Ideas for Day Trips/one Night Stays in and Around Michigan !

I grew up in Michigan.

Some of my favorite places to visit as a kid (and still) are:

Hartwick Pines - one of the last remaining stands of old growth pine trees in the state, there's a little logging museum type thing, and for a kid, it's just fantastic to run around.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - these dunes are the best. Hands down, the best.

(I recommend staying in Traverse City and doing two day trips, one west to Sleeping Bear Dunes, and one East to Hartwick Pines).

Head to Petoskey and look for petoskey stones, if you get them wet you can see the pattern a bit better, but for a kid, a stone like that is a real treasure! - it's a 350 million year old piece of coral!

The Au Sable River is really nice, but more for hiking and canoeing so it's probably better for warm weather.

Binder Park Zoo is also great!

A lot of people like Frankenmuth, I've never been a fan.

Frankenmuth is a fun touristy town to visit.

we like sliver beach in St Joseph michigan. their childrens museum is fun, and the beach itself is nice not sure for the time of year you are talking but .... the carosel is cool too.

In what part of Michigan are you? How far (time-wise) are you willing to drive?

Lisa has great ones to check out.

I grew up in Mich. What about checking on Holland to see when their tulip festival starts and what is offered.

What part of Mich are you talking about, lower Mi I take it.