Scenic route South Texas to Upper Michigan

[mjgkramer]

Yesterday we took delivery on our new 40 foot Monaco Diplomat motor home and wife has expressed a desire to see northern Michigan departing in May or June. I have spent a good bit of time there on business trips in the past around Traverse City, Kalkaska, Gaylord, and Houghton, but always flew in. I would appreciate suggestions as to a scenic route from the San Antonio area northward. We will be most interested in seeing scenery although museums and the like are also of interest. Wife is handicapped with limited walking mobility, so hiking is out. She does have a motorized scooter so could enjoy paved nature trails. We would also be interested in meeting any forum members along the way. Thanks in advance.

[Zoidberg]

I'll ask my wife about specifics, but we recently took the drive up from Little Rock to Branson through the Ozarks. While we only really just got into Missouri, it was a beautiful drive.

[Donkey Hotay]

start here: http://roadtripamerica.com/

[mick e]

There's a difference between Upper Michigan and Northern Michigan.

If you want a scenic drive, go through Wisconsin to the UP. Then if you would like to go to lower Michigan, pop down the bridge.

[Guitarman]

I've been to Houghton. went up from Chicago. Nice drive in the fall. Well I was in a tour bus but still.......

[Dennis S]

West Arkansas is pretty, and then through the Missouri Ozarks. Hwy 7, west of Little Rock, is a scenic route. It starts in Hot Springs. Don't go east of Little Rock. It's flat and boring.

[modelamac]

Agree with mick e.

Go thru Wisc. Dells, and meander up to and thru Michigans UP. Some nice waterfalls. Copper country. Sault Ste Mare - the Locks. Then head south across the "Bridge".

Ask mick e for Wisc must-see places.

Load them all on the schedule, then back out some based on time available.

[mjgkramer]

All good suggestions. Thanks. No one has yet mentioned Isle Royale. Any thoughts on that? We have in years past traveled through Arkansas - eastern part (how else can you get to Graceland?), the western part, and the central part. One of our favorite places, which we haven't seen for many years, is the area around Blanchard Springs Caverns in north central Arkansas. We will probably try to go through there.

The areas we are least familiar would be north of Missouri so would like to hear about especially interesting things to see and do between there and Michigan. As mentioned before, we are more the scenery lover type. We do not have much interest in the Wayne Newton type shows that many places feature for old folks.

[michaelb]

I would have to disagree and say driving up through the western shore of the lower peninsula of michigan is much more scenic then through Chicago and up through Wisconsin. I don't remember that much that is scenic on the drive through Wisconsin actually. The UP of Michigan is very scenic off the road, but the main road is mainly a tunnel through tall pines with an occasionally pasty stand. Just a guess but is probably adding 10 hours or more extra driving to Traverse City by going the Wisc/UP route.

Between Missouri and Michigan unfortunately lies Indiana and Illinois, and other than saying it is nice farm country, I am not sure many would say it is scenic.

You don't mention the trip home. I would be inclined to turn east at the Sue and head into Ontario and then down the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. I haven't been all the way through there, but that is very, very scenic and wild country. Killarney is beautiful about half way down (good fish and chips at the dock).

May or June is also a bit imprecise. May may very well be winter in the UP still. Lake Superior could still have ice. Black flies start at the end of May. Early June is still cold, and would start the mosquito season. Isle Royale is in the middle of Lake Superior, with minimum services (I haven't been there though) and involves a float plane or a 6 hour ferry across the lake. So I wouldn't think that as tourist friendly for a day stop, or for limited mobility access. Macinaw Island or Beaver Island or even South Manitou would be much more accessible if you are looking for a trip to an island in the great lakes (Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron is also supposed to be beautiful).

Edit: I haven't been to S. Manitou in at least 15 years, but I doubt they have any paved roads or path.

[mjgkramer]

michaelb - thanks for your input. We are very flexible as to the time to go as we are retired. The reason to consider leaving so early is to get away from the summer heat for which my wife has a low tolerance level.