere in Michigan's thumb from Port Huron north.
Specifically, I would like info on:

1. The best places to (road) bike - either country roads or trails.
2. Attractions: Any museum, lighthouse, etc or other attraction that is open this late in the year. A lot of stuff closes by Labor Day.

3. Good parks or nature preserves with trails
4. Snall towns worth visiting to walk around in or shop but not too touristy.

5. Any other pertinant information.

Thanks in advance. Drew

[SW MI Planner]

Here is the Thumb Tourism website: http://www.thumbtourism.org/

There are some petroglyphs in Sanilac. I've never been, but that would be cool!http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7...4564--,00.html

There is the Octagon barn: http://www.thumboctagonbarn.org/

There are probably tons of orchards and cider mills as well.

Sad thing is, being from somewhat nearby Saginaw, we never went to the Thumb for vacation! So, I haven't been there before. I lived in Lexington for a summer though!

[Wannaplan?]

Here are some ideas for you:

1) There are some neat apple orchards near Amada:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=e...1493&z=13&om=0


2) Check out the wind farm under construction (32 turbines) northwest of Elkton:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...1493&z=13&om=0

3) Some more ideas might be in a local paper, the Huron Daily Tribune:

http://www.michigansthumb.com/site/news.asp?brd=2292

4) List of museums:

http://www.huroncounty.com/?MuseumsFunStuff&page_id=403

[PlannerByDay]

PM me your e-mail address and I can e-mail you a copy of a not yet released bicycle facility map for the thumb area. The map is nearly complete but not quite ready for widespread public release.

To view similar maps you can go to www.michigan.gov/mdot-biking and select the regional bike maps link.

[DetroitPlanner]

See Grindstone City!

Marvel in the big piles of Sugar Beets in in Sebawing!

See how many distant relatives you can find of DetroitPlanner in Bad Axe!

[ofos]

See Grindstone City!

Marvel in the big piles of Sugar Beets in in Sebawing!

See how many distant relatives you can find of DetroitPlanner in Bad Axe!

And in that same vein, a day trip to Bay City, birthplace of Madonna.

[WSU MUP Student]

While downtown Port Huron might not have much retial activity in it compared to about 20 years ago, there is still some great architecture to see if you are into that sort of thing. The "Old Town" area has a bunch of churches all within walking distance of each other and while they might not be huge, some of them are among the oldest still being used in the state. I know the AIA has produced a guide to Port Huron that has some interesting sites to see.

As for bicycling check out http://www.stclaircounty.org/offices/parks/wadhams.aspx

Also, I don't think you mentioned when exactly you are going out to the Thumb but if you are in the area this weekend and looking for some cycling: http://www.lmb.org/crr/bwr07.ihtml