Spring Break Staycation Spots

March 18, 2016

Northern Michigan offers a lot of options for those who choose a staycation spring break. Many local residents don’t experience much of what the area offers unless they’re hosting out-of-town guests. Spring break is the ideal time to visit local points of interest, whether that includes whole family outings or day-trip dates, and many of the following suggestions will cost little or nothing at all.

Seven Bridges - Kalkaska County

This beautiful forested nature preserve is the perfect place to observe the spring melt’s effect on area creeks and rivers. Seven Bridges is located in rural Kalkaska County and includes rustic bridges that cross multiple parts of the Rapid River, always swollen in spring with rushing water.

"The Rapid River is braided – separated into multiple channels – as it churns through the property, creating delightful sounds and some really fantastic scenery," said Art Bukowski, communications and outreach specialist with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. The property also maintained by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.

A trail and boardwalk winds through the wooded property and, despite its name, only four of the property’s original rustic bridges remain today.

"Although spring break will be a bit early for wildflowers, it’s always neat to see the various bright green mosses that thrive along the river well before there’s much green anywhere else," Bukowski said. "The preserve is also known for vernal pools, which are temporary pools of water that provide critical habitat for a large variety of unique organisms.

These pools are, in fact, only present in the spring. The river itself also is a hot spot for birds and wildlife, which will be increasingly active as the weather continues to warm," he said.

Seven Bridges natural area sits along Valley Road between Kalkaska and Rapid City, northwest of the intersection with Wood Road. Fires and camping are prohibited and hours are dawn to dusk. There are no admission fees, but the conservancy accepts donations on their website to help care for the property. More details about the preserve can be found at the parking area kiosk, as well as at gtrlc.org.

Jordan River National Fish Hatchery - Elmira, Antrim County

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operates the Jordan River National Fish Hatchery in the heart of the Jordan River Valley. The facility is the largest lake trout hatchery in the federal agency, rearing 3 million of the species for release into the Great Lakes annually. The hatchery serves an important role as part of native species restoration efforts in North America’s inland freshwater seas.

"The hatchery is, in fact, at its fullest as far as fish on station are concerned. We have not begun distributing the yearling fish and our newest hatchlings are just beginning to actively feed," said Roger Gordon, hatchery manager.

The hatchery offers educational opportunities for families in both guided group tours and self-guided explorations.

Self-guided tour and picnic area hours are from dawn until dusk. No open fires or camping is allowed on the hatchery grounds without a special use permit, and pets are permitted on a leash.

The hatchery also offers access to more than 18 miles of scenic hiking trails, including the Jordan River Pathway and North Country Trail systems.

The hatchery is located at 6623 Turner Road, off US-131 about four miles south of the intersection with M-32, in Antrim County. The hatchery is free to visit and is open seven days per week from 7am until 3:30pm. Guided tours can be scheduled by calling (231) 584-2461.

Arcadia Dunes and Green Point Dunes - Benzie and Manistee counties

Perhaps two of the most beautiful scenic overlooks in all of northern Michigan are close to each other along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Benzie and Manistee counties: Green Point and Arcadia Dunes nature preserves.

"Both of these preserves offer stunning views of Lake Michigan, but I can’t say enough about how neat Green Point Dunes is," said Bukowski, which owns and manages both preserves.

"There are a pair of overlooks there that rival anything else in northern Michigan in terms of natural beauty, and an old shipwreck just offshore is visible if the light is right and the lake is reasonably calm. A trail goes down to a secluded beach that backs right up against the bluffs."

Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve offers 242 acres of land with three miles of trail through meadows and forests, as well as pristine Lake Michigan shoreline. It’s located about two miles south of Elberta on Green Point Road in Benzie County.

Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve offers a vast 3,600 acres of land in both Benzie and Manistee counties, complete with 15 miles of hiking trails. The preserve stretches from the shoreline east to Butwell Road.

Fires and camping are prohibited at the preserves and hours are dawn to dusk. There are no admission fees, but the conservancy gratefully accepts donations to help them maintain these properties. More details about both preserves can be found at parking area kiosks, as well as online at gtrlc.org; click the link for trails and preserves found beneath the recreation and events tab.

Call of the Wild - Gaylord, Otsego County

Call of the Wild is a wildlife-themed museum and gift shop in the heart of Gaylord that offers both education and fun for families. The wildlife museum showcases displays of taxidermist-mounted wildlife both from within Michigan and across North America. The exhibits provide educational information and a chance to see exactly how large some of the region’s top predators really are, such as black bears, timber wolves and coyotes. An Alaskan brown bear and a polar bear are also displayed.

After a tour through the wildlife museum with its handson discovery room and wildlife theater, visitors can explore the gift shop with its plentiful toys and outdoor-related items, as well as sample the fudge handmade on site.

Weather permitting, the museum operates its Bavarian Falls Go Carts and Adventure Golf next door. Adult golf costs $7 per person and children’s rates are $6 each. Go carts cost $7 or $8 for a double cart, and there are minimum height and age restrictions.

Call of the Wild is open from 9:30am to 6pm Monday through Saturday and 11am to 5pm Sunday. Museum admission normally is $7 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and $4.50 for children between 5 and 13 years old. However, admission fees are waived for spring break visitors Apr. 4–10. Call in advance for go cart and mini golf hours at (989) 732-4336. More information about the museum is available at callofthewildgaylord.com.

Raven Hill Discovery Center - East Jordan, Charlevoix County

Raven Hill Discovery Center is an ideal place for families on a northern Michigan staycation. The educational facility offers a variety of fun projects that can be arranged in advance. The hands-on museum provides plenty of learning activities, including an outdoor tree house and other exhibits.

"Raven Hill Discovery Center gives all ages a chance to learn, grow, create and play both inside and outdoors. Whether you like science, history or art, we can make new and different connections between them for you," said Cheri Leach, co-founder of the facility.

A special exhibit titled "Trains & Things" will open during spring break. Visitors can experience the exhibit – including historical memorabilia, engineering an engine or caboose from household materials, and designing a track to avoid derailments – from 10am until 4pm daily from Mar. 28 to Apr. 20, except during the free Second Saturday event on Apr. 9.

General admission to the museum is $10 per person and includes the indoor museum, animal room, outdoor exhibits and attractions. More information is available at ravenhilldiscoverycenter.org or by calling (231) 536-3369. The facility is located at 4737 Fuller Road in rural East Jordan, off Pearsall and Boyne City-East Jordan roads.

The Headlands International Dark Sky Park - Mackinaw City, Emmet County

The Headlands, west of Mackinaw City in Emmet County, offers spectacular night sky viewing as an official International Dark Sky Park.

"Headlands is a great choice for a staycation destination, not only because this is the season for getting your last peek at Orion before he falls toward the western horizon and disappears from our skies for a spell, but because natural darkness is essential to healthy bird migrations and, every year at this time, thousands of birds make their way along the shorelines of the Great Lakes to stage in the Straits [of Mackinac] area that includes Headlands before continuing their journeys further north," said Mary Stewart Adams, park director.

There will be two weekends that celebrate this bird migration, she added: Apr. 1–2 and Apr. 8–9 at the park’s guest house from 8 to 10pm. The programs are expected to include owl banding and stargazing.

The Headlands remains open 24 hours per day/365 days a year and there is no admission charge. No camping is allowed, though visitors are permitted to bring sleeping bags, chairs and refreshments, and are encouraged to dress for forecasted weather conditions. Visitors also are asked to use red-filtered flashlights rather than traditional or LED lights. The Headlands International Dark Sky Park is located at 15675 Headlands Road, off Wilderness Park Drive, west of Mackinaw City. More information is available at midarkskypark.org.

Mushroom Houses - Charlevoix, Charlevoix County

The mushroom houses of Charlevoix may be the single most curious architectural attraction in northern Michigan. What makes them even better is that people actually live in them. During summer months, buses filled with tourists will stop in the middle of the triangular block comprised of Park, Grant and Clinton streets. This is where the mushroom, or gnome, houses are found.

"The draw with them is really that they are unlike anything else you would see anywhere else in the country," said Alison Hubbard, president at the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce.

Renowned architect Earl Young built these strange little houses to blend into the landscape. He even designed them on the spot. It’s often remarked that the homes appear to have sprung out of the ground, as if they were mushrooms. The roofs feature curved lines and wooden shingles, often with plenty of moss growth. Hubbard said Young was clearly influenced by the lovely woods and waters of the area.

A recent documentary titled The Wizard of Boulder Park has drawn additional attention to the curious little homes, Hubbard said, and the chamber now receives inquiry calls with regular frequency.

After checking out these adorable and one-of-a-kind structures, Charlevoix offers plenty of dining and microbrew options for a fantastic meal out.