Family-friendly vacation?

Saugatuck looks wonderful! We%26#39;d love to visit. My husband and I are anxious to get away in Aug. however, will be bringing our 10 mo. old baby. I%26#39;ve got two questions:

1) I%26#39;ve heard the Saugatuck Harbor Inn is family-friendly. Thoughts about the Inn? Are there any other spots we should check out? We%26#39;ll be ';stuck'; in the inn after his bedtime, so a motor lodge set-up won%26#39;t work....we%26#39;d climb the walls. Also, we%26#39;d rather not rent a house.

2) Are there enough restaurants in town that are family-friendly? Sounds as though the town is a big gay destination; makes me think ';adult crowd';...not in the XXX way, just in age;-) Are the majority of restaurants up-scale? Will we be frowned upon bringing an infant to dinner at a pub-type, lakefront place?

Thanks!

Family-friendly vacation?

You might look into Twin Oaks Inn or Twin Gables for lodging, both are kid friendly. Restaurants could be tricky but there%26#39;s lots of options from Burger King to top notch dining. Go to Saugatuckdouglas.com and check out some of the web sites. Butler, Mermaid, Marros would be good kid options.

Family-friendly vacation?

We just returned from a 4-day vacation in Saugatuck. We had a wonderful time checking out the stores in town and enjoying the scenery.

I did feel that we were definitely in the minority being a married couple with kids. We didn%26#39;t see many kids in town. There were a few more at Oval Beach but we were “warned” that the north end of the beach draws the gay crowd so we stayed south toward the concession stand.

We ate at Coral Gables and Morro’s – both very nice and family friendly. We also took in a free concert in the park on Wednesday night. The majority of the couples and groups there were gay but we didn’t see any public displays of affection (“Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”)

Bottom line, we found Saugatuck to be a fun, classy, hip, artsy little town and we’re looking forward to going back next year.

I think you%26#39;ll have a great time with your baby there. Yes Saugatuck has a certain reputation but I%26#39;ve seen the park across from the tennis courts filled with young families. Most ot the restaurants are family-friendly. Marros, Pumpernickel%26#39;s (great breakfasts), the ice cream place in Douglas, Butler, Crane%26#39;s in Fennville, etc.

Vacationed there many times. While Saugatuck has a reputation for being gay-friendly, it isn%26#39;t overtly gay and is a very family-oriented town. Lots of families with kids vacation there and in my opinion are the majority. You might occasionally see a same-gender couple holding hands walking down the street, but that%26#39;s about it.

I think nearly all of the restaurants afre family-friendly. When the kids were little we found it best to dine early to avoid the dinner time crowds. We also used the %26#39;linen tablecloth rule%26#39; figuring restaurants that used them are the kind of places that usually aren%26#39;t asccustomed to having babies as dinner guests.

I just stayed at the Saugatuck Harbor Inn with my two children and had a great time. The pool and Inn are awesome! I just placed my first review of anything, so it should be posted in a couple of days

Susan

scars

two or three night stay???

My husband and I are staying in Saugatuck at the Bella Vita Spa and Suites in October for our anniversary. Right now we have reservations for Sunday and Monday night, but are wondering if we should go down a day earlier and stay Sat. as well.

We have never been to Saugatuck before and were wondering if two nights is ample time for a little getaway or if three nights is better.

two or three night stay???

If you%26#39;re as close as Grand Rapids then that really means you%26#39;ll have three full days, which I think would be ample. I don%26#39;t by any means think that three nights would be over doing it, but maybe with two it%26#39;ll leave you wanting, and that%26#39;s a good way to go home.

two or three night stay???

I agree with Rono.

Several years ago, we visited the small, but lovely island of Key West for the 1st time and stayed a week... There are only so many times one could go up and down Duval Street! LOL. Although we LOVE Key West, in the future we%26#39;ll only stay 3 days.

It%26#39;s better to leave wanting more than to become bored with your getaway.

Just remember in the ';off-season'; many places are closed on Monday%26#39;s so going down a night early and really taking advantage of everything the town has to offer may make sense in this case...just a thought!

channel

June Stay at Brigadoon

Has anyone stayed at the Brigadoon the first or seconf week of June? If so, how much was your room if you stayed on the first floor?

Restaurants & Wine Bars???

Still looking for great restaurant ideas, so far I have Everyday People Cafe for dinner and Pumpernickel%26#39;s for breakfast and lunch.

There appear to be 2 winery owned tasting rooms, Fenn ?? and Taber; has anyone been to these and do they serve any wines in addition to their own? Any wine bars in Saugatuck?

Restaurants %26amp; Wine Bars???

Michigan liquor laws are a bit conservative. Winery tasting rooms can only sample their own wines and wine shops aren%26#39;t allowed to sample at all.

There are 10-15 wineries within an hour%26#39;s drive of Saugatuck, it%26#39;s fun to tour around. Award winning Reislings and other whites do best but the reds are coming along. Tabor Hill winery has an excellent restaurant too.

No wine bars in the area but great selections can be found at Everyday People, Marro%26#39;s, Clearbrook and Butch%26#39;s in Holland.

Other restaurants to consider, Ida Red%26#39;s for breakfast or lunch....Journeyman in Fennville (recently recognized by Gourmet magazine)...Phil%26#39;s in downtown Saugatuck has good food and a great vibe.

Restaurants %26amp; Wine Bars???

Regarding the Journeyman restaurant. Last year , 2007, I was pretty delighted by its faire...wonderful, delicious, truly excellent food..But alas...it has lost its magic..

Recently they opened a new wine bar and extended the restaurant and the food we ate the last time we were there was not good. They had skimped on the amount of meat on the pizzas, and I ordered over medium eggs for the brunch, but they came back so uncooked that even the whites werent cooked. It was awful. The sourdough toast was burned and the eggs were almost raw. For the price, which is exorbitant, the food isnt worth it. I wont be going there again. I know that the economy is in the toilet right now, but that is no excuse to skimp on the food, especially for such high prices. I will go to Grasscup restaurant near Holland if I need a night out. The food there is always prepared with care.

Going there Thursday

We are using RLT divers in MN

and traveling there for a 4 day scuba

trip. Any tips are welcome, will post

a review when I come back.

We are leaving out of Grand Portage, MN.

Going there Thursday

No comments only my wishes for a great trip! I%26#39;ve always wanted to go to Isle Royale. I can%26#39;t wait to read your trip report! Moms

Going there Thursday

We went to Isle Royale scuba diving through RLT Divers out of Grand Portage, MN.

We took a 2 hr. boat ride there and then enjoyed!

Mostly we were there to scuba dive but we did check out Windigo Lodge and another camp site area with showers and a store.

Gorgeous time!

Great ship wreks!

Pristine wilderness.

Write with any questions!

Dearborn suggestions - eating? shopping? evening with baby?

My mom, my aunt, and I are going on a girls getaway. We%26#39;ll be spending most of the weekend in Dearborn. We plan to visit Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum. Any tips?

What else should we do?

Any good places to eat (we%26#39;re sort of picky - nothing too exotic)?

Are there any fun malls nearby?

Any other ideas for evening entertainment with a one year old and two 60 year olds?

Thanks!!!

Dearborn suggestions - eating? shopping? evening with baby?

Museum and Village: depending upon the intensity of your interests, can take as long as one day each. If you plan to do both in the same day, bear in mind that they open at 9:30 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m. Free parking. Only for occasional special events are they open after 5:00 p.m. There is an IMAX theatre in the Museum. It is open at night.

Restaurants: Many of the usual national chains are in and around Dearborn. There also are a number of local restaurants and local chains that are worth checking out: Olga%26#39;s, Andiamo, Ciao, steak houses, Middle Eastern, Mexican, etc. Some are a 5 to 10 minute drive from downtown Dearborn. In the city itself, Michigan Avenue is the main street and most, but not all, restaurants are on Michigan Avenue (or within a block of it).

There are restaurants in the Fairlane Mall (including a food court) and also on the perimeter of the mall property. There also is a concentration of chains in adjacent Allen Park, east of Southfield Freeway between Outer Drive and Oakwood and on Ford Road, west of Telegraph in Dearborn Heights. Post again with budget and preferred cuisines and we can make specific suggestions.

Other: you might want to check out Henry Ford%26#39;s estate (Fairlane). Tours are offered and the restaurant (closed Saturdays and Sundays) is a good spot for lunch before the tour. www.henryfordestate.org

Shopping. Fairlane is a major mall, but fun may be a stretch as the mall has been struggling for a few years and both Saks and Lord %26amp; Taylor have closed, leaving large vacancies. Two restaurants (Bravo and P.F. Chang%26#39;s) presently are under construction near what was formerly the Sak%26#39;s entrance.

If you don%26#39;t mind driving 30-45 minutes north, the best shopping in the Detroit area is at the Somerset Collection (www.thesomersetcollection.com). About the same driving time northwest of Dearborn on I-96 there also is Novi, MI with the 12 Oaks Mall, Fountain Walk and the Novi Town Center.

Dearborn suggestions - eating? shopping? evening with baby?

Thanks for all the tips!

We%26#39;ll only be in the area Saturday and part of Sunday, so anything closed on the weekend won%26#39;t be an option.

We like to eat at casual places. Our budget is probably $20 per person. Two of us really like Italian or Mexican. The other one is going to be happiest with standard American fare or pizza.

The shopping ideas you gave me sound great. I%26#39;ll be sure to take them along and check them out!

OK, with the budget and cuisine preferences you mentioned, here are a few recommendations to get you started. All are in or near Dearborn. They have websites so you can check out their menus, prices and photos.

ITALIAN. (1) Andiamo (more upscale local chain: www.andiamoitalia.com/dearborn); (2) Ciao (www.ciaodearborn.com), also more upscale; (3) Carino%26#39;s (more moderately-price national chain: www.carinosgrill.com); (4) Giovanni%26#39;s (www.giovannisristorante.com); and (5) Vince%26#39;s (www.vincesitalian.com).

Giovanni%26#39;s and Vince%26#39;s are unique, local and non-chain restaurants doing business in their only locations. Both are close to Dearborn, but a bit off the beaten track and both are very popular.

PIZZA. (1) Buddy%26#39;s (www.buddyspizza.com); and (2) PizzaPapalis (www.pizzapapalis.com). Both are very good and both are local chains with branches on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn. These are Chicago deep-dish style pizzas.

MEXICAN. My sole pick in this category is also a little out of the way but not hard to find. It is Taqueria MI Pueblo. It is reasonably-priced, friendly, clean and definitely more authentic Mexican than most others. Taqueria Mi Pueblo is very popular with people who know ';real'; Mexican food (local Mexican community, Ford engineers and executives who have lived and worked in Mexico, etc.) Don%26#39;t worry, the name implies they serve only tacos (but in fact they have a broader menu than most Mexican restaurants) and ';authentic'; implies to some people that it is super hot or spicy; it definitely is neither. Check out their menu at www.mipueblorestaurant.com. Great place for lunch.

BURGERS. Best burgers, fries and onion rings in Dearborn (and many locals would say anywhere) can be found at Miller%26#39;s Bar on Michigan Avenue east of Telegraph. This small, neighborhood bar no frills place is a Dearborn institution and is very popular. It hasn%26#39;t changed in years and features a unique honor system for paying. www.millersbar.com

CHANGE OF PACE. Olga%26#39;s. Freshly-made--in the restaurant--thick, soft and warm pita bread (totally unlike store-bought pita) and a variety of sandwich fillings for the pita make this Michigan-based chain a great place for a moderately-priced lunch or dinner. www.olgaskitchen.com

CHINESE. China Town, in the Fairlane Mall near the J. C. Penny lower entrance offers inexpensivem buffet style Chinese food in a good variety. It is a good place for lunch.

There are lots of other restaurants in the area or within 10-15 minutes, but you aren%26#39;t going to be here long enough to venture too far from Dearborn.

Hope that this helps.

WOW! Thanks for all the great restaurant ideas!!

You are most welcome. Have a great visit!

Dearborn Hts - Garden City area

Looking for a motel/hotel not to pricy - clean in the Garden city area. On/off Ford road and 24 or 96.

Dearborn Hts - Garden City area

I can%26#39;t think of any hotel/motels in Garden City. You might want to check Canton there are some @ I275/and Ford Rd (near a IKEA---cool place to shop). If you head up Ford Rd, Garden City isn%26#39;t too far (maybe 10-15 min). Also, there is a Motel 8, @ 96 and Middlebelt in Livonia. Again, up Middlebelt Garden City is 10-15 min. There are also, some hotels (nice ones) @ 6 Mile and 275 in Livonia. The ones @ 6 Mile and 275, there are quite a few places to choose from to eat at. Also, there is a small, nice mall right there (Laurel Park Mall). All of these will probably be less than 1/2 hour away from Garden City. I-275---I96 cross in Livonia, Plymouth area.

Any ???%26#39;s you can pm me or ask I will try and find out for you.

Dearborn Hts - Garden City area

I posted just before I left so I didn%26#39;t get your reply. Ended up staying in Novi off Haggerty Road.

scars

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