Hampton Inn - Cadillac Fall Foliage
Fall foliage vacations are a fun way to view the emerging fall color displays in West Michigan. Parents can ooh and aahh over the color show, while the kids enjoy good times in The Great Outdoors.
Enjoy Michigan’s fall beauty from an RV
www.marvac.org
Michigan brings ample opportunities to enjoy fun and exciting adventures any time of the year, but many RVers will tell you that autumn is their favorite season to travel around our state.
Now that the summer crowds are gone, enjoy a slower pace. Set off in your RV and visit one of the many apple orchards or the 45-plus wineries with 13,500 acres of vineyards across the state. Enjoy the brisk air while sipping a cup of warm apple cider or biting into a luscious Michigan apple. Stroll through the vineyards, and take a moment to appreciate the natural beauty as you watch the leaves turn from green to shades of red, orange and yellow. Some of the best fall colors can be viewed from your RV as you travel where you please.
Visit a lighthouse, eat your lunch alongside a waterfall, or visit tourist towns offering quaint shops, friendly people and cozy restaurants. There are over 1,000 campgrounds in Michigan, most open well into the fall season. Visit www.marvac.org for an online directory of Michigan campgrounds, or to request a free copy of the RV & Campsite publication.ColorFall
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids
www.meijergardens.org
This annual celebration of the autumn season features an extensive chrysanthemum display with hundreds of flowering plants in both interior and exterior areas. Indoor highlights include varieties on display along the winding Scenic Corridor and the Seasonal Display Greenhouse, while outdoor plantings are featured in the English Perennial Garden, Michigan’s Farm Garden and Volunteer Tribute Garden. Color tours, tram rides and seasonal children’s activities offer a unique way to experience autumn.
Fall Foliage by Train
The Famous Pumpkin Train
Coopersville & Marne Railway
616-997-7000
www.coopersvilleandmarne.org
A fall family tradition not to be missed is The Famous Pumpkin Train at the Coopersville & Marne Railway. Passengers are entertained with music, jokes, songs and dance written especially for the youngest riders and performed by The Great Pumpkin, Scarecrow and Little Crow. Advanced tickets may be purchased at the station on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., by calling (616) 997-7000, ext. 3 or by mailing in an advanced ticket registration form found at www.coopersvilleandmarne.org. A fall tradition - The Famous Pumpkin Train is scheduled to run on: October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 & 26. Saturday trains depart the station at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
See the Colors on the Chairlift
Crystal Mountain
Thompsonville
800-968-7686
www.crystalmountain.com
Crystal Mountain runs the chairlift every Saturday in September from 5-7 PM and every Saturday in October from 4-6 PM. They also operate the chairlift throughout the Peak2Peak Mountain Bike Classic on October 18 starting at 10 AM.
Another cool idea is their new Crystal Coaster alpine slide (includes a chairlift ride to the top of the slide) which will be open every Saturday & Sunday in September and October from 12-5PM.
Portage Point's Fall Colors
Portage PointOnekama
800-878-7248
www.portagepointinn.com
It just does not get any better for a fall getaway than staying at the historic Portage Point Inn and Resort hidden on a wooded peninsula on Portage Lake and Lake Michigan. Watch the sun rise across Portage Lake and set on Lake Michigan. Take long walk on the 12 mile stretch of uninhabited, fine sand beaches on the Lake Michigan side. Ask for the Inn's car tour map that will take you up the Lake Michigan coastline on M22, one the most scenic stretches of road in America.
Traverse City's Fall Beauty
Color Tours of Traverse City
www.visittraversecity.com/fall-color-tour-15/
The local fall color season typically begins in late September and usually lasts through the end of October. Choose a route and enjoy the color! We recommend you bring along a map of the area to help find your way. Here are some suggested routes to enjoy the area's autumn color display.
Tour One: Out on a Mission
Old Mission Peninsula, Length-45 miles
Tour Two: Michigan's Little Finger
The Leelanau Peninsula, Length-75 miles (105 miles including optional loop)
Tour Three: A Secret Splendor
Elk Lake, Torch Lake and the Rapid River, Length-55 miles
Tour Four: A Southern Exposure
Long Lake, Interlochen and the Boardman Valley, Length-5 miles
Find all of the details here!
Sandy Korners-Manistee Adventure
Sandy Korners Adventure Tours
Mears
231-873-5048
www.sandykorners.com
This 243-mile excursion travels along the colorful logging roads of the Manistee National Forest, through some the most scenic regions of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Enjoy panoramic vistas and trails along historic rivers like the Pere Marquette, Pine and Manistee. This two-day adventure includes two meals, one night’s lodging in Cadillac and the tour. ($275 per person based on 2 people per Jeep; $175 per child, age 10 and under. Offered every weekend, September 27 through November 2).
Petoskey Colors
The Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau has added a Fall Color e-brochure to their website at www.PetoskeyArea.com making it even easier for you to find your way around the most beautiful color routes in northern Michigan. Five self-guided tours are highlighted and include the scenic and ever-popular Tunnel of Trees route from Harbor Springs to Cross Village on M-119. A stop at historic Legs Inn is a must! Check out the interesting architecture (stone, wood and stove legs!), great food (authentic Polish at its best) and incredible views of sparkling Lake Michigan.
Several lodging facilities in the Petoskey area have extended their offer to help extend your vacation with their "Stay 4 nights, Pay for 3 nights" promotion. After Labor Day, the BOYNE golf courses, shops, restaurants and hotels are less crowded. Bring your bicycle and experience the Little Traverse Wheelway, hike any of the Little Traverse Nature Conservancy trails or just sit and watch the waves on Lake Charlevoix, Little Traverse Bay, Crooked or Walloon Lakes. No matter how you spend your day, make sure to take advantage of this fantastic lodging deal now through the end of October.